Michigan Vlasic Classic raises $20,000 for cannabis justice groups

Vlasic Labs’ third annual Michigan Vlasic Classic at St. John’s Resort raised $20,000 for cannabis prisoner release and re-entry efforts, while giving recently freed Antonio Wyatt a first-day-of-freedom reunion with the cannabis community. The event also highlighted progress in the case of former basketball player Jarred Shaw and pushed the charity golf series past $200,000 raised nationwide.

Why it matters: - The Michigan Vlasic Classic is using cannabis industry dollars to fund prisoner support, expungement and re-entry work. - The weekend put a human face on cannabis justice, with Antonio Wyatt joining the event on his first day of freedom after nine years in prison. - The fundraiser added to a charity golf series that has now raised more than $200,000 nationwide.

What happened: - Vlasic Labs hosted the third annual Michigan Vlasic Classic earlier this month at St. John’s Resort in Plymouth, Michigan. - JARS Cannabis presented the event. - The tournament raised $20,000 for The Forgotten Prisoner Foundation, Freedom Grow and the Great Lakes Expungement Network. - The weekend centered on golf, community and cannabis justice advocacy. - Antonio Wyatt arrived in Michigan hours after being released from prison in Kansas. - Wyatt had served nine years and boarded a flight directly to the tournament’s welcome mixer after his Friday morning release. - Wyatt’s first meal outside prison came with members of the cannabis community at the event.

The details: - Michigan’s licensed cannabis brands and retailers supported the fundraiser, including Lume, Kushy Punch, Jeeter, Zig Zag, Dutchie and Kairos Testing. - The tournament featured a shotgun-start round on St. John’s Resort’s golf course. - The weekend also included an Awards Gala and the annual Willy V Afterparty. - Sponsor activations, entertainment, raffles and on-course experiences rounded out the event. - The event also kept attention on former professional basketball player Jarred Shaw, who remains in Indonesia on cannabis-related charges tied to gummies he bought to manage Crohn’s disease. - Organizers said during the weekend that Shaw had been moved to a private hospital in Indonesia. - Vlasic said the move marked progress toward medical treatment as Shaw continues dealing with serious health challenges. - Vlasic also said the cannabis industry should not forget Shaw or his family.

Between the lines: - The event is part fundraiser and part public pressure campaign, blending direct aid with storytelling that keeps cannabis criminalization cases in view. - Antonio Wyatt’s appearance gave the weekend a visible example of what re-entry support can look like when a community is ready to help. - The Jarred Shaw update showed how the series also tries to sustain attention on international cannabis cases, not just U.S. expungement work. - The lineup of sponsors suggests cannabis brands are willing to attach themselves to justice reform efforts that connect with consumers and industry workers.

What's next: - The next Vlasic Classic is scheduled for Las Vegas on Oct. 10, 2026. - Vlasic Labs said the event series will continue raising money for justice reform organizations, prisoner support initiatives, second-chance programs and advocacy efforts. - More information is available here.

The bottom line: - The Michigan Vlasic Classic turned a golf tournament into a $20,000 fundraiser, a freedom celebration and a platform for cannabis justice cases that are still unfolding.