The guys are back from traveling and eager to share lessons learned from the road. Morgan was in Boston for the Boies Schiller Flexner oral arguments and explained what happened that day and the next steps for the case. Jesse went to MJBiz in Las Vegas and offered his take on sentiment, outlooks, and how intoxicating hemp has penetrated the Nevada …

This week's show focuses on the next steps with the Boise Schiller Flexner lawsuit. Oral arguments are on December 5th, and we are joined by Jason Wild, Emily Paxhia, Erik Luna, and Weldon Angelos to dive into the details. Topics covered: * Overview of the case. * What's happening on December 5th? * Key parties involved. * Benefits of the case vers…

This week's show begins with Morgan and Jesse talking about the evolution of Agrify. A once stale and forgotten business has new life with an investment from Green Thumb Industries and evolution into intoxicating hemp. The guys talk about the path to get here and how it may evolve. AYR Wellness Interim CEO Steven M. Cohen joins the show and shares …

This week's show starts with an update on Jesse's experience at Benzinga's California Cannabis Spotlight conference in Anaheim. He explains who attended, what was discussed, and why you can't paint California with one brush. Jesse points out that California operators like LEEF Brands (CSE: LEEF, OTCQX: LEEEF) have transformational catalysts on the …

It's been a wild week in cannabis with elections and earnings results. We were joined this week by Dai Truong, Managing Director at Arlington Capital Partners, and Doug Kass, Founder of Seabreeze Partners. The conversation begins with a recap of the elections, emphasizing Amendment 3 failing in Florida and Republicans sweeping the executive and leg…

With the election just days away, we are happy to have Hirsh Jain, Founder of Ananda Strategy, join us to break down all the races. We start with the Presidential election and handicap the outcome and potential consequences of a Harris or Trump victory. Cannabis is a state-led growth story, and several new adult-use states are on the horizon, with …

This week's show has two special guests: Dan Neville, CEO of AFC Gamma, and Brady Cobb, Founder and CEO of Sunburn. The episode begins by discussing the vibes in Florida as we head into the adult-use vote on November 5th. Brady shares his optimism and how they are preparing for the potential adult-use launch. Dan offers his perspective on the Sunsh…

Morgan and Jesse are back from a busy week at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago. This week's show focuses on what they learned at the event, and they both share their three biggest takeaways. Topics include institutional involvement, hemp, M&A, Ohio, and more. The guys also discuss the Gartner Hype Cycle and how we feel deep in th…

With no guests this week, Morgan and Jesse had time to catch up on several topics. The episode starts with an update on a recent X poll about moving off Spaces and how the podcast may evolve. Jesse and Morgan are heading to the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago next week and shared what's on their schedules and how to make the most of…

This week's show begins with a discussion about Senator Wyden's Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act, which proposes more regulation for the hemp industry. Jesse and Morgan review the key points and how they may impact the intoxicating hemp market and legal cannabis business. Grown Rogue's CEO, Obie Strickler, joins the show to share how the compa…

This week’s show starts with a conversation about the large number of CEO replacements this year. Thus far, AYR Wellness, Ascend, Curaleaf, and The Cannabist all have new leadership. Jesse and Morgan discuss what's driving the changes and what makes a qualified cannabis CEO. Emily Paxhia, co-founder of Poseidon, joins 20 minutes into the episode li…

Morgan and Jesse just returned from Glass House Brands' first analyst and institutional investor day and were joined this week by Glass House CEO Kyle Kazan and President Graham Farrar. The group recapped the day and shared some of the highlights from the presentations and tours. Glass House is a single-state operator focused on the California mark…

Jeff Schultz, Partner at Foley Hoag, joins the show this week to help us understand the complex political catalysts ahead for cannabis. We start with rescheduling, and Jeff offers his perspective on the ALJ hearing and when we may see a final ruling. A Garland Memo may follow the final ruling and Jeff explains the memo's importance. SAFER Banking m…

The rescheduling process got extended with the announcement of the ALJ hearing on December 2nd. The show starts by discussing whether this is categorically bearish or if going through a more thorough process may yield a net benefit. Jesse and Morgan debate whether this impacts the broader thesis and the types of companies you should own. David Goub…

This week, we were joined by Nicholas Gastevich, Vice President of V. Gastevich Investments, known as CannaVestments on X and Reddit. Gastevich is a seasoned cannabis investor known for his excellent earnings analysis and industry perspective. The conversation began by discussing 2Q earnings results. We saw more differentiation this quarter between…

Higher Exchanges this week kicks off with a listener question about whether Schedule III is enough to kick off a lasting bull market. After going around the horn, Jesse, Morgan, and Toby agree that a combination of growth, cash flow, and greater access will meaningfully move share prices. TerrAscend's Executive Chairman Jason Wild and CEO Ziad Ghan…

It was a busy week in cannabis, and the trichome trio is back to cover all the news. The show starts by analyzing Trump's comments about cannabis and what it may mean for Schedule III and broader reform. The group agrees that the early Republican statements appear to derisk the space and reduce possible opposition to Schedule III. We also explore t…

It's 103 days until the elections, and political theater continues to dominate the cannabis investing news cycle. This week, we learned that Kamala Harris is likely replacing Biden, and Toby helps us understand if this will be beneficial to cannabis and specifically to the Schedule III process. The rescheduling comment period also concluded this we…

Hirsh Jane, Founder of Ananda Strategy, joins the show to discuss the series of state-level catalysts ahead in 2024 and 2025. Ohio is in the process of approving stores and Hirsh updates us on when we might see doors open in the Buckeye State and his expectation for how sales will evolve. Florida is the biggest potential adult-use flip in 2024, and…

The trichome trio is back to discuss progress on federal catalysts. The episode begins by discussing the 07/10 holiday, and Jesse updates us on trends he's seeing in the California concentrate market. The bulk of the conversation centers around Schedule III and how to assign probabilities to different outcomes. Morgan also gives us an update on the…

The show begins this week by sharing due diligence tips when visiting a grow or dispensary. With cultivation, the group agrees there is no one way to grow great cannabis, but there are a handful of best practices. Regarding retail, location, parking, product selection, and budtenders were on the top of the list. Curaleaf CEO Matt Darin joins the co…

Off the top, the guys discuss Verano's announcement of a share repurchase program. The company authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of shares and we debate whether this is a good use of capital. Toby is more bullish on the program, while Morgan is more concerned about preserving cash and investing for growth. The Cannabist Company CEO Dav…

The episode begins with Toby elaborating on a recent X post stating that a large $90b pension plan recently invested >$100m in a leading cannabis-focused fund. This led to a broader discussion about how institutions are approaching investing in cannabis. The conversation evolves into what's taking place in Florida. We recently saw a Fox News poll s…

It's merger mania week--or merger maybenia as Morgan called it--and this week's show is dedicated to the potential partnerships between GTI and Sam Adams and Cansortium and RIV Capital. We tackle GTI and SAM off the top with an overview of the proposed merger and discuss the timing and synergies. We debate the timing and wonder why now as we are ju…

With Toby on holiday this week, Morgan and Jesse kick off this week's show by reviewing recent price action and contrasting it with reality. While falling share prices have eroded sentiment, there are positive developments. Ohio is beginning to turn on adult-use stores next month, and we analyze key dates, estimate the potential size of the adult-u…

Nick Gastevich, known as CannaVestments online, joined us this week. He is one of the most experienced cannabis investors and manages a family office that is active in the space. We discussed cannabis stock’s adverse reaction to the positive momentum on rescheduling and debated time frames for a final ruling. The heart of the conversation centers o…

Cresco CEO Charlie Bachtell joined us this week to discuss the proposed rule on Schedule III and the company's recent earnings results. Cresco is active in Washington, and Charlie shared his perspective on Schedule III’s next steps, timing, and impact on Cresco's business. We also dug into Cresco's progress. 2023 was the year of the core, and Charl…

Verano Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO George Archos joined the show to discuss the company's recent quarter. The business is beginning to generate significant cash flow, and George shared how he expects revenue to grow and opportunities to use the financial flexibility. We also asked about optimizing Florida assets ahead of the potential adult-use t…

Today, we heard the welcome news that the DEA is agreeing with the HHS recommendation to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Boris Jordan, Executive Chairman of Curaleaf, joins at the top of the show to share his thoughts on the next steps in the process, the timing of a final ruling, potential risks along the way, implications for insti…

It's a quieter time in cannabis, but this was a fun show. We started by reviewing the 4/20 holiday, focusing on the revenue lift and which categories performed best. Beverages were a top seller, and the guys debated the category's future and who will drive its growth. We debuted a new game called "buy or sell" that led to several fun debates on res…

The trichome trio is home from the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Florida and the show starts with their biggest takeaways from the event. The conversation evolves into a spirited discussion on where we stand on Schedule III. The guys debate the probability of landing on Schedule III and the time frame in which it may happen. The episode c…

2024 is the year of potential cannabis catalysts and we had Hirsh Jain, Founder of Ananada Strategy join us to discuss a bevy of federal and state-level opportunities. Next week is 4/20, and one potential time that the DEA could respond to the HHS' Schedule III recommendation. The trio debates the probability of a response and the implications to s…

This week's show starts with a recap of adult use making the ballot in Florida and what it may mean to the industry. Morgan shares his perspective after recently visiting the Sunshine State. We cover the pros can cons of the mandatory vertical market and opportunities for smaller companies like Sunburn to expand if adult use succeeds. Toby gives hi…

Jesse starts the show by sharing his experiences visiting LEEF Brands and Gold Flora. LEEF is a leading producer of concentrates in California and he went to see their 12,500-square-foot extraction facility in Northern California. Gold Flora is a top vertically integrated California company and Jesse shared his experience seeing their stores and cu…

The show kicks off with Toby sharing his experience at the ROTH Conference this week in Dana Point, California. We discuss how institutions are beginning to look at cannabis, but it will take federal reform for most to spend more time and resources on due diligence. Jesse and Morgan also talk about things it takes to win in the difficult California…

We are deep in Q4 2023 earnings season and this week's show starts with Jesse, Morgan, and Toby sharing their biggest takeaways from the results so far. Jesse covers how margins are evolving, Morgan complements that with cash-flow conversion metrics, and Toby gives his perspective on the various 280E tax strategies we are seeing utilized. Ascend CE…

This week's show had an all-star cast to review recent earnings. CannaVestments shared his thoughts on the federal and state-level catalysts in 2024 and contrasted this against eroding investor sentiment. He also gave his perspective on the recent results from GTI, Verano, and Trulieve. Boris Jordan, Executive Chairman of Curaleaf, joined the show …

GTI, Trulieve, and Verano reported Q4 2023 earnings this week and the guys dig deep into the results. To discuss Verano, they are joined by the company's President Darren Weiss, CIO Aaron Miles, and CFO Brett Summerer. Plus, Morgan asks Grok about cannabis bear Mitch McConnell's retirement and what it means for the cannabis sector…

This week's show begins by discussing the Benzinga cannabis conference in Los Angeles. Morgan and Jesse left inspired by the strength of brands, the quality of products, and the lack of focus on politics. Boris Jordan, Executive Chairman of Curaleaf, joined to discuss the recent events in Germany. He shares how he sees the program evolving and the …

Morgan's on the road, so Jesse and Toby start the show reviewing the recent pullback in cannabis stocks and the corresponding drop in sentiment. Toby also shares his experience at the Cannacord webinar and Jesse explains how the institutional investments in cannabis compare to more mature sectors. Sam Armenia, known as Sammy J on Twitter and VP of …

Jesse, Toby, and Morgan begin the show by catching up on the latest cannabis-investing news. Sentiment around the timing of the DEA's response continues to improve and this is driving inflows into the US cannabis MSOS ETF. The group also covers the addition of Ascend to the MSOS portfolio. The bulk of the conversation is around the importance of va…

Jesse, Morgan, and Toby are back together to discuss the improving environment for US cannabis stocks. This is the fifth consecutive week of gains and broad US cannabis benchmarks are up over 50% this year. The boys analyze and appreciate the recent run in cannabis stocks and discuss how the space has evolved since the HHS announcement. They review…

This week's show starts with Jesse, Morgan, and Toby discussing the strong start to 2024. The group evaluates what's been driving the positive returns and inflows to the MSOS and MSOX ETFs. Verano President Darren Weiss and CIO Aaron Miles join 20 minutes into the episode. Darren and Aaron react to the contents of the HHS recommendation and also up…

This week Jesse, Morgan, and Toby discussed the release of the HHS rescheduling recommendation. For the first half hour, Brady Cobb, Founder and CEO of Sunburn Cannabis, shares his perspective on the contents and timing of the release. He also adds his thoughts on the implications of 280E removal and how he thinks about it from an operator's perspe…

This week's show begins by talking about how Jesse is seeing increased interest in companies wanting to tell their stories ahead of a potential increase in the investor base. This is complemented by observations that the cannabis capex cycle may be improving. On the state level, new Illinois data shows the state had a strong year, which is contrast…

This week on Higher Exchanges the guys start by recapping the holiday break and how they were not surprised that we did not hear from the DEA. This transitions into a conversation about the "news" that the DEA is reviewing cannabis scheduling. While our listeners knew this, it was nice to see the uptick in attention by those following less closely.…

This week Morgan and Jesse recap the top cannabis-investing stories from 2023. HHS announcing its recommendation for Schedule III was the consensus top pick, especially when paired with the Boies lawsuit. Other notable news includes Maryland launching adult-use sales, Ohio voting in favor of adult use, increased operational efficiencies, cannabis s…

Toby is on vacation, so Jesse and Morgan kick off the show discussing recent performance and the latest Schedule III speculation. Jesse shares data on different portfolios he's tracking that may indicate what types of stocks will perform best in the event we get positive news from the DEA. Curaleaf Executive Chairman Boris Jordan joins halfway thro…

This week's episode kicks off with Jesse providing a review of his trip to Las Vegas for the MJBiz Conference. Sentiment remains optimistic and Jesse touches on the meetings he had, parties he attended, and friends he ran into along the way. Ohio issued new adult-use regulations that should provide a faster opening for adult-use sales, but a higher…

This week the guys start off by reviewing their Green Wednesday experiences. Morgan shares some data on Green Wednesday sales and what he purchased. Jesse picked up some cannabis beverages and explained the reaction that they received at a Friendsgiving event. The conversation transitions into the opportunities in 2024 and what could go wrong and l…