Dunegrass Cannabis provisioning centers started to focus on promoting cannabis tourism in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula earlier this year. Brian Buchanan, Dunegrass Director of Tourism Strategy, said his company’s efforts are beginning to pay dividends.
Dunegrass operates six dispensaries in Beulah, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Gaylord, Manistee and Marquette. Buchanan said his company also works closely with at 420 Friendly Lodging at Higher Altitude.
As evidence that the strategy works, one of the lodgings reported to him that the first day cannabis-friendly was announced, it was booked for the next two weeks.
Dunegrass also has worked closely with an annual music festival in Northern Michigan, The Hoxeyville music festival, to offer Dunegrass THC products in a consumption lounge set up at the event. Hoxeyville also had a separate area where patrons could purchase alcohol, sanctioned by the Cannabis Regulatory Agency which made sure the two areas did not connect.
He said the CRA was very happy with this experiment, which he said was the first time alcohol and cannabis were served as a consumption event. Dunegrass plans to co-sponsor Hoxeyville again in 2023, and to expand its cannabis tourism partnerships with even more cannabis-friendly businesses as well.
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