The Cole Memo

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 dispensaries, what regulators say they prioritize, and why Illinois does things differently than most states. Along the way, Cole shares commentary on testing, recalls, product safety, privacy protections at dispensaries, and the ongoing debate over limited licenses and the so-called race to the bottom. You will also get quick legislative updates, including Cole’s latest on Illinois’s odor-proof packaging requirement and what listeners should expect next when it comes to witness slips and committee movement. Watch the video or read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/02/27/e262/

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 social media platform fee and casino tax changes to renewed efforts on cell phone bans in schools, nuclear energy expansion, and housing reform, they unpack what “affordability” really means in an election year and what lawmakers may or may not be willing to tackle. They also dive into the latest twist in the Chicago Bears stadium saga, as Indiana lawmakers make a move that Illinois officials say caught them off guard. Is this high stakes negotiation or political leverage at its finest? Cole and Jeremy walk through what’s happening, what it means for taxpayers, and how it could shape the months ahead. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/02/24/e261/

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, and more. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/02/17/e260/

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 being quietly allowed for a select few in Illinois, and asks the bigger question: who gets flexibility under state law, and who does not? He connects the screenhouse litigation to what it could mean for craft growers, medical patients, and the long-overdue push for homegrow for all adults. Plus, Cole reacts to a Chicago Reporter piece on “what Illinois got wrong about legal weed,” including what the article highlights and what he thinks it leaves out, then closes with the Ohio Attorney General’s antitrust lawsuit alleging MSOs coordinated shelf-space deals to keep prices high and limit competition. Read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/02/10/e259/

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 try to build a business in the state’s legal market. Watch video version and read show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/02/08/e258/

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 Bill 4782, a proposal that would prevent vehicle searches based solely on the smell of cannabis. The discussion explains how recent Illinois Supreme Court rulings treated raw and burnt cannabis differently and why a small wording change could have big implications for civil liberties. The show also takes a look at newly released Illinois cannabis sales figures, including revised data tied to the state’s transition to a new tracking system. As always, the conversation is live, with viewer comments, questions, and calls shaping the discussion along the way.

Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/02/03/e257/

In this broadcast, Brad Spirrison joins the show to announce the Midwest Cannabis Forum. Learn more at MidwestCannabisForum.com. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/22/e254/

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 agenda, including medical patients shopping anywhere, telemedicine access, curbside pickup, social consumption, homegrow and caregiver expansion, and the ongoing fight over odor-based policing. Later, Cole brings on Jason Brown from Illinois News Joint to review newly filed bills and what they would change for patients, dispensaries, and the broader industry, plus why there is still so much skepticism about anything moving in Springfield. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/28/e256/

Illinois has legalization on the books, but arrests and incarceration for non-violent cannabis offenses have not disappeared. In this live broadcast, Cole is joined by returning guest Christian Reichert, who served years in prison for a non-violent cannabis case and is still navigating parole after release. They talk about what it feels like to watch dispensaries operate while people are still paying the price for charges from the pre-legalization era, and why the criminal law is still being used as the tool of choice. Cole is also joined by Phil for the conversation, with live audience comments in the mix, and a wider discussion about how policy, taxes, and enforcement shape the reality on the ground in Illinois. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/28/e255/

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 overview of what each proposal would do if it were to advance. He also explains where these bills currently sit in the legislative process and why committee placement matters when evaluating momentum. The episode includes several callers who join the conversation to share perspectives from across the Illinois cannabis space, including industry operators, advocates, and engaged listeners. Together, they discuss medical access, transportation, taxes, social equity, and broader questions about how Illinois cannabis policy is functioning today. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/22/e253/