Category: Hemp
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Exploring the Future: Key Takeaways from the Illinois Cannabis Research Institute Launch
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. The Cannabis Research Institute (CRI) officially launched with an event, which was live-streamed on Youtube. Supported…
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Illinois Responds to ‘Hemp Hysteria’: Officials Clarify Intent of New Regulations
On November 12th, during a scheduled second reading of Illinois’ new hemp regulatory rules, state officials addressed mounting confusion and panic within the Illinois hemp industry. In the lead-up to the hearing, many people became increasingly concerned that these changes would drastically impact the market. In this article, I share perspectives from both the industry…
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Illinois Releases 2024 Annual Cannabis Reports
On September 30th, as anticipated by The Cole Memo*, the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office for the state of Illinois published the 2024 Annual Cannabis Report. You can view the entire reports below.
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Exclusive Follow Up: Outdoor cultivation of cannabis in Illinois
Traditionally, the cultivation of cannabis in Illinois has been confined to indoor facilities, with strict regulations ensuring that the plant is grown in controlled environments. In December 2023, after over a year of casual investigation, I released information suggesting that a select few cultivation centers in Illinois had been quietly granted permission to grow cannabis…
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Illinois Senate Executive Committee Hearing on Hemp
On May 23, 2024, the Senate Executive Committee held a hearing on HB4293. Recently, Senate Amendment 002 was added to HB4293, which is a piece of legislation known as known as the Massage Licensing Act and the Sex Offender Registration Act. Notably, this legislation was entirely unrelated to the subject of hemp. At the time…
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Illinois lawmakers and licensed cannabis businesses call for ban on intoxicating hemp products
On April 11, 2024, the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois held a press conference in Springfield, Illinois. On display, as pictured below, were products that were obtained from an unnamed source. Below is a transcript of the press conference and the Q&A. This transcript is a representation of spoken words. Statements Question and Answer Professional…
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Exclusive: Outdoor cultivation of cannabis in Illinois
Over the past few years, I have come across discussions about cannabis cultivators in Illinois who have been granted permission to grow their crops outdoors. While this might not seem particularly noteworthy to the average person, those familiar with the intricacies of the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA 2019) understand that cannabis cultivation…
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Recap: Fireside chat with CBAI and CROO
This article was edited for clarity surrounding the discussion on legal transportation of cannabis in Illinois (paragraph 31). This article was also edited to add a photo of Tiffany Chappel Ingram and I. Edits were made on 12/10/23 at 12:40AM. When I saw that the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois (CBAI) would be hosting a…
The Cole Memo 