Higher Exchanges Water Tower Research

It's merger mania week--or merger maybenia as Morgan called it--and this week's show is dedicated to the potential partnerships between GTI and Sam Adams and Cansortium and RIV Capital. We tackle GTI and SAM off the top with an overview of the proposed merger and discuss the timing and synergies. We debate the timing and wonder why now as we are just approaching potential federal reform and meaningful TAM expansion if Florida flips adult use. The group also covers potential synergies in ...

With Toby on holiday this week, Morgan and Jesse kick off this week's show by reviewing recent price action and contrasting it with reality. While falling share prices have eroded sentiment, there are positive developments. Ohio is beginning to turn on adult-use stores next month, and we analyze key dates, estimate the potential size of the adult-use market, and dig into MSO exposure in the Buckeye State. With 43 MSO-owned stores that may expand up to 70 in the near term, this is an impo...

Nick Gastevich, known as CannaVestments online, joined us this week. He is one of the most experienced cannabis investors and manages a family office that is active in the space. We discussed cannabis stock’s adverse reaction to the positive momentum on rescheduling and debated time frames for a final ruling. The heart of the conversation centers on first-quarter earnings, and we evaluated top-line growth and EBITDA conversion and analyzed cash flow metrics. The conversation ...

Cresco CEO Charlie Bachtell joined us this week to discuss the proposed rule on Schedule III and the company's recent earnings results. Cresco is active in Washington, and Charlie shared his perspective on Schedule III’s next steps, timing, and impact on Cresco's business. We also dug into Cresco's progress. 2023 was the year of the core, and Charlie highlighted the tough decisions they made to cut costs and rationalize the footprint. He also explained Florida's importance and the effort...

Verano Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO George Archos joined the show to discuss the company's recent quarter. The business is beginning to generate significant cash flow, and George shared how he expects revenue to grow and opportunities to use the financial flexibility. We also asked about optimizing Florida assets ahead of the potential adult-use transition and M&A strategy. The second half of the show is about free cash flow yields. Jesse provides an overview of the metric, and Toby...

Today, we heard the welcome news that the DEA is agreeing with the HHS recommendation to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Boris Jordan, Executive Chairman of Curaleaf, joins at the top of the show to share his thoughts on the next steps in the process, the timing of a final ruling, potential risks along the way, implications for institutional interest, and the specific impact of 280E on Curaleaf's business. Hirsh Jain, founder of Ananda Strategy, joins for the s...