Five Stories That Matter in Michigan This Week – April 11, 2025

  1. Michigan Supreme Court Declines to Fast-Track Legislative Dispute

The Michigan Supreme Court has rejected a request to bypass the Court of Appeals in a constitutional clash between the Michigan Senate Democratic Majority Leader and Republican House over nine bills. The dispute centers on the decision to withhold bills passed by the previous Legislature from reaching Governor Whitmer’s desk, with Democrats arguing this violates the state constitution.

Why it Matters: While the Court of Claims ruled in February that the bills should go to the governor, it declined to enforce this decision, highlighting the delicate balance between judicial oversight and legislative independence in Michigan’s governance structure as partisan tensions continue to impact policy implementation.

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  1. Michigan Supreme Court Rules Cannabis Odor Insufficient Probable Cause for Vehicle Search

The Michigan Supreme Court in a 5-1 decision ruled that cannabis odor alone is insufficient probable cause to search a vehicle when police officers are conducting traffic stops or other situations.

Why it Matters: This ruling stems from a 2020 case where police officers were conducting a compliance check observed a vehicle parked on the side of the street and smelled burnt cannabis odor, leading them to question the two individuals who were in the car. It led to the officers asking the individuals to get out of the car, which led to an officer noticing a handgun on the passenger seating, resulting in an arrest of one individual.

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  1. Michigan CRA Publishes March ’25 Data: Average Price Decreases

Per data released by the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), the average retail price for adult-use sale of an ounce of cannabis in March 2025 was $65.14, a decrease from $65.21 in February 2025. This is a decrease from March 2025, where the average price was $90.70.

Why it Matters: While the prices of cannabis and cannabis-related products continue to decrease and make consumers happy, growers on the other hand are seeing profits decrease resulting in them seeking ways to halt new licenses to be granted in an effort to steady prices.

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  1. Business Education Series: From Inbox to Impact – Optimize Email Marketing and Website Performance

Creating impactful email campaigns using 2025’s best practices while keeping your subscribers engaged and avoiding outdated pitfalls is essential for businesses in this day and age. On top of that, you need to make sure that your website and digital presence is up to date and active.

Why it Matters: During the May Business Education Series facilitated by Jacki Krumnow of Now Marketing and Joe Ford of Netvantage SEO, this session will help you measure website health and digital campaign performance effectively, as well as creating impactful email campaigns. Whether you’re starting fresh or refining your approach, this session is packed with actionable insights, tools, and insider advice to boost your marketing efforts. Learn more.

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  1. Fraser Trebilcock Attorney Obtains Complete Dismissal for Firm Client

Fraser Trebilcock Shareholder and Firm Secretary Jared A. Roberts recently obtained complete dismissal of a Bureau of Professional Licensing Complaint for the firm’s client.

Why it Matters: In this instance, the real estate salesperson’s meticulous preservation of all documents, emails, and text messages were key to establishing a timeline that disproved the allegations. Mr. Roberts advises real estate salespeople to preserve everything and move every scrap into their digital deal file after closing. Read more.

Related Practice Groups and Professionals

Cannabis Law | Sean Gallagher
Real Estate | Jared Roberts

Five Stories That Matter in Michigan This Week – April 4, 2025

  1. Real ID Deadline is May 7, 2025

Beginning May 7, 2025, Michigan residents will need to present a REAL ID-compliant document to fly within the United States and enter certain federal facilities to comply with federal law.

Why it Matters: The requirement arose from a 2005 law passed by Congress to establish nationwide security standards for state-issued identification documents.

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  1. Fraser Trebilcock Attorney Obtains Complete Dismissal for Firm Client

Fraser Trebilcock Shareholder and Firm Secretary Jared A. Roberts recently obtained complete dismissal of a Bureau of Professional Licensing Complaint for the firm’s client.

Why it Matters: In this instance, the real estate salesperson’s meticulous preservation of all documents, emails, and text messages were key to establishing a timeline that disproved the allegations. Mr. Roberts advises real estate salespeople to preserve everything and move every scrap into their digital deal file after closing. Read more.

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  1. Michigan Cannabis Exceeds $241 Million in February ‘25

Cannabis sales surpassed $241 million in February 2025, via the monthly report from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency. Michigan adult-use sales came in at $241,295,133.97, while medical sales came in at $631,498.46, totaling $241,926,632.43.

Why it Matters: While the prices of cannabis and cannabis-related products continue to decrease and make consumers happy, growers on the other hand are seeing profits decrease resulting in them seeking ways to halt new licenses to be granted in an effort to steady prices.

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  1. FinCEN Update: U.S. Companies No Longer Needed to Report

On Friday, March 21, 2025, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an interim final rule regarding the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), revising the definition of “reporting company” such that entities formed under the laws of any U.S. State or Tribal jurisdiction likely will not have to file a beneficial owner information report (BOIR).

Why it Matters: Through this interim final rule, all entities created in the United States, including those previously known as “domestic reporting companies,” and their beneficial owners will be exempt from the requirement to report BOI to FinCEN. Read more.

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  1. U.S. Court of Appeals Rules on AI-Generated Copyright Eligibility

On March 18, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a decision for Thaler v. Perlmutter, which addressed whether a work created autonomously by artificial intelligence (AI) is eligible for copyright protection.

Why it Matters: This case reaffirms the prevailing legal principle that copyright protection is reserved for works created by humans. As AI continues to evolve, questions about the extent of human involvement necessary for copyright eligibility remain open for future consideration. ​ Indeed, the question will be directly addressed in the upcoming case in Allen v. Perlmutter in the District Court of Colorado. Read more.

Related Practice Groups and Professionals

Real Estate | Jared Roberts
Cannabis Law | Sean Gallagher
Business & Tax | Robert D. Burgee
Intellectual Property | Andrew Martin