Michigan Cannabis Hospitality Industry Growth Organization - Michigo

06/29/2022

Thank you to C Cimone Casson and Four20 Post LIVE for their generous contributions to tomorrow night's MiCHIGO Thoughtful Thursday at 6 p.m. EDT. We hope you can join us via Zoom to learn more about this important topic for cannabis tourism and hospitality businesses.

05/26/2022

👀👀MiCHIGO member Dunegrass.co is making moves

Nearly $500,000: That’s how much money Airbnb hosts in the City of Traverse City area pulled in over Memorial Day weekend last year, with the average host earning $800 over the course of the weekend. That’s just one of many eye-opening statistics recently shared with The Ticker. As Traverse City...

04/29/2022

Congrats to MiCHIGO member Expiravit for opening a carnival-sized hole in the cannabis events space. Muskegon is really taking the lead on cannabis tourism and events.

MUSKEGON CANNA CARNIVAL APPROVED FOR AUGUST 20TH

Lynn Moore of MLive.com shares that a carnival-themed cannabis consumption event is coming to Muskegon’s downtown arena this summer followed by a 2nd event this fall at the city’s baseball field:

The Canna Carnival, with carnival rides and games and cannabis edibles and smoking, is planned for Aug. 20 inside and outside the Trinity Health Arena.

The Falling Leaves Festival ma*****na consumption event will be Sept. 24-25 at the city’s Marsh Field on Laketon Avenue.

Both events were approved Tuesday, April 26, by the Muskegon City Commission, which has enthusiastically embraced the cannabis industry.

“These sorts of events are not new to us,” said Muskegon City Commissioner Michael Ramsey. “We do consumption events all the time – they’re just done with alcohol, and ma*****na now is just as legal as alcohol.”

The events are organized by Exspiravit, a West Bloomfield company. Michael Webster, founder and managing member of Exspiravit, praised city leaders and staff for their welcoming “openness and transparency,” saying other communities could learn a lot from Muskegon’s hospitable embrace of the ma*****na industry.

“This has been, I won’t call it a rolling out of the red carpet, but it’s tantamount to that,” said Webster, who explained that he can’t get officials in other communities to even return his phone calls.

The Canna Carnival will feature “various methods of consumption” – including ma*****na-infused popcorn and cotton candy — along with a “theme of nostalgia,” according to a description provided to commissioners.

Read on for more at mLive: https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2022/04/canna-carnival-ma*****na-festival-coming-to-muskegons-downtown-arena.html

Kudos to the city of Muskegon for being one of Michigan’s most forward looking communities on legal cannabis!

More cannabis events & news on the MCT: https://michigancannabistrail.com

photo credit: Worm’s Eye View of a Lit Ferris Wheel by Jake Weirick; art credit (Michigan Cannabis Trail)

04/20/2022

MiCHIGO is excited to announce our next Thoughtful Thursday presentation, HiBnB Overview: The Hub for 420 Friendly Rentals, Events, and Culture on Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 6-7 PM via Zoom.

Diana Becker-Park and Elizabeth Becker of HiBnb will introduce attendees to their online marketplace dedicated to the growing cannabis community, providing safe responsible, inclusive accommodation & activities options to guests looking to enjoy cannabis in their leisure time and while traveling. It’s like AirBnb plus Eventbrite combined – a 100% cannabis friendly, one-stop shop!

While our Thoughtful Thursdays are often MiCHIGO members only events, we’ve decided to make this one available to the general public at no charge. Pre-registration is required – please fill out the form to register & get the link: https://michigo.org/2022/04/20/michigo-thoughtful-thursday-with-hibnb/

A big thanks to the Michigan Ma*****na Report & Four20 Post for providing Zoom access this month!

03/22/2022

The Michigan Cannabis Hospitality Industry Growth Organization (MiCHIGO) is currently seeking volunteer Committee Leads with a passion for promoting safe, responsible cannabis travel, tourism, hospitality, and related experiences that unlock new revenue opportunities for business, create jobs, and inject fresh resources into local economies. Committee Leads have two basic responsibilities – support and governance – each requiring different skills and expertise.

CURRENT COMMITTEE LEAD OPENINGS:

* Treasurer (Finance Committee Lead & Board position)
* Internal Affairs Lead
* Communications Lead
* Membership Lead
* Legislation, Research & Policy Lead

COMMITTEE LEAD COMMITMENTS INCLUDE:

* Attending regularly scheduled Board meetings, committee meetings, and planning sessions; volunteering at special events, as needed
* Aiding in creating and setting organizational short-term and long-term goals
* Willingness to be a public face of MiCHIGO; publicize and promote MiCHIGO amongst contacts and networks; displaying a commitment to a vibrant future for the organization
* Preparing well for meetings, reviewing, and commenting on minutes and reports; providing feedback as needed
* Contributing creative ideas, strategies, and critical thought in order to grow the organization
* Fellowship with other members and building a collegiate working relationship
* Actively participating in the Board’s annual evaluation and planning efforts
* Helping the organization to fundraise and secure sponsorships, with a willingness to open personal networks

TIME COMMITMENT

* Serve at least one two-year tenure as Committee Lead.
* Attend at least 80% of scheduled Board meetings; Actively participate by reading all materials and coming prepared to discuss items on the agenda. The MiCHIGO board currently meets monthly via online conferencing. Meetings generally last 1 hour. On occasion, special meetings may be scheduled as needed.
* Dedicate, on average, ten hours each month to the Committee Lead role, which includes running committee meetings, planning, directing, and monitoring committee member engagement, along with performing other activities related to the successful operation of the organization

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

* A commitment to and understanding of MiCHIGO’s mission, vision, and goals
* Strong management and leadership experience
* High visibility and involvement in the community
* Ability to lead strategically
* Savvy diplomatic skills; a natural affinity for cultivating relationships; and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals
* Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of underserved communities and families
* Prior experience as an expert in the committee’s subject matter is strongly preferred

If you are interested, please send your resume and cover letter (subject: Committee Lead) to [email protected].

03/10/2022

Check out MiCHIGO member Katie Lynch Lindgren to get her thoughts on the burgeoning cannabis tourism sector in Michigan.

MiGreenState is the premier brand from for ?culture & lifestyle in MI. Featuring a website & print magazine available at dispos all over MI✋ linktr.ee

01/27/2022

Looking forward to tonight's MiCHIGO Thoughtful Thursday meeting, held monthly, exclusively for members.

Tonight, we will discuss the 2022 Strategic Plan and how we will be achieving the organization's goals. In future months, we'll discuss the impacts of the 2021 Michigan Cannabis Travel Report, legal issues impacting cannabis hospitality businesses, partnering with Convention and Visitor's Bureaus, and more!

If you didn't get an invitation from [email protected] last week, get on the list to learn more about the benefits of membership, including VIP access to our Open Consumption event this June.

11/16/2021

MiCHIGO is proud to be mentioned with Honest Ma*****na Company, Maryjane Tours, and Winewood Organics in the discussion of in from an news outlet. We all contribute to revitalizing the and economy by embracing cannabis enthusiasts.

See link to the article from the in bio.

11/07/2021

We did it! We officially released our 2021 Michigan Tourism Report at the 2021 Michigan Festivals and Events Association Conference yesterday.

Short summary:

The people want

420 Friendly Lodging
Consumption Lounges
Festivals and Events

Get more data and insights:

https://michigo.org/report/

10/06/2021

MiCHIGO FOUNDED TO BOOST MICHIGAN’S CANNABIS HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Non-Profit Organization Launches Michigan’s First Economic Impact Study

Ann Arbor, Michigan (Oct. 6, 2021) – A diverse group of Michigan’s cannabis-industry professionals today announced the formation of the Michigan Cannabis Hospitality Industry Growth Organization (MiCHIGO), an in-formation non-profit, based in Ann Arbor.
The organization was formed to promote safe and responsible cannabis experiences in Michigan’s sprawling tourism and hospitality industry. It is committed to improving local economies throughout the state by helping businesses unlock new revenue opportunities that will lead to job creation and increased commerce.

Lisa Altschuler Liberman, Chair of MiCHIGO, said, “As adult-use cannabis brings new revenue to our state daily, Michigan entrepreneurs can blaze new trails as early entrants to a growing segment of the industry. To support the wide range of services offered in the cannabis travel and hospitality sector, MiCHIGO’s Board and Founding Members represent a full spectrum of businesses, comprising of food, lodging, events, media, and related entities.

“Our alliance consists of small and mid-size companies from all corners of the state, as well as individuals from all walks of life. We are a strong organization because we embrace the rich and diverse perspectives of our members, who collectively hold decades of experience in travel and hospitality,” said Liberman.

In addition to Liberman (Blue Dream Experiences), the Board includes Vice-Chair Andrew McFarlane (Michigan Cannabis Trail), Board Secretary Chef Marjorie Harvey (Divine Epicurean), and Legal Counsel Todd Redden (Cannabis Kitchen Law Group). External Affairs Lead Miracle Bailey (Miracle Worker Wellness), Fundraising Lead I’sha Schultz-Spradlin (Black Moon Wellness), and Internal Affairs Lead Kelly Garety (Ma*****na Security Operations - MSO) round out the leadership team. The organization continues to seek a Treasurer.

Liberman also announced the launch of the organization’s first cannabis travel and hospitality study, which will begin to define the Michigan cannabis traveler. Results of the study will be revealed at the Michigan Festivals and Events Association Conference in November. Interested consumers and businesses may contribute through October 12, 2021, by visiting www.MiCHIGO.org.

About MiCHIGO – MiCHIGO promotes cannabis to the hospitality and tourism industry as well as the canna-curious in Michigan and surrounding states. The organization has offices at 2075 Stadium Rd., Suite 2441, Ann Arbor, Mich., 48106. For more information, please visit www.michigo.org. On social media, information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/teammichigo on Facebook and on Instagram.