Claim Ownership
The Cole Memo
The Cole MemoSubscribed: 12Played: 900
Subscribe
© All rights reserved
Description
The Cole Memo is your go-to source for informed, open discussion on civil liberties. Each episode tackles pressing issues, such as the decriminalization of drugs, the latest developments in the cannabis industry, and so much more. Hear from a diverse range of guests, including but not limited to: industry insiders, advocates, entertainers, and musicians, as they bring their unique perspectives to the conversation. Tune in to stay informed and engaged on the issues that matter most. Go to TheColeMemo.com to learn more!
601 Episodes
Reverse
This episode of The Cole Memo covers a handful of stories that show how messy cannabis policy can get once it leaves the page and enters the real world. Cole breaks down the arrest of an Illinois man returning from Michigan with cannabis, reacts to the online conversation around that case, and looks at Senator Rachel Ventura’s latest psilocybin proposal and what it could mean for broader drug policy in Illinois. The episode also explores questions surrounding Revolution dispensaries in Illinois, including branding changes, online speculation, and a Cook County lawsuit that may help explain what viewers have been noticing. Cole then wraps with a look at Grown Rogue’s reported move into Illinois through an existing Dwight facility, raising bigger questions about expansion, restructuring, and how cannabis licensing really works in this state. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/03/13/e265/
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole is joined by hemp farmer and congressional candidate Stacy McCaskill for a wide-ranging conversation about cannabis policy, the hemp industry, and the challenges of entering politics as an independent voice. They discuss the ongoing debate between hemp and marijuana markets, why many small operators see the 2018 Farm Bill as their only on-ramp into the cannabis industry, and the tension between large licensed operators and emerging hemp businesses. The conversation also explores the realities of running for Congress, including ballot access rules, the influence of entrenched political power, and the role independent candidates can play in disrupting the current system. Along the way, they examine regulation, market competition, and the broader question of whether current cannabis policies truly serve consumers, farmers, and small entrepreneurs. Read full show notes or watch video version here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/03/12/e264/
In this laid-back episode of The Cole Memo, Cole sits down with Byron, host of the Lost and Faded podcast, for a fun conversation about cannabis, movies, and building an independent creative platform. Byron shares how he got started in the cannabis industry, what inspired him to launch a podcast centered around smoking and talking about films, and how the show has grown into a space for movie lovers, stoners, and creators alike. The conversation bounces from first smoking stories and getting caught back in the day to favorite strains, high movie recommendations, Scary Movie 6, Napoleon Dynamite, subtitles, horror, and the joys of making content from the ground up. It is a relaxed, funny, and very human conversation between two Illinois creators just talking shop and having a good time. Watch video version and read full show notes: https://thecolememo.com/2026/03/03/e263/
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/
I’ll be joined by Ashley Surin’s mom, Maureen, for an important conversation about their ongoing fight to access a medical cannabis product they describe as lifesaving for Ashley. We’ll talk about Ashley’s story, the barriers families face when seeking critical care options, and what this case says about the broader state of medical cannabis policy. You can sign the petition to support Ashley at ColeMemo.com/Ashley. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/16/e252/
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole covers a wide-ranging Illinois cannabis update, beginning with a family fighting to maintain access to a medical cannabis product that has kept their daughter seizure-free for years. As production moves out of state and federal law blocks interstate access, patients are once again left navigating a system that claims to prioritize health but often fails to deliver.
The show also breaks down the return of Illinois cannabis legislation, including the omnibus package and probable cause reform, alongside new data showing arrests continue despite legalization. Cole shares highlights from his first appearance as an Illinois correspondent on a national cannabis news show, examines a recent dispensary closure, and explores the growing tensions between hemp, cannabis, enforcement, and civil rights in a state that insists the system is working.
Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/13/e251/
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 discrepancy in reported craft grow license counts across state reports and press releases. Most of the conversation focuses on the Illinois State Police section, including Chicago’s arrest heat map, the first year-over-year increase in Cannabis Control Act arrests since legalization, and how hemp and THCA products have complicated prosecutions. Cole and Phil also discuss ISP’s push for phlebotomy training to speed up DUI cannabis blood draws, K9 policy changes, gaps in expungement tracking, and what the data suggests about cannabis-related criminal enforcement continuing in Illinois despite legalization. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/13/e250/
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, taxation, and true legalization. Together, they reflect on what these stories reveal about the health of the Illinois market, the persistence of criminalization, and what consumers, patients, and advocates should be watching as 2026 approaches. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/01/05/e249/
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 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/
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States