Latest news with #DrewHutton
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Information Entropy Launches New Roots in New Buffalo, Michigan, with Its Largest Location Yet
Information Entropy expands its footprint with a new store in New Buffalo, solidifying its commitment to Michigan-grown cannabis, fresh hash, and a high-integrity, regional brand vision. Information Entropy, a family-owned and operated quality-driven cannabis company known for its homegrown ethos, has expanded with the opening of a new retail location in New Buffalo, Michigan. Just a few minutes from downtown Chicago and hugging the Indiana state line, the 6,000-square-foot store is the brand's largest to date, signifying a pivotal moment in its regional growth strategy. "New Buffalo lets us connect with new customers without losing what makes us who we are. People have been driving for hours to Ann Arbor from different states. Now, we're meeting them halfway," says founder Drew Hutton. "Sure, it's about making things more convenient, but it's also about being ready. If and when legalization happens, I want this brand to already be familiar and trusted across the region." The new store offers room to breathe and browse in an inviting atmosphere designed to reflect the brand's signature aesthetic, which is industrial and approachable. Polished concrete floors, exposed ductwork, and an intentional use of natural light provide a clean but warm backdrop to the curated retail experience. Though modern in its feel, the store retains a sense of local familiarity and approachability, staying true to the laid-back ethos that defines Information Entropy's presence across Michigan. This latest opening complements the company's main Ann Arbor hub. Housed in what was once a church and then a flower shop, the flagship location retains its architectural charm. "It used to be a flower shop, and I guess in a way it still is," Hutton jokes. A smaller downtown location on Miller Ave provides additional access in Ann Arbor, while all their own products are cultivated, processed, and packaged in-house, ensuring every item hits the shelves fresh. Information Entropy is a vertically integrated cannabis company that believes quality starts at the source and that freshness is non-negotiable. Every product begins its journey in DeTour Village, Michigan. There, the company operates a cultivation site with indoor and greenhouse growing capabilities, harvesting flowers that are immediately transported to Ann Arbor for trimming, packaging, extraction, and retail distribution. Controlling the entire supply chain allows Information Entropy to avoid the common pitfalls of cannabis spoilage and quality degradation. This level of control also allows the company to adhere to strict internal standards. This means not only refusing to sell remediated products but also avoiding them from brands that use converted hemp or other synthetic shortcuts. "Hash is the most delicate, most expressive form of cannabis," Hutton says. "It's where our passion lies, and it's where we think we can lead the market." That passion shows in Information Entropy's process, from small-batch ice water hash to solventless extractions, all made in-house. Even the product packaging, featuring holographic, matte, and gloss finishes with artwork by Sao Paulo-based illustrators, reflects a deep level of thought and craftsmanship. As a family-owned company, Information Entropy's philosophy also extends to staffing and community engagement. Most employees are locals, and that is why it takes pride in being a part of the communities where it operates. Hutton cites local legends, companies that grew from Michigan roots into institutions known for integrity, consistency, and obsessive attention to detail. "That's the kind of business I want to build, something that still feels like it belongs to the community, even as it grows," says Hutton. However, building a community-focused cannabis business has been challenging. At the height of the COVID pandemic, Information Entropy was on the brink of collapse. "There was a moment where I thought I was going to lose everything my family had put into this," Hutton admits. "I had two months of runway left. But we made it through, and that experience made me more committed to building something resilient." That resilience now powers the company's cautious expansion strategy. In the short term, Information Entropy aims to open additional stores across Michigan, strategically placed near state borders to tap into existing out-of-state demand. Meanwhile, its cultivation and processing operations will remain in-house and close to home. In the long term, the goal is to become the most trusted cannabis brand in Michigan, renowned for top-notch quality, transparency, and fresh, hash-forward products.
Epoch Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Greens Co-Founder Says Party Must Return to Environmental Roots After Election Setback
After losing most of its lower house seats at the recent election, the co-founder of the Australian Greens says the party needs to return to its environmental roots and adopt a more pragmatic approach. Drew Hutton founded the Queensland Greens, and co-founded the Australian Greens alongside retired Senator Bob Brown in the early 1990s. Hutton now is on the party outer and his membership suspended after opposing the participation of male-to-female trans people in women's activities and sports. The environmental activist, who once chained himself to a tree in the Brisbane's Queen Street Mall, said that if the Greens wanted to expand their base, they needed to promote proper green causes. 'It wasn't a disaster for the Greens. But the Greens have plateaued in their support,' Hutton told The Epoch Times, adding that preferences contributed to the end result. 'My concern is that they are not pursuing strategies which allow them to talk to ordinary Australians,' he said. Related Stories 4/9/2025 9/6/2022 Activist Drew Hutton in his heyday chained to a tree in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall. The co-founder of the Australian Greens and founder of the Queensland Greens, is now at odds with the party he founded over his support of women's rights. He remains active. Courtesy of Drew Hutton 'They locked into the youth vote, but the older people get, the less they vote the Greens.' While the party's overall vote only declined by 0.2 percent, the swing of preferences saw the party lose three of its four lower house seats, including party leader Adam Bandt's seat of Melbourne, which he has held since 2010. Bandt recorded a 4.8 percent primary swing away from him. 'I think what puts people off is they talk down to people too much and they're not pragmatic enough, they've been too combative,' Hutton said. 'I'm not convinced the Albanese government is going to be receptive to good environmental reforms ... the Greens need to take it right up to the Labor government. 'I've got no problem being aggressive on those things, but they have to be important (things).' A new Greens leader is yet to emerge and Hutton says the decision will be critical because it could either drive the party back to its origins, or see it drift further away. Greens for Gaza Last year, the Greens leadership had hoped to expand its share of seats across several elections, but this did not eventuate. One of the main factors blamed has been the party's focus on backing Palestine in the Israel-Hamas War. Greens MPs was often present at pro-Palestinian rallies and university encampments. In response, one Melbourne Jewish man even lodged Following the election, defeated Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the Gaza issue was their downfall. 'No spin by Adam Bandt can change the reality that he, and other Green members, lost their seats because of their appalling treatment of the Jewish community,' he said. 'Australians were rightly disgusted at their behaviour.' Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said Bandt's approach to the conflict, which levelled all blame on Israel for Oct. 7, 2023, was not supportive of Palestinians. 'It shows that he is not a supporter of Palestinians at all,' he told the Australian Jewish News. 'He is an exploiter of them. They only interest him as a gimmick through which he can express his hatred for Israel. 'The Greens claim to be counter-establishment and progressive. But they are rooted in the old, failed ideology of communism and the socialism of fools—anti-Semitism.' Labor's Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticised Bandt for his 'aggressive' approach. 'I think Australians rejected the politics of conflict and the politics of grievance,' she said. While Labor Minister Tanya Plibersek said the Greens were no longer a party of environmentalists. 'I don't think the Greens is the party of (founder) Bob Brown anymore,' she said.
The Age
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
How the war between ‘watermelons' and ‘tree-Tories' brought down the Greens
Drew Hutton played a crucial role in the formation of the Greens – first in Queensland, then as a co-founder of the national party alongside Bob Brown. After watching the party lose three of its four House of Representatives seats – including the stunning defeat of leader Adam Bandt, who conceded his seat of Melbourne on Thursday afternoon – Hutton says the party needs to fundamentally rethink the way it communicates with Australian voters. 'The Greens have experimented with what I would call a hyper-militant approach during the last three years,' says Hutton, who was suspended from the Queensland branch in 2023 over a debate over trans rights and free speech. 'I'm a bit of a hyper-militant myself, in many ways, but you need to know when to hold them and when to fold them. 'What will broaden their base is if they lose this terrible way they have of expressing their moral superiority over everyone else and their refusal to talk meaningfully with ordinary Australians.' Speaking with a candour not available to Greens MPs, who can face misconduct charges for bringing the party into disrepute, Hutton says the Greens suffered from appearing obstructionist by blocking key Labor policies on housing affordability. The Greens' leadership eventually recognised this at the end of last year by waving through Labor's shared equity and built-to-rent policies, despite failing to win any concessions from the government. 'They also overplayed their hand on Gaza and needed to make it a bit clearer they were totally opposed to the politics of Hamas,' Hutton says. When Hutton, who led the anti-mining Lock the Gate environmental group, officially retired from activism in 2017, Brown hailed him as 'a towering figure in Australian environmental and social politics for the last four decades'. However, the long-time Greens leader has a diametrically different view of the election results, underlining the challenge the party faces as it ponders its identity in a post-Bandt era.
Sydney Morning Herald
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
How the war between ‘watermelons' and ‘tree-Tories' brought down the Greens
Drew Hutton played a crucial role in the formation of the Greens – first in Queensland, then as a co-founder of the national party alongside Bob Brown. After watching the party lose three of its four House of Representatives seats – including the stunning defeat of leader Adam Bandt, who conceded his seat of Melbourne on Thursday afternoon – Hutton says the party needs to fundamentally rethink the way it communicates with Australian voters. 'The Greens have experimented with what I would call a hyper-militant approach during the last three years,' says Hutton, who was suspended from the Queensland branch in 2023 over a debate over trans rights and free speech. 'I'm a bit of a hyper-militant myself, in many ways, but you need to know when to hold them and when to fold them. 'What will broaden their base is if they lose this terrible way they have of expressing their moral superiority over everyone else and their refusal to talk meaningfully with ordinary Australians.' Speaking with a candour not available to Greens MPs, who can face misconduct charges for bringing the party into disrepute, Hutton says the Greens suffered from appearing obstructionist by blocking key Labor policies on housing affordability. The Greens' leadership eventually recognised this at the end of last year by waving through Labor's shared equity and built-to-rent policies, despite failing to win any concessions from the government. 'They also overplayed their hand on Gaza and needed to make it a bit clearer they were totally opposed to the politics of Hamas,' Hutton says. When Hutton, who led the anti-mining Lock the Gate environmental group, officially retired from activism in 2017, Brown hailed him as 'a towering figure in Australian environmental and social politics for the last four decades'. However, the long-time Greens leader has a diametrically different view of the election results, underlining the challenge the party faces as it ponders its identity in a post-Bandt era.
