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#271 - GrownIn Relaunch and Midwest Cannabis Forum Preview
In this episode, I’m joined by Brad Spirrison to discuss the relaunch of GrownIn and what it means for cannabis commerce and culture in Chicago and the broader…
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#270 - Illinois Licensing Case Heads to Court + Big Personal Announcement
In this episode, Cole breaks down a major Illinois cannabis licensing case heading to court, where questions around transparency, fairness, and hidden…
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#269 - Inside Springfield: How Lobbying Really Works
In this episode, Cole sits down with longtime lobbyist Mark Peysakhovich to unpack how policy actually gets made behind the scenes in Springfield. With over 30…
The Cole Memo#268 – Cocaine Cash in Illinois? + Latest Cannabis Policy Updates
In this episode, I sit down with a fellow advocate to discuss a headline story involving alleged cocaine cash laundering tied to an Illinois cannabis licensee…
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#267 – Illinois Odor Laws, Hemp Ban Pushback, Indiana Eyes Legalization
In this episode of The Cole Memo, we break down several key developments shaping cannabis policy right now. From ongoing confusion around Illinois’ odor-proof…
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#266 - The UIC Lab Scandal and Cannabis Law Confusion in Illinois
This episode of The Cole Memo breaks down two major stories shaping the conversation around cannabis policy in Illinois. First, new developments in the…
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#265 - Arrested during Michigan Weed Run, Illinois Lawsuits, and a Market Shakeup
This episode of The Cole Memo covers a handful of stories that show how messy cannabis policy can get once it leaves the page and enters the real world. Cole…
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#264 – Cannabis, Congress, and Competition: A Conversation with Stacy McCaskill
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole is joined by hemp farmer and congressional candidate Stacy McCaskill for a wide-ranging conversation about cannabis…
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#263 - Talking Movies, Cannabis, and Content Creation with Byron from LostNFaded
In this laid-back episode of The Cole Memo, Cole sits down with Byron, host of the Lost and Faded podcast, for a fun conversation about cannabis, movies, and…
The Cole Memo#262 - Odor-Proof Packaging, Witness Slips, and Illinois Cannabis Regulator Vaughn Bentley’s Take
In Episode 262, Cole plays clips from a wide-ranging interview with Illinois cannabis regulator Vaughn Bentley of IDFPR, digging into how the state oversees…
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#261 - Recapping Governor Pritzker’s Address with Jeremy Gorner
Cole sits back down with Jeremy Gorner of the Chicago Tribune to break down Governor Pritzker’s combined Budget and State of the State address. From a proposed…
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#260 – Chicago Vetoes Hemp Ban, Illinois marijuana news, featuring Jeremy Gorner!
In this broadcast, I’ll joined by a surprise guest. I’ll be discussing the recent veto of a hemp ban in Chicago, the upcoming legislative session in Illinois…
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#259 - MSOs Get Sued, Outdoor Grow Quietly Allowed in Illinois, What Illinois Got Wrong With “Legalization”, + More
This episode is packed with Illinois news and a national lawsuit that hits close to home. Cole breaks down his latest original reporting on outdoor cultivation…
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#258 - The Reality of Being a Craft Grower in Illinois
In this episode of The Cole Memo, I will sit down with an Illinois cannabis operator for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to…
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#257 - Illinois Cannabis Sales Drop as Lawmakers Revisit Search Rules
Illinois lawmakers are once again trying to fix one of the most confusing parts of the state’s cannabis law. In this live broadcast, Cole breaks down House…
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#254 - Announcing the Midwest Cannabis Forum + Other Discussion on Cannabis Policy Today
In this broadcast, Brad Spirrison joins the show to announce the Midwest Cannabis Forum. Learn more at MidwestCannabisForum.com. Watch video version and read…
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#256 - Illinois Cannabis Reform 2026: What Advocates Want and What Might Actually Move
This week on a live broadcast of The Cole Memo, Cole is joined by Dave from SupportDope to break down the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition’s 2026 legislative…
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#255 – Arrests Keep Coming in “Legal” Illinois
Illinois has legalization on the books, but arrests and incarceration for non-violent cannabis offenses have not disappeared. In this live broadcast, Cole is…
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#253 - Illinois Cannabis Legislation Update With Live Callers
In this live Tuesday broadcast of The Cole Memo, Cole covers newly filed cannabis related legislation in the Illinois General Assembly and offers a high level…
The Cole Memo#252 – Ashley’s Story: A Family’s Fight for Medical Cannabis
I’ll be joined by Ashley Surin’s mom, Maureen, for an important conversation about their ongoing fight to access a medical cannabis product they describe as…
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#251 - Patients, Patches, and Police Powers in a Legal State
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole covers a wide-ranging Illinois cannabis update, beginning with a family fighting to maintain access to a medical…
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#250 - Illinois Is Still Arresting People for Weed, Even After “Legalization”
Cole is joined by recurring guest Phil to break down Part 1 of ColeMemo.com’s overview of Illinois’ 2025 annual cannabis report, a required compilation of…
The Cole Memo#249 - A Year in Review – Recapping 2025 Illinois and Federal Cannabis News
In this Three Dope Dudes crossover episode, Cole is joined by Aaron and Dave from Support Dope People to recap some of the most important cannabis stories of…
The Cole Memo#248 – Live smoke session: Cole returns for the New Year!
In this episode, a surprise guest joins me to smoke and discuss the latest annual cannabis report from the state of Illinois. We're also joined by a live…
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#247 – What could rescheduling mean for cannabis policy?
I’ll be joined by a surprise guest to recap the latest developments in cannabis policy and what they could mean for both businesses and consumers. Read full…
The Cole Memo#246 - Cannabis Is Legal in Illinois, So Why Are People Still Being Arrested
Despite cannabis being legal in Illinois, people are still being arrested, charged, and even serving long prison sentences for marijuana related offenses. In…
The Cole Memo#245 - Live From the Oval Office: Trump Directs AG to Expedite Cannabis Rescheduling Process
President Trump announces an executive order directing the Attorney General to expedite the process of moving marijuana to Schedule III, emphasizing medical…
The Cole Memo#244 - Talking Cannabis Rescheduling With Its Harshest Critics
On December 17, as fresh reports suggested cannabis could be rescheduled any day, I sat down with Jordan Davidson, government affairs director at Smart…
The Cole Memo#243 – Social Equity, Transporters, Rescheduling, and the Future of Hemp With Ali Jubelirer
Attorney Ali Jubelirer returns to the show to break down two cannabis legal battles unfolding in Illinois and beyond. We revisit the independent transporter…
The Cole Memo#242 – Trump makes a statement on rescheduling
In Episode 242, Cole breaks down President Trump’s latest comments on cannabis reclassification, comparing them to his earlier remarks from August and zooming…
The Cole Memo#241 - Cannabis Rescheduling Nears as ‘Scromiting’ Dominates Headlines
In this live episode, Cole breaks down the latest reporting and speculation that federal cannabis rescheduling could move fast, possibly as soon as Monday…
The Cole Memo#240 - Patients Fight for Access, Closure of IL Cultivation Centers, Fresh Look, & More
During this episode, I plan to discuss the latest in cannabis policy news. I also plan to roll out a fresh new look for the show. Watch video version and read…
The Cole Memo#239 - A Look Inside the Veto Session and How Cannabis Policy Gets Made in Illinois
In this episode, Cole is joined by Doug Kelly and Peter Contos of the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition to unpack several major developments in Illinois and…
The Cole Memo#238 - Live Q&A: Cole Breaks Down the Looming Federal Cannabis Ban
During this stream, I’ll be interviewed by a group of fellow content creators about what the upcoming federal cannabis ban could look like. Watch video version…
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#237 – Politicians react to new federal ban on cannabis products
Several politicians reacted to the newest federal ban on cannabis products. We’ll watch their reactions and take callers in this live broadcast of The Cole…
The Cole Memo#236 - Senate passes a federal ban on cannabis. What does it mean?
The U.S. Senate just voted to recriminalize hemp-derived cannabis products that have been federally legal for the past eight years. In this live episode, Cole…
The Cole Memo#235 – Auditing the label on dispensary products
I will be joined by an individual who audits the test results of cannabis products to see if they are accurate. Read full show notes here…
The Cole Memo#234 - Representative La Shawn Ford - Removed from Spotify!
Read more: https://thecolememo.com/2025/10/27/e234/
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#234 – IL Rep. Ford on Why IL Cannabis Policy Is Stalled and How to Move It
Illinois Representative La Shawn Ford returns to The Cole Memo for a candid conversation about where cannabis policy has been, where it stalled, and what it…
The Cole Memo#233 - Homegrow, Hemp Ban, and the Headlines: Target, Circle K, and Illinois’ Veto Session
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole Preston breaks down what’s happening during Illinois’ fall veto session — and why major cannabis reforms still aren’t…
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#232 – Illinois Cannabis Lawsuit, Michigan Cannabis Tax Increase, & Federal Moves?
A new cannabis lawsuit with sharp allegations in Illinois, taxes might increase in Michigan’s cannabis market, and possible federal action on cannabis…
The Cole Memo#231 - Illinois Medical Cannabis Updates, Patient Concerns, and the Hemp Debate
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole shares important updates that affect medical cannabis patients in Illinois, including new allotment equivalencies…
The Cole Memo#230 - Illinois vs Texas: Safety for Children, Freedom for Adults
In this impromptu live episode of The Cole Memo, Cole covers a recent raid in Illinois that sparked a bigger conversation about hemp regulation across the…
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#229 - FDA’s MDMA Letter Goes Public, MAPS Responds in Press Conference
In this episode, we mainly watch the live MAPS press conference that I was invited to, where leadership addressed the FDA’s newly released complete response…
The Cole Memo#228 - Illinois DUI Scandal and Federal Rescheduling Rumors
In this episode of The Cole Memo, we dig into the fallout from ABC7 Chicago’s latest report on the University of Illinois Chicago’s forensic testing lab…
The Cole Memo#227 - SUMMER SUPER SHOW: Elevated News Podcast x The Cole Memo
The Three Dope Dudes are back, this time combining forces like a cannabis Megazord to bring you a packed summer wrap-up. From Illinois craft showcases and…
The Cole Memo#226 - Trump’s Cannabis Decision Looms: The Opposition's Perspective
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole speaks with Luke from Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) about President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on potentially…
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#225 - Trump Considers Cannabis Rescheduling, Illinois Opens New Social Equity Loans
In this special episode of The Cole Memo, Cole breaks down breaking news on both the federal and state levels. At the federal level, President Trump has…
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#224 - From Austin to Springfield: Cannabis Policy Battles Across States
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole returns with a live broadcast covering breaking cannabis news from Illinois, Texas, and beyond. A surprise guest from…
The Cole Memo#223 – Suing the state of Illinois. Special guest!
In this episode of The Cole Memo, attorney Ali returns to discuss a groundbreaking lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Representing a group…
The Cole Memo#222 - Cops, Crops & Courtrooms: Illinois Cannabis News Unpacked
In this episode of The Cole Memo, we unpack two big stories shaking up the Illinois cannabis scene. First, we dive into the controversy surrounding a new…
The Cole Memo#221 - Craig Katz on Hemp, CRTA, and the Future of Cannabis Policy in Illinois
Craig Katz joins the show to break down the policy tensions between Illinois’ regulated marijuana market and its largely unregulated hemp industry. As a board…
The Cole Memo#220 - Choosing Both: Advocacy, Burnout, and Balance with Jean Lacy
In this deeply personal episode of The Cole Memo, I'm joined by longtime friend and inspiration Jean Lacy, founder of the Illinois Psychedelic Society. We talk…
The Cole Memo#219 - Inside Michigan’s Psychedelic Movement
In this episode, Cole sits down with Michigan drug policy advocate Julie Barron for an honest conversation about the state of psychedelic reform, community…
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#218 – Descheduled Cannabis, Rescheduled Fentanyl & The Illinois Tax Trail
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole breaks down a whirlwind of news from the local to the federal level. He starts with a look at Texas, where Governor…
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#217 – Cannabis Raids, Lab Failures, and Illinois Cannabis Licenses Left Idle
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole checks in live to unpack some of the biggest cannabis stories of the week—from federal immigration raids on licensed…
The Cole Memo#216 – The Economics of Cannabis: Price, Policy & Prohibition with Beau Whitney
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole sits down with economist Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics to unpack the complex realities behind cannabis market…
The Cole Memo#215 - Federally legal cannabis survives another day in Texas
In this live stream, we’ll be discussing the failed attempt to ban federally-legal cannabis products in Texas. Watch video version and read full show notes…
The Cole Memo#214 - Cannabis Policy in Maine featuring Derek Shirley
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole talks about odor proof updates + Metrc’s impact on Illinois Medical Cannabis Patients. Watch video version or read full…
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#213- Odor Proof Updates + Metrc's impact on Illinois Medical Cannabis Patients
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole talks about odor proof updates + Metrc’s impact on Illinois Medical Cannabis Patients. Watch video version or read full…