The Cole Memo

In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole explores the widening divide between state-regulated marijuana programs and the federally legal hemp market—two systems selling identical products under very different rules. After setting the stage with a lengthy intro, Cole sits down with Tom Gliszewski from Chicago Cannabis Company, who responds to recent criticisms that hemp retailers like his are undercutting marijuana dispensaries. Tom argues the real issue isn’t hemp—it’s the structure of the state market itself.

Later in the episode, Cole is joined by attorney and dispensary owner Akele Parnell, who offers a different perspective from within the state’s system. Together, these conversations reflect the complexity of cannabis regulation in Illinois and beyond—from licensing barriers and federal scheduling quirks to consumer access, social equity, and the future of reform. Whether you’re in the business or just a curious observer, this episode offers insight into a debate that’s reshaping the cannabis industry.

• Watch the episode on Youtube here
• Stream the episode on Soundcloud here
• Stream the episode on Spotify here
• Stream the episode on Apple Podcast here
• Stream the episode on X here

Links mentioned during show

• You can view Chicago Cannabis Company’s website here
• You can view ÜMI Dispensary’s website here
• Article that inspired this episode: Social equity weed entrepreneurs speak out against unregulated hemp undercutting their business
• You can read the 2018 Farm Bill here
• Clip with Hemp Industry Leaders asking for regulations was from this video: Restoring Trust in FDA: Rooting Out Illicit Products
• BoxBrown.com
• Clip featuring Governor Pritzker was from this video
• First clip featuring Charlie Bachtell was from this video
• Video featuring Steve Marks from Oregon was from this video
• My conversation with Steve Marks can be viewed here
• My full conversation with Charlie Bachtell can be viewed here
• My conversation with Scott Redman and Reese Xavier can be viewed here
• Article that I displayed featuring the hemp variances and hemp product examples can be viewed here
• My full conversation Ryan Crandall from MariMed can be viewed here
• My full conversation with cannabis industry lawyer, Tom Howard, can be viewed here
• Illinois Police Forced to Return Confiscated Cannabis
• Joe Biden calls for rescheduling marijuana
• Episode featuring Akele: Episode 3 – Debate on Delta-8 (and hemp-derived cannabinoids)
• My first conversation with Akele can be found here
• Who’s profiting off the millions that Illinois’ marijuana business is bringing in? State officials are keeping that secret.
• Illinois cannabis regulation: moldy weed but no consumer alert or recall, secret investigations, Sun-Times investigation finds
• My interview with investigators from Chicago Sun-Times can be viewed here
• My policy paper on hemp/marijuana can be viewed here
• I discussed my policy paper with a former cannabis regulator and policy maker. You can view that episode here
• Episodes that I’ve done with people that don’t believe cannabis should be legal can be found here