Claim OwnershipHigh Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast
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© 2026 High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast
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Hosts Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein serve up unfiltered insights, reveal their insiders' perspectives, and illuminate transformative ideas about the cannabis industry for people who want to make sense of it all.
128 Episodes
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The cannabis industry is getting squeezed from every angle—state AGs, ballot fights, and a federal regulator that can’t hit a deadline. On this week’s High Spirits business news roundup, Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein break down the stories shaping operator strategy right now. Episode #125 dives into Ohio’s escalating “legalization meets enforcement” showdown, including an antitrust lawsuit targeting major MSOs—and the messy split between regulated cannabis and hemp interests. Then it’s dow...
From Olympic hockey banter to Washington politics and THC drinks at major arenas, this episode proves there’s never a slow week in cannabis. AnnaRae joins a familiar roundtable to unpack policy signals, market stress, and why beverages keep stealing the spotlight. About This Episode On this week’s edition of This Week in Cannabis Live, Jay Rosenthal is joined by Jeremy Berke, Marc Hauser, and AnnaRae Grabstein for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of the industry. Topics include Senato...
THC beverages are officially hitting the big leagues—and Chicago’s United Center is the proof point. In Episode 124 of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein sit down with Rick Schepp (GM of Beverage, Señorita & RYTHM) and Charles Bieler (Co-Founder, Señorita) to unpack what it really takes to build hemp-derived THC drinks that can scale into major venues, national retail, and mass culture. From on-premise conversion and the power of sampling, to effect-led produ...
Policy and regulation across cannabis and hemp are shifting fast—and operators don’t get to pause the business while Washington debates definitions. On Episode 123 of High Spirits, Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein sit down with Thomas Winstanley, EVP of edibles.com, to unpack what it actually looks like to build and operate through policy uncertainty. From the urgency of 2026 (“do or die”) to the reality that “waiting for clarity” isn’t a strategy, Thomas shares how his team is planning in sc...
In this edition of This Week in Cannabis Live, our host Ben Larson joins Jay Rosenthal & Jeremy Berke of Cultivated and Marc Hauser of Cannabis Musings for a fast-moving, no-BS conversation on the biggest stories shaping cannabis right now. From Schedule III claims and missed DOJ deadlines to a surprise hemp bill, New York’s track-and-trace chaos, and the realities behind M&A headlines, this episode is all signal, no fluff. What You’ll Learn: Why cannabis rescheduling is still...
Cannabis is leaving its “startup era”—and the next phase won’t be won by hype. It’ll be won by operators who can build trust, standardize the experience, and run tighter businesses in a margin-crushed market. On Episode 122 of High Spirits, hosts Ben & AnnaRae sit down with Ashwin Raj, CEO of LeafLink, to unpack what he’s seeing from the center of cannabis wholesale—where billions in transactions reveal the real signals of industry health. Ashwin draws sharp parallels to ride-sharing and ...
Two of the most durable edibles brands in cannabis just joined forces—and the backstory is pure “mature-market grit.” On Episode 121 of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein sit down with Aaron Morris (Founder & CEO of Wyld) and Draper Bender (President of Grön) for their first interview together following Wyld’s acquisition of Grön. They unpack why Oregon breeds profitable operators, how “market compressions” shape winning playbooks, and what it takes to build a re...
What actually changes for cannabis in 2026—and what’s still just wishful thinking? Join the teams from Cultivated Media, High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast, and Cannabis Musings for This Week in Cannabis Live | 2026 Prediction Show. From rescheduling realities and 280E implications to M&A strategy, hemp-derived beverages, and where not to start a cannabis business, this conversation cuts through the noise with grounded, operator-first insight. What You’ll Learn: Why...
New year, new signals—and cannabis is entering 2026 with policy momentum, consolidation heat, and a growing demand for real numbers (not vibes). In Episode 120 of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein sit down with Cy Scott, Co-Founder & CEO of Headset, to break down what 2025 actually told us—and what to watch as rescheduling moves forward and markets keep maturing. From New York’s explosive growth to the margin squeeze hitting legacy states like California and Mic...
It’s a cozy year-end check-in—and a clear-eyed look at what’s next. Recorded Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Ben & AnnaRae close out the year by revisiting their 2025 predictions, unpacking what actually happened across regulated cannabis and hemp-derived THC, and setting the tone for 2026: faster, sharper, and more focused. From the surreal experience of finding cannabis policy debates in a 1969 Playboy issue to today’s rescheduling whiplash, this episode zooms out on the long arc of reform—...
On this special This Week in Cannabis episode Presented by Cultivated Media, High Spirits hosts Ben & AnnaRae join Jay & Jeremy from Cultivated and Marc Hauser of Cannabis Musings to break down the biggest cannabis policy story of the year: the federal push to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. Recorded live just days after the announcement, this conversation cuts through the hype to examine what actually changes—and what still hangs in the balance—for cannabis, hemp, banking, and ...
This episode of High Spirits is a little different. Recorded live just days before a major federal shakeup, hosts Ben & AnnaRae dive headfirst into the state of cannabis media, policy uncertainty, and what survival really looks like heading into 2026. From the collapse of trusted cannabis journalism to bold predictions around Schedule III, hemp legislation, M&A, and THC beverages, this conversation captures the raw, unfiltered realities of an industry that refuses to die—even when no ...
Recorded live on December 5th from Las Vegas, this recording of "This Morning in Cannabis Live" brings together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts for candid conversations about the current state and future of cannabis and hemp. The hosts—Jay Rosenthal, AnnaRae Grabstein, Marc Hauser, and Jeremy Berke—guide discussions on rapid business growth, regulatory challenges, market innovation, and the importance of advocacy and data-driven decision-making. The episode features in-depth inte...
Recorded Live on December 3rd from Las Vegas, this special episode of "This Week in Cannabis" brings together industry leaders and insiders to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the cannabis and hemp sectors. We dive into federal policy, market expansion, retail innovation, and the evolving landscape of cannabis journalism. Featuring in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs, executives, and retailers, the episode offers a candid look at the state of the industry, ...
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 in a historically tight program. It’s a modest step with big implications: recognition that demand is outpacing capacity, but who will be the winners? For operat...
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 with mainstream shoppers • how a funding bill rider created the new 0.4 mg per package limit • why fragmented advocacy loses to unified, well-funded lobbies • le...
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 and industry unity • Darren’s path from blueberries to cannabis • WAM partnership and medical-first roots • OCAL certification and consumer education • regenera...
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 recalls and lawsuits in New York and Florida • Dr. Ruth Fisher on 10,000+ cannabis patents and prior art • global patent holders across pharma, tobacco, academia, an...
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 mainstream adoption • integration of life lessons into leadership and team communication • news on lawsuits and AG letters shaping risk perception • why incumbents ...
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 payments • cashless ATM and debit as the current stable rails • 34% average ticket lift moving from cash to debit • 22–27% additional lift when adding credit optio...
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