#121 - Why Wyld and Grön Joined Forces w/ Aaron Morris and Draper Bender

Two of the most durable edibles brands in cannabis just joined forces—and the backstory is pure “mature-market grit.” On Episode 121 of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein sit down with Aaron Morris (Founder & CEO of Wyld) and Draper Bender (President of Grön) for their first interview together following Wyld’s acquisition of Grön.They unpack why Oregon breeds profitable operators, how “market compressions” shape winning playbooks, and what it takes to build a real national platform in cannabis without hype, bankers, or venture-fueled burn. Plus: a rapid-fire policy rundown—from the federal “Baird bill” hemp delay to state-by-state adult-use pushes and rollback campaigns—setting the stage for what 2026 could mean for operators.What You’ll LearnWhy Oregon’s repeated price compressions create tougher (and better-prepared) brandsHow Wyld and Grön scaled with distribution-first strategy and strong retail relationshipsWhat “one plus one equals five” actually looks like when two profitable operators combineThe real role of form factor + product consistency in consumer loyalty (and why “innovation” is often overrated)How they think about hemp vs. regulated cannabis distribution—and what’s changing fast in 2026Why most cannabis M&A dies at the finish line… and how this one got doneMeet the GuestsAaron Morris is the CEO of Wyld, one of the largest edibles companies in the U.S., known for disciplined execution, quality, and a distribution engine built to scale. Draper Bender is the President of Grön, the brand behind the iconic Pearls and Megas—playful products with serious operational rigor and deep retail relationships.Why Tune In?If you’re building in cannabis through margin pressure, policy whiplash, and retail gatekeeping, this episode is a masterclass in durability, distribution, and dealmaking the hard way—from two operators who’ve already survived multiple rounds of compression and came out bigger.Have a question for us? Send us a text. We may answer it in the next show!--High Spirits is brought to you by Vertosa and Wolf Meyer.Your hosts are Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein.Follow High Spirits on LinkedIn. We'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 www.highspiritspod.com 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.