In this year-end edition of The High-Rise, Cy Scott (Headset) and Emily Paxhia (Poseidon) revisit their 2024 cannabis industry predictions to see where they hit the mark and where reality diverged from their forecasts. They delve into the growth (and growing pains) of key state markets—highlighting Ohio’s adult-use ramp-up, New York’s steady climb in retail availability, and the stalled progress in Florida and Pennsylvania. They also discuss the swirling uncertainties around hemp-derived THC pro...
Dec 19, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cy & Emily return fresh (or maybe not so fresh) from MJ BizCon in Las Vegas to dish on their 25-second meetup, cowboys everywhere, and what happens when you mix cannabis conference attendees with rodeo folks and AWS techies! 🤠 Plus: Green Wednesday numbers are in! Beverages went absolutely bonkers with a 130% spike (Cy may have helped with that...) The scoop on a game-changing brand that's "making cannabis fun again" Texas says "y'all need to stop" to thousands...
Dec 10, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you have any information on a weed burrito, be sure to contact Washington Township NJ police department at 856-589-0330! In this conversation, Cy Scott and Emily Paxhia discuss the significance of Green Wednesday in the cannabis industry, particularly during the Thanksgiving holiday week. They analyze sales data from previous years, highlighting trends in consumer behavior, discounting practices, and the impact of Thanksgiving on overall sales. The discussion also delves into promotional stra...
Nov 26, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The High Rise, Cy Scott and Emily Paxia discuss the latest developments in the cannabis industry, focusing on the implications of the Farm Bill and its potential revisions. They explore the impact of intoxicating 'hot hemp' products on the legal market and the ongoing legislative efforts to address these issues. Next, a look at Ohio's burgeoning cannabis market, analyzing sales data and the dynamics of local operators. Links Local Moratoriums for Ohio Adult Use ...
Nov 19, 2024•47 min•Ep 163•Transcript available on Metacast The High-Rise Episode 162: Welcome Back to the High-Rise! Join hosts Cy Scott (Headset) and Emily Paxhia (Poseidon) as they return to analyze October cannabis market data, discuss Q3 MSO earnings, and explore emerging industry trends. After a brief hiatus, The High Rise is back with data-driven insights on the state of the cannabis industry. Episode Highlights - Deep dive into October 2024 retail sales data across major markets - Analysis of Florida's market decline and the impact of recent...
Nov 11, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey Headsetters, we're back with a new interview episode, this time with Verano's George Archos and Aaron Miles. We cover their wholesale strategy, a unique approach to loyalty and visions for the future. Listen closely and you might actually catch the date that Schedule 3 is scheduled to happen (not really). In this conversation, George Archos and Aaron Miles from Verano discuss their company's performance in Q1 and their position in the cannabis industry. They talk about Verano&...
May 10, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this conversation, Cy and Emily discuss the recent announcement by the DEA that they will recommend rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III. They explore the potential implications of this decision, including its impact on the capital markets, banking reform, and the ongoing Commerce Clause case. They also touch on the significance of this shift in the federal government's view of cannabis and the challenges that lie ahead in the implementation process. Overall, they express cautious optim...
May 02, 2024•23 min•Ep 160•Transcript available on Metacast Watch out Florida Man, the new headline is going to be about the big numbers that Florida will be putting up in a post adult-use legalized cannabis world. Join Cy Scott (CEO of Headset) and Emily Paxia (Managing Partner of Poseidon) discuss the exciting news that adult-use cannabis legalization has been approved for the November 2024 ballot in Florida - how we got here and what it means. Links: Florida Amendment 3 Ballot [Ballotopedia] Florida Supreme Court approves ballot measure to legalize re...
Apr 03, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast The commish is cracking down in New York, bringing the full might of the OGS to the legal cannabis market. Emily Paxhia and Cy Scott take a laid-back data-backed look at all the latest headlines coming out of New York -- good and bad! New York Must Figure Out How to Fix Cannabis Mess, Hochul Orders [NYTimes] Jenny's cannabis sales [Headset] The Comish [Wikipedia] Homeland Security, NYPD team up on cannabis smuggling investigation [Green Market Report] Top state cannabis official Damian Fago...
Mar 20, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Okay, so it's been a little while but we are back (by popular demand)! The High-Rise returns with an all-new episode where we discuss what's coming for the show this year, and cover the stories we think we'll be talking a lot about during this upcoming year. New York City vs. Upstate, Ohio timelines, Vapor Pen sales continued rise and Hemp D9 THC is everywhere! It's good to be back. Show links: NYC vs. NY cannabis sales analysis [Headset] Ohio is on schedule [FOX19] Headset...
Mar 13, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast We did it everyone, 2023 is done!! Well, for the High-Rise podcast anyway. On this episode, Emily and Cy wrap up the year with a podcast episode discussing the significant growth and trends in the cannabis industry throughout 2023 and a look back at what was discussed throughout the year from 75 episodes worth of content! They wrap up the podcast and the year by thinking through 2024 and what is ahead for California. Thanks to everyone who's been with us this year, I hope your 2023 was grea...
Dec 18, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest High-Rise, Cy and Emily discuss the latest updates on cannabis legalization in New York and Ohio. They cover the settlement in New York and the approval of licenses for existing medical operators to transition into the adult-use market. They also discuss the disappointing progress of the cannabis industry in New York over the past year. The bulk of the discussion is on the recently legalized Ohio, where they explore the recent legalization and the proposed changes to the law, inclu...
Dec 11, 2023•22 min•Ep 155•Transcript available on Metacast New York is (probably) back baby! So, in our latest episode, we dove into New York's cannabis scene – and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride. We kicked things off talking about how New York's retail footprint in cannabis exploded by 2600% - that's going from 1 to 27 stores, which is huge, right? But there's a catch; it's still just 27 stores, and we've got thousands of unlicensed ones around. We chatted about the CAURD program - that's the Conditional ...
Dec 05, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey all, hope you had a great Thanksgiving! In this episode of the "High-Rise Podcast," co-hosts Cy and Emily delve into the intricacies of Green Wednesday in the cannabis industry as its happening, focusing on emerging trends, market comparisons, and the nuances of consumer behavior. They examine the distinct dynamics between markets like Missouri and California, highlighting the differences in discounting strategies and sales patterns. The episode further explores the impact of store...
Nov 27, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast This episode explores 'whole day units' in Ohio's medical cannabis program and their impact on the market. Hosts Cy and Emily compare Ohio's cannabis regulations with other states, focusing on patient counts, dispensary numbers, and sales. They discuss Ohio's transition to legal adult cannabis use and speculate on its potential effects. The conversation also covers Snoop's decision to quit smoking and its implications for the industry. A significant portion of the p...
Nov 20, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join Emily Paxhia and Cy Scott in the latest episode of High-Rise, where they unpack Ohio's surprising jump into legalizing adult-use cannabis. It's a big deal, not just for Ohioans, but also for the political chessboard. The conversation then takes a turn into the world of cannabis heavyweights, diving into the Q3 financial drama of Multi-State Operators like Ascend, GTI, Terrasend, Verano, Trulieve, and Curaleaf. Emily lends her sharp expertise to dissect trends, successes, and the n...
Nov 13, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this 150th episode of The High Rise podcast, hosts Cy Scott and Emily Paxhia celebrate milestones for the show and Cy's company Headset. Headset recently processed its 50 billionth dollar in cannabis point-of-sale data, equating to nearly 1 billion transactions. They also launched a free tool called Brand Explorer that lets anyone search and analyze cannabis brands and their performance. The hosts then discuss normalization and mainstreaming of cannabis, including Total Wine putting THC ...
Nov 06, 2023•28 min•Ep 150•Transcript available on Metacast Join Emily and Cy as they host Darren Weiss, President of Verano as they discuss the genesis of the historic lawsuit filed against the federal government challenging cannabis prohibition under the Commerce Clause. The lawsuit argues that the federal government's current contradictory stance on cannabis - where it is illegal at the federal level but allowed and regulated in many states - violates the Commerce Clause by interfering with intrastate cannabis commerce. The lawsuit is spearheaded...
Oct 27, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the podcast, Cy and Emily dive into the latest pre-roll industry report from Headset. They discuss how pre-rolls are exploding in popularity, especially in Canada where they now make up a third of all cannabis sales. Cy compares Canada's love of pre-rolls to Ned Flanders' Canadian counterpart and his fondness for doobies. The hosts talk about the growth of the connoisseur pre-roll segment, which has fueled much of the category's growth. They also touch on the ri...
Oct 24, 2023•28 min•Ep 148•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's episode, Cy Scott and Emily Paxhia dive deep into the shifting dynamics of the cannabis market. They begin with a closer look at Missouri, where the top 5 local cannabis brands are emerging strong, now accounting for almost 30%. What's fueling this rise, and what does it signify for other regional players? The discussion then transitions to a recap of the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago. Cy and Emily recap the High Rise's first-ever live episode on s...
Oct 09, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast We are live! Or, were live for that matter. Cannabis pioneer Kris Krane joins the High Rise at Benzinga in Chicago to reflect on his 25+ year career. He discusses pivotal moments like legalization in 2012 and his shift from advocacy to industry. Krane also provides an insider perspective on dynamics shaping the Illinois market and future growth opportunities. Tune in for a fascinating, in-depth interview with one of the leading voices in the cannabis reform movement. Headset...
Oct 03, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Cy and Emily dive deep into the transformative shifts in the cannabis industry. The much-anticipated SAFE Banking Act is finally approaching a Senate Committee vote, a monumental step in ensuring the industry's legitimacy. But the progress doesn't stop there! The Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility (CURE) Act aims to break barriers in federal employment due to marijuana use. Plus, with a majority of the US population now having access to adult-use legal cannabis, Cy a...
Sep 20, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Cy and Emily discuss the shifts in Maryland's cannabis scene. They reference a Brookings Institute study which highlights surprising support for cannabis in the state's November '22 election. Interestingly, even traditionally conservative regions in Maryland backed the move to legalize cannabis, proving that the topic transcends typical political lines. Maryland's approach to cannabis equity stands out. The state's decision to open its first adult-use ma...
Sep 13, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode of the High Rise Cy and Emily decide not to talk too much about the recent news of the U.S. government’s potential move to reschedule cannabis to a schedule III controlled substance. At this point there’s no need to pontificate amongst all of the speculation bouncing around the industry until we get a substantial update from the government…so stay tuned everyone! Shifting gears, our hosts get into a thorough analysis of August's cannabis industry sales figures, putting a spo...
Sep 11, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of High Rise, Cy and Emily delve into the unfolding narrative of Ohio's imminent cannabis ballot initiative. The hosts unpack the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol's journey to secure signatures, detailing the suspenseful race against time and the subsequent validation process. They outline the proposed legal framework, including the creation of a Division of Cannabis Control and a 10% sales tax on marijuana, with revenue dedicated to a social equity program....
Aug 30, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode of the High Rise Cy and Emily paint a vivid picture of how cannabis brands are quenching their thirst for beer ventures specifically, Tilray purchasing eight beverage brands from AB/InBev. The discussion explores the implications of this cross-industry relationship on the evolving landscape of both markets. Our hosts also take a quick look into the recent Ohio cannabis legalization initiative that will make its way to the state’s November ballot. Stream the entire episode so you ...
Aug 21, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join Cy and Emily in an insightful conversation with John Hartmann, the new CEO of Ascend Wellness, as they delve into the dynamic world of leadership, strategy, and growth in the cannabis industry. The discussion takes a deep dive into Ascend Wellness's strategic operations. John shares unique insights gained from spending extensive time at each of the company's dispensaries and cultivation facilities. The CEO sheds light on the impact of limited licenses in generating high revenue pe...
Aug 14, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join Cy and Emily on The High Rise as they explore the dynamic landscape of New Jersey's cannabis program. In this episode, they begin by delving into the recent amendments made by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, prioritizing cannabis licensing for social equity applicants for three months starting September 27. The hosts discuss the implications of these changes, the focus on wholesale, distributor, and delivery licenses, and how it impacts diversely owned businesses. The conversation ...
Aug 07, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The High Rise, Cy and Emily provide a comprehensive look at the state of Illinois' cannabis program, exploring recent modifications to 55 new adult-use licenses. Tune in as they discuss the key changes in the licensing process, the use of a lottery system for selecting winners, and the removal of residency requirements and bonus points for military veterans. Our hosts also shed light on the challenges faced by entrepreneurs awarded licenses in raising necessary funds to o...
Jul 25, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The High Rise, Cy and Emily dive into the intriguing phenomenon of THC inflation in the cannabis industry. They begin by addressing Organigram's recent earnings call, where CEO Beena Goldenberg highlighted the issue of falsely labeled cannabis products with exaggerated THC levels. Shockingly, nearly 50% of cannabis flower sales in Q3 were found to be labeled as containing 26% or more THC, a figure that has doubled in the last 10 months. The hosts discuss the impact of THC...
Jul 19, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
