The Cole Memo

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 episode, Cole breaks down the hearing in real time, covering proposed increases to possession limits, expanded dispensary hours, drive-thru sales, medical access changes, hemp regulation, and the ongoing debate over Illinois cannabis taxes. The hearing also featured testimony from state regulators, industry representatives, and lawmakers discussing why Illinois continues to struggle with competition from neighboring states like Michigan and Missouri. Cole reacts live to the discussion surrounding participation in the regulated market, the future of intoxicating hemp products, social equity licensing, and whether Illinois is making cannabis policy unnecessarily complicated. Watch video version and read full show notes here:https://thecolememo.com/2026/05/27/e282/

Cole Preston is joined by Brad Spirrison to preview the upcoming Midwest Cannabis Forum, a regional event bringing together voices from across the cannabis, hemp, beverage, tech, finance, and regulatory worlds. The conversation explores why organizers are trying to create a space for dialogue between industries that are often at odds, while also discussing the rapidly changing landscape surrounding hemp-derived products, intoxicating beverages, and cannabis regulation in Illinois and beyond. They also discuss Illinois cannabis legislation, potential Schedule III implications, 280E tax relief, social equity concerns, medical dispensary access, and the broader uncertainty surrounding federal reform. Along the way, the episode features audience questions, Midwest market analysis, and plenty of classic Cole Memo banter. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/05/22/e281/

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 in the state. The bill would double possession limits for adults, expand medical access by allowing patients to shop at more dispensaries with lower tax rates, extend dispensary operating hours until 2 a.m., expand drive-thru and curbside pickup options, loosen certain criminal history barriers for cannabis workers, and potentially codify telemedicine for medical cannabis patients. Cole also discusses proposed transfer sites for transporters, relocation flexibility for dispensaries, and the broader implications of the state moving toward more open cannabis access. Later in the episode, Cole revisits the ongoing fallout from faulty THC DUI testing tied to the UIC analytical forensic testing laboratory, as more DUI charges are dropped over what prosecutors called “scientifically erroneous evidence.” He also reacts to Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoing a legal retail cannabis market while preserving homegrow rights for adults, sparking a broader discussion about what meaningful legalization should actually look like. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/05/21/e280/

Cole breaks down the latest cannabis policy developments unfolding in Illinois, including concerns surrounding House Bill 4782, the state’s odor-proof vehicle law, and discussions about possible changes tied to a broader cannabis omnibus package. Cole also shares what advocates are hearing behind the scenes about lawmakers tightening the circle around cannabis policymaking and what that could mean for consumers, homegrow advocates, and the future of reform in Illinois.

The episode also covers the viral TSA medical marijuana policy discussion, new Department of Transportation guidance on truckers and pilots using medical cannabis, and a letter to the editor from the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition calling for reform to Illinois vehicle search laws. Plus, Cole discusses the upcoming Midwest Cannabis Forum in Chicago, cannabis events around Illinois, homegrow genetics, and why cannabis became a “gateway to politics” for him. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/05/21/e279/

Cole Preston is joined by Madeline Scanlon for a wide-ranging conversation about homegrow culture, cannabis legalization, Schedule III concerns, and the future of cannabis access in Illinois. Maddie shares details about her new Outdoor Grow Club through High Focus Media, designed to help everyday people successfully grow outdoor cannabis with community support, clones, supplies, and education throughout the season. The conversation also explores regulatory capture, hemp bans, medical cannabis, testing standards, cannabis lounges, certified supply models, and why both Maddie and Cole believe growing your own cannabis remains one of the most important forms of access and autonomy for consumers. Plus, they discuss cannabis beverages, hashmaking, outdoor cultivation myths, and the ongoing push to normalize the plant in Illinois and beyond. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/05/14/e278/

Cole Preston is joined by Michael Lasley of Illinois News Joint for a wide-ranging conversation about the federal government’s latest cannabis rescheduling developments and what they could mean for Illinois. From Schedule III and 280E tax relief to homegrow protections, interstate commerce, and the future of medical cannabis, the two unpack the massive questions still hanging over the industry. They also discuss Illinois’ unique dual-license structure, whether adult-use dispensaries could eventually become medical, how federal policy is increasingly driven by business interests, and why both believe cannabis is still in the very early stages of legalization. Along the way, they dive into craft cannabis, industry consolidation, homegrow culture, hemp enforcement, amusement parks, and the long history of cannabis in Champaign-Urbana. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/05/05/e277/

Enjoy this short episode. Show notes will be available soon at ColeMemo.com

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 made at legalization. From general revenue funds to reinvestment programs, we break down what’s known, what’s unclear, and why transparency still matters. We also highlight an op-ed from State Representative Sonia Harper, who argues that while the industry is thriving, the equity goals behind legalization remain unfinished. We also examine new data showing Illinois now leads the nation in cannabis arrests among legalization states, raising serious questions about ongoing enforcement and whether legalization has truly reduced harm. Plus, updates on a lawsuit involving alleged patient data exposure, a local dispensary raid, and reflections on cannabis culture from the Silk Road era to today. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/04/21/e275/

This episode covers a range of developing stories shaping the cannabis landscape. Cole breaks down allegations against Verano involving the exposure of sensitive patient data, highlighting ongoing concerns around privacy in the medical market. He also explores Target’s expansion into hemp-derived THC drinks in Minnesota, raising questions about corporate influence and what companies may be anticipating as regulatory changes loom.

The episode also features Cole’s latest Illinois Cannabis Report for Cannabis Coast to Coast News, where he discusses stalled legislation around odor-based vehicle searches and the broader pattern of slow reform in the state. The conversation ties into bigger themes around access, enforcement, and how policy continues to impact both consumers and workers. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/04/15/e274/

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 journey from sports media into cannabis journalism. We discuss how he built a national platform covering cannabis policy, the challenges of censorship in the space, and what it really takes to produce consistent, independent media in a rapidly evolving industry. We also get into the deeper history behind cannabis prohibition, including the long shadow of Nixon-era policies, and explore the ongoing debates around legalization, hemp, and market structure. From media bias to public perception and the future of reform, this conversation pulls back the curtain on where things stand today and where they may be headed next. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/04/10/e273/