Good buzz: SW Michigan cannabis will get some plugs in 'Growing Belushi' on Discovery

Ed Semmler, South Bend Tribune
Updated ·2 min read
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Actor and comedian Jim Belushi visits with Nick Luhowy, chief cultivation officer with Highway Horticulture, which grows and processes products under the Belushi brand.
Actor and comedian Jim Belushi visits with Nick Luhowy, chief cultivation officer with Highway Horticulture, which grows and processes products under the Belushi brand.
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The thriving cannabis industry in southwestern Michigan will get a nice plug in an upcoming episode of “Growing Belushi” scheduled for 9 p.m. Wednesday on the Discovery Channel.

In its third season, “Growing Belushi” follows the efforts of Jim Belushi and his team as they “aim to make their mark in the industry and spread the benefits of legalized marijuana,” according to the program description.

The actor and comedian formed a partnership with Michigan-based Highway Horticulture to grow and process products from Belushi’s Farm in Oregon for Michigan provisioning centers.

Revitalized: Marijuana boom brings jobs and new life to factories, storefronts in southwest Michigan

Last summer, when Belushi was in Niles with Dan Akroyd to peform with the Blues Brothers for the Blues’d and Infused cannabis fest, he visited Highway Horticulture and its Sunset Coast store in Cassopolis along with Green Stem in Niles and other stores.

And at least some of those interactions in southwestern Michigan survived the editing process and will make it to the show on Wednesday, said George Lynch, president of Green Stem.

George Lynch of Green Stem in Niles joins Jim Belushi on stage during a cannabis music festival last summer.
George Lynch of Green Stem in Niles joins Jim Belushi on stage during a cannabis music festival last summer.

“It brings some positive attention to the cannabis industry in this part of the state,” Lynch explained, adding that he hosted Akroyd, Belushi and others at his home in Niles after the concert so they could consume their traditional feast of cheesburgers ― from the early skit on "Saturday Night Live" that starred Akroyd and Belushi's late brother John ― after the performance.

“Working with Jim’s team and cultivating cannabis for Belushi’s Farm and their brand has been great,” said Nick Luhowy, chief cultivation officer with Highway Horticulture. “He is truly on a mission to normalize cannabis and raise the bar of quality for consumers.”

The growth of the Michigan cannabis industry has been booming since it was legalized for recreational use in 2018. With $1.8 billion in adult-use marijuana sales in 2022, the industry has created hundreds of new jobs and millions in investment and tax revenues in southwestern Michigan.

Email Tribune staff writer Ed Semmler at esemmler@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Upcoming "Growing Belushi" episode will highlight Michigan pot products