Meet the Facility Manager of JK Logix's Warren Transportation Hub, a leader in Michigan Cannabis Logistics, who is Driving Success throughout Detroit

In the bustling world of Michigan cannabis logistics and transport, few companies stand out like JK Logix. To get an inside look at what makes this company a leader in the industry, we sat down with Torin, JK Logix's facility manager at the Warren, Michigan distribution facility. Torin shared his experiences, insights, and predictions for the future of the Michigan cannabis industry, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

What are some of the most common issues that organizations are dealing with right now in the Michigan Cannabis industry?

1: Payment Processing

I’d say the biggest difficulty I see right now is organizations struggling with the logistics of payment processing. In the cannabis industry, it can be difficult to coordinate the communication that comes from the grower to the retail store. A common reason for this is that many growers never even talk to their dispensary partners directly because there are so many different kinds of middlemen that get involved between inventory and invoicing — a common example of cannabis payment processing issues.

JK Logix addresses this by consolidating services and eliminating bloat.

By bringing warehousing, inventory/asset management, compliance, and logistics under one roof, JK Logix has been able to significantly cut down on how many cooks are in the kitchen while providing attractive price points for bundled services. This centralized model also streamlines the cannabis supply chain in Michigan operations. We also regularly step in to make sure everyone up and down the supply chain has the right information to remove any friction between the growers and stores by creating clear processes that meticulously track every gram and every dollar that flows between the two.

2: Regulation (or Lack Thereof)

The regulatory landscape for cannabis is another significant challenge. Since marijuana is still not legal on the federal level (although signs are pointing to some big changes on the horizon), there are still many unknowns that can affect the industry. The way that Michigan provides licenses is actually very easy for people to get. This fuels the crazy growth we’ve been seeing, but also some crazy turnover. Tons of new dispensaries pop up and, especially as supply grows faster than demand, lots of dispensaries disappear, creating unique challenges in cannabis compliance in Michigan.

That said, I actually find some excitement in the 'chaos' because we have the opportunity to jump in and help!

3: Product Price Volatility

Compared to most other industries, product pricing in cannabis is extremely volatile. For example, we had a client who saw the cost of a liter of their distillate swing $50,000 over one year! The biggest factor in price volatility is an overabundance of supply that drives the price down. Pricing is also influenced by internal factors such as harvest dates and crop yield. These can fluctuate widely due to various external variables. This reality significantly impacts distillate cannabis products.

Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, what are some of the trends you're predicting for the cannabis industry?

1: Oil and Distillate Are King

The products that are really booming are anything growers can distill into a product, like edibles. They’re in sodas, candy, and potato chips. You see shoppers come in from out-of-state, see potato chips infused with THC, and have their jaw drop, haha!  I think that, along with Colorado and California, Michigan is a leader in the cannabis food market. Cannabis edibles Michigan continue to draw interest from both locals and tourists.

2: Trademark Infringement Lawsuits

If you’ve ever spent time looking at the designs and names of cannabis strains, you’ll obviously notice there are a lot of parody names that play off of other, non-cannabis-related brands. Some brands are fine with it, but others get pretty protective, especially when they operate in the food & drink industry and are worried about customers mistakenly thinking some of their products have THC in them. Michigan cannabis logistics teams work hard to ensure branding stays compliant.

What's your favorite part about working at JK Logix?

Well, not to sound too cheesy, but we're growing like a weed :)

The growth and the company environment are addictive and have kept me solidly here through any ups and downs. Since I joined the team a couple of years ago, we’ve taken our armored transport fleet from 6 to 23 vehicles. It’s a fast-growing company in a sometimes cutthroat industry, and it feels good to be with the winners. 

JK Logix Leadership Sets an Example

You won’t find the JK Logix leadership ever coasting. They are always going the extra mile to do what it takes to make clients and employees successful.

One specific example happened about two years ago. There was a major player in Michigan cannabis that quickly moved into recreational sales. Cannabis transportation in Michigan played a key role in making the transition smooth. As soon as they received the green light to start selling, they sent us a massive shipment (approximately 600-700 packages) that needed to be processed within a day.

It was all hands on deck. Leadership set an example by immediately stopping what they were doing to unite the whole team and rolled up their sleeves to get the work done. We ordered some pizza and pulled an all-nighter to make it happen on time and met every one of the client’s needs. Cannabis warehousing in Michigan allowed us to manage that surge efficiently.

When everyone shares the same mindset of 'this will get done and we will do it,' it fosters the kind of camaraderie that drives our success. I never thought I’d be a ‘go above and beyond’ type guy, but the type of work bondsmanship that JK leadership has built makes it easy.

Licensed marijuana transporter in Michigan, like ours, ensures every delivery meets compliance and safety standards.

Conclusion

For those interested in joining a company that values hard work, innovation, and camaraderie, JK Logix continues to set the standard for Michigan cannabis logistics. It stands out as a beacon of excellence, especially for logistics professionals looking to understand the intricacies of the Michigan cannabis landscape.

If you’re considering a career at JK Logix or want to learn more about how they can help streamline your cannabis business operations, don’t hesitate to reach out: 517-574-5930.

With leaders like Torin at the helm, there’s no limit to what we can achieve together.