Welcome to The Straight Dope, our new weekly series that explores the best cannabis products in Michigan.
The Hive in Hazel Park is a small, woman-owned dispensary competing in a cannabis market dominated by corporate retailers and growers.
And this friendly, modern retailer is growing and selling some of the freshest, most pungent, and well-grown flower in Michigan.
Owned by Dana Elgie, The Hive is the state’s first woman-owned Class A cannabis microbusiness in the state, which allows it to grow up to 300 cannabis plants and operate a retail store in the same space.
The Hive shares its building with B.D.T. smoke shop at 21630 John R, which is owned by Elgie’s father, Curtis Goure, and has served stoners with marijuana paraphernalia like bongs, rolling papers, and tie-dye T-shirts since 1973.
The Hive is welcoming, contemporary, and easy to navigate, and its shelves are stocked with some of the best deli-style flower and live rosin in the state. Other high-quality products include infused flower, edibles, vape cartridges, concentrates, and THC-infused drinks and topicals.
When it opened in June 2023, The Hive began offering infused flower because its first harvest — grown in the same building — was not yet ready, and its license prohibits the dispensary from selling other flower unless it’s infused.
Then in May 2024, The Hive began selling its first exclusive, top-tier flower at prices that most dispensaries sell mid-level flower — $25 an eighth and $120 an ounce. The one-gram pre-rolls, which are stuffed with high-quality ground flower, are only $6, and they pack a punch.
At any given time, about 10 strains are available.
“We can keep the price low because we don’t have a middleman,” Elgie tells Metro Times. “We have the best quality at the best price.”
The flower is grown in five rooms to allow for new harvests every two weeks. The grow space is 4,000 square feet and includes 18 LED lights.
As a former caregiver who grew cannabis in 2008 and 2009, Elgie knows the industry well and early on understood the difference between mediocre and exceptional weed.
As a marijuana microbusiness, Elgie knew she could not succeed without skilled, experienced growers.
“I found a team of individuals who are very capable,” Elgie says. “They know how to grow well and which strains to grow. They’ve been great. It’s been a synergistic relationship.”
The freshness and quality of the cannabis set The Hive apart from other dispensaries, where it’s not unusual to come across flower that has aged for months and is losing its flavor and potency.
“When you come in, you won’t find something older than three weeks,” Elgie says. “Flower reaches its peak about two weeks after harvest. The fresher the flower, the better the experience.”
I tried five of The Hive’s exclusive strains: Pink Zoap, Cadillac Rainbow, Permanent Marker, Sherb Cream Pie, and Trop Cherry Cookie. All the buds were dense, flavorful, pungent, coated in trichomes and potent. They check all of the boxes for top-tier flower.
And as a bonus, after the purchase, the flower is placed in colorful, eye-catching mylar bags emblazoned with retro-style cartoon designs.
I also got two prerolls — Fire OG and Cap Junky — and opened them up to examine the contents. While some cultivators jam joints with plant trim and other low-quality plant material, The Hive packed their 1-gram prerolls with sticky flower. For $6, the prerolls are a steal — and a great way to explore The Hive’s strains.
Let’s take a closer look at each strain:
Cadillac Rainbow
One of my favorites of the strains, Cadillac Rainbow is a cross between Pure Michigan and Runtz. This hybrid boasts a rich, gassy aroma with fruity, funky undertones, blending bright notes of lemon and diesel.
The buds are frosty and vibrant.
The high is euphoric and relaxing, but didn’t lock me to a couch. It’s a good strain for the late afternoon or evening.
The THC content is 26.6%. While the dominant terpene of this strain has not been identified, its aroma and effects suggest it could contain myrcene or linalool.
Pink Zoap
The most potent and pungent of the bunch, Pink Zoap is a combination of Rainbow Sherbet and Pink Guava. Zoap has a unique soap-like flavor with earthy and citrus undertones. The buds are dense and covered in trichomes.
A well-balanced hybrid, Zoap is a perfect strain to unwind, socialize, or do something creative.
At 31.9% THC, the flower is hard-hitting and made me giggly and inspired. A relaxing body high followed after about an hour.
This strain’s primary terpene, caryophyllene, is well-regarded for promoting relaxation and easing stress. Other terpenes include limonene and humulene.
Trop Cherry Cookies
Easily the most visually striking of the strains, Trop Cherry Cookie combines the genetics of Tropicana Cookies and Cherry Cookies. The large buds are purple, spongy, and oozing with sticky trichomes. The bag appeal is exceptional.
Citrus and cherries are the dominant flavors.
The only sativa-dominant hybrid of the strains, Trop Cherry Cookie is a great daytime choice.
The THC content is 31.5%. Caryophyllene is the dominant terpene, followed by limonene and pinene.
Sherb Cream Pie
This is all about the mouth-watering flavor and soothing high. A combination of Ice Cream Cake X Sherb BX1, Sherb Cream Pie is an indica dominant hybrid with a sweet candy nose.
The Hive’s batch is pungent, with a robust flavor profile of vanilla, creamy, and citrus.
Take a whiff of this and you’ll be hooked.
The body high is happy and relaxing. It’s a great way to unwind and tune out.
The THC content is 31.5%. The dominant terpene is caryophyllene, followed by linalool and limonene.
Permanent Marker
Named Leafly’s strain of the year in 2023, Permanent Marker is a unique strain that crosses Biscotti x Sherb Bx and Jealousy. True to its name, the indica-dominant hybrid smells like a permanent marker. Its taste is a bold, lingering funk, with notes of candy, soap, citrus, and diesel.
The buds are large, sticky, and in their prime.
This strain is ideal for relaxing, hanging out with friends, or sparking creativity.
The dominant terpene is myrcene, which is often associated with having calming effects. Other terpenes include limonene and caryophyllene.
The THC content is 20.5%.
The straight dope
With no exceptions, The Hive’s flower is among the best in the state and sells at lower prices than premier cannabis elsewhere. And with new strains every two weeks, you’ll have no trouble finding a diverse array of high-quality flower.
As an added bonus, The Hive is independent and features a team that has been passionate about the weed industry long before it was legalized in Michigan for recreational use.
The dispensary is a thoughtfully curated space that is stylishly modern yet unpretentious, with a friendly and warm ambience. The budtenders are personable, helpful, and patient.
The Hive is a project of love and authenticity and stands out as a real gem in an industry dominated by wealthy opportunists with little passion for cannabis beyond its profit potential.
With its welcoming atmosphere, stellar products, and community-oriented roots, The Hive is proof that quality and heart can still outshine corporate giants in Michigan’s cannabis scene.
If you want us to sample your cannabis products, send us an email at [email protected].
