Pre-roll demand grew faster than the tracked market in 2025
Custom Cones USA’s 2026 report, using Headset data from 15 U.S. states, reports 2025 pre-roll revenue growth of 9.8% and retail unit growth of 18.6%. Total tracked cannabis revenue grew 1.5%. Pre-rolls reached 15.9% of sales, while infused products represented 47% of pre-roll revenue.
The scope matters: this is a historical dataset from tracked state markets, not a live measure of every cannabis market. A retail “unit” may be a multipack, so it is not a count of individual joints.
Apollo’s takeaway: use category momentum to investigate local demand, then test the format, price and production plan against the buyers you serve.
Ohio shows why local context belongs beside growth figures
Headset’s Ohio market page reports $10.3 million in pre-roll sales for September 2026, with year-over-year revenue growth of 433%. Its displayed data snapshot is dated 3 October 2026.
That is a state-specific observation. It should not be projected onto mature markets, other states or a particular manufacturer’s sales plan. A large percentage also deserves a close look at the comparison period and the starting size of the category.
Apollo’s takeaway: build a local launch brief. Ask retail partners which formats they can keep in stock, where price points are moving and how quickly the proposed product is likely to sell. Revisit the data before committing to a production target. Retail demand, production capacity and inventory needs should be planned together.
Coating is becoming its own equipment conversation
Coated-format reference · Custom Cones USA via DaySavers. Not Apollo-produced samples.
Accelerant’s CoatPRO page presents external kief coating as a dedicated production stage, with separate discussion of integration, handling and support. This is evidence of a supplier offering in the market—not independent proof of its performance or an estimate of the total market for coating machines.
For buyers, the useful shift is in the questions being asked. How will a coated product travel through the rest of the line? What will the finished package accommodate? How will samples be evaluated after handling? Which supplier is responsible for each interface?
Apollo OilCoat and KiefCoat are separate downstream machines for exterior coating. Confirm configuration, throughput, pricing and availability with the team. Their illustrated workflow includes an operator transfer between machines.
Pre-rolls give brands a defined format to present through singles, multipacks and different paper sizes. Ask retail partners which combinations fit the customers they serve.
OPERATIONS
A repeatable specification.
A clear target format makes it possible to compare finished samples and evaluate a production workflow. Repeatability must be demonstrated with the proposed materials.
PLANNING
A complete line decision.
Filling, finishing, inspection and packaging all contribute to saleable output. Growing demand for pre-rolls does not, by itself, measure demand for any particular machine.
Apollo editorial analysis. This page is a dated research edition, not an automatically updated news feed. We link to original sources so readers can check newer releases.
FROM RESEARCH TO YOUR PRODUCTION FLOOR
A clearer brief. A better demo.
Bring your format, material, target fill and production goal. Turn what you’ve learned into questions for your next equipment trial.
