Author: Cole Preston
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An Open Letter to the President From the Parent of a Medical Cannabis Patient
Ashley’s story inspired ‘Ashley’s Law‘, an Illinois law that expanded protections for students who are registered medical cannabis patients, allowing them to access their medicine while at school. Maureen joined me on Episode 252 of The Cole Memo podcast to discuss Ashley’s story and the advocacy that followed. I recently received a message from Maureen…
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Illinois Cannabis Law Changed: Here’s What You Need to Know| E310
Illinois cannabis laws have changed. Possession limits have doubled, adult-use dispensaries will soon be able to apply for medical cannabis licenses, and the new law includes changes involving telehealth, drive-through and curbside service, craft grow canopy, ownership disclosures and more. Meanwhile, Illinois cannabis policy continues to evolve beyond this law, including proposed rules that could…
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Illinois to Open Medical to All Dispensaries + Allow Outdoor Grows for All | E309
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,…
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Cannabis Access, Hemp Politics, and the Rise of Flock Cameras | E308
Cole Preston discusses several developing cannabis policy stories, including the use of Flock cameras to track cannabis consumers traveling between states, a federal proposal to preserve hemp-derived THC beverages, and the continuing debate over how cannabis should be regulated and sold. The conversation also covers Michigan cannabis taxes, Virginia’s withdrawn marijuana-impaired driving PSA, the future…
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The Hemp Debate: Cannabis, Decriminalization, and Where We Go From Here | E307
Cole is joined by cannabis advocates Brian Dombrowski and Annie Romelfanger for a spirited conversation about hemp, medical cannabis, federal decriminalization, and the increasingly blurry distinction between “hemp” and “marijuana.” They discuss the impact of the 2018 Farm Bill, THCA flower, synthetic and converted cannabinoids, industrial hemp, medical cannabis, and whether the industry needs clearer…
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New Illinois Rules Would Expand Outdoor Cannabis Cultivation to All Licensed Growers
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is proposing new rules that would allow all licensed cultivation centers and craft growers to cultivate cannabis outdoors, expanding a practice that was previously exclusively available to a small number of operators. The proposal was highlighted today by Illinois News Joint, which pointed to the Aug. 14 edition of…
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Illinois Dispensaries Can Apply To Sell Medical Cannabis in September
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) recently published a new application packet that would allow licensed adult-use dispensing organizations, upon approval by the state, to serve medical cannabis patients at the medical cannabis tax rate. It is unclear to me exactly when IDFPR first posted the application, as I did not see…
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Episode 306 – Independent Candidate Collin Corbett on His Campaign for Illinois Governor
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…
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Episode 305 – Illinois Cannabis: What Comes After the Omnibus?
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…
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Episode 304 – Federal Update and Illinois Cannabis News
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…
