Shows / The Cole Memo
The Cole Memo
The Cole Memo is your go-to source for informed, open discussion on civil liberties. Each episode tackles pressing issues, such as the decriminalization of drugs, the latest developments in the cannabis industry, and so much more. Hear from a diverse range of guests, including but not limited to: industry insiders, advocates, entertainers, and musicians, as they bring their unique perspectives to the conversation. Tune in to stay informed and engaged on the issues that matter most. Go to…
Episodes
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Launches New Medical Cannabis Patient Portal | E331
Illinois has launched a long-awaited feature allowing medical cannabis patients to check their remaining purchase allotment and view their recent purchase…
- The Cole Memo
Inside One of Illinois' Most Incredible Cannabis Home Grows | E330
In this episode of The Cole Memo, we tour Josh's custom-built outdoor hydroponic system, featuring four massive cannabis plants grown using recirculating deep…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Cannabis Updates, Hemp Restrictions & the Future of Legalization | E329
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole discusses the latest Illinois cannabis developments, including the expansion of medical cannabis sales at adult-use…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Cannabis Policy, Hemp Restrictions & Home Grow with Brad Spirrison | E328
In this impromptu episode of The Cole Memo, Cole is joined by Brad Spirrison of Grown In to discuss the changing landscape of cannabis policy in Illinois and…
- The Cole Memo
Rep. La Shawn Ford on What's Next for Illinois Cannabis Legalization | E327
Illinois State Representative and Democratic congressional nominee La Shawn Ford returns to The Cole Memo to discuss the future of cannabis policy in Illinois…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Cannabis Sales Rebound, DEA Rescheduling Update & Governor's Forum | E326
Illinois cannabis sales are showing signs of renewed growth, but questions remain about pricing, competition, and the impact of upcoming hemp restrictions. In…
- The Cole Memo
Massive Outdoor Home Grow, Patient Portal, & Cannabis Event This Week | E325
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole takes viewers on a tour of an impressive outdoor cannabis home grow in Illinois. Josh Anderson, a medical cannabis…
- The Cole Memo
The Future of Illinois Cannabis: A Roundtable With Aaron Del Mar | E324
Illinois is preparing for major changes to its cannabis laws, especially as they relate to hemp. In this episode, Cole moderates a roundtable with Illinois…
The Cole MemoShould Cannabis Tax Dollars Pay for License Plate Readers? | E323
Cannabis tax dollars are being used to fund automated license plate readers in Champaign County, Illinois. In this episode, Cole looks at public comments…
- The Cole Memo
Cannabis Taxes, Flock Cameras & the Fight Over THC Potency | E322
In this episode, Cole looks at how cannabis tax revenue is being used to fund Flock license plate readers in Champaign County and raises broader questions…
- The Cole Memo
Brad Spirrison Returns: Where Illinois Cannabis Goes From Here | E321
Cole is joined by Grown In's Brad Spirrison for a wide-ranging conversation about THC beverages, hemp and the future of cannabis in Illinois. They discuss what…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Bill Would Pay People Harmed by Cannabis Criminalization | E320
This episode covers a newly introduced Illinois bill that would create direct cash payments for people disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization…
- The Cole Memo
Brian Dombrowski on the Fight Over Hemp and the Future of Cannabis | E319
The conversation covers the ongoing federal fight over hemp, including the delay of upcoming federal changes and competing proposals for regulating the…
- The Cole Memo
The Cannabis Industry’s Growing Divide, Plus an Illinois Outdoor Home Grow | E318
In this episode, Cole takes a look at the growing divide between the state-legal cannabis industry and the hemp industry as competing groups push different…
- The Cole Memo
Today, Illinois Expanded Medical Cannabis Access to 37 More Dispensaries | E317
Illinois has expanded its medical cannabis program, issuing medical cannabis dispensary licenses to 37 existing adult-use dispensaries. Cole breaks down what…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Police Raided a Home Grow | E313
This episode follows Josh, a registered Illinois medical cannabis patient whose home was raided by police after authorities obtained a search warrant connected…
- The Cole Memo
Reactions to the Illinois Home Grow Raid Story, Plus Cannabis Arrests in Indiana | E316
In this episode, Cole follows up on the recent story of Josh Anderson, a registered Illinois medical cannabis patient whose home was raided by police, and…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Police Raided His Legal Home Grow: The Story in ~3 Minutes | E315
This is the short version of Josh’s story, a registered Illinois medical cannabis patient whose home was raided by police after authorities obtained a search…
- The Cole Memo
A First Look at the Police Raid of an Illinois Medical Cannabis Patient | E314
In this brief live broadcast, Cole debuts a new short video examining the case of Josh Anderson, a registered Illinois medical cannabis patient whose home was…
- The Cole Memo
The Era of Descheduled Cannabis Continues for Another Month in America | E312
Congress has voted to delay the recriminalization of THC, sending the legislation to the President's desk. Watch video version and read full show notes here…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Outdoor Cannabis Rules Put Home Grow Back in the Spotlight | E311
Illinois regulators are considering new rules for outdoor cannabis cultivation, and the renewed attention is putting Illinois' restrictive home grow laws back…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Cannabis Law Changed: Here’s What You Need to Know | E310
Illinois cannabis law has changed. This short video breaks the changes down at a high level. Read full show notes and watch video version here…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois to Open Medical to All Dispensaries + Allow Outdoor Grows for All | E309
Illinois is moving forward with several significant cannabis policy changes. Adult-use dispensaries will soon be able to apply for licenses to serve medical…
- The Cole Memo
Cannabis Access, Hemp Politics, and the Rise of Flock Cameras | E308
Cole Preston discusses several developing cannabis policy stories, including the use of Flock cameras to track cannabis consumers traveling between states, a…
- The Cole Memo
The Hemp Debate: Cannabis, Decriminalization, and Where We Go From Here | E307
Cole is joined by cannabis advocates Brian Dombrowski and Annie Romelfanger for a spirited conversation about hemp, medical cannabis, federal…
The Cole MemoIndependent Candidate Collin Corbett on His Campaign for Illinois Governor | E306
Independent candidate for Illinois governor Collin Corbett joins The Cole Memo to discuss why he is running outside the two major parties, the challenges…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Cannabis: What Comes After the Omnibus? | E305
Phil returns to The Cole Memo for a wide-ranging conversation about cannabis policy from a consumer perspective. We discuss Illinois’ newly passed cannabis…
- The Cole Memo
Federal Update and Illinois Cannabis News | E304
This week, I recap several major cannabis developments, including the end of the month-long Ascend Wellness workers' strike, new Illinois medical cannabis…
- The Cole Memo
What Florida and Illinois Get Wrong About Cannabis Legalization | E303
Cole is joined by Florida cannabis advocate Evan Bentz for an in-depth conversation comparing Florida and Illinois cannabis policy. They discuss Florida's…
The Cole MemoIllinois Cannabis: Hidden Camera Investigation, Home Grow Debate, and Industry Consolidation | E302
This week, I react to the disturbing discovery of a hidden camera inside an Illinois dispensary restroom before diving into a broader discussion about Illinois…
- The Cole Memo
Six Years of Illinois Cannabis: A Conversation with Chicago Tribune Reporter Robert McCoppin | E301
For more than six years, Chicago Tribune reporter Robert McCoppin has documented the evolution of Illinois' cannabis industry, from the earliest legalization…
- The Cole Memo
Illinois Has More Cannabis Brands Than Ever. Fewer Companies Own Them. | E300
Damian Fagon, policy director at the Parabola Center for Law and Policy, joins the show to discuss a new analysis of Illinois' cannabis market and the…
- The Cole Memo
Oregon's Legal Psilocybin Experiment Faces a Major Test | E299
Dr. Eric Lee returns to The Cole Memo to discuss major changes facing Oregon's legal psilocybin program. Lee explains how rising licensing fees could push…
- The Cole Memo
#298 - Illinois Signs Major Cannabis Overhaul, Plus Q&A With Brad Spirrison
J.B. Pritzker, the Governor of Illinois, has officially signed Illinois' latest cannabis omnibus bill into law, marking one of the biggest updates to the…
- The Cole Memo
#297 – Illinois Homegrow: Can Medical Patients Actually Buy Cannabis Seeds?
Illinois law has allowed qualifying medical cannabis patients to purchase cannabis seeds from licensed dispensaries since adult-use legalization took effect…
- The Cole Memo
#296 - Federal Cannabis Rescheduling Hearings Begin: Key Takeaways from Days 1 & 2
The federal cannabis rescheduling hearings are underway, and this episode breaks down the biggest developments from the first two days. We cover testimony from…
- The Cole Memo
#295 - Inside the Ascend Strike: Cannabis Workers Speak Out [Illinois]
Cole sits down with striking workers and representatives from Teamsters Local 916 to discuss the ongoing labor dispute at Ascend Wellness' cultivation facility…
- The Cole Memo
#294 - Federal Cannabis Developments & Illinois Cannabis Law Updates
Illinois cannabis laws continue to evolve, and this week we're breaking down some of the latest developments. We discuss the Illinois Department of…
- The Cole Memo
#293 - Federal Cannabis Developments & What We Learned in Chicago
Fresh off the IgniteIt Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago, Cole shares reactions from cannabis operators, industry stakeholders, and policymakers following…
- The Cole Memo
#292 - Governor Pritzker Signs Illinois Cannabis Omnibus Into Law
Governor JB Pritzker has signed Illinois’ cannabis omnibus legislation into law, marking one of the most significant updates to the state’s cannabis…
- The Cole Memo
#291 – Trulieve's NYSE Milestone, Upcoming Illinois Reporting, and Live Grow Cam Launch
On this impromptu live episode of The Cole Memo, Cole discusses reports that Trulieve is set to become the first U.S. cannabis company listed on the New York…
- The Cole Memo
#290 - Dose of Reality: What Illinois' New Cannabis Rules Would Change
Illinois lawmakers have finally passed a long-discussed cannabis omnibus bill, but what does it actually mean for consumers, home growers, hemp operators, and…
- The Cole Memo
#289 - Illinois Cannabis Omnibus Heads to the Governor's Desk
In Episode 289 of The Cole Memo, Cole recaps a major week in Illinois cannabis policy as the omnibus cannabis and hemp legislation officially heads to Governor…
- The Cole Memo
#288 - Illinois cannabis bill heads to Governor’s desk for signage
Cole is joined by Peter Contos in this live to tape broadcast of The Cole Memo. Watch video version and read full show notes here…
- The Cole Memo
#287 - Illinois Lawmakers Approve Cannabis Reform Package
Illinois lawmakers have approved a wide-ranging cannabis, hemp, and regulatory omnibus bill, sending one of the most significant cannabis policy packages in…
- The Cole Memo
#286 - Illinois Cannabis Omnibus Passes the House: What Happens Next?
The Illinois House has passed SB 3222, a sweeping cannabis omnibus bill that would increase possession limits, expand medical patient access, allow…
- The Cole Memo
#285 - Illinois Cannabis Omnibus Nears Finish Line as Lawmakers Race the Clock
Cole Preston goes live from Springfield with a Sunday morning update as the Illinois legislative session enters its final stretch. He breaks down the latest…
- The Cole Memo
#284 - Illinois cannabis policy update for 5/30/2026
In this short episode, I give a brief update on how the end of the legislative session seems to be shaping up. Watch video version or read full show notes…
- The Cole Memo
#283 - Illinois Policy Updates & Takeaways from the Midwest Cannabis Forum
In this live to tape episode, I share the latest developments that I'm hearing on Illinois cannabis policy. Then, I end the show by playing clips that I…
- The Cole Memo
#282 - Illinois Cannabis Hearing: Possession Limits, Drive-Thrus, and 2 A.M. Dispensaries
Illinois lawmakers held a major subject matter hearing on Senate Bill 20, a sweeping cannabis and hemp proposal that could reshape the Illinois market. In this…
- The Cole Memo
#281 - Midwest Cannabis Forum Preview with Brad Spirrison
Cole Preston is joined by Brad Spirrison to preview the upcoming Midwest Cannabis Forum, a regional event bringing together voices from across the cannabis…
- The Cole Memo
#280 - New Illinois Cannabis Bill Expands Access, Drive-Thrus, and More + DUI Charges Dropped
This week on The Cole Memo, Cole breaks down Illinois House Bill 5784, a sweeping new cannabis omnibus proposal that could dramatically reshape cannabis policy…
- The Cole Memo
#279 - Illinois Cannabis Policy Updates, TSA Marijuana Confusion, and the Midwest Cannabis Forum
Cole breaks down the latest cannabis policy developments unfolding in Illinois, including concerns surrounding House Bill 4782, the state’s odor-proof vehicle…
- The Cole Memo
#278 - Homegrow, Schedule III, and the Future of Cannabis with Madeline Scanlon
Cole Preston is joined by Madeline Scanlon for a wide-ranging conversation about homegrow culture, cannabis legalization, Schedule III concerns, and the future…
The Cole Memo#277 - Schedule III, Homegrow, and Interstate Cannabis? Breaking Down the Questions
Cole Preston is joined by Michael Lasley of Illinois News Joint for a wide-ranging conversation about the federal government’s latest cannabis rescheduling…
- The Cole Memo
Announcement and Quick Illinois Cannabis News Report
Enjoy this short episode. Show notes will be available soon at ColeMemo.com
- The Cole Memo
#275 – Illinois Cannabis News
In this episode of The Cole Memo, we take a closer look at where Illinois cannabis tax revenue is actually going and whether it’s living up to the promises…
- The Cole Memo
#274 - Illinois Policy Stalls, Data Privacy Concerns, and the Hemp Drink Boom
This episode covers a range of developing stories shaping the cannabis landscape. Cole breaks down allegations against Verano involving the exposure of…
- The Cole Memo
#273 - Jimmy Young on Media, Nixon, and the Cannabis Industry Today
In this episode, I sit down with Jimmy Young, executive producer of Cannabis Coast to Coast News and an Emmy award-winning broadcaster, to talk about his…
- The Cole Memo
#272 - Illinois Cannabis Town Hall, Testing Issues, and the Missouri Hemp War
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole covers a major upcoming Illinois cannabis town hall and breaks down a viral controversy surrounding inflated THC potency…