Episode Details

The cannabis industry just got more interesting.

Illinois retailers sold a RECORD number of cannabis products in 2025, yet revenue dropped by nearly $200 million. What is really happening behind the numbers? Is this true price compression, market correction, or proof the system was built wrong from the start?

Guest cohost Cole Preston of The Cole Memo joins Aaron to break it all down.

We also cover Minnesota’s slow recreational rollout, massive testing backlogs, a multi-million dollar Michigan grow bust, and the FDA missing its federal hemp deadline as the clock ticks toward potential cannabinoid bans.

Check out the new segment from My Bud (tender) Jon rates and reviews!

If you care about cannabis policy, enforcement, market structure, or where prices are headed next, this episode connects the dots.

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Drop your thoughts in the comments. Is Illinois correcting itself, or is the model breaking?

Follow Cole Preston at https://www.colememo.com

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00:00:00 - fun intro song

00:01:00 - Daves not here man, but Cole is!

00:02:46 - Plugs- www.supportdopepeople.com www.colememo.com

00:05:21 - Youtube comments from ep 129

00:13:34 - Call for Beta Testers @ theseedlocker.com

00:16:31 - Witness slip season! colememo.com/odorproof Stop Vehicle Searches based on Cannabis Odor.

00:25:56 - Jim Belushi comments on unlicensed hemp and cannabis operators at Benzinga 2024

00:33:31 - Minnesota market update from Travis Cullen instagram

00:36:21 - Testing backlog is latest bottleneck for Minnesota’s recreational marijuana market - MSN.com

00:38:12 - Over 11,000 Plants Found in Multi-Million Dollar Metro Detroit Marijuana Bust - MetroDetroitNews.com

00:41:36 - Illinois Provides Another Cannabis Update -NewCannabisVentures

00:42:36 - Illinois cannabis retailers sold record amount of product in 2025 – but made less money -MJBizDaily

00:50:17 - FDA Misses Deadline To Publish Cannabinoid List And Define Hemp ‘Containers,’ Drawing Industry Criticism - Marijuana Moment

00:58:26 - My Bud Jon rates and reviews!

01:02:09 - life is short, do the thing.

01:06:02 - doughnuts!

BuildASoil → https://buildasoil.com/?ref=supportdopepeople Use code SupportDopePeople for 5% off your order! The Green Gro → https://thegreengro.com?sca_ref=4908674.J9aND9hTra Use code TwoDopeDudes for 5% off! https://www.SupportDopePeople.com/store