Pot partnership brings five dank Redemption strains to Lansing

Lansing-based Redemption Cannabis Co. continues statewide expansion

At least five fresh cannabis strains are set to hit the shelves beginning next month at pot shops across Michigan — including at several dispensaries in Greater Lansing — through a new partnership between Redemption Cannabis Co. and two out-of-town cultivation companies.

The Redemption brand was founded last year by local marijuana icon Ryan Basore, who was among the first to grow and sell medical marijuana in Lansing. He also infamously served three years in federal prison on a weed conviction along with six others known as the “Okemos 7.”

Basore’s products have been featured several times in this column and they never disappoint. I still have dreams about the Willie’s Escape Cake concentrate that we featured back in January.

And while the normalization of weed continues, so has expansion at Redemption Cannabis Co. Jackson-based growers Rair Cannabis and Detroit-based Luxury Loud announced plans last week to bring several new strains to the Michigan pot market exclusively under Basore’s weed brand.

Among them: Mimosa, Orange Daiquiri, Runtz, Mochi and Gushers — all of which promise to be some of the highest quality (and most potent) weed in the state at a relatively affordable price point. I’ve never seen a eighter of any Redemption-branded pot listed for much more than $40.

I tried (and tried again) to get my hands on some early samples over the last week but, just like the rest of you, I’ll have to wait until they hit local stores within the first week or two of August.

Basore launched Redemption last May in part through a $50,000 social equity grant from Gage Cannabis Co. And it has been on a hot streak of expansion ever since with several investors climbing on board and new partnerships being struck with Michigan-based cultivation brands.

The popular Frederic-based cultivator and processor Driven Grow bought a 30% stake in the brand last month and announced plans to roll out some additional new strains later this summer. Kyle Corey — another member of the “Okemos 7” — also bought a 4% stake in Redemption. Basore said those investments will help the brand expand into other state markets before 2022.

Redemption has largely served as a sort of middle man for the cannabis industry through several partnerships with growing and processing facilities as well as licensing agreements with provisioning centers. At least 70 Michigan dispensaries — including Jars, Gage and Local Roots  — now carry Redemption-branded products like pre-packaged eighters and pre-rolled joints.

That’s up from only 25 stores last May. Basore said another 30 stores are also on his waitlist.

The kicker: Basore hasn’t forgotten his roots. At least 10% of sales are redirected to a nonprofit geared specifically toward providing commissary cash to inmates serving time for pot charges, helping prisoners once they get out and lobbying politicians for further criminal justice reforms.

“Michigan cannabis consumers know a great product when they see, smell and taste it, and the demand for quality cannabis from independent operators has never been higher,” Basore said. “Luxury Loud and Rair didn’t get into this industry to make a quick buck. They are in it for the long haul because they are passionate about the cannabis plant and criminal justice reform.”

Luxury Loud prides itself on sourcing hard-to-find plant genetics and growing them to exacting standards. The company also shares a similar background to Redemption, with its co-founder Marko Malinowski also having been targeted by cops for his past role in cannabis cultivation.

Luxury Loud’s upcoming Redemption products include Gushers, Mochi and Runtz — all bred by Purple Genetics in Oakland County. Gushers reportedly tastes and smells like the famous Detroit OG strain that many old school smokers might remember toking on more than a decade ago. Mochi has been billed as a “sweet, creamy berry strain that may induce heavy sleep.”

Rair also uses a highly technical aeroponic process designed to reduce the chance of contamination while allowing for real-time nutrient adjustments to maximize product quality.

Its Orange Daiquiri strain is a cross between Orange Cookies and Grape Pie and reportedly smells and tastes exactly as its name implies. Mimosa is a crossbreed between Purple Punch and Clementine, billed as a “great feel good strain for all day happiness minus the snooze.” 

Obviously, I’m going to have to try them all. Stay tuned for a full product review next month.

Kyle Kaminski is City Pulse’s managing editor and a cannabis enthusiast who has been smoking marijuana just about every day for the last decade. Almost weekly, Kaminski samples some of the best cannabis products available in Greater Lansing, gets real high and writes about them.