Winewood Organics is the only microbusiness in southeastern Michigan that makes 100 percent of its own products in-house and one of few locally owned, independent, non-corporate cannabis stores in town. They cultivate plants using organic soil instead of hydroponic fertilizer and flowers are hand-trimmed, concentrates are small batch and edibles are handmade.

            Eric Parkhurst, founder and grower at Winewood Organics was a medical caregiver for over a decade, and says, “I began cultivating cannabis for my partner who gets migraine headaches due to a medical condition. I began taking on other medical patients who required other forms of cannabis, such as oil and edibles for their individual conditions. When Michigan legalized adult-use cannabis in 2018, they created a microbusiness license which allows for cultivation, processing and retail sales of cannabis.”

            Thus, limited to a plant count of 150, Parkhurst advises, “The quality and consistency of our products is the main reason people choose Winewood. Because we are required to produce 100 percent of the cannabis products we sell, everything we make is small batch, single source and naturally produced. We cultivate our plants in organic living soil using all organic methods, which results in stronger-smelling, better-tasting, smoother flower. This ethos carries over to all of our products, including edibles, pre-rolls, live resin cartridges and hash.”

            Winewood budtenders are some of the most knowledgeable in the industry. The seven employees rotate positions, “So if you visit Winewood, your budtender might be the grower, edible chef, trimmer or hash maker. Because we have a lower product turnover than a traditional dispensary, our budtenders have an intimate knowledge and experience with the product," notes Parkhurst.

            Primarily known for flower, the popular Durban Poison, Han Solo Burger and Orange Push Pop, some lesser-known products are vegan, gluten-free gummies and solvent-free, live, resin cartridges. Parkhurst shares, “This year, we are going to focus on expanding our edible line and searching for the most unique, fragrant and effective cannabis strains.”

Location: 2394 Winewood Ave., Ann Arbor. For more information, visit WinewoodOrganics.com.