Higher Exchanges

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...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we sit down with Erich Mauff, Principal at FiSai, to explore the evolving cannabis investment landscape. From his time at Deutsche Bank and Jushi to launching FiSai, Erich shares key lessons learned.

We dive into:
📉 Industry Woes: How we went from the “Green Rush” to today’s struggles—politics vs. industry missteps.
🏢 Operators & Survivors: Who’s making it through this downturn, and...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we sit down with TerrAscend Executive Chairman Jason Wild and CEO Ziad Ghanem to break down the company’s Q4 and full-year 2024 results. We cover TerrAscend’s key market strategies across New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio, and dive into how the company has been strengthening its balance sheet and tax position.

Jason and Ziad also weigh in on shifting consumer trends, includin...

This week on Higher Exchanges, we’re joined by Nick Gastevich, aka CannaVestments, Vice President of V. Gastevich Investments, for an in-depth look at cannabis industry earnings.

🔍 Topics Covered:

✅ What are we looking for in these earnings reports?

✅ Deep dive into Tier 1 operators: Green Thumb Industries, Verano, and Trulieve.

✅ The conversation concludes with the guys weighing in on where we go from here...Key takeaways, concerns, ...

In this episode of Higher Exchanges, we sit down with Sammy J, VP of Corporate Development at C21 Investments, to discuss the state of the cannabis industry four years into the Great Cannabis Drawdown. Sammy shares his insights on the key factors behind the market’s decline, including revenue drops, margin erosion, and overspending on growth.

We explore the potential catalysts for recovery, from value-driven opportunities to possibl...