What kinds of businesses does Spire Insurance Solutions cover?

Spire is an independent specialty commercial insurance agency for cannabis and hemp operations (dispensaries, cultivators, processors, transportation), pet services (vets, groomers, boarders, day care, trainers, pet retail), self-storage and warehousing facilities, and food and beverage businesses (restaurants, bars, breweries, event venues). All coverage is subject to underwriting.

What states does Spire Insurance Solutions write business in?

Spire is licensed in Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Maine. Contact a Spire agent to confirm current licensing for your state.

How is Spire different from other commercial insurance agencies?

Spire focuses on a few specialty industries instead of writing for every type of business. Our team has deep underwriting and industry knowledge in cannabis, pet care, self-storage, and food and beverage — sectors that are often underserved by generalist carriers. We are also a Keystone Insurers Group partner agency, which gives us access to a broader carrier roster than a standalone independent agency.

Is Spire affiliated with another insurance agency?

Spire Insurance Solutions and Top O' Michigan Insurance Solutions are sister agencies under Spire America Holdings, Inc. Top O' Michigan serves individuals, families, and small-to-mid-sized businesses primarily in northern Michigan, while Spire focuses on specialty commercial coverage nationally.

How do I file a claim with Spire?

Most claims are reported directly to the insurance carrier so adjusters can be dispatched quickly. If you do not have your carrier's claim line handy, call Spire at 800-686-8664 or email service@thespireteam.com and we will route you to the right place. Spire stays involved as your advocate throughout the claims process.

Where is Spire Insurance Solutions located?

Spire is headquartered at 3183 Logan Valley Rd, Traverse City, Michigan 49684, with a second office at 400 Renaissance Center, Suite 2600, Detroit, Michigan 48243. Phone 800-686-8664. Email service@thespireteam.com.

What Are Gram (Dram) Shop Laws in Michigan — and Do They Apply to Cannabis?

Michigan's “dram shop” laws — the rules that hold bars and restaurants liable for damage caused by intoxicated patrons they served — have shaped alcohol liability for decades. As cannabis legalization expands, dispensary operators are asking the same question alcohol retailers have asked for years: am I liable if a customer leaves my store and causes harm?

What dram shop liability actually means

Michigan's Liquor Control Code (MCL 436.1801) creates civil liability for businesses that:

Sell or furnish alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person
Serve alcohol to a minor
Where that person then causes injury or property damage

The result: a bar that over-serves a customer who then causes a car accident can be sued by the injured party. Coverage for this exposure is typically packaged as “liquor liability” insurance, separate from general liability.

Does this extend to cannabis dispensaries in Michigan?

The short answer: not directly, but the legal landscape is evolving.

Michigan's Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) does not create dram-shop-equivalent civil liability for cannabis dispensaries. There's no current statute holding a dispensary liable if a customer leaves and causes a car accident.

However:

Common-law negligence claims could theoretically be brought (though precedent is limited)
Federal product liability principles still apply if the cannabis product itself is defective
Sales to minors (or to medical-only patients without verification) create separate liability under the regulatory framework
Some states have begun considering “cannabis dram shop” legislation, and Michigan could follow

What dispensaries should do now

Even without a direct dram-shop equivalent, prudent dispensaries should:

Maintain solid age and ID verification protocols at the point of sale
Train staff to recognize visible impairment and handle that situation per CRA guidance
Carry general liability with limits sized for potential negligence claims
Confirm with their broker that their products liability policy covers post-sale claims, not just point-of-sale
Watch for evolving Michigan case law and CRA rule changes

Liquor liability and cannabis liability are separate insurance products. If your business serves both (a few cannabis-friendly bars and consumption lounges in adult-use states), you likely need both coverages.

Coverage is subject to underwriting. Contact a Spire agent for a Michigan-specific liability review.

This article is general educational information, not legal advice. Consult your attorney for specific legal questions about Michigan dram shop or cannabis liability.