The Cole Memo

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: https://thecolememo.com/2026/09/01/e312/

Illinois regulators are considering new rules for outdoor cannabis cultivation, and the renewed attention is putting Illinois' restrictive home grow laws back into the conversation. Cole discusses new coverage from the Chicago Tribune and Shaw Local, why home cultivation remains an important part of the legalization debate, and two newly approved qualifying conditions for Illinois' medical cannabis program. Plus, an open letter calls for stronger federal protections for medical cannabis patients, a man is caught with 32 pounds of cannabis at O'Hare, and the DEA releases the full transcripts from the marijuana rescheduling hearings. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/26/e311/

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: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/16/e310/

Illinois is moving forward with several significant cannabis policy changes. Adult-use dispensaries will soon be able to apply for licenses to serve medical cannabis patients, while newly proposed rules from the Illinois Department of Agriculture would allow licensed cultivation centers and craft growers to grow cannabis outdoors under specific conditions. Cole breaks down both developments, including what dispensaries would need to do to obtain a medical license, why outdoor cultivation has been a years-long issue in Illinois, and the state's proposal to limit outdoor-grown cannabis to extraction. Plus, a rare glimpse inside Illinois' Bureau of Cannabis Testing laboratory. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/14/e309/

Cole Preston discusses several developing cannabis policy stories, including the use of Flock cameras to track cannabis consumers traveling between states, a federal proposal to preserve hemp-derived THC beverages, and the continuing debate over how cannabis should be regulated and sold. The conversation also covers Michigan cannabis taxes, Virginia’s withdrawn marijuana-impaired driving PSA, the future of federal hemp policy, and what a potential federal delay could mean for Illinois as the state prepares for its own hemp law changes. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/14/e308/

Cole is joined by cannabis advocates Brian Dombrowski and Annie Romelfanger for a spirited conversation about hemp, medical cannabis, federal decriminalization, and the increasingly blurry distinction between "hemp" and "marijuana." They discuss the impact of the 2018 Farm Bill, THCA flower, synthetic and converted cannabinoids, industrial hemp, medical cannabis, and whether the industry needs clearer definitions or fewer of them altogether. Later, Brian sticks around to discuss the latest federal effort to delay restrictions on hemp products, what regulations could come next, and developments in Texas and Illinois. Miggy and Guap also join the conversation to discuss cannabis access, medical programs, dosage limits, consumer protections, and what a truly descheduled cannabis market might eventually look like. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/14/e307/

Independent candidate for Illinois governor Collin Corbett joins The Cole Memo to discuss why he is running outside the two major parties, the challenges independent candidates face, and how he believes an independent governor could work with lawmakers in Springfield. Corbett also shares his positions on Illinois cannabis policy and home grow, government transparency and ethics reform, campaign finance, affordability and property taxes, mass surveillance and privacy, DCFS, and his broader effort to build an independent political movement in Illinois. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/07/e306/

Phil returns to The Cole Memo for a wide-ranging conversation about cannabis policy from a consumer perspective. We discuss Illinois’ newly passed cannabis omnibus, questions surrounding dispensary ownership caps and consolidation, continued restrictions on home grow, cannabis possession limits, and whether the latest reforms actually do enough for consumers. We also discuss the uncertain future of hemp, THC beverages entering mainstream retailers and venues, cannabis surveillance, Michigan’s market, and what the next cannabis policy fight in Illinois might look like. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/07/e305/

This week, I recap several major cannabis developments, including the end of the month-long Ascend Wellness workers' strike, new Illinois medical cannabis changes taking effect this fall, and the latest federal developments surrounding the proposed hemp crackdown. I also discuss the Senate's effort to delay the federal hemp ban, the Illinois Attorney General's support for preserving the current timeline, and what these competing efforts could mean for consumers, businesses, and cannabis policy moving forward. I also share my perspective on the broader hemp debate, why I believe criminalization remains the central issue, and whether age-gated, tested, and accurately labeled cannabis products should be regulated rather than banned. Plus, I wrap up the live show by taking audience questions, discussing home grow, future guests, and plans for a Cole Memo community pizza meetup. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/04/e304/

Cole is joined by Florida cannabis advocate Evan Bentz for an in-depth conversation comparing Florida and Illinois cannabis policy. They discuss Florida's medical cannabis program, the failed Amendment 3 campaign, why home grow remains off the table, and how limited licensing has shaped both states' markets. Along the way, they examine patient access, corporate consolidation, product testing, delivery, and the challenges facing consumers in highly regulated cannabis systems. The conversation also explores hemp products, THC beverages, dose limits, terpene science, and the ongoing debate over what cannabis policy should prioritize. Whether you're interested in Florida's future or looking at how other legalization states have evolved, this episode offers a thoughtful discussion on where cannabis policy stands today and where it may be headed next. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/04/e303/