From Jet Ski Racing to Pain Relief: Inside the CBD Store of Michigan & Blue Lake CBD
When you walk into the CBD Store of Michigan in Fremont, you’re not just stepping into a retail shop—you’re stepping into someone’s recovery story.
Owner Rod Glupker didn’t get into CBD because it was trendy. He got into it because his body was broken.
A Racer’s Body Meets Middle Age
In his teens and 20s, Rod raced jet skis on the circuit for about a decade. It was fast, fun, and brutal on his spine.
By his 30s and 40s, the damage had caught up with him:
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Three bulging discs diagnosed more than 20 years ago
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Later, full degenerative disc disease, with bulging discs all the way into his neck
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Weeks at a time spent barely able to move
He tried everything the medical system had to offer:
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10+ years of physical therapy
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A long list of pain medications, including opioids
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Steroid injections
Nothing brought lasting relief.
Then one day his wife handed him a small bottle and said, “Try this, it’s supposed to help with pain.”
By that evening, Rod started to feel better.
“What did you give me?” he asked.
“CBD,” she said.
Rod’s response: “What is CBD?”
That question changed his life.
From Patient to Educator to Retailer
Once CBD helped his pain, Rod went all in on learning:
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Took online courses
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Attended seminars across the country
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Eventually started getting invited to teach at seminars himself
As he learned, he shared. Friends heard his story, wanted to try CBD, and asked where they should buy it. At first, Rod pointed them to various websites.
They all said the same thing:
“If you sold it, I’d buy it from you.”
So he started small—very small:
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He began with just three tinctures from a friend.
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It took him three months to sell those first three.
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Then he bought six. Then twelve.
Four years later, that tiny start has grown into:
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Over 60 brands
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More than 200 products on the shelves
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A thriving brick-and-mortar store in Fremont
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And his own house brand: Blue Lake CBD
A Michigan-Made Focus
Rod’s shelves are filled with products from across the state:
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Grand Rapids
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Jenison
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Rockford
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Traverse City
Most of what he sells is Michigan-made, supporting local farmers, processors, and manufacturers.
Among all of those brands, Blue Lake CBD has emerged as his top seller.
The Star of the Show: Blue Lake Spearmint Tincture
The best-selling product in the store?
Blue Lake Spearmint CBD tincture, which Rod says “tastes like Doublemint gum.”
Key features:
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Available in 1,000 mg and 2,000 mg strengths
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Full-spectrum, with up to 0.3% THC
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Flavor-forward and easy to take
He’s also added an orange-flavored tincture, which quickly became a customer favorite because it stands out from the usual mint and “natural” offerings.
Sleep Support: CBD + CBN “Night” Formula
One of Rod’s newest hits is his “Night” formula:
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750 mg CBD
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250 mg CBN
It’s designed to help people who struggle with sleep, and it’s been a standout product almost immediately. Customers are already coming back for repeat purchases and sending their friends in asking for “that sleep stuff that worked.”
Rod’s take: it’s not just the CBD or the CBN alone—people seem to benefit from the combination, the so-called “entourage effect” of cannabinoids working together.
Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, and Isolate – Explained Simply
Because education is such a big part of his mission, Rod spends a lot of time explaining the differences between types of CBD products:
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Full Spectrum
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Uses the whole plant
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Can contain many cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBN, trace THC, and more—over 120 possible)
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Up to 0.3% THC by law
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Often preferred for those seeking the full entourage effect
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Broad Spectrum
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Similar to full spectrum
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All cannabinoids except THC
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Ideal for those who want plant synergy but must avoid THC
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Isolate
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99% pure CBD (and nothing else)
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Sold as a one-gram powder under the Blue Lake brand
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Easy to mix into drinks, food, soaps, bath products, and DIY formulations
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Rod uses isolate in-store for his handmade bath bombs, soaps, and even massage candles.
Beyond People: CBD for Pets and Horses
In Fremont, pets and livestock are family too. Rod’s shelves reflect that:
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Dog and cat products: tinctures and treats for anxious, aging, or arthritic pets
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Horse pellets and tinctures for equine customers
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Some customers even buy the horse pellets for goats and pigs that aren’t doing well
As more people see how CBD helps their own pain and anxiety, they naturally start asking, “Can this help my dog?” Rod is ready with options—and the education that goes with them.
Topicals, Pain Relief, and Drug Testing Concerns
Many of Rod’s customers—nurses, Gerber employees, firefighters, even a Michigan State Police officer—need relief but cannot risk THC in a drug test.
Here’s how he approaches it:
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For those who must avoid THC, he recommends THC-free broad spectrum or isolate-based products for internal use.
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For topicals, he explains that:
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THC molecules are larger than CBD molecules
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THC is unlikely to enter the bloodstream from a topical application
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So full-spectrum topicals are generally considered low-risk from a testing perspective
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He reports that he hasn’t had customers come back with positive tests from using topicals alone, but he’s always careful to explain the options and let people make informed decisions.
The Banking & Payment Gauntlet
Like many in the hemp and CBD world, Rod had to navigate messy financial waters:
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Started with PayPal – got shut down.
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Added Square (before they had a CBD program) – got shut down again.
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Contacted hundreds of banks before finding one that would work with him.
He eventually landed with Union Bank in Ada, one of the few institutions willing to handle CBD accounts as “high-risk” clients. They:
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Inspected his store and products
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Reviewed all of his Certificates of Analysis (COAs)
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Helped him secure and later get forgiveness on a COVID-era PPP loan
The catch? High-risk banking comes with higher fees. That’s a hidden cost many consumers never see—but it’s part of why CBD products aren’t cheap, even when owners like Rod keep margins as tight as they can.
Marketing, Community, and Education
Rod doesn’t just open the doors and hope people wander in. He’s proactive:
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Runs print ads in:
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Local newspapers
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Regional golf magazines (Michigan/Ohio/Indiana)
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Horse, cat, and dog publications
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Posts blogs every couple of weeks at:
cbdstoremi.com, covering:-
CBD basics
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Sleep and anxiety
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Pets and horses
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How to start with CBD
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Hosts in-store classes, pairing CBD education with:
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Massage therapists
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Breathwork practitioners
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Yoga instructors
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He also participates in the West Michigan Cannabis Guild, supporting fellow CBD retailers and building a network of shared knowledge and best practices.
A Store Built on Service
If you spend time in the CBD Store of Michigan, you’ll notice something: Rod doesn’t rush people. He listens.
During the show, an older gentleman came in looking for pain relief. Rod didn’t just hand him a bottle and ring him up—he asked questions, explained options, and helped match the product to the man’s specific needs.
That’s the heart of his business:
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Every customer is different
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Every body is different
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The right product matters
With more than 200 products and more than 60 brands, including his own Blue Lake CBD line, Rod has built a shop that’s equal parts retail, education center, and community hub.
How to Connect with the CBD Store of Michigan
If you want to learn more, shop, or explore Blue Lake CBD:
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Website:
cbdstoremi.com -
Location: Fremont, Michigan – CBD Store of Michigan
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Products:
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Tinctures (Spearmint, Orange, Night formula)
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Gummies
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Topicals and salves
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Bath bombs, soaps, massage candles
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Pet and horse formulas
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Smokeable hemp flower and pre-rolls (under 0.3% THC)
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Rod’s story started with three tinctures and one painful spine. Today, it’s a full store helping people sleep better, hurt less, and live a little easier—with a lot less stigma and a lot more understanding.