#272 - Illinois Cannabis Town Hall, Testing Issues, and the Missouri Hemp War

#272 - Illinois Cannabis Town Hall, Testing Issues, and the Missouri Hemp War

From The Cole Memo by Cole Preston

April 13, 2026 · 1h 2m

About this episode

Cole discusses the Illinois cannabis town hall, THC potency issues, and the Missouri hemp policy battle with guests Nick Thomas and Jamie.

In this episode of The Cole Memo, Cole covers a major upcoming Illinois cannabis town hall and breaks down a viral controversy surrounding inflated THC potency labels in dispensaries. A Reddit post and independent testing results raise serious questions about accuracy and trust in cannabis testing, highlighting how young and evolving the industry still is. The main segment features a deep dive into Missouri’s rapidly escalating hemp policy battle. Business owners Nick Thomas and Jamie share firsthand accounts of a proposed bill that could effectively eliminate hemp-derived products, including CBD. They discuss barriers to entering the licensed market, lobbying influence, and what they see as a coordinated effort to consolidate control. The conversation also explores federal uncertainty, potential legal challenges, and what comes next if the ban moves forward. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/04/07/e272/

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