The Cole Memo

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 criminal penalties continue to fall hardest on marginalized communities. Drawing from years of reporting and my own mini documentary, this episode breaks down what legalization changed, what it did not, and why true decriminalization remains unfinished business in Illinois. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/22/e246/

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 implications, messaging to young people, public safety, and what rescheduling does and does not change. We also get into a brief debate around DOT testing and “safety carveouts,” plus a broader question that has been on my mind: if cannabis companies want wider access and expansion, why did so many either support a hemp ban or stay quiet as it moved forward? Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/17/e244/

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 growing conflict between licensed dispensaries and hemp retailers, and how federal rescheduling could ripple through both industries. From hemp beverages to tax implications and unintended consequences of a potential hemp ban, this conversation explores how cannabis law, policy, and economics are colliding in real time. Watch video version or read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/16/e243/

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 reading the tea leaves. Then the show opens up into a real conversation: rescheduling vs descheduling, the Farm Bill angle, 280E tax pressure, and the ongoing debate over whether state markets would survive a Schedule III world. Plus, a call-in from Brian brings the “people before profits” argument front and center, with a clear message that access matters more than labels like “hemp” or “marijuana.” Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/15/e242/

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 takes seriously given their connections and past track record. Then, Cole pivots to the sudden media surge around “scromiting” and cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), pushing back on familiar talking points like “not your grandma’s marijuana” while making the case that learning more about CHS is a net positive in a world where legalization enables more honest conversations, better data, and more informed adults. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/13/e241/

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 everyday residents and cannabis consumers. Cole, Doug, and Peter talk candidly about how cannabis policy has often been developed behind closed doors in Illinois, then close with a first look at the Cannabis Research Institute’s statewide listening sessions and what this new research effort could mean for Illinois. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/11/21/e239/

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 effective CBD products, and undo years of progress toward a more open and functional market. The discussion also touches on rescheduling, market fairness, and whether low-dose THC beverages might be the next battleground. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/11/12/e236/

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 market participation, talks wins and gaps since 2019, and shares practical advice for advocates and consumers, including using virtual testimony and focusing on single-issue bills instead of large omnibus packages. We also explore possession limits, homegrow realities in Illinois, and data showing arrests persist where legal access is scarce. Plus, Ford explains why federal action still shapes state choices, and what he hopes to work on as he looks toward Washington. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/10/27/e234/

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-founder Jim Higdon to discuss a proposal in Congress that could outlaw hemp-derived products nationwide. They unpack how this would affect consumers, businesses, and the future of descheduling cannabis. The episode closes with a live call-in from a grower discussing Illinois’ medical program, caregiver models, and the fight for expanded homegrow rights. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/10/24/e233/

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 last decade. The episode then shifts to Governor Pritzker’s latest comments on hemp and the ongoing debate over whether federally legal cannabis products should be restricted to dispensaries. With stakeholders from the hemp industry weighing in, this conversation highlights the growing divide between patient needs, market access, and state policy. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/09/20/e231/

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 gates, testing, and labeling requirements? Cole explores these questions, the partisan crossover between Abbott and Pritzker, and the broader implications for cannabis regulation in Illinois and beyond. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/09/13/e230/

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 Hamilton Morris on drug journalism and the FDA’s rejection of MDMA therapy, then we tune into the full press conference. Links to the FDA letter, my article covering the decision, and outside analysis are included in the show notes. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/09/05/maps-fda/