Corktown will soon welcome a new bakery and cafe that specializes in Delta-9 THC-infused baked goods, coffee beverages, and lemonades in the space formerly occupied by Michigan & Trumbull. Wake-N-Bakery, a Chicago-based chain that got its start in 2020 selling CBD products in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood, is in the process of opening its first Michigan location at 1441 Elizabeth in the coming weeks, pending approval from the city.
Employees are currently applying the final touches to the spot, including brightly-hued lounge seating and walls adorned with vibrant, cannabis-themed murals. Jeff Koons-esque figurines and fun-sized candies grace the countertops. When the cafe opens to the public, visitors can indulge in a variety of coffee beverages like Poppin’ Pistachio; hibiscus Purple Haze lemonade made with ginger, manuka honey, grenadine, and butterfly pea; or the Chitown Twist served hot with turmeric ginger chai, French vanilla, and steamed milk.
All drinks start out THC-free and customers can add THC infusions ranging from the 10-milligram “Basic Bitch” level up to the 100-milligram “Double Fuck Yeah” dosage. To eat, most pastries are infused with THC (aside from a selection of muffins) that range from the classic brownie, a variety of rice crispy treats, cookies, and cheesecake. In addition, the spot sells its own line of CBD treats for dogs, canned THC- and CBD-infused seltzers, pre-rolls, weed gummies, and topical skin care products.
Wake-N-Bakery was launched in early 2020 by Brianna Banks and her partner Mohamed Lotfy, who are partnering with Detroit-based owner-operators Audrianna Plazas and Nicole Cebalt to run the day-to-day of the Corktown location. Banks and Lofty have plans for further expansion, including a spot in Grand Rapids on the west side of the state.
Recreational cannabis became legal in Michigan in late 2018 with the first sales taking place the following year. Since then, the industry in the state has eclipsed other states like California and Colorado as the largest cannabis market in the United States in terms of sales volume.
At the same time, city elected officials in Detroit have grappled with determining where marijuana businesses should be allowed to open shop, resulting in an influx of dispensaries that operate just outside city limits, like Hamtramck, and in inner-ring suburbs like Ferndale and River Rouge. According to Kimberly A. James, director of Cannabis Affairs for the city’s Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department, there are currently more than 50 licensed cannabis retailers spread across Detroit.
Establishments that allow for the consumption of marijuana products on-site have been legal for as long as recreational weed was allowed, however, social distancing restrictions brought on during the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the number of applicants seeking such licenses. At these consumption lounges, flower, edibles, and other cannabis products cannot be purchased onsite, requiring guests to have it delivered from a list of licensed local dispensaries.
What sets Wake-N-Bakery apart is its use of Delta-9 THC, a naturally occurring compound found in hemp plants that, according to the website Michigan Cannabis Information, when presented at levels of less than 0.3 percent by dry weight volume, is considered legal under federal law. Deriving from hemp also gives consumers a loophole to purchase THC products in states with stricter laws around cannabis use such as Texas.
This article was published by Detroit Eater