How New Buffalo became New Puffalo nearly overnight.

If you haven’t been to New Buffalo for a while, you’re in for a surprise. 

Driving north (west) on U.S. 12 (Dunes Highway) from Indiana, (which I highly recommend over the interstate, as you feel like you’re on vacation the moment you exit) you’ll notice the change the moment you see the ‘Welcome to Michigan’ sign. 

In rapid-fire succession, at least 18 weed dispensaries have opened up since late last spring. I’d give you an exact number, but it’d be wrong by the time you read this. New places go up practically overnight (so much for slow-moving, dawdling contractors) and EVERY PARKING LOT AT EVERY DISPENSARY IS ALWAYS PACKED. OK, I have no real way of knowing this, as I do not camp out on U.S. 12 and watch. But every time I’ve driven that way (and that’s a lot), the parking lots were full. Friends in the area confirm the observation. 

Same goes for the many dispensaries near the New Buffalo exit off Interstate 94. 

I wrote about New Puffalo for Crain’s, where I was an editor for 13 years, when the licenses were first granted in April of last year. (Article is behind a paywall.)

The township opened the application process for licenses in April 2023 and, as of March 18, 2024, it had received 50 applicants, though some were partial. The flood of applicants took the local government by surprise, and they had to put the brakes on the number they approved. In April of last year, New Buffalo had given preliminary approval to 27. 

The dispensaries attract buyers from nearby Indiana, where pot is illegal, as well as weekenders and daytrippers from Illinois, who enjoy the much lower taxes on weed in Michigan. 

Just don’t plan on finding a dispensary in downtown New Buffalo when you’re strolling around after dinner at red-hot Post Boy or a day at the beach. Licenses were granted only for the areas near the interstate and south of town on 12. 

One more thing: I cannot claim credit for the nickname New Puffalo. And I’m sorry to say I can’t recall where I heard it or read it, but, bravo to whoever did.