Episode Details

Illinois cannabis rules are changing again, medical dispensaries face new fees and taxes, Connecticut cannabis tax revenue jumps 67%, and North Carolina courts say cannabis odor can still lead to a stop. Plus My Bud Jon and Dave’s Conditional Cannabis Corner. 🌱🔥

Welcome back to The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes! We are YOUR source for Midwest cannabis news, culture and more! Aaron and Dave break down what is actually happening behind the headlines, government language and the numbers.

🔥 MY BUD JON

Jon reviews Seed Junky Genetics Bubblegum Sherb and the Tickled Pink pre-roll pack. One gets a strong recommendation. The other gets something we don't hear from Jon very often... a HARD PASS. 😳

🏛️ ILLINOIS CANNABIS RULE CHANGES

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is proposing rules that would allow cultivation centers and craft growers to grow cannabis outdoors under specific security requirements.

But who can actually take advantage of that opportunity? We discuss who has the land and infrastructure for outdoor cultivation and whether this really creates opportunity for smaller operators.

💰 ILLINOIS MEDICAL DISPENSARIES

IDFPR has released an application allowing active adult-use dispensary license holders to apply for a medical cannabis dispensing organization license beginning September 10, 2026.

We break down the fees, renewal costs and 7% tax, and why these changes could make it harder for smaller medical operators to compete with large multi-dispensary companies.

📈 CONNECTICUT CANNABIS TAX REVENUE JUMPS 67%

Connecticut collected approximately $12.45 million through its cannabis potency tax during the first four months of the year, up about 67% from the same period last year. But cannabis sales were nearly flat, increasing only about 1.6%.

So how does tax revenue jump 67% when sales barely move? We dig into Connecticut's THC-based tax system and what happens when governments tax potency.

🚔 NORTH CAROLINA CANNABIS ODOR RULING

The North Carolina Supreme Court upheld another conviction involving cannabis odor and probable cause.

🧠 DAVE'S CONDITIONAL CANNABIS CORNER

WHO ARE THE REAL CANNABIS PROFESSIONALS?

Dave goes deep after listening to Todd McCormick discuss how little cannabis and the endocannabinoid system are covered in medical education.

That leads to a bigger conversation about doctors, budtenders, cannabis professionals, medical patients and who actually has the experience to explain cannabis.

👇 WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Is Illinois building a cannabis market that works for consumers and small businesses, or is it increasingly designed for the biggest operators?

Do cannabis professionals who work directly with patients and consumers deserve a bigger seat at the table?

Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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⏱️ CHAPTERS:

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:58 Don't Waste Your Energy!

00:05:50 Disc Golf Weekend!

00:09:23 Show Preview & My Bud Jon

00:10:23 My Bud Jon: Bubblegum Sherb & Tickled Pink

00:14:38 Why The Market Is The Way It Is

00:20:46 YouTube Comments

00:26:06 Illinois Proposes Outdoor Cannabis Grows

00:28:21 Illinois Medical Dispensary Application

00:36:24 Connecticut Cannabis Tax Revenue Jumps 67%

00:41:11 NC Supreme Court & Cannabis Odor

00:45:08 What The State Is

00:46:36 Dave's Conditional Cannabis Corner

01:02:17 Support Your Local Professional

01:06:38 Outro

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