#125 - Cannabis Business News Roundup: Ohio MSO Lawsuit, Texas Medical Growth, and FDA Countdown

The cannabis industry is getting squeezed from every angle—state AGs, ballot fights, and a federal regulator that can’t hit a deadline. On this week’s High Spirits business news roundup, Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein break down the stories shaping operator strategy right now.Episode #125 dives into Ohio’s escalating “legalization meets enforcement” showdown, including an antitrust lawsuit targeting major MSOs—and the messy split between regulated cannabis and hemp interests. Then it’s down to Texas, where the medical program is finally showing real growth… even as adult-use remains politically off-limits. We close with the FDA’s missed hemp guidance deadline and a notable bright spot: $15M raised to scale THC beverages nationwide.What You’ll LearnWhat Ohio’s MSO antitrust lawsuit could mean for vertical integration and pricing scrutinyWhy limited-license, vertically integrated markets create “accidental collusion” incentivesHow Texas’ medical program expansion changes the opportunity (and risk) for operatorsWhat recent ballot wins/losses in Maine, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania signal for 2026Why the FDA’s missed deadline adds more uncertainty for hemp cannabinoids and enforcementWhat Willlie’s Remedy’s $15M raise says about where capital still believes in cannabis-adjacent growthHave 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.