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Episode 192 – Inside the Silence: Military Sexual Trauma
Trigger warning: this episode contains detailed discussions of sexual violence, PTSD, and suicide. In this powerful and emotional episode of The Cole Memo, returning guest Torrin Richelle opens up about her experience with military sexual trauma (MST) during her service in the U.S. Army. She recounts the harassment, assault, and institutional failures she endured—and the
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Metrc Announces New Sustainability Measures in Press Release
Metrc, the company behind the seed-to-sale tracking system used in several state cannabis programs and soon to be Illinois’ official provider, announced a series of sustainability initiatives in a recent press release. The company says it has redesigned its plant tags to use 30% less plastic, with a single-layer format that reduces total production waste
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New Portal for Illinois Medical Cannabis Patients/Caregivers Goes Live
I first reported in January 2023 that Illinois was planning to overhaul its Medical Cannabis Portal, after Michael Morthland of IDPH previewed the upcoming portal during a meeting I attended with the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office. Today, the state officially launched the new portal for medical cannabis patients and caregivers. The image below shows the
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Episode 191 – Live chat with Two Dope Dudes
In this special episode of The Cole Memo, I’m joined by Aaron and Dave — the voices behind The Elevated News Podcast and the driving forces behind SupportDopePeople.com. We talk about how their show started during the pandemic and how they’re using media to push cannabis culture forward in Illinois and beyond. We also reflect
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Episode 190 – Help End Cannabis-Odor-Based Vehicle Searches in Illinois
In this quick update, I share important news about Senate Bill 42, which would remove Illinois’ requirement that cannabis be transported in an odorproof container—helping to end police searches based solely on the smell of cannabis. I explain where the bill stands, how you can help by filing a witness slip before the April 29
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Episode 189 – Banning Progress: How Texas Could Roll Back Cannabis Reform
On this special Bicycle Day episode of The Cole Memo, I’m joined by Austin Zamhariri of the Texas Cannabis Collective for a deep dive into Texas’ escalating cannabis policy battles. We discuss the looming threat of a full hemp ban, the failures of the state’s restrictive medical program, and how Texas’ hemp market has provided
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Episode 188 – Power, Patronage, and the House That Madigan Built: A Conversation with Ray Long
Award-winning investigative journalist Ray Long joins Cole Preston for a deep dive into the political legacy of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan—arguably the most powerful figure in the state’s modern political history Links mentioned during show
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Episode 187 – Illinois Medical Cannabis Portal Is Getting an Upgrade
In this episode, I share updates on the upcoming changes to Illinois’ medical cannabis portal—something I’ve been tracking since 2023. Links mentioned during show
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Episode 186 – Behind the Counter: A Perspective on Smoke Shops & Legal Highs
Step inside the world of smoke shops with this eye-opening episode as we talk with Justine about the surprising—and sometimes concerning—realities of selling legal highs. From kratom and tianeptine (aka “gas station heroin”) to meth pipes, fake pee, and THCP gummies that can leave you high for days, we explore what people are really buying,
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Episode 185 – Recapping Hash Bash of 2025
This live episode of The Cole Memo takes you straight to Ann Arbor for a boots-on-the-ground look at Hash Bash 2025. Phil returns from Michigan to talk about the storied cannabis protest, the wild mix of licensed and underground vendors, and how Ann Arbor feels like another country when it comes to drug policy. We
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