Category: Hemp
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Push to Ban Federally-Legal Cannabis in Illinois Fails Alongside Cannabis Omnibus
In my last article, I wrote about the Lame Duck legislative session in Illinois. Ahead of the session, industry stakeholders intensified efforts to advance policy amendments to HB2911, which aimed to update the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act(CRTA). In addition to proposed amendments to the CRTA, Governor Pritzker expressed support for a bill (HB4293)…
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How Cannabis Policy Could Change for “Legal” Illinois in 2025
Illinois cannabis policy has made little headway over the last decade. Only a small number of proposed changes have successfully become law. This article explores what the future may hold for cannabis consumers and entrepreneurs in Illinois in 2025. The end of the article highlights key cannabis policy developments over the years. 2025: The Year…
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Illinois’ Cannabis Crackdown: Protecting Kids or Protecting Profits?
Earlier last week, I hinted that something interesting might happen on Friday the 13th. True to form, Governor Pritzker, after a surprise appearance in Paris and nearly three weeks out of the public eye, reemerged alongside cannabis regulators, lawmakers, the CEO of a candy company, and others to announce his support for a bill that…
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The Future of Cannabis & Hemp Policy: Taking the Best, Leaving the Rest
As debates around hemp’s place in the cannabis industry intensify, it’s frustrating to see efforts to re-criminalize a plant that represents one of the cannabis movement’s greatest wins. Today, the state-legal marijuana industry face several challenges due to their federal illegality, including the burden of 280E tax restrictions, lack of access to banking services, inability…
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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…
The Cole Memo 