Author: Cole Preston
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Illinois Releases 2026 Annual Cannabis Reports
The Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office for the state of Illinois published the 2026 Annual Cannabis Reports. The reports from 2026 can be viewed below. 2026 Annual Cannabis Reports for State of Illinois State of Illinois 2026 Annual Cannabis Report Illinois 2026 Annual Cannabis Reports – Adult Use Health Advisory Committee
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Should Cannabis Tax Dollars Pay for License Plate Readers? | E323
Cannabis tax dollars are being used to fund automated license plate readers in Champaign County, Illinois. In this episode, Cole looks at public comments raising concerns about Flock cameras, surveillance, transparency, and the use of cannabis tax revenue, before turning to a debate among county board members over whether those dollars should continue funding the…
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Cannabis Taxes, Flock Cameras & the Fight Over THC Potency | E322
In this episode, Cole looks at how cannabis tax revenue is being used to fund Flock license plate readers in Champaign County and raises broader questions about where Illinois cannabis tax dollars actually go. The conversation also turns to the latest federal cannabis rescheduling developments after a DEA judge paused proceedings amid new questions about…
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Brad Spirrison Returns: Where Illinois Cannabis Goes From Here | E321
Cole is joined by Grown In’s Brad Spirrison for a wide-ranging conversation about THC beverages, hemp and the future of cannabis in Illinois. They discuss what could happen when Illinois’ new hemp rules take effect, why low-dose THC drinks have reached consumers who might never visit a dispensary, and how the cannabis industry could respond…
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Illinois Bill Would Pay People Harmed by Cannabis Criminalization | E320
This episode covers a newly introduced Illinois bill that would create direct cash payments for people disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization, with Representative La Shawn Ford expected to return to the show to discuss the proposal. Cole also looks at Illinois’ rollout of new medical cannabis licenses for adult-use dispensaries. Later, Cole reacts to clips…
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Brian Dombrowski on the Fight Over Hemp and the Future of Cannabis | E319
The conversation covers the ongoing federal fight over hemp, including the delay of upcoming federal changes and competing proposals for regulating the industry. Brian Dombrowski joins the show to discuss THCA flower, testing and labeling, track and trace, dosage caps, consumer access and why he believes hemp offers a path toward broader cannabis access. We…
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The Cannabis Industry’s Growing Divide, Plus an Illinois Outdoor Home Grow | E318
In this episode, Cole takes a look at the growing divide between the state-legal cannabis industry and the hemp industry as competing groups push different approaches to federal cannabis policy. The conversation includes recent lobbying over federal hemp law, interstate commerce, banking and the increasingly complicated question of what cannabis legalization should actually look like.…
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Today, Illinois Expanded Medical Cannabis Access to 37 More Dispensaries | E317
In this episode, Cole follows up on the recent story of Josh Anderson, a registered Illinois medical cannabis patient whose home was raided by police, and discusses some of the reactions and conversations that have followed its release. We also take a look at cannabis arrest numbers in Indiana and other cannabis and drug policy…
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Today, Illinois Expanded Medical Cannabis Access to 37 More Dispensaries
Illinois has issued medical cannabis dispensary licenses to 37 existing adult-use dispensaries, expanding the number of locations where registered medical cannabis patients can shop to 92 at the time of this writing. Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced the new licenses Thursday. Beginning September 10, the newly…
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37 More Illinois Cannabis Dispensaries Appear Set to Serve Medical Patients
Update, 3:00pm: Read my latest article on this subject here. Update, 2:28pm: The state of Illinois released a press release which has been available below. The headline for this article was updated. The developments and state database changes detailed below occurred before the state formally announced the new licenses. Update, 10:19 a.m.: Shortly after this…
