dr e
The evidence Dr. E. shared below reminded me of a situation back in Michigan. Testing authorities rejected vape cartridges for failing metals testing not because of the product inside, but because the cartridges themselves were leaching metals. What happened next? They were sent to Illinois, where they magically passed testing. After that, who knows where they ended up? Probably in someone’s lungs, all wrapped up with a shiny sticker that said “safe.” Illinois loves calling itself the gold standard for cannabis, but if that standard lets leaky cartridges slide, maybe it’s time to rethink the bar.
This isn’t just about Kentucky, Illinois, or vape cartridges. It’s part of a bigger playbook we’ve seen across industries. Delta-8, cannabis, hemp, rideshare, hotels, dairy, energy it’s the same script. Big players set the stage with regulations that sound like they protect consumers but really crush competition. It’s not about safety; it’s about control.
Delta-8 is a legal product under the 2018 Farm Bill, but Big Cannabis couldn’t handle the competition. Suddenly, bans and stricter rules popped up everywhere. They said it was about “safety,” but we know better it’s about protecting market share. Meanwhile, the same cannabis giants pushing these bans are fine selling their own products filled with questionable ingredients.
It’s the same move Big Tobacco perfected. FDA approval for their vapes? Check. Smaller players buried under compliance costs? Check. Big Oil dragged its feet on energy efficiency, dairy fought almond milk over the word “milk,” and Uber and Lyft crushed taxis only to lock out competition when they took over. The industries change, but the game doesn’t. Write the rules, stall competitors, and wait until there’s no one left to challenge them.
Now it’s hemp’s turn. Big Cannabis doesn’t want competition from hemp-derived THC. So, they create confusion, spread misinformation, and push laws to choke the smaller players. Regulators crack down on hemp products while letting corporate cannabis slide by. The winners? The giants. The losers? Everyone else.
And we know how this ends. Once the competition’s gone, the giants swoop in, buy what’s left, slap on a new label, and pretend they were here all along. Big Cannabis and Big Tobacco are already making their moves. Independent growers and small operators? They’re drowning in regulations designed to keep them out.
This isn’t new, and it’s not unique to one industry. It’s a system designed to hold power at the top while innovation, small businesses, and consumer choice get sacrificed. If we don’t expose this for what it is, the playbook won’t just keep running it’ll keep winning. Regulations should protect consumers, not destroy competition.
But don’t worry, Big Tobacco. Joe Camel is my buddy since I was 14, cool as Snoopy in a leather jacket, handing out bad advice. But even he knows I’m not letting this one slide.