The Elevated News Podcast

🎙️ The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes | Episode 149 We are YOUR source for Midwest cannabis news and culture and more! This week Aaron and Dave break down major cannabis and hemp developments across the country, including Virginia's new adult-use cannabis sales framework, Kentucky's latest restrictions on medical cannabis purchases, and Illinois' new Hemp Act implementation...

This week Aaron and Dave celebrate THREE YEARS of The Elevated News Podcast while breaking down some of the biggest cannabis stories affecting Illinois and the Midwest. 🚨 Illinois cannabis sales continue trending downward 🚨 Hundreds of Ascend workers walk off the job 🚨 New Illinois cannabis law changes are officially taking effect 🚨 Minnesota releases new medical cannabis patient outcome data...

🚨 The Elevated News Podcast Episode 147 is here! This week Aaron and Dave break down a HUGE week for cannabis news as the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously sides with a cannabis consumer in a major Second Amendment case, potentially changing the future of cannabis and firearm rights across America. We also discuss the upcoming DEA marijuana rescheduling hearings beginning June 29th, why only opponen...

🚨 Illinois just signed one of the biggest cannabis reform packages since legalization and we're breaking down what it REALLY means. This week Aaron and Dave dive deep into Illinois SB3222 and the massive omnibus cannabis and hemp legislation signed by Governor JB Pritzker. We cover the new possession limits, drive-thru dispensaries, curbside pickup, telehealth certifications, medical cannabis...

The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes | Episode 145 This week on The Elevated News Podcast, Aaron and Dave dive into several major cannabis stories impacting consumers, patients, and the cannabis industry. We kick things off with My Bud Jon's review of Ozone's Mandarin Z flower and the Dr. Dabber Ghost 2 portable concentrate vaporizer. Jon breaks down flavor, effects, performance,...

🚨 Illinois just passed the biggest cannabis overhaul in years! This week on The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes, Aaron and Dave break down Illinois' newly passed cannabis omnibus bill, the doubling of possession limits, changes impacting hemp operators, medical cannabis access improvements, and what it all means for consumers and businesses. We also discuss Alabama finally opening i...

The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes Episode 143 is here and this one goes DEEP. This week Aaron and Dave sit down with Jay Wills of Tree One Four Genetics, We talk legacy cannabis culture, massive pheno hunts, terpene preservation, deli style dispensaries, corporate cannabis problems, the truth about THC percentages, old school Kush genetics, and how Jay went from DEA raids in Montana to...

The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes Episode 142 is here! This week Aaron and Dave break down major cannabis news stories including the TSA updating its cannabis policy, Indiana Republicans opening up to medical marijuana legislation, a federal judge approving bankruptcy protections for a cannabis MSO, Texas revoking medical cannabis permits, and a new study showing cannabis helping pain...

The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes Episode 141 This week Aaron and Dave break down a major lawsuit targeting cannabis companies over alleged mental health risks, the ATF quietly updating gun purchase forms involving medical marijuana, and Minnesota lawmakers advancing psilocybin therapy legalization. Plus: My Bud Jon reviews the new Jeters hitting the Illinois cannabis market Dave deliv...

Is the federal government about to change gun laws for cannabis users? Is Missouri’s cannabis market being controlled behind the scenes? And why did a Texas judge just BLOCK a hemp ban? In Episode 140 of The Elevated News Podcast, Two Dope Dudes break down the biggest cannabis stories in the country right now. From federal policy shifts to market manipulation and hemp industry chaos, this episode...

The cannabis industry is sending mixed signals in 2026… Illinois leads the nation in 420 sales, retailers see massive spikes in transactions, and yet something still feels off. Is this real growth or just hype? In this episode of The Elevated News Podcast, we break down the biggest cannabis news stories including illegal weed vending machines pulling in up to $20,000 a day, new THC law changes, an...

The 420 Special is here and we are not holding back. Is 420 still about cannabis culture or has it turned into a corporate cash grab? We break down why 420 might actually suck now, plus the biggest cannabis news stories you need to know right now. From Illinois cannabis sales numbers to a potential federal hemp THC ban and new research on safer consumption methods, this episode is packed with insi...

Cannabis sales are dropping across multiple states including Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio… so where is the money going? In this episode of The Elevated News Podcast, we break down the latest cannabis industry trends, including falling dispensary sales, the rise of home grow, and what this means for the future of legal weed. We also recap our trip to the Quad Cities Gardening seed swap, talk dispen...

The Illinois cannabis industry is STILL dealing with lawsuits, corporate consolidation rumors, and major questions about fairness… and now the FINAL licensing lawsuit is heading to court. This week on The Elevated News Podcast, we’re joined by Dag from QC Gardening Supply to talk about the upcoming Quad Cities Gardening Seed Swap, growing your own cannabis, and why community matters more than ever...

Illinois Medical cannabis sales are dropping again and the numbers are raising serious questions about the health of the market. In Episode 135 of The Elevated News Podcast, we break down the latest medical cannabis sales data released by the State of Illinois, why dispensaries and MSOs are struggling, and what it means for the future of legal weed. We also cover major cannabis company closures, l...

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 consum...

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,...

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...

Illinois marijuana reform is back on the table. Four new bills have moved to the Senate Cannabis Subcommittee, including two omnibus cannabis bills and two conflicting hemp regulation bills. Is this real progress or another round of stalled reform? We break down Senate Bill 4015, Senate Bill 4048, and the competing hemp bills including SB 3377, SB 3820, and SB 3919. What does this mean for hemp dr...

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 cove...

Is cannabis medicine, wellness, recreation… or all three? In Episode 129 of The Elevated News Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Amanda Reiman, PhD, MSW, cannabis researcher, policy expert, former Drug Policy Alliance leader, and founder of Personal Plants, for one of the most balanced and honest conversations we have ever had about cannabis. We break down: • The real risks of cannabis use • What a THC...

Winter blues, cannabis truths, and a BIG shift happening in the industry 👀🌿 This episode is a real one — from mental health and seasonal burnout to major moves in the cannabis market that could change the game for growers and consumers alike. Aaron and Dave kick things off talking about winter, community, and why getting outside (or even just tending plants under grow lights) can be a serious me...

Cannabis sales are breaking records across the country, but the real story is what is happening underneath the surface. In this episode of The Elevated News Podcast, Two Dope Dudes break down fresh cannabis sales data from Arkansas, Minnesota, Michigan, and Montana, revealing what strong numbers, soft months, and billion dollar milestones actually mean for the future of legal cannabis. We also div...

New cannabis reform bills are already being introduced in Illinois, Virginia is debating a $20 million adult-use conversion fee, and researchers claim they’ve created a standard way to measure cannabis use. We break down what these developments actually mean and where the logic starts to fall apart. In Episode 126 of The Elevated News Podcast with Two Dope Dudes, Aaron and Dave dig into early Illi...

The federal government is easing alcohol consumption guidance while cannabis remains federally illegal and medical marijuana patients continue losing access. In Episode 125 of The Elevated News Podcast, Two Dope Dudes break down the growing hypocrisy in federal drug policy and what it means for patients, public health, and the future of legalization. This episode covers the Trump administration ba...