The Cole Memo

I recently wrote about a new state reference lab, mentioned in the Chicago Tribune, which is part of the Cannabis Research Institute (CRI). CRI operates under the Discovery Partners Institute, a research center within the University of Illinois system.

Tomorrow at 1 PM, the Cannabis Research Institute will host a livestream update featuring panelists and possible appearances by Governor Pritzker and University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen.

Important Note: You can read key takeaways from the Cannabis Research Institute’s live stream by clicking here.

Members of the news media and the public are invited to register.

CRI, a collaborative initiative with Illinois’ Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office, recently secured $7 million in funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Panelists include:

• Reggie Gaudino: CRI Director and molecular geneticist
• Donell Barnett: Behavioral health advisor and CRI program officer
• Nathaniel Inglis Steinfeld: Deputy Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer
• Eva-Dina Delgado: Illinois State Representative

Mila Marshall, who writes and edits the “Cannabis Corner” column for Chicago News Weekly, will moderate. Marshall helped write Illinois HB1438, which makes legal cannabis use, possession and purchase in limited amounts and provides for regulation and licensing in its distribution.

Click here to register. (Registrants later will have access to a recording of the session)

Learn more about CRI here

Collin Corbett Reflects on Illinois Governor's Race and Election Results | E336 – The Cole Memo

Former independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett returns to The Cole Memo for a post-election conversation about his campaign, the results of the 2026 election, and the challenges facing candidates outside the two-party system. Cole and Collin discuss his campaign's performance, his exclusion from the gubernatorial media coverage, the growing influence of national politics on state elections, and the importance of longer, more substantive political discussions. They also reflect on the broader election results, Governor JB Pritzker's political future, and what might come next for independent political movements. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/11/11/e336/

1. Collin Corbett Reflects on Illinois Governor's Race and Election Results | E336 46:06
2. Damian Fagon on Cannabis Rescheduling, Corporate Control, and Hemp Reform | E335 01:15:34
3. Illinois Election Night: Pritzker Wins, Plus Massachusetts Cannabis Vote | E334 32:32
4. The Future of Hemp: A Farmer’s Perspective with Alex Mootz | E333 01:19:24
5. Federal Cannabis Rescheduling Raises New Questions, Plus Illinois Political Shakeup? | E332 01:03:26