Illinois cannabis sales are down to start 2026 and the numbers are raising serious questions about the future of the market. At the same time, Ohio just rolled out new cannabis and hemp restrictions that could push consumers back to the unregulated market.

In this episode of The Elevated News Podcast, we break down what is really happening behind the numbers, what the new Ohio laws mean for consumers and businesses, and why Missouri’s licensing system is facing major legal challenges.

We also have another My Bud Jon review, plus Dave’s Conditional Cannabis Corner covering cannabis and Parkinson’s disease.

If you care about the future of cannabis, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Watch, comment, and let us know your thoughts.

🌱 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 - grab a tee before they’re gone!

🐦 Two Dope Dudes on X → https://x.com/twodopedudes

Subscribe for weekly cannabis news, culture, and real conversations.

Join the conversation in the comments and share this with someone who needs to hear it.

Watch on YouTube and listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:00 Trimmin trees

03:08 Preview of today’s stories

04:57 Plugs and affiliate codes

07:19 YouTube comments

11:23 QC Gardening Seed Swap April 11

12:15 My Bud Jon reviews Grandpa’s Stash

20:38 Illinois cannabis sales drop in 2026

32:05 Ohio cracks down on marijuana and hemp products

46:10 Missouri licensing lawsuit update

53:14 Cannabis and Parkinson’s disease

01:02:26 Wrap up

Topics Covered

Illinois cannabis sales 2026

Cannabis market decline

Ohio marijuana laws 2026

Hemp THC ban

Missouri cannabis licensing lawsuit

Cannabis for Parkinson’s disease

Cannabis industry news

Let us know in the comments

Do you think cannabis sales will keep dropping?

Are stricter laws helping or hurting the industry?

Evanston, Illinois wants to tax Delta-8 hemp products and use the revenue for reparations programs. Meanwhile the cannabis industry is facing massive federal tax pressure as MSOs rack up billions in unpaid 280E tax bills.

In this episode of The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes, Aaron and Dave break down the biggest cannabis stories of the week including a Delta-8 tax proposal in Illinois, the IRS digging in on cannabis tax enforcement, and the ongoing consolidation of the legal cannabis industry.

We also cover new research suggesting cannabis may help treat female orgasmic disorder, Dave’s Conditional Cannabis Corner on autism and cannabinoids, and My bud Jon’s product review featuring Wonder Love gummies and a Fernway Pineapple Express disposable.

🌱 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 - grab a tee before they’re gone!

🐦 Two Dope Dudes on X → https://x.com/twodopedudes.

If you care about cannabis policy, industry news, medical research, and real conversations about the plant, this episode has you covered.

Join the premiere chat and let us know what you think in the comments.

Watch the full episode and subscribe for weekly cannabis news.

Subscribe to the channel

https://www.youtube.com/@TwoDopeDudes

Articles

* https://illinoisnewsjoint.com/grown-rogue-to-operate-former-pharmacann-cannabis-facility/

* https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/03/15/here-in-evanston-marijuana-vs-hemp/

* https://mjbizdaily.com/news/marijuana-msos-280e-bill-grows-to-1-6-billion-as-irs-fights-tax-gambit/614960/

* https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-may-be-a-gateway-to-womens-orgasm-in-sexual-health-treatment-scientific-analysis-finds/

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:05 Sunburnt on a winter day

04:45 Preview of today’s show

05:49 Affiliate codes and ways to support us

06:57 YouTube comments and community shoutouts

11:16 My Bud John reviews Wonder Love gummies and Fernway Pineapple Express disposable

18:54 Grown Rogue to operate former PharmaCann cannabis facility in Illinois

27:20 Evanston committee recommends taxing Delta-8 hemp sales for reparations funding

38:02 IRS digs in on marijuana rescheduling as MSO 280E tax bill balloons

44:08 Study suggests cannabis may help treat female orgasmic disorder

53:22 Dave’s Conditional Cannabis Corner Cannabis as a tool for autism

01:03:39 Wrapping up

Articles discussed in this episode will be linked below.

Join Dave live Thursday nights at 8 PM Central on YouTube to ask questions and talk cannabis.

Should cities tax hemp products like Delta-8?

Should cannabis tax revenue fund reparations programs?

Will the IRS crackdown change the cannabis industry?

Share this episode with someone who cares about cannabis policy and culture.

Welcome back to The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes. Dave is back and we are diving into another week of cannabis news, culture, and commentary from the Midwest and beyond.

This episode covers the strange contradictions happening in the cannabis industry right now. Alabama is about to launch medical cannabis after years of delays, while someone in Illinois just received a 16 year prison sentence for a cannabis crime. At the same time lawmakers in multiple states are fighting over cannabis taxes that may be hurting legal markets.

We also bring back My bud Jon’s new strain review segment where he puts MAC 1 from Simply Herb to the test. Did it live up to the hype or fall flat?

If you care about cannabis policy, legalization, culture, or just want honest conversations about the industry, you are in the right place.

Join the conversation in the comments and let us know your thoughts.

Subscribe for weekly cannabis news and insights.

Watch the premiere live every Wednesday at 12:15 PM CST on the Two Dope Dudes YouTube channel.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro song

00:58 Dave is back and catching up

04:04 Podcast plugs and community shoutouts

05:34 Responding to YouTube comments and community discussion

14:25 My Bud Jon Rates and Reviews: MAC 1 by Simply Herb

18:36 Alabama medical cannabis rollout expected soon

21:55 Cannabis tax cuts proposed in Michigan and Alaska

27:26 Illinois student sentenced to 16 years for cannabis trafficking

33:28 Massive weapons and drugs raid in DeKalb Illinois

41:19 Dave’s Conditional Cannabis Corner: Dealing with the condition of life

57:14 Final thoughts and wrap up

59:35 Outro song

Topics discussed in this episode include cannabis legalization, medical marijuana rollout, cannabis taxation, black market enforcement, Midwest cannabis news, and product reviews.

Let us know in the comments what stories we should cover next week.

Subscribe for more cannabis news, culture, and commentary from The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes.

🌱 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

- grab a tee before they’re gone!

🐦 Two Dope Dudes on X → https://x.com/twodopedudes

.

#CannabisNews #WeedNews #CannabisLegalization #MedicalMarijuana #CannabisPodcast #TwoDopeDudes