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Episode 119 – Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) – Caleb Howard
In this episode, I sit down with Caleb Howard, CEO and founder of Flower Girl and the Illinois State Director for Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM). We dive deep into the challenges facing the hemp industry and the complex landscape of cannabis regulation in Illinois. Caleb shares his personal journey, the obstacles he’s faced, and
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Mini Doc Screening in Chicagoland on 9/18 at 5:30PM
Hi everyone, I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve booked another location for the screening of my mini-documentary! This event will be hosted by the amazing folks at Blue Island Beer Company and High Focus Media. You can purchase your tickets here. Limited seating available. If you can’t make it to the screening, the documentary will
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Episode 118 – Smoke, Mirrors, and Illinois’ Cannabis Legacy: A Deep Dive with Phillip
In this episode of The Cole Memo, host Cole Preston sits down with fellow advocate and friend, Phillip. They spark up a candid conversation about Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s recent speech at the International Cannabis Bar Association, dissecting the claims of progress in Illinois’ cannabis industry. Specifically, they discuss the stark realities behind the state’s
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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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Exclusive: Illinois State Cannabis Lab Nears Completion
Inspiration for This Article On December 10, 2021, the Chicago Sun-Times published a series of articles about cannabis testing in Illinois. On February 2nd, 2022, I released a conversation that I had with the lead journalists behind the Sun-Times commissioned lab testing, Tom Schuba and Stephanie Zimmerman. During the conversation, they explain their research which
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Episode 117 – Pushing Boundaries in Illinois Cannabis Culture
In this episode, Cole sits down with Phillip, a fellow advocate, and the organizer of the Melt Market, a unique cannabis farmers market in Illinois. Together, they explore the challenges and rewards of organizing underground cannabis events, discuss the importance of community involvement, and reflect on the evolving cannabis landscape in the state. Tune in
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Episode 116 – Hemp in the Heartland: Legislative Insight with IL Rep. Dan Swanson
In this episode, I interview Illinois State Representative Dan Swanson at the 2024 Hemp Research Open House, co-hosted by the Illinois Hemp Growers Association and the University of Illinois. Recorded in the hemp fields of Urbana-Champaign, this conversation covers the latest legislative session, the ongoing debate between the hemp and cannabis industries, and the bipartisan
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Episode 115 – From OnlyFans to Free Ross: Hemp, Freedom, and More with Martha Bueno
In this episode, I sit down with Martha Bueno, an entrepreneur, former political candidate, and passionate advocate for freedom. Martha shares her unique journey from running for office in Miami and becoming the first political candidate to use OnlyFans as a platform to expose the dirty underbelly of politics. She dives deep into her involvement
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Episode 114 – Florida Amendment 3 and Hemp with Martha Bueno and Dank Informer
In this live episode, I am joined by guests Martha Bueno and The Dank Informer. The discussion focuses on the potential consequences of legalizing cannabis under the proposed amendment 3 in Florida Martha Bueno argues against Amendment Three, expressing concerns that it would grant monopolistic power to a few large cannabis companies, like Trulieve, potentially
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Episode 113 – Inside The Melt Market: Illinois’ Cannabis Farmers Market
In this special episode, Cole sits down with the organizer of the Melt Market, a unique cannabis farmers market that brings together vendors, growers, and cannabis enthusiasts from across Illinois and beyond. They discuss the origins of the Melt Market, the challenges of organizing such events, and the importance of community involvement and collaboration with
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Conversations for Change
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