From left: Jacob Stewart, Stephanie Cochran, Natalia Cardenas, Olivia Haynes and Scott Lowen prepare to cut a ribbon in front of the New Standard Hazel Park store. Courtesy Photo
When New Standard opened its first cannabis dispensary in Hazel Park, Michigan, it was probably not the auspicious beginning Howard Luckoff and several other co-founders envisioned. The storefront opened April 3, less than a month after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a state of emergency triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Aug. 20, New Standard held a more traditional grand-opening celebration with local dignitaries in attendance and a live audience watching via Facebook and Instagram. In the time between opening its doors to medical patients and holding the ribbon-cutting event, New Standard was approved for adult-use marijuana sales. The company plans to open seven additional retail stores in the state.
The Hazel Park retail outlet is the first location for New Standard, which has a farm in central Michigan and offers curbside and delivery service.
