Higher Exchanges

In this episode, we sit down with Micah Anderson, CEO of LEEF Brands (CSE: LEEF | OTCQB: LEEEF), to break down the company’s Q3 2025 financial results and what’s driving its turnaround story.

LEEF delivered a standout quarter with revenue up 24% year-over-year to $8.4M, gross margins doubling to 45%, and the company generating positive adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow for the first time. We discuss the key drivers behind that perf...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we sit down with Ron Gershoni, CEO and co-founder of Jetty Extracts — one of California’s longest-standing cannabis brands — to explore what it takes to build, protect, and scale a cannabis brand in today’s challenging market.

We cover:

• 🚀 Jetty’s founding story and lessons from a decade of brand building
• 💨 From the first vape to solventless, pre-rolls, and product innovation
• 🛡 How Jetty navig...

Minnesota just launched adult-use cannabis sales — and the market could quickly become one of the most lucrative in the U.S. Jesse Redmond and Morgan Paxhia sit down with Aaron Edelheit, CEO of Mindset Capital, to unpack why Minnesota’s cannabis rollout is so unique and what it means for operators, investors, and policy watchers.

In this episode:

• Minnesota’s cannabis history and the adult-use rollout
• The massive cultivation gap (6...

What’s really driving the rise of intoxicating hemp—and where is it headed next?

In this episode, we sit down with Tucker Johnson, whose career spans CFO roles at Lil Wayne’s cannabis company and the Emerald Cup, Head of Finance & Cannabis Lead at British American Tobacco, and consulting for top hemp operators. Tucker brings a rare perspective from both mainstream finance and the front lines of cannabis.

We dig into:

🌿 The 2018 F...

Join us on Higher Exchanges for an insightful conversation with Aaron Miles, Chief Investment Officer of Verano Holdings Corp., as we dive into the evolving landscape of the cannabis industry. With over 20 years of financial expertise, he shares how Verano continues to navigate challenges and seize opportunities.

 Q2 2025 Financial Highlights
We break down Verano’s latest performance: a 9% year-over-year revenue dip to $202M, wi...

We are excited to have Jamie Mendola on the show for the first time.  You know Jamie from his leadership roles at AYR, he was a board member at Glass House Brands, and before cannabis, he was an accomplished investor in the hedge-fund world. 

Here's what we’ll cover:
🚀 First cannabis SPAC (CSAC) in 2017
🏗️ Lessons from Ayr Wellness on M&A & scaling
🌱 Board insights at Glass House Brands<...

In this episode, we kick things off with a quick market update, highlighting the recent surge in MSOS ETF momentum, institutional inflows, and what’s been driving cannabis stocks higher since late June.

We then dive into AYR Wellness’s restructuring agreement—what it means, how the credit bid process works, and why it could set the tone for distressed M&A in the sector.

From there, we break down Q2 earnings from the top tier U.S....

This week on Higher Exchanges, we dive into the chaos and clarity surrounding cannabis reform, capital markets, and hemp regulation. Joining us is Scott Grossman of Turning Point Brands for a timely roundtable on what’s real, what’s noise, and what could actually move the needle.

🔍 Topics include:

• Schedule 3 speculation:
  Who’s driving the renewed chatter, and what do Appropriations moves, VA access, and the DEA vote on Terra...

In this episode, we sit down with leading cannabis attorney Jeff Schultz, Partner at Foley Hoag, to unpack the real story on New York's adult-use market—what’s working, what’s broken, and where the industry goes from here.

We cover: 

🔹 The Good:
- New York’s adult-use cannabis market is scaling fast—projected to hit $1.5–- $2B+ in 2026, up from just $300M in 2023.
- National brands like Kiva, STIIIZY, Wyld, and Heavy Hi...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we sit down with Ted Lidie, founder of Alien Labs, to talk about building one of California’s most iconic flower brands—and what it takes to scale that success across markets.

We cover:

🌱 The Alien Labs origin story and legacy in the 215 era
🤝 Partnering with Connected and navigating Prop 64
🔥 What makes truly great flower—and why it’s harder to grow now
📉 Pricing pressure, quality...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we sit down with Sammy J to break down what it takes to navigate the cannabis market in 2025. With low or negative growth, tightening margins, and shifting consumer behavior, the landscape is forcing operators to get sharper, leaner, and more strategic.

We cover:

• 📉 Pricing, volume, and profitability in today’s market
• 🌴 How tourism is shaping cannabis sales in Nevada
• 🛍️ 2025 consumer spending ...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we cover:

• 📈 Bitcoin 2025 recap – key takeaways from the Vegas conference
• 🗓️ Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference preview – what to expect and who’s attending
• 🧾 Earnings review – insights and investor signals from the latest quarterly reports
• ⚖️ BSF update – legal developments and potential implications of the landmark Boies Schiller Flexner lawsuit

We had hemp on the agenda, but ran out o...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we sit down with Seth Yakatan, Partner at Katan Associates and Strategic Advisor to Glass House Brands. Known for his candid insights and strong voice on LinkedIn, Seth joins us to unpack the hard truths, overlooked opportunities, and evolving dynamics in the cannabis capital markets.

We dive into:

• Seth’s journey into cannabis investing and how he became one of the most outspoken figures on Li...

Zachary George joins Higher Exchanges to share the strategic vision behind SNDL’s transformation into a debt-free, cash-rich cannabis leader.

We cover:
🌱 Zach’s journey from Wall Street to cannabis
🇨🇦 Canada's retail evolution & market reset
🌍 Germany & global growth opportunities
🇺🇸 U.S. expansion strategy & OTC ambitions
💰 Capital deployment: buybacks, M&A, and long-term ROI

Plus, ano...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we’re joined by one of the sharpest minds in cannabis policy and strategy — Hirsh Jain of Ananda Strategy — for a fast-moving, wide-ranging conversation on where growth is actually happening in the cannabis industry.

We cover:

🌍 Germany legalizes adult-use cannabis — and what that means for international markets
🌐 Key takeaways from ICBC and the emerging global cannabis landscape
📈 U.S....

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, strategic advisor and industry veteran Mitchell Osak joins us to unpack what it really means to win in today’s cannabis landscape.

We dig into:
🧬 Mitchell’s journey into cannabis & key lessons from other industries
📊 What defines success today: financials, market share, leadership, & geography
🌎 U.S. vs. Canada — who’s setting the pace?
🌿 Hemp vs. cannabis — ...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, Jesse Redmond and Morgan Paxhia dig into three pressing topics shaping the cannabis industry.

🌱 Planting Salisbury Canyon Ranch
We kick things off with a look at LEEF’s landmark cultivation project. With 83-day auto-flowering plants going in the ground, the team is on track for a summer harvest and a second replant this fall. We break down how this lowers COGS, increases supply chain control...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we’re diving deep into the latest cannabis investment trends, exploring key shifts in credit markets, pricing strategies, and hemp sentiment with Colin Ferrian, Portfolio Manager at Poseidon.

Topics Covered:

💰 Credit & Lenders – A deep dive into IIPR’s distress, how other lenders are positioning themselves, and whether refinancing moves will create the next major MSO.
📉 Pricing Trends –...

Join us as we sit down with Sam Brill, CEO of Ascend Wellness Holdings, to unpack the latest in cannabis investing and industry strategy. We cover:

✅ Ascend’s strategic evolution and key takeaways from Q4 📊
✅ Retail expansion and how Ascend is investing for growth in 2025 🏪
✅ The shift in the cannabis market—from the "Green Rush" to today’s challenges 📉
✅ How consumer behavior is changing and what strategies...