DOPE AS USUAL Podcast

Episode: "Hemp Ban, Scams, & Extortion!"

Hosts: Thomas “Dope As Yola” Araujo & Marty O’Neill
Date: December 16, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid, energetic episode, Thomas and Marty dive deep into the looming hemp ban in the U.S., share inside stories from the cannabis business, expose industry scams and extortion schemes (including a wild account extortion scandal), unpack tumultuous family drama, and riff in their signature, unpredictable style. The conversation bounces from serious industry insight to surreal and hilarious tangents, offering both vital updates and the offbeat camaraderie fans love.

Key Topics & Discussion Highlights

1. Podcast & Set Updates

• Set Redesign: The set’s been upgraded, giving Marty his “own space” and exciting plans like a bong mount in the wall are teased (00:27).
• Spotify Milestones: Celebrating top 1% status, major awards, and 252,000 people marking Dope As Usual as their No. 1 show of the year (01:35–02:00).
• “We’re a work in progress right now…this show is a work in progress but the love we get is crazy.” – Thomas [02:18]

2. The Looming Federal Hemp Ban

• Farm Bill Risks: Thomas breaks down how the 2018 Farm Bill currently allows sale of THCA products, and how a new bill could soon end this entire market (09:47–13:13).
  • “If the hemp ban does pass…Dopest Shop will no longer be around starting November 12, 2026, if it does happen. So until then, go nuts. Go nuts.” – Thomas [13:13]
• Impact on Consumers: Serious concern for medical users in non-legal states, loss of convenience, and fear returning to the black market (12:00–13:13).
• Big Money’s Influence: Thomas suspects billionaire interests may stall or stop the law, referencing how hidden money often sways outcomes (10:27–11:11).

3. Cannabis Industry Insights (and Proper Rolling Papers)

• Product Updates: Thomas boasts about the positive reception to his rolling paper brand “Proper,” soon expanding with cones and 12-inch papers (07:09–08:25).
  • “Not one complaint…Try our paper and tell me that it doesn’t smoke perfect, because it does. And I never say shit like ‘we’re the best’…But I will say it for this.” – Thomas [07:09]
• Hashmakers’ Egos: Insightful, funny take on cannabis breeder culture and “grower flex” egos. (05:00–06:19)

4. Thanksgiving & Family Drama

• Thomas shares a raw recounting of his family’s Thanksgiving, marked by disarray, illness, and old grudges (16:20–20:58).
  • “Does anyone else’s family have permanent beef? I don’t get how people just forget who did shit for you. My grandma took care of everyone…when she’s gone, it’s gonna be too late.” – Thomas [18:50]

5. Marty’s Holiday & Psychedelic Experiences

• Marty details a classic Thanksgiving, then describes a mellow, introspective mushroom trip, enhanced by a hot tub and stargazing app. Offers funny and honest takes on tripping and holiday traditions (22:07–26:39).
  • “It made me be like, oh, this is the point of photography. This is what photos are. I’m not seeing them for what they are.” – Marty [23:13]

6. Government Overreach and Corporate Takeover in Cannabis

• Thomas expresses concern over government efforts to “Monsanto all of our weed,” pushing consolidation and standardization through official channels, possibly threatening the culture and quality (16:13).
  • “They’re turning everything we smoke into McDonald’s, and we’re gonna have side effects from weed, I guarantee it.” – Thomas [16:13]

7. Absurd & Dark Tangent: The Gerbil Urban Legend

• The duo riff on the infamous “gerbil in the ass” myth, led by Marty’s irrepressible curiosity, diving into South Park references, animal absurdities, and comedic horror at the legend (34:28–37:59).
  • “That’s not even gay. That just happens to be a gay guy with a weird-ass fetish. It is the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard.” – Thomas [35:40]

8. Announcements: Stand-Up, Collaborations, and Travel

• Thomas plugs upcoming comedy shows in San Diego and Las Vegas and shares excitement about a glass collab with Matt Robertson after a Denver trip (39:17–46:20).

Main Feature: Cannabis Industry Extortion & Scams Exposed

Thomas’s Explosive revelation:

• Decade-Long Instagram Extortion: Thomas recounts how his social media accounts were repeatedly deleted—at least 32 times on one account—and how he was forced to pay various shadowy figures to get accounts back (54:00+).

  • “I have to pay to get my accounts back because I’m getting extorted by somebody that I can’t see. And a lot of people like, ‘yeah, right…’ I finally have proof that every word I ever [said]…is exactly what happened.” – Thomas [54:28]

• Industry-Wide Scamming: Reveals that meta (Facebook/Instagram) is suing Dan Folger, a once-trusted cannabis influencer, for running such extortion rackets (54:27–61:53).

  • “He was deleting people and then extorting them and getting them to pay him to get put back on…in all actuality, he was the one deleting it.” – Thomas [58:22]

• Behind the Curtain: Explains how scammers, some with ties to industry insiders, can charge $3,500-$5,000 to delete or restore accounts, targeting influencers and brands alike.

  • “It could be $200–$300K. I don’t know. So I only made the estimate, like, damn. And then people flooded me: ‘Why are you lying for views?’ You know what? Don’t care.” – Thomas [56:21]

• Colleague ‘Q’ Confirms Attempted Sabotage: Thomas’s current ‘fixer’ shared that just before Thomas’s paper launch, an offer was made anonymously for $10,000 to permanently delete Thomas’s verified IG—more than double the usual rate (61:53–62:30).

  • “He kept saying, ‘A lot of competition in the paper game…a lot of deep pockets.’ Like, why wouldn’t you just tell me who did this to me instead of leaving me in a riddle?” – Thomas [63:15]

• Lingering Industry Suspicions: Thomas feels certain someone within the rolling papers space—someone wealthy enough to dump $10k repeatedly—wants him out for competitive reasons.

• Personal Toll: Reflects on the emotional and business fallout, including lost opportunity and connections (like Rihanna formerly following him) due to mass deletions (70:34–72:12).

  • “This person has ruined [it] for me. I’m only still here because I’m so butthurt at whoever’s doing it that I’m not gonna let him win. I’ll do this till I’m 80…” – Thomas [70:40]

Notable Quotes

• “If the hemp ban goes through…after 2026, it’s over. What a run. I’m not even mad.” – Thomas [12:11]
• “I have to pay to get my accounts back because I’m getting extorted by someone I can’t see.” – Thomas [54:28]
• “I promise you, I will never delete your page…even if I hate the person. …I know what it’s like to lose all your shit.” – ‘Q’ (Thomas’s account fixer), paraphrased by Thomas [61:53]
• “Deleting anybody, that’s fucked up, dude. That’s insane. It’s people’s livelihood…All you’re doing is lining the pockets of dudes that are good with computers and have no morals.” – Thomas [71:00]

Memorable Moments

• The Micro Bong Test: Thomas demos the smallest bong he’s ever smoked out of, brought back from Denver (46:06).
• Mexican Family Dog Truth: Tongue-in-cheek take on how “all Mexican families just find dogs, never get them from the pound.” (77:13)
• Riffing on RuPaul’s Drag Race: Thomas admires the bravery and showmanship, flipping the script on how people perceive drag performances (72:20).
• Meta Lawsuit Insight: The moment Thomas realizes public confirmation of his stalker/extorter—vindication after years of being doubted by followers and peers (59:20).
• Wild Family Stories: Thomas’s unfiltered holiday story about throw-up on the Thanksgiving floor and generational family beefs (16:20–20:58).

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------|---------------| | Set & Show Updates | 00:27–03:00 | | Hemp Ban Explained | 09:47–13:13 | | Proper Rolling Papers Discussion | 07:09–08:25 | | Thanksgiving & Family Chaos | 16:20–20:58 | | Marty on Psychedelics & Stars | 22:07–26:39 | | Gerbil Urban Legend Tangent | 34:28–37:59 | | Denver Trip & Micro Bong | 43:01–46:20 | | Extortion/Scams Segment | 54:00–65:00 | | Q’s $10,000 Delete Offer Story | 61:53–64:56 | | Reflections on Lost Opportunity | 70:34–72:12 | | Final Jokes & Wrap-up | 80:12–end |

Tone & Style

The episode is as raw, irreverent, and unpredictable as fans expect—balancing serious, often alarming industry revelations with wild humor, spontaneous deep dives into odd topics, and the stoner camaraderie that has built the show’s global audience. Thomas is forthright and emotional when discussing personal and professional betrayal, while Marty’s understated wit and playful tangents provide comic relief throughout.

Closing Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for cannabis industry insiders, creators wary of social platform extortion, and fans of Dope As Usual’s unique blend of hot takes and offbeat humor. Thomas’s exposé on account deletion rackets is hugely valuable—and vindicating—while the rest of the show delivers equal measures of absurd laughs and hard-won life insights.

Have a dope-ass day.