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.
Podcasting since 2023 • 133 episodes
High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast
Latest Episodes
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...
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32:00
#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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Episode 128
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1:03:05
#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...
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Episode 127
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54:05
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 ...
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29:23
#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...
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Episode 126
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57:33