Welcome to the Guest Index of The Cole Memo Podcast.

I’ve had the privilege of hosting a diverse array of professionals from various fields. From state regulators to elected representatives, journalists, cannabis/psychedelic executives, higher education scholars, and legal professionals, our guests represent a broad spectrum of expertise and perspectives. See below for a glimpse into the insightful conversations I’ve had with individuals shaping the landscape of our times.

Feel free to use the below table of contents to quickly navigate through the list or scroll to take it all in. Please note that this list will be updated periodically to reflect new guests and episodes.

State Regulators

Danielle Perry

Danielle Perry served as the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer appointed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Perry’s impressive resume includes overseeing an agriculture job training program, serving as communications director at the Chicago Inspector General’s office, and contributing to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s transition committee. She also brought her expertise from her time in President Barack Obama’s Department of Agriculture. The interview can be found here.

David Lakeman

David Lakeman is a key figure in Illinois’ cannabis regulation sector, serving as the Division Manager for the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Cannabis Division. With experience in launching Massachusetts’ cannabis industry, including legislative negotiations and contributions to regulatory commissions. David served in various capacities within Illinois government and represented the Massachusetts Municipal Association during legislative negotiations. The interview can be found here.

Steve Marks

Steve Marks served as the Executive Director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) from October 2013 until February 2023. During his tenure, Marks oversaw significant regulatory transitions, including the integration of recreational cannabis into the agency’s portfolio post-Oregon voters’ approval in 2014. The interview can be found here.

Shaleen Title

Shaleen Title is a former top regulator for the state of Massachusetts, where she served as commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission from 2017 to 2020. Currently, her primary focus is running the nonprofit think tank Parabola Center, which pushes for cannabis policies to protect people rather than corporate profits. My latest interview with Shaleen can be found here.

Elected Officials

Rep. Carol Ammons

Representative Carol Ammons is a seasoned and dedicated public servant, currently in her fifth term representing the 103rd district in the Illinois General Assembly. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first African-American elected to champion the interests of the 103rd District. The interview can be found here.

Rep. Bob Morgan

Representative Bob Morgan serves as Representative for Illinois’ 58th District in Springfield. Bob has been praised for his role in implementing both the Affordable Care Act and the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program. The interview can be found here.

Rep. La Shawn Ford

Elected to the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 8th District in 2007, Rep. La Shawn K. Ford focuses on social justice issues and addressing disparities in employment, education, and the healthcare system. The interview can be found here.

Senator Rachel Ventura

Elected to the Illinois State Senate representing the 43rd District in 2022, Senator Rachel Ventura is a strong advocate for environmental sustainability, economic equity, and government transparency. She works to advance legislation that supports working families, protects natural resources, and promotes innovation in renewable energy and science-based policy. The interview can be found here.

Rep. Daniel Swanson

Elected to the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 71st District in 2016, Rep. Dan Swanson brings his background in agriculture and military service to his work in Springfield. He is a dedicated advocate for veterans, rural communities, and public health, with a focus on supporting Illinois farmers, improving mental health services, and strengthening biosecurity and emergency preparedness.The interview can be found here.

Rep. Dan Caulkins

Elected to the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 101st District in 2018, former Rep. Dan Caulkins focused on fiscal responsibility, government reform, and protecting individual liberties. Drawing on his experience as a businessman and U.S. Army veteran, he advocated for limited government, pension reform, and policies to support small businesses and taxpayers across Illinois. The interview can be found here.

Journalists

Jeremy Gorner

Jeremy Gorner is a beat reporter for the Tribune’s Metro staff, covering Illinois state government from the Statehouse in Springfield. He previously covered the Chicago Police Department for the newspaper, and he joined the Tribune in 2006 to cover breaking news for its online news desk. The interview can be found here.

Tom Schuba

Tom Schuba is a reporter and editor focused on criminal justice issues, and he previously covered the legalization of marijuana across Illinois. The interview can be found here.

Stephanie Zimmerman

Stephanie Zimmermann is an award-winning investigative reporter who focuses on consumer issues, defined broadly to include credit and debt, insurance, food, housing, health, transportation, technology, unsafe products, scams/frauds and other issues that affect everyday people. The interview can be found here.

Mike Fourcher

Mike Fourcher was a journalist. His career has taken him from Capitol Hill to Chicago City Hall, from work as a Clinton Administration Energy Department staffer to co-founding multiple successful news startups. My latest interview with Mike can be found here.

Ray Long

Ray Long is a veteran investigative and state government reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering Illinois politics and the Statehouse in Springfield. Known for his in-depth reporting on ethics, corruption, and legislative affairs, he has decades of experience holding public officials accountable. Long joined the Tribune after working for the Associated Press and has earned widespread respect for his comprehensive coverage of Illinois government. The interview can be found here.

Cannabis/Psychedelic Executives

Charlie Bachtell

Charlie Bachtell has served as Cresco Labs’ Chief Executive Officer since February 2015. Prior to co-founding Cresco Labs, Mr. Bachtell worked for a decade at Guaranteed Rate as its Executive Vice President and General Counsel. The interview can be found here.

Jon Levine

Mr. Jon Levine has been Chief Executive Officer and President of MariMed, Inc. since 2023, and a director of the company since 2016. The interview can be found here.

Rick Doblin

Richard Elliot Doblin is an American drug activist and executive who is the founder and former executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. The interview can be found here.

Dustin Shroyer

Dustin Shroyer served as Chief Operating Officer at Revolution Cannabis, where he played a key role in overseeing cultivation, production, and operational strategy. Prior to his work in the cannabis industry, Shroyer brought experience in large-scale agricultural and manufacturing operations. He has been recognized for his expertise in building efficient, science-driven cannabis facilities and teams. The latest interview can be viewed here.

Higher Education

Dr. Karla Gage

Dr. Karla Gage is Assistant Professor of Weed Science and Plant Biology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she received her Ph.D. in Plant Biology with a focus in Weed Ecology in 2013. She holds a cross-appointment between the College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems and the College of Science, Department of Plant Biology. The interview can be found here.

Dr. Buck Hales

Dr. Hales was the director at the Cannabis Science Center at SIUC. His work has led to the wide scale acceptance of the laying hen model of ovarian cancer, the only spontaneous and natural model that accurately represents the human disease. The interview can be found here.

Dr. Jose Leme

Dr. Leme is an Assistant Professor of Cannabis Biology and Cropping Systems at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. The interview can be found here.

Dr. DoKyoung Lee

DoKyoung “D.K.” Lee is a professor for biomass and bioenergy crop production and an extension agronomist in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois. He has an extensive educational background in crop production, perennial grasses, soil science, and international agriculture. The interview can be found here.

Daniel Silver

Daniel A. Silver teaches a wide variety of courses in the Paralegal Studies program. Mr. Silver has been practicing law, primarily in the area of bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, since 1993. He has been teaching in the Paralegal Studies program at SIU Carbondale since 2002. The interview can be found here.

Justin Leiby

Associate Professor of Accountancy and Academic Director of BSA/ MSA Program and Professor Ken Perry Faculty Fellow and DPI Faculty In Residence and Disruption and Innovation Scholar. Justin has contributed to data collection efforts on the cannabis industry in the state of Illinois. My latest interview with Justin can be found here.

Legal Professionals

Kulmeet Galholtra

Kulmeet “Bob” Galhotra opened Galhotra Law in 2020. His experience representing thousands of individuals in Juvenile Delinquency, Felony and Murder cases in Cook County. Attorney Galhotra spent 30 years representing defendents in Cook County. My latest interview with Kulmeet can be found here.

Evan Bruno

Evan began his legal career as an attorney in the research office of the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court in Springfield. From there, he went on to clerk for Illinois Appellate Court Justice Robert J. Steigmann in Urbana. Evan joined Bruno Law Offices in 2015. Upon recommendation of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Evan as a member of the Board of the State Appellate Defender Commission. My latest interview with Evan can be found here.

Thomas Howard

Licensed to practice since 2008, Thomas Howard has represented numerous financial institutions in litigation to enforce their security interests. Since 2018, he has helped numerous cannabis companies in both the hemp and the adult use cannabis industry. My latest interview with Tom can be found here.

Rod Kight

Rod is a cannabis business law attorney. Based in North Carolina and Mexico, Rod represents legal cannabis businesses throughout the world and is editor and chief writer of the Kight On Cannabis law blog. The interview can be found here.

Ali Jubelirer

Ali is a seasoned legal and business advisor with over 20 years of experience, specializing in labor and employment law within the cannabis and hemp industries. She offers strategic guidance on regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and commercial contracts, helping businesses navigate complex legal and operational challenges. With deep knowledge of the evolving cannabis landscape, Ali provides practical, forward-thinking counsel at the intersection of business and law. My latest episode with Ali can be found here.

Economist

Beau Whitney

Beau Whitney is a leading cannabis economist and founder of Whitney Economics, a firm specializing in data-driven analysis of the cannabis and hemp industries. With a background in economics, supply chain management, and public policy, Whitney provides insights on market trends, regulatory impacts, and economic forecasting. His research is frequently cited by policymakers, industry leaders, and media outlets to inform decision-making in the evolving cannabis economy. You can view my conversation with Beau here.

Latest Episodes of The Cole Memo

#246 – Cannabis Is Legal in Illinois, So Why Are People Still Being Arrested – The Cole Memo

Despite cannabis being legal in Illinois, people are still being arrested, charged, and even serving long prison sentences for marijuana related offenses. In this episode, I unpack recent reporting that highlights just how much criminalization remains baked into Illinois law and why legalization did not bring the relief many expected. We dig into possession limits, enforcement disparities, and how criminal penalties continue to fall hardest on marginalized communities. Drawing from years of reporting and my own mini documentary, this episode breaks down what legalization changed, what it did not, and why true decriminalization remains unfinished business in Illinois. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/12/22/e246/