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Artwork for High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast

High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast

AnnaRae Grabstein and Ben Larson
Cannabis Industry
United States
Cannabis
Artificial Intelligence
Ignite It
Missouri
Interstate Commerce
Georgia SB 220
DEA Registration
Benzinga Cannabis
Illinois
Kentucky
Hemp Beverages
THC Beverages
TUMI Genomics
Georgia Hemp Regulations
California Cannabis Market
Regulatory Environment
Rescheduling
Michigan

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes151Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
InvestingBusinessEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast

Latest Episodes

As the cannabis industry matures, the conversation is shifting from basic intoxication to precise, effect-based wellness. But how do we bridge the gap between consumer anecdotes and true scientific validation for minor cannabinoids?

About This Episo... more

YouTube

This week on This Week in Cannabis Live, Jay Rosenthal, Jeremy Berke (Cultivated), plus Ben Larson of High Spirits and Marc Hauser of Cannabis Musings, break down the biggest stories in cannabis business and policy.

• New York's fiscal 2027 state bu... more

Nothing in the cannabis and hemp markets moves in a straight line, and lately, the operational whiplash has been more intense than ever. In this unpolished and deeply personal episode, hosts Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein step away from the usual g... more

YouTube

Join the teams from Cultivated, High Spirits, and Cannabis Musings for your weekly roundup of the biggest stories in cannabis.

The DEA just announced it's opening a new registration window for cannabis manufacturers, growers, labs, and distributors ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Melanie Nash
CEO of TUMI Genomics, former COO at Dark Heart Nursery and Purple City Genetics
TUMI Genomics
Episode: #138 - Unmasking Cannabis Pathogens with TUMI Genomics CEO Melanie Nash
Judson Hill
Market President for Fine Fettle in Georgia
Fine Fettle Georgia
Episode: TWICL (May 15, 2026) - DEA Registration Wave, GA's Medical Milestone & What Earnings Season Told Us
Jason Zelinski
VP of North American Retail at NielsenIQ; expert on retail data for cannabis/beverage category
NielsenIQ
Episode: #137 - The $11B THC Beverage Roadmap with Jason Zelinski (NielsenIQ)
Gail Rand
Co-founder, CFO and patient advocate for Forward Grow; founder of Grand Consulting
Forward Grow; Grand Consulting
Episode: #136 - Rescheduling Financial Deep Dive with Gail Rand & Michael Harlow
Michael Harlow
Managing Partner, CohnReznick DC Metro; national lead for cannabis practice
CohnReznick
Episode: #136 - Rescheduling Financial Deep Dive with Gail Rand & Michael Harlow
Rick Bashkoff
Lit Alerts contributor
Lit Alerts
Episode: TWICL ( May 1, 2026) - Cannabis Rescheduling: What We Still Don't Know
Alyssa Samuel
Attorney at Husch Blackwell
Husch Blackwell
Episode: #135 - The Rescheduling Order: A Legal Deep Dive
Eric Berlin
Attorney, leader of US and global cannabis sector group
Dentons
Episode: #135 - The Rescheduling Order: A Legal Deep Dive
Michael Cooper
Regulatory strategist, MadisonJ Solutions
MadisonJ Solutions
Episode: #135 - The Rescheduling Order: A Legal Deep Dive

Hosts

Ben Larson
Host of High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast; frequent contributor on regulatory, finance, and market strategy topics.
AnnaRae Grabstein
Co-host and host; focuses on policy, regulatory context, and operator perspectives.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 25 ratings
  • Information is critical to cannabis operations

    I do not miss an episode of this podcast. The guests are brilliant, and the questions really get to the heart of the issues surrounding the cannabis industry. The information shared in this fun-to-listen-to podcast is so useful to cannabis operators across the country/world!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Grandiose10
    United Statesa month ago
  • Interesting & Informative

    I’ve learned so much from this podcast. They cover the most current and relevant topics that everyone in this space needs to know in a fun and interesting way. Helpful for newbies and those well versed in this biz. I look forward to every new episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mer3dith
    United Statesa year ago
  • SUCH a strong show! Highly recommend.

    AnnaRae and Ben bring REAL heart and curiosity to their guests which opens the conversations to super dynamic and useful places. This on top of their delightful energy and authority in the space. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Highcomms.com
    United Statesa year ago
  • Must Listen for Cannabis Industry Insiders!

    This podcast is a great way to stay up to date in the ever evolving cannabis business world. A must listen every week for founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors or anyone who wants an insiders perspective on the business of cannabis.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RoseteEric
    United Statesa year ago
  • Must Listen for Cannabis Industry Insiders!

    This podcast is a great way to stay up to date in the ever evolving cannabis business world. A must listen every week for entrepreneurs and investors or anyone who wants an insiders perspective, some optimism, knowledge and inspiration.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RoseteEric
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Kept current with regulatory shifts and market dynamics in a clear, practical way.
Industry-savvy and guest-driven, with sharp questions that unpack complex cannabis issues.
Valuable for insiders looking for data-backed insights, though some episodes skew toward business emphasis over culture.
Strong host energy and credible guests; deep dives are common.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#134 - Centralized Strategy, Local Execution: Inside the iAnthus MSO Turnaround w/ CEO, Richie Proud
Q: Being a publicly traded company, what does day-to-day decision-making look like for you, and how do you navigate public-market expectations?
Proud describes a balance between transparent public reporting and focusing on long-term operational execution, emphasizing strategic investments in CapEx and efficiency while maintaining a view toward EBITDA expansion and runway for future acquisitions.
#137 - The $11B THC Beverage Roadmap with Jason Zelinski (NielsenIQ)
Q: How should retailers approach shelf placement and category strategy for THC beverages?
Retailers should use data to identify which categories can be shrunk without losing overall demand, justify incremental products, and work with distributors or category captains to ensure products are merchandised effectively and legally across states; planograms can be aided by NielsenIQ tools when needed.
#137 - The $11B THC Beverage Roadmap with Jason Zelinski (NielsenIQ)
Q: What channels are currently most important for THC beverages and why?
Liquor channels drive the largest absolute volume and have historically been early adopters, while convenience shows the strongest distribution growth as retailers add new doors and expand sets; grocery remains important but often slower to scale, with mass beginning to play a bigger role.
#136 - Rescheduling Financial Deep Dive with Gail Rand & Michael Harlow
Q: How might the status of social equity licenses influence future M&A and capital access?
licenses may create opportunities for consolidation or exit strategies where equity operators could monetize licenses; however, regulatory constraints around transfers and eligibility will shape how readily such strategies can be implemented, requiring careful planning.
#136 - Rescheduling Financial Deep Dive with Gail Rand & Michael Harlow
Q: What should operators do in the next 60 days to prepare for possible interstate commerce or bifurcated tax treatments?
focus on cash flow planning, consider dual or hybrid structures to separate lines (medical vs adult-use), and maintain flexible cost accounting that can support different tax positions; monitor regulatory updates and be ready for potential M&A activity as market dynamics evolve.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A business-focused look at the cannabis industry, with hosts sharing blunt, insider perspectives on regulations, capital, and market dynamics. Episodes frequently feature policy shifts, licensing hurdles, tax and accounting issues, and data-driven insights on retail and product categories, balanced by practical growth strategies for operators and brands. Notable strengths include high-profile regulatory and finance conversations, scene-setting commentary on state-by-state dynamics, and a tendency to pair rigorous analysis with real-world anecdotes from founders, lawyers, and consultants. The show often spotlights emerging markets, legislative timelines, and the evolving landscape of federal-state interactions, making it valuable for operato... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Dime
2. Higher Exchanges
3. Pivot
4. Blunt Business
5. 4Twenteezs with Pablo Zuanic

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 151 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Melanie Nash
2. Judson Hill
3. Jason Zelinski
4. Gail Rand
5. Michael Harlow
6. Rick Bashkoff
7. Alyssa Samuel
8. Eric Berlin

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