Independent candidate for Illinois governor Collin Corbett joins The Cole Memo to discuss why he is running outside the two major parties, the challenges independent candidates face, and how he believes an independent governor could work with lawmakers in Springfield. Corbett also shares his positions on Illinois cannabis policy and home grow, government transparency and ethics reform, campaign finance, affordability and property taxes, mass surveillance and privacy, DCFS, and his broader effort to build an independent political movement in Illinois. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/07/e306/

Phil returns to The Cole Memo for a wide-ranging conversation about cannabis policy from a consumer perspective. We discuss Illinois’ newly passed cannabis omnibus, questions surrounding dispensary ownership caps and consolidation, continued restrictions on home grow, cannabis possession limits, and whether the latest reforms actually do enough for consumers. We also discuss the uncertain future of hemp, THC beverages entering mainstream retailers and venues, cannabis surveillance, Michigan’s market, and what the next cannabis policy fight in Illinois might look like. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/07/e305/

This week, I recap several major cannabis developments, including the end of the month-long Ascend Wellness workers' strike, new Illinois medical cannabis changes taking effect this fall, and the latest federal developments surrounding the proposed hemp crackdown. I also discuss the Senate's effort to delay the federal hemp ban, the Illinois Attorney General's support for preserving the current timeline, and what these competing efforts could mean for consumers, businesses, and cannabis policy moving forward. I also share my perspective on the broader hemp debate, why I believe criminalization remains the central issue, and whether age-gated, tested, and accurately labeled cannabis products should be regulated rather than banned. Plus, I wrap up the live show by taking audience questions, discussing home grow, future guests, and plans for a Cole Memo community pizza meetup. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/04/e304/

Cole is joined by Florida cannabis advocate Evan Bentz for an in-depth conversation comparing Florida and Illinois cannabis policy. They discuss Florida's medical cannabis program, the failed Amendment 3 campaign, why home grow remains off the table, and how limited licensing has shaped both states' markets. Along the way, they examine patient access, corporate consolidation, product testing, delivery, and the challenges facing consumers in highly regulated cannabis systems. The conversation also explores hemp products, THC beverages, dose limits, terpene science, and the ongoing debate over what cannabis policy should prioritize. Whether you're interested in Florida's future or looking at how other legalization states have evolved, this episode offers a thoughtful discussion on where cannabis policy stands today and where it may be headed next. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/04/e303/

This week, I react to the disturbing discovery of a hidden camera inside an Illinois dispensary restroom before diving into a broader discussion about Illinois cannabis policy. I also share an update on the state's cannabis seed tracking system, discuss why home grow remains illegal for most adults, and explore questions surrounding dispensary ownership limits and management agreements in Illinois. Plus, I cover the anniversary of Ashley's Law, discuss Emmett Till Day in Illinois, highlight recent cannabis industry developments, react to a troubling psilocybin incident involving children at a summer camp, and answer live audience questions throughout the broadcast. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/04/e302/

For more than six years, Chicago Tribune reporter Robert McCoppin has documented the evolution of Illinois' cannabis industry, from the earliest legalization debates to today's fights over home grow, market concentration, ownership transparency, hemp, and continued criminalization. In this episode, Robert joins me to reflect on the stories behind the headlines and what he's learned covering one of the state's most consequential policy changes. We discuss campaign contributions during legalization, limited licensing, why Illinois remains one of the nation's most expensive cannabis markets, the ongoing debate over home cultivation, cannabis seed sales, public access to ownership records, management agreements, hemp regulation, and whether Illinois has lived up to its promises of social equity. If you've followed Illinois cannabis over the past six years, this conversation offers an inside look at how one of the state's leading reporters has covered it all. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/07/21/e301/

Damian Fagon, policy director at the Parabola Center for Law and Policy, joins the show to discuss a new analysis of Illinois' cannabis market and the structural advantages held by large multi-state operators and incumbent medical cannabis companies. We discuss market concentration, cultivation capacity, vertical integration, management agreements, consumer choice, and why hundreds of cannabis brands may create an illusion of competition. Damian also discusses continued cannabis arrests after legalization, the role of corporate influence in cannabis policy, New York's approach to legalization, and why he believes states must put consumers, small businesses, and civil liberties ahead of commercialization. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/07/08/e300/

Dr. Eric Lee returns to The Cole Memo to discuss major changes facing Oregon's legal psilocybin program. Lee explains how rising licensing fees could push operators out of the industry, why legal psilocybin sessions remain unaffordable for many people, and how his clinic is working to keep services accessible. Cole and Dr. Lee also discuss the challenges of building a legal psychedelic industry, Oregon's limited testing infrastructure, comparisons to Colorado and ketamine treatment, and the long-term future of psilocybin access. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/07/08/e299/

J.B. Pritzker, the Governor of Illinois, has officially signed Illinois' latest cannabis omnibus bill into law, marking one of the biggest updates to the state's cannabis regulations since adult-use legalization. In this episode, we livestream the signing ceremony from Sway Dispensary, break down the bill's major provisions, and hear directly from Governor J.B. Pritzker, social equity operators, patient advocates, physicians, and industry leaders about what the legislation is intended to accomplish. After the ceremony, journalist Brad Spirrison joins the show to discuss the cannabis questions he asked the governor, including what changes could still be made to Illinois' cannabis program and questions surrounding enforcement of the state's new hemp restrictions. We also answer viewer questions about medical cannabis access, implementation timelines, hemp beverages, home grow, and the future of cannabis policy in Illinois. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/07/02/e298/

Illinois law has allowed qualifying medical cannabis patients to purchase cannabis seeds from licensed dispensaries since adult-use legalization took effect, but six years later, patients still can't buy them. In this episode, Cole Preston revisits reporting dating back to 2020, examines a 2022 response from state officials identifying Illinois' seed-to-sale software as a potential obstacle, and asks whether that technical limitation still exists after the state's transition to a new tracking system. Cole also explores why this question has become more important following Illinois' latest cannabis law changes, which are expected to significantly restrict access to cannabis seeds through traditional retail and online hemp channels. He breaks down what the law says, what state agencies have told him, what they have not answered, and why transparency on this issue matters for Illinois home growers. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/07/02/e297/