This page showcases a selection of my work on the history of cannabis policy in Illinois.
- Mini Doc on Illinois Cannabis Policy
- Interviews with elected officials in Illinois
- History of Cannabis in Illinois series
- Cannabis Hearings
- Document/Photo Archive
Mini Doc on Illinois Cannabis Policy
Click here to watch my mini documentary on Illinois’ cannabis policy.
Interviews with elected officials in Illinois
Watch my conversation with Illinois Representative Carol Ammons here
Watch my conversation with Illinois State Representative La Shawn Ford here
Watch my conversation with Illinois State Representative Dan Swanson here
Watch my conversation with Illinois State Representative Dan Caulkins here
History of Cannabis in Illinois series
Dive into the unique and unparalleled history of cannabis in Illinois, tracing its path from 1978 through to the advent of adult use sales. This exclusive series presents a thorough exploration of cannabis legalization like no other in the world. For deeper insights and fact-checking, we encourage you to consult our extensively referenced source document, which is available for download.
EPISODE 1 – Watch E1 here.
EPISODE 2 – Watch E2 here.
EPISODE 3 – Watch E3 here.
EPISODE 4 – Watch E4 here.
Document v1 is available below.
Document v2 coming soon…
Cannabis Hearings
- Click here to watch May 31, 2019 footage of Illinois House debate on HB1438.
- Click here to watch Illinois Supreme Court hear arguments as to whether the smell of cannabis alone is grounds for police officers to search a vehicle. (January 10th, 2024)
- On September 19, 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court issued a key ruling on the cannabis odor issue, with another ruling expected to follow.
- On December 5th, 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court issued a follow up ruling on the cannabis odor issue.
- You can read about the ruling here.
- You can listen to legal professionals discuss the ruling here. (coming soon)
Hash Wednesday
What is Hash Wednesday? According to the NewsGazette: “With the click of a lighter, Hash Wednesday was born on the University of Illinois Quad in 1977. It was modeled after other “hash bashes,” particularly the one in Ann Arbor, Mich., which supported reform of marijuana laws, according to co-founder Mitch Altman.”
I collaborated with past participants of Hash Wednesday to create a compelling series. Please find the episodes available for streaming below.
- Watch the first episode in our series on Hash Wednesday here
- Watch the second episode in our series on Hash Wednesday here
- Watch the third episode in our series on Hash Wednesday here
- Watch the fourth episode in our series on Hash Wednesday here
- Watch the fifth episode in our series on Hash Wednesday here
- Watch the sixth episode in our series on Hash Wednesday here
Document/Photo Archive
In collaboration with some of the participants, I have produced a free-to-view archive. You can view the archive here.
The Cole Memo 