MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – With over 20 years of combined experience, two longtime friends are in the process of opening a marijuana business that will be the first of its kind in Muskegon County.
Muskegon-area natives Aric Keyser and James Dewald are the owners and 50/50 partners of MI Canna Connection – a marijuana microbusiness.
“This is the smallest scale production facility for someone in the industry to get in to,” Keyser told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle.
With proper licensing, a microbusiness can grow and process up to 150 marijuana plants, and then package and sell the product all within one company. The business, however, cannot buy wholesale product from other companies.
“Microbusinesses are sort of made for caregivers to figure it out,” Keyser said.
Muskegon County is already home to several marijuana shops, but MI Canna Connection will become the first microbusiness in the area.
Keyser and Dewald purchased a once-abandoned building, at 2541 Park St. in Muskegon Heights, about 3 ½ years ago. Since then, they have been diligently working to restore it up to state code and make it their own.
“We acted as our own general contractor on the project to fit a very tight budget,” Keyser said.
Keyser, a Mona Shores graduate, and Dewald, a Muskegon High grad, did nearly all of the structural work themselves and personally coordinated with subcontractors to ensure jobs were completed.
The duo received a long-awaited letter from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs a few weeks ago.
“Our final license was issued and active as of April 26,” Keyser said.
The journey into the marijuana industry started about 11 years ago when Keyser and Dewald started growing medically. Over the years, the two have perfected their skills and took on a full set of patients as caregivers.
Now, with a license in hand, MI Canna Connection continues to move forward. Keyser said he expects to begin sales later this summer or early fall.
Although there may be an influx of related shops in the area, the reason to operate their business within Muskegon County was simple.
“This is where we grew up and where we want to live and what we want to do,” Keyser said. “We aren’t trying to live anywhere else.”
Read more on MLive:
Canna Carnival marijuana festival coming to Muskegon’s downtown arena
Large marijuana, music festival dubbed CannaBash coming to Muskegon
Muskegon area hits marijuana jackpot with $1.3M in tax revenues from 2021
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