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Welcome to The Straight Dope, our new weekly series that explores the best cannabis products in Michigan.
Together, they’ve revitalized a neglected area of the city while making their mark as leaders in Michigan’s oversaturated cannabis industry.
The grow facility produces some of the most consistently potent, terpene-rich, and pungent cannabis in the state, and the Refinery offers it – and so much more – at the best prices, with a selection that rivals just about any dispensary in Michigan.
At Hytek, cannabis cultivation is both an art and a science. The company, owned by Bill “Chocolate” Anderson, has run 60 to 80 strains of flower since it started growing medical marijuana in 2020.
But even as Hytek’s reputation grew, it was slow to enter the recreational cannabis market because of the city of Detroit’s oft-criticized, delayed approval of adult-use marijuana businesses.
Despite its late start in the recreational industry, Hytek has established itself as one of the top growers in the state, with more than 100 dispensaries – some as far away as the Upper Peninsula – carrying its products.
Part of the reason for Hytek’s success is that Anderson puts passion above profit. He began growing weed in his 20s, long before it was legal, and so he has far more experience – and guts and resilience – than the green-rush profiteers who hoped to rake in profits with subpar cannabis.
“We know what the market is asking for,” Anderson tells Metro Times. “We smoke it, we like it, we run it.”
In addition to offering one-gram prerolls, Hytek recently launched its first line of live rosin, a solventless, terpene-rich concentrate popular for its purity and potency. The rosin comes in one-gram jars and includes three different strains: Zkittlez, Dulce De Uva, and Chem Sour.
Hytek’s attention to detail is evident in every bud, hand-trimmed and glistening with a snowy layer of trichomes.
With 13 grow rooms – 11 of them to produce buds – Hytek harvests about 500 pounds of cannabis a month and employs 60 people — more than half of whom are from Detroit.
For this review, I sampled five Hytek strains: Los Muertos, Candy Float, Sherb Cream Pie, Stankbreath, and Gelonade. Each delivered a potent high, with smooth hits and outstanding aromas and flavors.
Los Muertos
The standout was Los Muertos, a loud, funky indica-dominant hybrid bred by Hytek that features creamy, spicy, and gassy notes.
A cross between Motorbreath 15 and Project 4516, it’s the kind of strain that sets a cultivator apart in a market with an abundance of growers.
The buds are dense, perfectly manicured, and covered in sticky trichomes.
The flower was hard-hitting and euphoric, eventually giving way to a soothing high that melted away all my stress and tension.
The THC content is 30.3%.
Sherb Cream Pie
Sherb Cream Pie is a treat for the senses and combines the genetics of Ice Cream Cake and Sherb Bx1 to create an indica-dominant hybrid with a candy-sweet aroma.
A popular strain in Michigan’s market, Hytek’s batch stands out with a bold vanilla, creamy, and citrus flavor profile that’s as rich as it is potent.
One whiff, and you’re in. The soothing body high delivers bliss and deep relaxation, making it a perfect companion for unwinding and escaping the day’s stresses.
The buds are dense, sticky, and thickly frosted.
This strain offers a rich terpene blend led by caryophyllene, widely recognized for promoting relaxation and easing stress.
Candy Float
One of the sweetest strains you’ll find in Michigan’s legal market, Candy Float is a combination of Cherry Float and Ritz.
Creamy, fruity, and pungent, with strong notes of cherry, Candy Float is a mouthwatering hybrid that delivers a smooth, blissful experience.
It’s the perfect choice for flavor enthusiasts craving a relaxing escape.
The nugs have vibrant purple streaks and shimmering trichomes.
It’s no wonder candy strains are so popular, and Hytek nails this one.
Stank Breath is a potent, zesty combination of Sharks Breath x OG Kush.
True to its name, Stank Breath is a pungent hybrid with a funky medley of lemon, pine, and fuel.
The buds are so sticky and frosty, it looks like they were rolled in sugar crystals.
But my favorite part was the high – a powerful, body-dominant buzz that made me tranquil and forgetful. Perfect for an evening of staying at home, zoning out, and letting go of stress.
The most energizing of the strains I tried, Gelonade has been one of my favorites this year, and more than a handful of Michigan cultivators grow it.
But Hytek has crushed its Gelonade, a flavorful combination of Lemon Tree and Gelato.
The gooey, resin-packed buds have a refreshing aroma of sweet fruit, citrus, and a hint of vanilla.
Unlike many strains, Gelonade won’t lock you to the couch. It produces an invigorating, clear-headed high that may inspire you to clean the house, go out with friends, or do something creative.
Or write this column, for instance.
The Refinery
Next door, the Refinery has gained a reputation as a destination dispensary. With a warm, inviting environment, the dispensary has hundreds of products, from flower and prerolls to edibles, live rosin, and vape pens.
The flower deli is enormous, stretching the length of the store, and features fresh Hytek strains, as well as many other cultivators, including Favrd, Local Grove, Tip Top Crop, and Voyage Bloom.
The Refinery also offers below-market prices on everything – a deal that has raised its appeal. All eighths from the deli are $25 or under. Some are as low as $8.
And to draw customers in, the Refinery offers a generous promotion: Spend $50 or more, and you get a free eighth of any deli flower on your first four visits.
The Refinery’s motto, “Where the culture shops,” is reflected in its approach to keeping cannabis accessible and fresh. The dispensary uses humidifiers to maintain the quality of its flower and focuses on running a lean operation to ensure products are constantly turning over.
What sets Hytek and the Refinery apart isn’t just the quality of the cannabis or the competitive pricing — it’s the community-driven approach. With deep roots in Detroit and a commitment to hiring locally, Anderson and his team have created more than just a business. They’ve built a destination that embodies the city’s resilience and creativity.
“We’re just normal guys,” Anderson says. “We’re all blessed. We get to fuck with weed every day.”
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