#145 - Shifting Trends, AI, & State Markets with Leah Spokojny, CRO at BDSA

Are you running your cannabis business on gut instinct or hard numbers? In a volatile, state-by-state landscape where headlines rarely tell the whole story, relying on assumptions is a fast track to getting left behind.In this episode of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein are joined by Leah Spokojny, Chief Revenue Officer of BDSA, the industry’s leading market research and analytics firm. Together, they dive deep into the changing dynamics of mature versus emerging markets, the shifting consumer preferences of Gen Z versus Millennials, and how cutting-edge AI integrations like Claude’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) are transforming how operators interact with market intelligence.What You’ll LearnThe Inhalable Divide: Why Gen Z is flocking to vapes while Millennials still prefer rolling their own joints, and what this means for your product development.Deciphering the Hemp THC Boom: A realistic look at the retail future of hemp-derived THC beverages and whether they act as a gateway or a threat to traditional dispensaries.SaaS vs. Raw Data Quality: Why user interfaces are taking a backseat to clean, structured data as AI and conversational LLMs become the ultimate analytical assistants.State-by-State Realities: Under-the-hood insights into Michigan’s relentless price compression, California’s category shifts, and Virginia's trajectory toward 2030.Meet the GuestLeah Spokojny is the Chief Revenue Officer at BDSA, where she leads the charge in translating complex, fragmented cannabis market data into actionable retail and brand strategy. Bringing over a decade of foundational experience in mainstream CPG and healthcare market research, Leah joined the cannabis sector in 2019. Since then, she has focused on pioneering methodology and consumer insights to help brands, retailers, and investors successfully navigate the industry's messiest data challenges.Why Tune In?If you want to stop guessing your market position and start pricing, packaging, and scaling with precision, this episode provides the data-backed roadmap you need to gain a true competitive edge.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.