The Cole Memo

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 updates from state agencies covering licensing, enforcement, public health, and revenue. They discuss IDFPR reporting that 93 dispensaries received operational licenses, the agency’s description of Metrc entering its post-launch phase, and a dis...

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 2025. The conversation spans declining Illinois cannabis sales, stalled social equity licensing, continued arrests in a so called legal state, medical program updates, hemp policy confusion, and the ongoing tension between regulation, taxatio...

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 caller. Read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/02/e248/

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 show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/22/e246/

Despite cannabis being legal in Illinois, people are still being arrested, charged, and even serving long prison sentences for marijuana related offenses. In this episode, I unpack recent reporting that highlights just how much criminalization remains baked into Illinois law and why legalization did not bring the relief many expected. We dig into possession limits, enforcement disparities, and how...

President Trump announces an executive order directing the Attorney General to expedite the process of moving marijuana to Schedule III, emphasizing medical research access while rejecting legalization or recreational use. Watch video version or read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/19/e245/

On December 17, as fresh reports suggested cannabis could be rescheduled any day, I sat down with Jordan Davidson, government affairs director at Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), to hear the case against moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. We revisit how the rescheduling process started, review President Trump’s recent comments, and dig into SAM’s core concerns, including 280E tax...

Attorney Ali Jubelirer returns to the show to break down two cannabis legal battles unfolding in Illinois and beyond. We revisit the independent transporter lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Agriculture, discuss new developments in discovery, and unpack what the state’s legal positions could mean for social equity licensees. We also dive into the 1500 foot dispensary spacing rule, the gro...

In Episode 242, Cole breaks down President Trump’s latest comments on cannabis reclassification, comparing them to his earlier remarks from August and zooming in on what changed, especially the new emphasis on research. With reports swirling about possible timing, Cole reacts to the broader rumor mill, pulls in chatter from The Dales Report, and highlights how different corners of the industry are...

In this live episode, Cole breaks down the latest reporting and speculation that federal cannabis rescheduling could move fast, possibly as soon as Monday, December 15, 2025. He explains why he is only slightly encouraged by a potential shift to Schedule 3, revisits how the review process started in October 2022, and highlights why Smart Approaches to Marijuana sounding the alarm is something he t...

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 full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/11/e240/

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 across the country. Illinois recently wrapped its fall veto session, and while cannabis policy did not move, lawmakers advanced key criminal justice measures. Doug and Peter break down what passed, why it matters, and how these changes affect...

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 and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/11/20/e238/

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 Memo. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/11/14/e237/

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 breaks down what the vote means for consumers, small farmers, and the broader cannabis movement. Guest Mason Lopez of SunDrenchedFarm joins to share how the proposed ban could devastate small hemp businesses, erase patient access to effectiv...

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: https://thecolememo.com/2025/10/31/e235/

Read more: https://thecolememo.com/2025/10/27/e234/

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 will take to move forward. We unpack the closed-door debate over hemp and delta-8, whether the answer is prohibition or regulation, and why age-gating, testing, and labeling should be the baseline. Ford weighs limited licensing against open ma...

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 moving forward. From mislabeled dispensary products and potency inflation to Target and Circle K now selling THC beverages, Cole covers the latest stories shaping cannabis policy in Illinois and beyond. Later, he’s joined by Cornbread Hemp co-...

A new cannabis lawsuit with sharp allegations in Illinois, taxes might increase in Michigan’s cannabis market, and possible federal action on cannabis policy—we’ll cover it all in this live stream. View show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/10/03/e232/

In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole shares important updates that affect medical cannabis patients in Illinois, including new allotment equivalencies, upcoming changes to dispensary access, and the launch of a patient portal. He also recaps key takeaways from the latest Medical Cannabis Advisory Board meeting, where patients and advocates voiced frustrations with the lack of progress over the l...

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 country. With Governor Pritzker voicing concerns about youth safety and Governor Abbott issuing an executive order in Texas to ban hemp sales to minors, the debate is heating up. Should hemp remain freely accessible, or should states impose age...

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 letter rejecting MDMA assisted therapy for PTSD. You’ll hear their perspective on shifting standards, trial design disputes, and what this decision means for the future of psychedelic medicine. To set the stage, I begin with a clip from Hamilt...

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. Flawed cannabis DUI testing has put thousands of convictions under scrutiny, raising serious questions about oversight and justice in Illinois. We also look at the ongoing debate around cannabis rescheduling at the federal level, including recent...

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 brand shoutouts to the real talk on seed-to-sale tracking systems, monopolization, and THC inflation, no topic is off-limits. We explore the politics of hemp versus marijuana, unpack the latest on potential federal rescheduling, and share why co...