The Cole Memo

The Alliance for Cannabis Equity (ACE) has issued a statement in response to the most recent legislative session.

In the release, ACE addressed the failure to advance cannabis omnibus legislation, HB2911, which included language that satisfied several objectives from their list of legislative priorities.

You can view or download the entire press release below.

Earlier this year, ACE released a one-pager which included their priorities for legislative session. I produced an article with my commentary on the one-pager, which you can read here.

You can read my recap on the most recent legislative session here. The article includes GTI’s response to the concerns that have been raised by advocates. You can hear Governor Pritzker’s take on the stalled cannabis policy by clicking here.

Comment below with your thoughts!

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Illinois to Open Medical to All Dispensaries + Allow Outdoor Grows for All | E309 – The Cole Memo

Illinois is moving forward with several significant cannabis policy changes. Adult-use dispensaries will soon be able to apply for licenses to serve medical cannabis patients, while newly proposed rules from the Illinois Department of Agriculture would allow licensed cultivation centers and craft growers to grow cannabis outdoors under specific conditions. Cole breaks down both developments, including what dispensaries would need to do to obtain a medical license, why outdoor cultivation has been a years-long issue in Illinois, and the state's proposal to limit outdoor-grown cannabis to extraction. Plus, a rare glimpse inside Illinois' Bureau of Cannabis Testing laboratory. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/08/14/e309/

1. Illinois to Open Medical to All Dispensaries + Allow Outdoor Grows for All | E309 33:02
2. Cannabis Access, Hemp Politics, and the Rise of Flock Cameras | E308 50:45
3. The Hemp Debate: Cannabis, Decriminalization, and Where We Go From Here | E307 02:17:39
4. Independent Candidate Collin Corbett on His Campaign for Illinois Governor | E306 57:43
5. Illinois Cannabis: What Comes After the Omnibus? | E305 01:30:03