Our firm has held off on posting an official statement in response to COVID-19. Until late last week we were operating business as usual during tax time, with little time to spare for much else during the crunch that March and the first half of April always are. We know too that everyone was probably overwhelmed with emails, news and other posts of the same topic and did not want to contribute to the uncertainty that has been over the recent weeks.
Other than managing an extended tax deadline, little else has changed for us in terms of our day to day process. A focus on a remote working environment has been incorporated into our business model from day one. We did not need to close our offices or quickly implement a business continuity plan. Our employees have and continue to work from the safety and comfort of their homes. As a firm we continue to support our clients to the fullest extent, now more than ever helping to ensure chaos is not reflected in their accounting and tax planning needs.
To all of our staff, clients, future clients and colleagues we are excited about the outlook ahead for cannabis businesses and the change inevitably happening around us. Michigan’s marijuana cultivators, processors, safety compliance facilities, secure transporters and provisioning centers have been deemed ‘essential services’. Agricultural production holds the same designation, including at the federal level.
To our marijuana business clients, though you may need to adapt to change, change is nothing new. This certainly won’t be the hardest challenge of operating a marijuana facility either! With the dust now settling, the marijuana industry has gained a strength and further legitimacy as an essential service (and sales are booming!). While other industries may be contracting under pressure, Michigan’s marijuana businesses will continue to have the opportunity to grow and expand. As an already forward thinking and responsible niche, continue to do things right and build this industry into everything that it has been waiting for!
To our hemp business clients, things are still just beginning. Agriculture as an essential service also ensures this industry has the opportunity to continue to better position itself as it evolves from pilot phase to full operations. With change in the air, we hope to see hemp paper, fiber and plastic manufacturers soon, along with all the other sustainable business models hemp can surely bring!
Health and wellness should always be a top concern – whether it be social distancing and staying home when necessary, or any other underlying health related aspect that is within our control. Our clients and colleagues have been frontrunners in the broader health and wellness industry, sometimes at all odds. As we collectively become more conscientious of our choices surrounding health, both industries will continue to rise further.
We wish everyone health and safety as we all look to balance the change around us and respond with light in the ways we best know how.
Please contact us at 810-793-6702 if you have any questions, concerns, or anything else you’d like to discuss further. We are always happy to provide guidance and insight to help keep your business moving forward!
