The Joint Journal — January 2026: Key Updates, Insights & What’s Next
Welcome to the Joint Journal
We talk to operators, growers, engineers, and brands across the cannabis industry every day, and one thing is clear: there’s no shortage of opinions, but there is a shortage of honest, experience-backed insight about what actually works.
That’s why we’re launching The Joint Journal, a bi-monthly newsletter from RollPros that cuts through the hype to deliver real conversations from inside pre-roll and blunt operations. Each issue brings production tips, operator insights, product updates, and a curated collection of the top news articles from the pre-roll category.
Whether you’re scaling production, refining your process, or just keeping an eye on where pre-rolls are headed, The Joint Journal is designed to keep you informed, curious, and one step ahead.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 163 million – the number of joints Blackbirds have collectively rolled
- 556 licensed dispensaries were operating in New York by the end of 2025,
more than double the number from 2024 - There was a +35% increase in total cannabis licenses issued in New York from 2024 to early 2026
- 66,000+ cannabis plants are being cultivated in Minnesota as of early 2026
MUST READS
Jeeter goes big on entry into Missouri
Verano debuts Swift Lifts pre-roll line, set up as stand-alone brand
Major changes in 2026 for child resistance packaging in multiple, major markets
Connoisseur Joints are Changing Perceptions
Pre-Rolls Are A Key Drive Of The Cannabis Retail Market’s Success (Op-Ed)
News From The Rolliverse
Oregon Market Report Is Live
Our latest pre-roll Market Report is out, and this one covers 2.5 years in Oregon. This is one of the most difficult markets to succeed in, so pay attention to who’s winning in Beaver State. There are surprising trends in here that we see as bellwethers for the pre-roll category, so we are calling this required reading. Regardless of where you operate, don’t miss this one.
Read the Report
163 Million Joints and Counting
The Blackbird has officially crossed 163 million joints rolled! What started as a solution for better consistency has become one of the most widely trusted pre-roll platforms in the industry. Let’s see how many we can roll in 2026…
OCB Papers Are Coming To RollPros
We’re excited to share that RollPros will soon be carrying OCB rolling papers. OCB is one of the most respected paper brands in the world, known for ultra-thin, slow-burning papers that real connoisseurs swear by. For many smokers, they’re considered the gold standard. Bringing OCB into the RollPros ecosystem just makes sense, because the paper you roll with matters just as much as the flower inside. More details coming soon.
New Blackbird Upgrade Underway
We’re currently working on a new Blackbird upgrade: the Gutter Vac System. It helps reduce downtime, keeps workspaces tidy, and installs easily on existing Blackbirds across multiple generations. Keep an eye out for this upgrade coming soon.
| HIGH | DRY | BYE |
|---|---|---|
| Weed in TV shows | Weed-based TV shows | Weed dealers in TV shows |
| Lifestyle Brands | Celebrity Brands | Generic Brands |
| Your Favorite Budtender | The “I know a guy” friend | The guy who only has gummies |
| Straight-rolled joints | That sad little nub | Cones |
| Your cool Grandpa | Your cool older brother | Your cool uncle |
STRATEGY & SUCCESS
Build Pre-Rolls Like a Core Product, Not a Side Project
The fastest growing brands no longer treat pre-rolls as a way to move excess material, they treat them as a flagship product. That shift starts with quality: selecting the right flower, dialing in grind size, controlling joint density, and obsessing over how the joint burns from first light to final ash. When pre-rolls are built with the same intention as top-shelf flower, consumers notice and continue to come back.
Automation doesn’t have to replace craftsmanship. The right automation protects it. The operators seeing the strongest margins today are using machines to preserve consistency at scale, ensuring every joint meets the same standard no matter how fast production ramps. In a category where experience is everything, consistency isn’t just operational efficiency, it’s brand equity. In today’s market, consistency is the new premium.
