Michigan court rules marijuana farm business illegally destroyed 15.9 acres of protected wetlands in Iosco County

A Michigan court has ruled that a marijuana farming business violated the state's wetland protection law while building a cannabis farm in Iosco County, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Oct. 2.

On Sept. 23, the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County granted the attorney general's motion for summary disposition, finding that Bliss Corporate Inc., doing business as Bliss Cannabis and Bliss Farms, and 3227 S. National Road LLC violated Part 303 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, according to the attorney general's office. The state filed the lawsuit in August 2025 on behalf of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

According to the attorney general's office, Bliss Corporate began clearcutting, dredging, draining and filling 15.9 acres of protected wetlands in Sherman Township in fall 2022 to construct and operate a marijuana farm. EGLE began investigating in December 2022 after a complaint from the Sherman Township supervisor, then sent violation notices and met with company representatives multiple times from 2022 to 2024, the office said. The state says the company continued developing the wetlands despite repeated notice and direction to stop.

Violations of the state's wetland protection provisions carry civil fines of up to $10,000 per day of violation. "We won't tolerate the destruction of our natural resources in any corner of the state, and no business has the right to wantonly devastate important habitats," Nessel said in the release. EGLE Director Phil Roos said, "Those who violate these protections must be held accountable for the damage they cause."

The court scheduled a hearing for Nov. 24, 2026, to determine civil penalties and injunctive relief. In the lawsuit, the attorney general asked the court to permanently bar the defendants from violating the wetland protection law, order full restoration of the affected wetlands and impose the fullest extent of civil fines on a per-day, per-violation basis. ABC12 (WJRT) also reported the ruling.

This is a civil case; this report summarizes the attorney general's announcement and published news coverage and is not legal advice.