For those who keep a running list of odd local news, Monroe, Michigan just delivered an entry worthy of the annals. After a reported Bigfoot encounter along Laplaisance Road, not only has the town been abuzz, but a cannabis dispensary has managed to wedge itself into the legend in a way that’s equal parts brilliant and classically absurd. As detailed by WTVG via KXII, Uniq Cannabis on I-75 is now advertising a special: bring photographic proof of the elusive creature, receive a free pre-roll. Modern problems require modern solutions, apparently.

The Latest “It Was Right There—But” Account

The supposed sighting comes from a 47-year-old local known only as Edward, who provided his retelling to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization. Edward and his 12-year-old son were bow fishing last month when an acrobatic series of events unfolded: a “huge thud” cut through the evening, a “big, heavy animal” dropped to the ground (from a tree, no less), and then promptly attempted an escape. Their dog, commendably braver than most, promptly set off after the hulking intruder, described as somewhere in that blurry venn diagram between “bear-size” and “gorilla-shaped.” Edward’s son recalled it running on two legs in a “hunched position.” The entire encounter, by their account, played out in about ten seconds—long enough to make an impression, but apparently too fast for so much as a blurry cell phone pic.

One almost has to appreciate the tenacity of Bigfoot lore to survive in an age where everyone is armed with a camera and yet, as always, proof remains elusive. Reporting by WTVG notes that Matthe Moneymaker, the investigator from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, handled their testimony with due cryptozoological diligence, adding it to the ever-growing collection of fleeting encounters. As the outlet documents, when asked about photographic evidence, Edward and his son explained that it all happened so quickly neither thought to snap a picture.

From Urban Legend to Cannabis Coupon

News of the sighting didn’t just rattle the local fishing circuit. Monroe native Bobb Vergiels shared with WTVG that he first heard about the new Bigfoot flap while visiting Baltimore, suggesting the story’s reach went far beyond county lines. With chatter traveling fast, Uniq Cannabis decided to get creative. According to the same report, they’ve placed a sign out front promising “photo proof of Bigfoot for a free pre-roll.” It’s one of those gently surreal business decisions that seems to make perfect sense—or no sense at all—depending on whether you’ve already stopped by the store.

Adding depth to Monroe’s cryptid resume, the story also highlights that this isn’t even the area’s first rodeo with weirdness. Tales of the so-called “Monroe Monster” have circulated locally since the 1960s, according to the WTVG coverage—a reminder that the community’s relationship with the uncanny is nothing new. Perhaps the real tradition is not the monster itself, but the communal sport of swapping improbable stories into the night.

While additional local news coverage, such as from FOX10, shared images of the dispensary’s sign and noted public amusement, all factual details about the sighting and response stem directly from WTVG’s reporting.

Chasing Shadows—And Perks

Let’s be honest: incentives for “photographic proof of Bigfoot” are, at best, an optimistic wager. Still, the local dispensary’s offer manages to skewer the exact intersection of skepticism and possibility. Is it performance art? A tongue-in-cheek nudge at human nature’s compulsion to look for patterns—especially ones that might pay out? Or perhaps just an opportunistic riff on an old joke, scaled to fit the era of viral marketing and blurry trail-cam footage.

It’s likely their staff won’t be handing out too many actual rewards. The encounter described follows the standard template: an outsize, hairy figure, only seconds long, with just enough uncertainty to keep things percolating. Realistically, the odds of someone capturing a clear Bigfoot photo—and choosing to redeem it for a free joint—seem lower than spotting a gorilla in Michigan. But then again, who would have predicted a local dispensary would become an auxiliary stage for cryptozoological pageantry?

So, is this the evolution of folklore in the age of roadside advertising, or simply a sign that sometimes, even businesses like to play along with the strange? Maybe a little of both. The real winner here might just be Monroe itself: a place where, at least for a week, neighbors can debate monsters, and everyone’s in on the joke—even if nobody gets the punchline (or the reefer-ward). Would photographic proof settle things at last, or just make the story that much stranger? The answer, like the truth about Bigfoot, remains out of frame.