<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms">Send us a text</a>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 operators eyeing long-term positioning, Texas remains a massive, underdeveloped prize where patience, compliance, and local partnerships can compound. Minnesota faces a different pressure: the looming federal hemp THC ban embedded in a congressional minibus. The state’s hemp-derived THC market—thousands of retailers and strong consumer buy-in—could be gutted overnight. The governor is exploring rapid rulemaking, carve-outs, and potential court challenges to protect businesses until adult use retail is fully stood up. How Minnesota responds may become the national playbook for preserving economic activity amid federal whiplash. Virginia looks ready to convert legalization on paper into real stores. A bill targeting adult use sales in 2026 would finally establish a regulated retail framework, address social equity, and balance political priorities after years of stalls and illicit market growth. If it moves, Virginia could become the first Southern state with full adult use, forcing regional recalculations and opening a high-potential market. And California turns the screws on packaging. With a new top regulator and CalRecycle implementing SB54, brands must enroll in a PRO, report packaging at the SKU level, plan for recyclability and compostability by 2032, and meet aggressive plastic recycling targets. Expect cost shifts, supplier consolidation, and innovation in materials, especially for vapes and multi-layer plastics. The winners will treat compliance as strategy, integrating sustainability into brand and supply chain decisions. Headed to Vegas? Come say hi at the High Spirits Morning Mixer on Thursday. If this breakdown helped you navigate the noise, follow, share, and leave a quick review—what state move should we unpack next?-- High Spirits is brought to you by <a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'>Vertosa</a> and <a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'>Wolf Meyer</a>. Your hosts are <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'>Ben Larson</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'>AnnaRae Grabstein</a>. Follow High Spirits on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'>LinkedIn</a>. We&apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? Visit our website <a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'>www.highspiritspod.com</a> and listen to all of our past shows. THANK YOU to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;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 operators eyeing long-term positioning, Texas remains a massive, underdeveloped prize where patience, compliance, and local partnerships can compound.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Minnesota faces a different pressure: the looming federal hemp THC ban embedded in a congressional minibus. The state’s hemp-derived THC market—thousands of retailers and strong consumer buy-in—could be gutted overnight. The governor is exploring rapid rulemaking, carve-outs, and potential court challenges to protect businesses until adult use retail is fully stood up. How Minnesota responds may become the national playbook for preserving economic activity amid federal whiplash.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Virginia looks ready to convert legalization on paper into real stores. A bill targeting adult use sales in 2026 would finally establish a regulated retail framework, address social equity, and balance political priorities after years of stalls and illicit market growth. If it moves, Virginia could become the first Southern state with full adult use, forcing regional recalculations and opening a high-potential market.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;And California turns the screws on packaging. With a new top regulator and CalRecycle implementing SB54, brands must enroll in a PRO, report packaging at the SKU level, plan for recyclability and compostability by 2032, and meet aggressive plastic recycling targets. Expect cost shifts, supplier consolidation, and innovation in materials, especially for vapes and multi-layer plastics. The winners will treat compliance as strategy, integrating sustainability into brand and supply chain decisions.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Headed to Vegas? Come say hi at the High Spirits Morning Mixer on Thursday. If this breakdown helped you navigate the noise, follow, share, and leave a quick review—what state move should we unpack next?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;br/&gt;High Spirits is brought to you by &lt;a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Vertosa&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Wolf Meyer&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Your hosts are &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ben Larson&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;AnnaRae Grabstein&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow &lt;b&gt;High Spirits&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We&amp;apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Visit our website &lt;a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'&gt;www.highspiritspod.com&lt;/a&gt; and listen to all of our past shows.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;THANK YOU&lt;/b&gt; to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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 in a historically tight program. It’s a modest step with big implications: recognition that demand is outpacing capacity, but who will be the winn...

Holiday Hiatus & High Spirits News

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms">Send us a text</a>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 • lessons from retailers and distributors who want the shelf to stay • a pragmatic path: low-dose through three tiers, higher dose in cannabis channels • why beverages won’t simply shift to illicit markets or dispensaries • what data, packaging, and age-gating standards could secure legitimacy • the role of investors, timelines, and state-level regulators • scenarios for compromise without collapsing innovation If you&apos;ve enjoyed this episode, please stop, like, subscribe, share, do all the things -- High Spirits is brought to you by <a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'>Vertosa</a> and <a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'>Wolf Meyer</a>. Your hosts are <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'>Ben Larson</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'>AnnaRae Grabstein</a>. Follow High Spirits on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'>LinkedIn</a>. We&apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? Visit our website <a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'>www.highspiritspod.com</a> and listen to all of our past shows. THANK YOU to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;• why hemp-derived THC drinks resonated with mainstream shoppers&lt;br/&gt;• how a funding bill rider created the new 0.4 mg per package limit&lt;br/&gt;• why fragmented advocacy loses to unified, well-funded lobbies&lt;br/&gt;• lessons from retailers and distributors who want the shelf to stay&lt;br/&gt;• a pragmatic path: low-dose through three tiers, higher dose in cannabis channels&lt;br/&gt;• why beverages won’t simply shift to illicit markets or dispensaries&lt;br/&gt;• what data, packaging, and age-gating standards could secure legitimacy&lt;br/&gt;• the role of investors, timelines, and state-level regulators&lt;br/&gt;• scenarios for compromise without collapsing innovation&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you&amp;apos;ve enjoyed this episode, please stop, like, subscribe, share, do all the things&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;br/&gt;High Spirits is brought to you by &lt;a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Vertosa&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Wolf Meyer&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Your hosts are &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ben Larson&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;AnnaRae Grabstein&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow &lt;b&gt;High Spirits&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We&amp;apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Visit our website &lt;a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'&gt;www.highspiritspod.com&lt;/a&gt; and listen to all of our past shows.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;THANK YOU&lt;/b&gt; to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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 with mainstream shoppers • how a funding bill rider created the new 0.4 mg per package limit • why fragmented advocacy loses to unified, well-fund...

#114 - What Comes Next for Hemp THC Beverages w/ Martín Caballero, Managing Editor at BevNET.com

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms">Send us a text</a>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 • regenerative farming practices and cost • navigating DCC rules and animal integration • brand positioning and diverse consumers • greenhouse tech for organic at scale • expansion via teaching and partnerships • wellness ethos, leadership, and discipline • affordability, SP34 donations, and unit economics • measured growth and a five-year vision Sign up to apply for an invite: highspiritspod.com/morning-mixer If you&apos;ve enjoyed this episode, please stop, like, subscribe, share, do all the things -- High Spirits is brought to you by <a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'>Vertosa</a> and <a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'>Wolf Meyer</a>. Your hosts are <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'>Ben Larson</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'>AnnaRae Grabstein</a>. Follow High Spirits on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'>LinkedIn</a>. We&apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? Visit our website <a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'>www.highspiritspod.com</a> and listen to all of our past shows. THANK YOU to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;• hemp policy shock and what it means for access&lt;br/&gt;• lessons for advocacy and industry unity&lt;br/&gt;• Darren’s path from blueberries to cannabis&lt;br/&gt;• WAM partnership and medical-first roots&lt;br/&gt;• OCAL certification and consumer education&lt;br/&gt;• regenerative farming practices and cost&lt;br/&gt;• navigating DCC rules and animal integration&lt;br/&gt;• brand positioning and diverse consumers&lt;br/&gt;• greenhouse tech for organic at scale&lt;br/&gt;• expansion via teaching and partnerships&lt;br/&gt;• wellness ethos, leadership, and discipline&lt;br/&gt;• affordability, SP34 donations, and unit economics&lt;br/&gt;• measured growth and a five-year vision&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Sign up to apply for an invite: highspiritspod.com/morning-mixer&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you&amp;apos;ve enjoyed this episode, please stop, like, subscribe, share, do all the things&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;br/&gt;High Spirits is brought to you by &lt;a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Vertosa&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Wolf Meyer&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Your hosts are &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ben Larson&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;AnnaRae Grabstein&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow &lt;b&gt;High Spirits&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We&amp;apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Visit our website &lt;a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'&gt;www.highspiritspod.com&lt;/a&gt; and listen to all of our past shows.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;THANK YOU&lt;/b&gt; to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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 and industry unity • Darren’s path from blueberries to cannabis • WAM partnership and medical-first roots • OCAL certification and consumer educa...

#113 - From Blueberries To Regenerative Cannabis: How Coastal Sun Built A Profitable, Planet-First Brand w/ Darren Story

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms">Send us a text</a>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, and government • patent thickets versus single filings and why enforcement is rare • plant patents, phenotype variation, and proof of similarity • synthetics, biomanufacturing with yeast, and conversion patents • damages explained: royalties versus lost profits and documentation • delivery tech surge, including emulsions and beverages • optimism for innovation, concern over fragmented regulation • case for descheduling and one coherent framework Get The Medical Cannabis Primer at medicalcannabisprimer.com or on Amazon. Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn. “If you&apos;ve enjoyed this episode, please drop a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.” -- High Spirits is brought to you by <a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'>Vertosa</a> and <a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'>Wolf Meyer</a>. Your hosts are <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'>Ben Larson</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'>AnnaRae Grabstein</a>. Follow High Spirits on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'>LinkedIn</a>. We&apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? Visit our website <a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'>www.highspiritspod.com</a> and listen to all of our past shows. THANK YOU to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;• grounding in stoicism and local civic action&lt;br/&gt;• breaking news on recalls and lawsuits in New York and Florida&lt;br/&gt;• Dr. Ruth Fisher on 10,000+ cannabis patents and prior art&lt;br/&gt;• global patent holders across pharma, tobacco, academia, and government&lt;br/&gt;• patent thickets versus single filings and why enforcement is rare&lt;br/&gt;• plant patents, phenotype variation, and proof of similarity&lt;br/&gt;• synthetics, biomanufacturing with yeast, and conversion patents&lt;br/&gt;• damages explained: royalties versus lost profits and documentation&lt;br/&gt;• delivery tech surge, including emulsions and beverages&lt;br/&gt;• optimism for innovation, concern over fragmented regulation&lt;br/&gt;• case for descheduling and one coherent framework&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Get The Medical Cannabis Primer at medicalcannabisprimer.com or on Amazon. Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;“If you&amp;apos;ve enjoyed this episode, please drop a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.”&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;br/&gt;High Spirits is brought to you by &lt;a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Vertosa&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Wolf Meyer&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Your hosts are &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ben Larson&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;AnnaRae Grabstein&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow &lt;b&gt;High Spirits&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We&amp;apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Visit our website &lt;a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'&gt;www.highspiritspod.com&lt;/a&gt; and listen to all of our past shows.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;THANK YOU&lt;/b&gt; to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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 recalls and lawsuits in New York and Florida • Dr. Ruth Fisher on 10,000+ cannabis patents and prior art • global patent holders across pharma, tobacc...

#112 - Mapping Cannabis Patents, Power, And The Coming Wave Of Lawsuits w/ Dr. Ruth Fisher

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms">Send us a text</a>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 buy innovation and how that opens a window for startups • the vice wellness thesis and behavior shifts in adult beverages • merchandising for outcomes and occasions, not alcohol types • channels that matter now: DTC labs, C stores, grocery, delivery • what VCs look for: team, brand acumen, omnichannel activation • margin structure, capital efficiency, and unit economics at scale • vertical versus asset light supply strategies and tradeoffs • brands to watch and how true brands differ from products • practical risk framing: stroke of the pen versus consumer pull If you&apos;ve enjoyed this episode, please drop us a like, a subscribe, a follow, a share. Drop a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you listen to your shows -- High Spirits is brought to you by <a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'>Vertosa</a> and <a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'>Wolf Meyer</a>. Your hosts are <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'>Ben Larson</a> and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'>AnnaRae Grabstein</a>. Follow High Spirits on <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'>LinkedIn</a>. We&apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? Visit our website <a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'>www.highspiritspod.com</a> and listen to all of our past shows. THANK YOU to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2241898/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;• consumer demand driving THC beverage mainstream adoption&lt;br/&gt;• integration of life lessons into leadership and team communication&lt;br/&gt;• news on lawsuits and AG letters shaping risk perception&lt;br/&gt;• why incumbents buy innovation and how that opens a window for startups&lt;br/&gt;• the vice wellness thesis and behavior shifts in adult beverages&lt;br/&gt;• merchandising for outcomes and occasions, not alcohol types&lt;br/&gt;• channels that matter now: DTC labs, C stores, grocery, delivery&lt;br/&gt;• what VCs look for: team, brand acumen, omnichannel activation&lt;br/&gt;• margin structure, capital efficiency, and unit economics at scale&lt;br/&gt;• vertical versus asset light supply strategies and tradeoffs&lt;br/&gt;• brands to watch and how true brands differ from products&lt;br/&gt;• practical risk framing: stroke of the pen versus consumer pull&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you&amp;apos;ve enjoyed this episode, please drop us a like, a subscribe, a follow, a share. Drop a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you listen to your shows&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;br/&gt;High Spirits is brought to you by &lt;a href='https://www.vertosa.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Vertosa&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://wolf-meyer.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Wolf Meyer&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Your hosts are &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjlarson/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ben Larson&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarae/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;AnnaRae Grabstein&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Follow &lt;b&gt;High Spirits&lt;/b&gt; on &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/96044317/admin/feed/posts/'&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We&amp;apos;d love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Visit our website &lt;a href='http://www.highspiritspod.com'&gt;www.highspiritspod.com&lt;/a&gt; and listen to all of our past shows.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;THANK YOU&lt;/b&gt; to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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 mainstream adoption • integration of life lessons into leadership and team communication • news on lawsuits and AG letters shaping risk perception • ...

#111 - How Hemp Beverages Are Rewriting Adult Drinking w/ Jeff Cantalupo of Listen Ventures

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.

High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast

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