Send us a text The mics take a breather, but the cannabis market doesn’t. We’re wheels up for MJBizCon and our High Spirits Morning Mixer on Thursday, and then straight to BevNET, while state and federal moves reshape the map from Texas to Virginia to Minnesota to California. We start with Texas, where regulators approved nine new medical licenses …

Send us a text We unpack the 365-day clock facing hemp-derived THC beverages, why the category exploded, and how a policy rider vaulted prohibition-style limits into law. Martín Caballero of BevNet joins us to map realistic paths forward, where coalition power lives, and what compromises might actually work. • why hemp-derived THC drinks resonated …

Send us a text We unpack the federal push to restrict hemp products, then turn to a grounded model for the future: regenerative organic cannabis. Darren Story from Coastal Sun shares how soil health lowers costs, why OCAL matters, and how compassion and affordability can scale. • hemp policy shock and what it means for access • lessons for advocacy…

Send us a text We explore how local elections shape cannabis policy on the ground, then dive into the real map of cannabis patents with Dr. Ruth Fisher. She explains who holds the IP, why enforcement is scarce for now, and how one big verdict could change the industry overnight. • grounding in stoicism and local civic action • breaking news on reca…

Send us a text We explore how hemp-derived THC beverages are redefining adult drinking, why big brands hesitate while startups build, and how “vice wellness” turns ritual into wellness-driven status. Jeff Cantalupo of Listen Ventures shares what gets a VC to yes, how portfolios form, and where retail wins. • consumer demand driving THC beverage mai…

Send us a text We unpack why cannabis retail still can’t run on normal card rails, how debit and alternative payments increase average tickets, and what federal legality would actually change. Aubrey Amatelli of PayRio shares data, pitfalls, and a playbook for safer, smoother checkout. • why Visa and Mastercard rules block standard cannabis card pa…

Send us a text We dig into the rise of THC beverages from dispensary side racks to big-box end caps, then peel back how Uncle Arnie’s raised $7.5M, built distribution state by state, and scaled a team while staying scrappy. Theo shares lessons on dosage, education, and why focused markets beat scattershot launches. • Target’s Minnesota pilot and re…

Send us a text We unpack how a federal shutdown freezes cannabis policy progress, why Michigan’s new 24% tax risks shrinking the legal market, and how a Vireo–Schwazze restructuring signals financial maturity. We close with a live “Ode to California” challenging protectionism and calling for true access and scale. • federal shutdown halting resched…

Send us a text We trace how a headline-grabbing CBD moment collided with the realities of cannabis policy, then dive into Levia’s rare founder buyback to unpack brand trust, dual-channel strategy, and what it takes to build consistent, safe, and truly approachable THC beverages. The conversation blends practical deal lessons, product innovation, an…

Send us a text Elliot Lewis, CEO of Catalyst Cannabis and famously dubbed "the angriest weed CEO in California," pulls no punches in this revealing conversation about the state of California's cannabis industry. Having built Catalyst into one of California's largest retail chains with over 25 stores, Lewis speaks from experience when he describes t…

Send us a text Marianne Cursetjee shares how she transformed from cancer patient to cannabis entrepreneur, building Alibi into a premium brand now expanding from Oregon to New York through strategic licensing partnerships. • Breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 led to discovering cannabis's healing potential • Built Alibi Cannabis in Oregon with a focus…

Send us a text Cameron Clarke, CEO of Sunderstorm and the Kanha brand, shares his journey of building a global cannabis wellness brand and navigating the complexities of international markets. • Started in California in 2015, believing that success there would translate to success anywhere • Expanded nationally in 2019-2020 after becoming a top 10 …

Send us a text Lulu Tsui, co-founder of On the Revel, shares her journey from Bloomberg to becoming the "Queen of New York Cannabis" and how she's building authentic community in the East Coast market. She reveals how New York's cannabis industry has developed its own unique business culture focused on directness, accountability, and community stan…

Send us a text Former NCIA CEO Aaron Smith shares his insights after 20 years leading cannabis policy reform, reflecting on the evolution from medical advocacy to today's complex marketplace and the challenges of federal reform. • The cannabis industry has seen remarkable progress over two decades, with support for reform growing from just two memb…

Send us a text Rama Mayo, co-founder of Hall of Flowers, shares how he transformed his experience in music, art, and fashion into creating one of cannabis's most respected trade shows focused on high-quality brand and buyer connections. • Building successful cannabis brands requires clear mission, vision, and values as foundation • The tension betw…

Send us a text A hundred episodes in, and the journey has only just begun. This milestone celebration of High Spirits offers a candid look into what we've learned about cannabis entrepreneurship, regulation, and the future of this evolving industry. When we first started recording our conversations with friends in the cannabis space, we couldn't ha…

Send us a text Mack Hueber from Ayrloom shares the remarkable story of how a 114-year-old apple orchard transformed into New York's leading cannabis brand while navigating the complex regulatory landscape of hemp and THC beverages. • Ayrloom emerged from Beak & Skiff, a century-old family-run apple orchard that expanded into cider, spirits, coffee,…

Send us a text Kim Gomez shares how her TikTok experiment with her mother turned into Soberish, a multi-million dollar online marketplace for hemp-based and non-alcoholic social alternatives without spending on advertising. Her accidental business journey provides insights into serving cannabis-curious consumers who are intimidated by dispensaries …

Send us a text We dive deep into East Coast cannabis markets with Rick Bashkoff, CEO of Lit Alerts, examining how data is reshaping operations in New York, New Jersey, and beyond as these emerging marketplaces evolve. • Data accuracy in cannabis typically ranges from 70-90% with most platforms using similar methodology to predict market trends • Ne…

Send us a text Amy O'Gorman Jenkins, one of California's most influential cannabis lobbyists and director of the California Cannabis Operators Association (CaCOA), breaks down the critical fight to reform cannabis taxes and save the state's struggling legal market. The industry faces a dire situation with legal cannabis sales dropping 30% since 202…

Send us a text The cannabis industry faces an existential crisis as political developments threaten businesses across multiple fronts despite growing public acceptance. State and federal politics are creating contradictory and often hostile environments for cannabis operators while simultaneously claiming to support legalization. • Texas Governor A…

Send us a text In this special episode of High Spirits, we share with you AnnaRae's guest appearance on Practical Politics with friend and Lobbyist Lady Sabrina Noah. From brewing espresso during California's groundbreaking Prop 215 campaign to revolutionizing cannabis quality standards, AnnaRae Grabstein's journey through the cannabis industry off…

Send us a text Ever wondered what it takes to build a cannabis empire that remains authentic while scaling across multiple states, countries, and product categories? Tiffany Chin pulls back the curtain on her journey as the strategic mastermind behind Snoop Dogg's cannabis ventures, revealing the delicate balance of business savvy and cultural unde…

Send us a text Ever found yourself paralyzed by uncertainty in the cannabis industry? You're not alone. This episode with leadership coach Andrea Baillo reveals why waiting for perfect clarity is the surest path to stagnation, and what to do instead. Andrea, who transitioned from cancer biology to executive roles at Green Thumb Industries and Open …

Send us a text The path to cannabis normalization has never been straightforward, but as our industry faces critical regulatory crossroads, a fundamental truth emerges: consumers want cannabinoids. The "great hemp experiment" initiated by the 2018 Farm Bill has conclusively demonstrated mainstream appetite for these products across political spectr…

Send us a text AnnaRae Grabstein and economist Andrew Livingston explore the economic impact of cannabis legalization across America and examines the complex regulatory challenges facing both cannabis and hemp businesses in today's market. Through analysis of state markets, policy trends, and business dynamics, Andrew reveals why some markets thriv…

Send us a text Cannabis industry experts discuss the stark contrast between Texas's recent ban on hemp-derived THC products and New York's efforts to strengthen its regulatory framework through a new track and trace program. Mark Hauser shares insights on market maturity, regulatory challenges, and the uncertain future facing both hemp and cannabis…

Send us a text Convenience stores are positioned to introduce cannabis to a new wave of consumers with their unmatched retail footprint of 150,000 locations nationwide and accessibility to 90% of Americans within a 10-minute drive. • Convenience stores have evolved from selling "gas, cokes, and smokes" to embracing new categories as tobacco sales d…

Send us a text Jesse Redmond, Head of Investor Relations and Business Development at Leaf Brands, brings his unique perspective as a former Wall Street investor and cannabis dispensary owner to discuss the challenging landscape of public cannabis companies. His insights reveal why certain companies are weathering the storm better than others and ho…

Send us a text Ben and AnnaRae explore the latest cannabis market developments across multiple states and at the federal level, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges. They dissect New York's comprehensive market report showing local brands outperforming multi-state operators while California cannabis businesses organize against impen…

Send us a text Kris Walker from Hoodie Analytics joins us to decode cannabis market trends following 4/20, revealing how competing holidays, demographic shifts, and pricing strategies impacted this year's sales performance. Data shows 4/20 sales dipped 12% year-over-year, highlighting the industry's need for smarter decision-making beyond reflexive…

Send us a text Mitchell Osak, veteran cannabis consultant and founder of Cannabis Management Review, joins us to share insights on navigating the complex cannabis business landscape and finding success through fundamental business principles. • Hemp and cannabis policy debates highlight the challenges of finding middle ground in an increasingly pol…

Send us a text Dave Daly, founder of Grav Labs, shares his 20-year journey from creating the original Gravitron in his parents' garage to building an iconic cannabis accessories brand that's now expanding into THC beverages. • Building a differentiated product with the original all-glass gravity bong in 2004 • Growing through innovation when a simp…

Send us a text The world of cannabis isn't isolated from global economic shifts—it's deeply embedded in them. When the Trump administration announced sweeping new tariffs against major trading partners, from China to Canada, few analysts considered how these protectionist measures would impact an industry that's already entirely domestic by legal n…

Send us a text 🌿🎙️ Join us on High Spirits as Ben & AnnaRae dive into a hot topic that's reshaping the landscape of the cannabis beverage industry. As states begin to align hemp beverage regulations with those governing alcohol, the implications for brands, manufacturers, distributors, and consumers are significant. This episode explores the legisl…

Send us a text In today’s discussion, we explore the evolution of Bengal Capital from a hedge fund to a more hands-on private equity firm that doesn't just invest but actively participates in steering companies towards success. We'll unravel the layers of Bengal’s unique approach to cannabis investing, focusing on smaller, often overlooked entities…

Send us a text 🌿🎙️ 𝟏𝟏 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝟕 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬?! 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! 🌼🌈✌️ Join hosts Ben & AnnaRae on High Spirits as they dive into the world of launching a THC-infused beverage company with the founders of Hippie Water. We're thrilled to welcome Sasha Pieterse Sheaffer and Taylor Eileen Sewell to discuss the dynamic launch and rapid expan…

Send us a text Note to our listeners: Apologies for the poor sound quality on this episode. We experienced a bit of a technical snafu in the recording. We will be back on track next week! 🎙𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐩!🌿 It's been another eventful month in the world of cannabis, and we're excited to talk about it. Tune-in to fi…

Send us a text Join Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein on High Spirits as they explore the journey of transforming a hemp marketplace and media site into a multi-state cannabis brand with a strong community focus. We'll be joined by Kate Miller, co-founder and CEO of Miss Grass , who has masterfully steered the brand from its roots as a hemp marketplac…

Send us a text Join Ben & AnnaRae on High Spirits as we delve into the world of cannabis retail with Christopher Violas, CEO of BLAZE®. This episode explores how cutting-edge technology and strategic market insights are reshaping the cannabis industry from the ground up. 🚀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲: In this discussion, we'll cover the impact of technology…

Send us a text 🌿 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐬 🌿 Join us on this week's episode of High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast, where we delve deep into the verdant fields of Humboldt County with Scott Vasterling, the visionary founder of Humboldt Family Farms. Discover the rich legacy of cannabis cultivation and the promising future of sungrown …

Send us a text Tune in to our next episode of 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀 as we unravel the complexities of receivership and the intricacies of bankruptcy within the cannabis and hemp industries. We're joined by Ted Lanes, the "𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧" of finance, to shed light on what these financial states mean for businesses and creditors alike. 🚀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲: We …

Send us a text 🌿 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬 🌿 Dive into a thrilling new episode of 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀 as we explore the intersection of peak performance in high-stakes environments with Melanie Curtis, a professional skydiver, world record holder, and acclaimed performance coach. Join us as we unravel the…

Send us a text 𝘞𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦'𝘳𝘳𝘳𝘳𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘢𝘢𝘢𝘢𝘢𝘢𝘤𝘬! Join us for the first episode of the year on 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙨, where we scope out the evolving world of cannabis beverages through the lens of Craig (Lewie) Lewis 🥃🏆, the CEO & Co-Founder of Flyers Cocktail Company. We're kicking off 2025 by diving into the category dominating our minds and the airwaves. 📣 Qu…

Send us a text What if the latest moves by a major cannabis company could set off a chain reaction across the entire industry? Unravel the implications of Vireo's strategic transformation under the astute leadership of Tyson McDonald. We dive into the latest maneuvers by Vireo, who is making headlines with a game-changing capital influx and the acq…

Send us a text 🌿 𝐌𝐉𝐁𝐢𝐳𝐂𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐩: 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 🌿 Join us for a special episode of High Spirits, where your hosts Ben & AnnaRae share their experiences and insights from MJBizCon 2024 in Las Vegas. Fresh from hosting the High Spirits Morning Mixer, they're ready to dive deep into the…

Send us a text 🎙𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝-𝐮𝐩!🌿 It's been another eventful week in the world of cannabis, and we're excited to talk about it. In this week's episode, we discuss... 🚨 Minnesota's botched social equity lottery application (read robbery) 🍸 GTI's big bet on beverage through Agrify's acquisition of Señorit…

Send us a text Explore the cutting-edge world of cannabis technology with Socrates Rosenfeld, the CEO and co-founder of Jane Technologies. Prepare to be intrigued by the potential shifts in federal cannabis reform as we discuss the surprising nomination of Matt Gaetz for US Attorney General by President-elect Trump. Join AnnaRae Grabstein as she re…

Send us a text Join Ben and AnnaRae on Thursday for a special post-election recording of High Spirits as we unpack Tuesday's election results, focusing specifically on the presidential race, various state ballot measures related to cannabis, and the broader implications for hemp and cannabis policy. We're thrilled to welcome back Hirsh Jain, one of…

Send us a text Join us for this week's recording of 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀, where we're diving into the intricate world of Wana Brands, North America's leading edibles brand. We're sitting down with Joe Hodas, the recently appointed President of Wana, to discuss the brand's innovative strategies and his journey from Chief Marketing Officer to President. 🚀 𝗔𝗯…