JULY 2 • 2020 | 15

products. On one occasion, Rosman bought 
an improperly labeled CBD pretzel edible. 
The product ended up containing psycho-
active THC. After this experience, Rosman 
and Spivak-Birndorf wanted to help create 
safer products for consumers and become 
involved in a growing and changing canna-
bis industry.
Now, as one of only a couple laborato-
ries in the state licensed to test adult-use 
and medical marijuana, PSI Labs works to 
ensure the safety of products before they 
arrive at dispensaries. Their team of scien-
tists tests for potential contaminants such 
as heavy metals, pesticides and microbial 
contamination, along with potency. Spivak-
Birndorf says that since the opening, their 

business and the cannabis industry have 
grown beyond their expectations. 
In 2018, legalization of adult-use recre-
ational marijuana helped expand the can-
nabis industry in Michigan. But Matthew 
Abel, the founder of Cannabis Counsel, 
a firm specializing in marijuana law in 
Detroit, explains that the law has not paved 
the way for all parts of the state. 
Abel, who was one of 20 people 
involved in drafting the adult-use mari-
juana bill, explains that the Department 
of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in 
Michigan (LARA)’
s interpretation of the 
law requires city councils to pass an ordi-
nance before recreational dispensaries and 
other cannabis facilities can operate in the 
area. 
Abel has since spent time visiting many 
city councils to encourage them to opt in 
to recreational marijuana. But with more 
than 1,700 municipalities in the state of 
Michigan, this is no easy task. 
Ferndale, Hazel Park and Walled Lake are 
some of the Metro Detroit municipalities 
that have already allowed the sale of adult-
use marijuana. In Detroit, however, which 
currently has only medical marijuana dis-
pensaries and facilities, a lawsuit is pending 

that seeks to require the city to allow certain 
recreational dispensaries. 
On Nov. 1, 2019, the state had already 
started accepting adult-use marijuana 
license applications for Detroit. On Nov. 
12, the Detroit City Council passed an 
ordinance banning adult-use stores and 
facilities. Those suing the State of Michigan 
say that businesses who applied for adult-
use licenses within these 11 days should be 
allowed to sell recreational marijuana. 
But some businesses in the cannabis 
industry have benefited from the opt-in 
approach. Goldberg says that a reason his 
business has been successful is because it 
was located in a municipality that opted 
into the ordinance, allowing him to gain a 
license before others. “This put us at a tre-
mendous advantage where we could be one 
of the leaders in our industry,
” he said. 
Nevertheless, licensed cannabis business-
es face several other practical issues in the 
state. Weinberg says that because marijuana 
is not legal on the federal level, some land-
lords are afraid of leasing real estate, and 
banks are hesitant to give out loans for fear 
of legal repercussions. 
“
As long as it is considered a schedule 1 
drug, we will not be able to access the nor-
mal banking system,
” Weinberg said. 
Johnson says that to combat this prob-
lem, a successful cannabis venture requires 
solid investors. 
Abel says that, ultimately, implementation 
of the legalization of recreational marijuana 
“should give more opportunity to people 

who have been impacted by the unfair drug 
laws.
” 
Johnson, who recently issued a statement 
about police brutality and cannabis criminal 
justice reform on behalf of the Michigan 
Cannabis Industry Association, says com-
munities of color have been disproportion-
ately affected by these prohibition laws. For 
this reason, he and Sims feel their new role 
in the cannabis industry is a chance to work 
toward progress and equity. 
“It’
s an opportunity for us to create our 
own narrative, especially being minorities 
working in a business that has greatly affect-
ed the Black community,
” Johnson said.

“You don’t get
many opportunities 
to be a pioneer
in an industry.”

— ADAM GOLDBERG

Josh
Weinberg

GLENN TRIEST

GLENN TRIEST

Jerry
Millen

TIV 
ed 
nd 
vin 
ms, 
ce.

COURTESY OF GROW CANNABIS MARKETING

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