Category: illinois cannabis news
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Rep. La Shawn Ford on What’s Next for Illinois Cannabis Legalization | E327
Illinois cannabis sales are showing signs of renewed growth, but questions remain about pricing, competition, and the impact of upcoming hemp restrictions. In this episode, Cole examines newly released Illinois cannabis data, revisits the state’s cannabis arrest statistics, and discusses the latest developments in federal cannabis rescheduling as opponents seek additional testimony and documents. Later,…
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Illinois Cannabis Sales Rebound, DEA Rescheduling Update & Governor’s Forum | E326
Illinois cannabis sales are showing signs of renewed growth, but questions remain about pricing, competition, and the impact of upcoming hemp restrictions. In this episode, Cole examines newly released Illinois cannabis data, revisits the state’s cannabis arrest statistics, and discusses the latest developments in federal cannabis rescheduling as opponents seek additional testimony and documents. Later,…
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Massive Outdoor Home Grow, Patient Portal, & Cannabis Event This Week | E325
In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole takes viewers on a tour of an impressive outdoor cannabis home grow in Illinois. Josh Anderson, a medical cannabis patient whose home was previously raided by police, walks us through his custom-built outdoor hydroponic system and explains how he grows massive cannabis plants in the Illinois climate.…
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The Future of Illinois Cannabis: A Roundtable With Aaron Del Mar | E324
Illinois is preparing for major changes to its cannabis laws, especially as they relate to hemp. In this episode, Cole moderates a roundtable with Illinois hemp advocates, small business owners, and Aaron Del Mar, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, about what cannabis policy should look like going forward. Watch the episode on Youtube here…
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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. You can view the 2025 reports by clicking here, and the 2024 reports by clicking here. 2026 Annual Cannabis Report for State of Illinois 2026 Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee Annual…
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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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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.…
