Growing Pains: Michigan Flavor in Motion

Basement Beginnings

Before the brand, founders Seth and Tom met through Michigan’s caregiver program—swapping genetics, trade secrets, and late-night DMs. Their early work unfolded in small basement rooms, fueled by cheap lights and relentless trial and error. Each failed harvest taught them something new about discipline, patience, and the art of the cure.

Warehouse to West Michigan

From home setups to licensed warehouse facilities, the team scaled carefully, keeping their hands in the soil and their craft intact. The name Growing Pains came naturally—it was a reflection of their path. Every broken ballast, every failed pheno, every setback became part of their growth story.

Flavor-First Genetics

The brand’s foundation was never hype—it was flavor. Cultivars like Zangria, Citronade, Sherbanger, A5, and London Berries established their identity: candy-gas done clean. When Permanent Marker—later named Leafly’s Strain of the Year—hit Michigan shelves, Growing Pains already had it dialed, proof their pheno work ran ahead of the national curve.

Flower Foundation

Their reputation started with eighths and 14-gram jars of Pink Pebbles, BOLO Runtz, and Bubblegum Gelato—bags that looked like candy and smoked with gas. Michigan smokers began recognizing a Growing Pains jar instantly, not by logo alone but by consistency of quality and cure.

Roll It Up

The brand’s 1-gram prerolls—including London Marker, Malibu Marker, and Zangria—were never made with trim or shake. Each was packed with the same top-shelf flower, rolled with care, and designed to smoke as evenly as a hand-built cone.

Rosin Rules

In a solventless-heavy state, Growing Pains doubled down on ice water extraction and cold cure. Strains like Honey Banana, Crunch Berries, and Zangria defined their hash program, while 0.5g rosin pens made terp-rich dabs portable without dilution or compromise.

Statewide Drops

From Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo, Dispo, Cake House, and Puff, Growing Pains became a familiar name. Weekly drops developed cult followings—shelves cleared fast, and drop days became events among Michigan hash connoisseurs.

Proper Champs

Their Honey Banana Rosin took home the Dessert Bracket title at the Proper Smoke League hosted by Proper Doinks—a national competition featuring California’s top solventless brands. Judges called the batch “a unicorn,” praising its terp clarity and texture.

Influence in Michigan

In a crowded field, Growing Pains carved a unique identity: pheno-first, solventless-centered, flavor-led. They showed that Michigan’s small-batch market could rival California’s in both depth and execution. Their methods inspired other local cultivators to focus on clean inputs and terp preservation.

From Pains to Pressure

For Growing Pains, struggle is part of the design. What began in basements has become a statewide standard for taste and transparency. Every hurdle built the muscle for success, proving that in Michigan, pain really can turn into pressure.

YOUTUBE VIDEO

— Nugg Notes

SOURCES:

1. The brand’s web site — “Flavor Makers”

    

   • States: “We are devoted to bringing some of the most tasteful flavors to our home state of Michigan, hand selecting some of the most sought after genetics in the world.” 

   • Strain listing shows candy-/gas-leaning genetics like Pink Pebbles, Lemon Cherry Gelato, London Marker, Bubblegum Gelato. 

   • Good for flavor-first genetics, strain roster, brand positioning.

    

2. Menu and strain details on the brand site

    

   • Lists specific strains like Zyrup (Bubblegum/Candy/Gas) and Citronade (Orange/Citrus/Gas) with crosses and flavor profiles. 

   • Good for citing the signature strains and the “candy gas w/ Michigan edge” vibe you describe.

    

3. The Refinery / “Brands to Watch 2025” write-up

    

   • Article: “Growing Pains & Hytek: Michigan Brands to Watch in 2025” identifies Growing Pains as shaping the MI market. 

   • It also notes their strain Honey Banana won a competition (Proper Cup) in MI, supporting the “proper champs” claim. 

   • Use this to demonstrate market recognition, competitive success, influence.

    

4. Dispensary listing – product availability / distribution

    

   • Example: The brand appears in dispensary menus (e.g., The Refinery in Kalamazoo) and retailers like Exclusive Ann Arbor. 

   • Demonstrates statewide drop / presence across various MI shops (Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, etc).

    

5. Reddit user discussion — community feedback on quality & flavor

    

   • A Reddit thread: “Growing Pains/Grateful Farmz might be the most consistent flower in MI … Pink pebbles, A5 and crunch berries are all fire.” 

   • Another thread: “I picked up flower from 8 diffrent grows … this is by far my favorite.” 

   • These show consumer perceptions of high quality, strong flavor, consistent product. Useful for your narrative of craft-approach and recognition amongst users.