Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency Issues Consent Order Against LE Battle Creek LLC

*PORTAGE, Mich. — A Portage cannabis dispensary has been temporarily closed after its owner agreed to pay a $15,000 fine and accept a 14-day license suspension* following a violation of Michigan cannabis retail laws.

The fine stems from an incident involving the parent company's now-closed sister store on Westnedge Avenue, according to documents released by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency.

Products Transferred From Expired License Store

LE Battle Creek LLC, which owns the "Doja" dispensaries in Portage and Watervliet, was ordered to pay the fine after accepting and selling products that were transferred to them from their sister store, "Lake Effect," in December.

At the time, Lake Effect's license had expired, making the transfer illegal under state law.

"LE Battle Creek broke cannabis retail laws when the Doja dispensary in Portage accepted and sold products that were transferred to them from the Lake Effect on Westnedge Avenue in December," the CRA documents stated. "At the time, the license for Lake Effect, which is owned and managed by the same company as Doja, had expired."

Timeline of Events

The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency filed a formal complaint in February regarding the violation.

Key dates from the case:

  • December 13: Lake Effect's license expired
  • December 15: CRA notified the retailer that no product transfers were allowed
  • December 16: Doja Portage accepted a shipment of products from Lake Effect
  • December 16: Some of those products were sold later that same day at the Doja store
  • March 30: LE Battle Creek's 14-day license suspension began

Current Status

Both the Doja Portage location on Centre Avenue and the Doja Watervliet store are currently listed as temporarily closed.

"Doja Portage is listed as temporarily closed, and its listed number does not connect to the store," the WMUK news report stated. "Doja also has a location in Watervliet; that store is also listed as temporarily closed."

Neither location currently has an active voicemail box, and WMUK was unable to reach a representative for either dispensary or its parent company.

Michigan Cannabis Law Violation

Under Michigan law, a cannabis retailer with an expired or inactive license cannot transfer products to another store. The Lake Effect dispensary's license expired on December 13, and the CRA notified the retailer two days later that no product transfers were permitted.

Despite this notification, the Doja Portage location accepted products from Lake Effect on December 16, creating a compliance violation that resulted in the consent order and stipulation.

Consent Order Details

The CRA released a consent order and stipulation regarding the case against LE Battle Creek LLC. The document shows that the company agreed to:

  • Pay a $15,000 fine
  • Accept a 14-day license suspension
  • Comply with all applicable cannabis retail laws going forward

The 14-day suspension began on March 30, making both locations inaccessible during this period.

Broader Enforcement Pattern

This case highlights ongoing enforcement efforts by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency to ensure compliance with state cannabis laws. The agency has been actively investigating violations related to product transfers, license expiration issues, and other regulatory requirements.

The consent order represents another example of the CRA taking action against retailers who fail to follow proper procedures regarding product transfers and license management.