High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast
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.
Episodes
145 episodes
#136 - Rescheduling Financial Deep Dive with Gail Rand & Michael Harlow
The DEA has finally spoken, but the path forward for cannabis operators is far from simple. As we move into a post-rescheduling world, the industry is bracing for a complex, bifurcated future that could redefine winners and losers overnight.
TWICL ( May 1, 2026) - Cannabis Rescheduling: What We Still Don't Know
It's been one week since cannabis rescheduling to Schedule III was announced — and the questions keep multiplying. Jay Rosenthal, Marc Hauser, and Ben Larson unpack the real-world implications for operators, lawyers, accountants, and states nav...
#135 - The Rescheduling Order: A Legal Deep Dive
Is it time to get giddy or stay skeptical? The federal rescheduling of cannabis is the biggest regulatory shift in decades, but it comes with a complex web of DEA registrations and international treaty considerations. Join Ben Larson and...
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TWICL (Apr 17, 2026) - 4/20 & Rescheduling — Medical Cannabis Goes Federal
What does rescheduling really change — in the next 90 days, the next year, and the next decade? Jay Rosenthal and Jeremy Berke from Cultivated are joined by AnnaRae Grabstein and Ben Larson from the High Spirits podcast and Marc H...
#134 - Centralized Strategy, Local Execution: Inside the iAnthus MSO Turnaround w/ CEO, Richie Proud
Is the "growth at all costs" era of the MSO officially over? According to Richie Proud, success in today's cannabis market isn't about having the most square footage—it’s about operational efficiency, consumer engagement, and a "flower-first" m...
TWICL (Apr 17, 2026) - $110 Oil, Falling Eighths, and the Hemp Legislation Rollercoaster
On This Week in Cannabis Live, High Spirits hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein join the team at Cultivated for a high-stakes news roundup. From the logistical nightmare of surging oil prices to the "race to...
#133 - The Future of THC Beverages: A Policy Deep Dive with Dawson Hobbs of WSWA
The hemp beverage industry is thriving, but a federal "cliff" in November could bring it all to a screeching halt. With a looming ban on products over 0.4mg of THC, the stakes have never been higher for operators and consumers alike....
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#132 - Scaling a Cannabis Empire: Boston Dickerson of Show Me Organics on Missouri and Kentucky Success
Is the "show me" state actually showing the rest of the country how to build a sustainable, high-growth cannabis market? In an era where many MSOs are struggling to stay afloat, one family-owned operator is proving that technical expertise and ...
#131 - Sex, Drugs, and MSOs: Tanya Griffin on Illinois Retail & Radical Authenticity
"Stop shaming my sex and drugs."On this episode of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein sit down with the incomparable Tanya Griffin, a multihyphenate entrepreneur who is rewriting the rulebo...
#130 - Market Spotlights & Disciplined Growth: Elliot Lane on the Future of IgniteIt
On this episode of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein are joined by Elliot Lane, Co-Founder and President of IgniteIt. After years of building the cannabi...
TWICL (Mar 13, 2026) - Cannabis Earnings Season, Florida Legalization Stalls, + Michigan’s $3B Market
On This Week in Cannabis Live, host Jay Rosenthal and Jeremy Berke (Cultivated.news) lead a high-stakes roundtable featuring Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein (High Spirits) and Marc Hauser (Cann...
#129 - Cannabis Business News Roundup: Tilray’s BrewDog Bet & AI Regulatory Enforcement
On this episode of High Spirits, hosts Ben & AnnaRae forgo the guest chair for a candid, deep-dive conversation into the shifting tides of the industry. From the sobering reality of Tilray’s latest $44M acquisiti...
TWICL (Mar 6, 2026) - Is New York the New Cannabis Capital? $4.6B Projections, SCOTUS Gun Rights, & Brand Power Shifts
From New York’s bold $4.6 billion market forecast to the unlikely intersection of the Second Amendment and cannabis at the Supreme Court, the team explores the shifting tectonic plates of the U.S. industry. Are we witnessing the "locus of the c...
#128 - Redefining Medicine & Schedule 6 w/ Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access
The federal government has finally acknowledged the "accepted medical use" of cannabis—but for millions of patients, the battle for true integration into the US healthcare system is just beginning. As we face a shifting regulatory landscape, is...
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#127 - $3 Billion In: What Cannabis Lenders Look For w/ Steven Ernest of Chicago Atlantic
Chicago Atlantic's Steven Ernest, Head of Originations, pulls back the curtain on institutional cannabis lending — from how his firm evaluates operators and underwrites deals, to navigating distressed assets, ESOPs, and the murky road ahead for...
TWICL (Feb 20, 2026) - Farm Bill Drafts, German M&A, and the "Social" Retail Revolution
The 2026 Farm Bill draft is finally on the table, and while the "hemp loophole" remains untouched for now, the industry is already looking toward a post-cliff future. As big tobacco backs Canadian giants in Europe and stadiums open their doors ...
#126 - Beyond THC: Dr. Riley Kirk on Smell, Science, and Cannabis Education
THC% might be the most overused number in cannabis—and it’s not helping consumers make better choices. In this episode, Ben nerds out with Dr. Riley Kirk on what actually drives effects, why “nose knows” matters, and how cannabis science can (a...
#125 - Cannabis Business News Roundup: Ohio MSO Lawsuit, Texas Medical Growth, and FDA Countdown
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 s...
TWICL (Feb 6, 2026) - Cannabis, Congress, And The Olympic Moment
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 ste...
#124 - Building THC Beverages That Actually Scale w/ Rick Schepp & Charles Bieler
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 Bevera...
#123 - Operating While the Ground Is Moving w/ Thomas Winstanley of Edibles.com
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 s...
TWICL (Jan 23, 2026) - Rescheduling Reality Check
In this edition of This Week in Cannabis Live, our host Ben Larson joins Jay Rosenthal & Jeremy Berke of Cultivat...
#122 - Signals from the Middle: Ashwin Raj on Cannabis’ Next Phase
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 Spi...
#121 - Why Wyld and Grön Joined Forces w/ Aaron Morris and Draper Bender
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 Aar...
