Is the "show me" state actually showing the rest of the country how to build a sustainable, high-growth cannabis market? In an era where many MSOs are struggling to stay afloat, one family-owned operator is proving that technical expertise and operational discipline are the ultimate competitive advantages.

On this episode of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein are joined by Boston Dickerson, Founder and CEO of Show Me Organics. Boston shares the incredible journey of scaling a "backwards vertical" business—starting with retail and manufacturing before moving into cultivation—and how he grew the company from a two-person startup to a 350-employee powerhouse across Missouri and Kentucky.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The "Backwards" Vertical Strategy: Why starting with retail and manufacturing provided a unique advantage in understanding consumer demand before touching a single plant.
• The Reality of the "Knife Fight": How oversupply in Missouri shifted power to retailers and what it takes for a brand to survive pricing pressure.
• Winning with Process: The transition from "founder-led hustle" to using EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) for clarity and accountability at scale.
• Breaking into Kentucky: The challenges and opportunities of operating in a new, highly restrictive medical market and the importance of localized pride.

🌟 Meet Boston Dickerson:

Boston Dickerson is the Founder and CEO of Show Me Organics, one of Missouri’s premier vertically integrated cannabis operators. With a background in biochemistry and a passion for the plant, Boston and his brother Montana have built a diverse portfolio including Blue Sage Dispensaries, Vivid, and Missouri’s Own Edibles. Known for his disciplined approach to capital and operations, Boston is currently leading the company's expansion into Kentucky and eyeing future growth in limited-license markets like Texas.

📅 Why Tune In?

If you are an operator trying to navigate the messy transition from startup hustle to enterprise-level scaling, this conversation is a masterclass. Boston provides a rare, transparent look at the "nos" it takes to get a "yes," the discipline required to raise capital in a down market, and why your business plan shouldn't rely on rescheduling as a lifeline.
Keep your spirits high!

Have a question for us? Send us a text. We may answer it in the next show!

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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.

"Stop shaming my sex and drugs."

On this episode of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein sit down with the incomparable Tanya Griffin, a multihyphenate entrepreneur who is rewriting the rulebook on what it means to be a "professional" in the cannabis industry. From building the first vertically integrated national franchise to navigating the "crash landing" of the Illinois social equity market, Tanya’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, systems-building, and radical honesty.

We dive deep into the brutal reality of the Illinois retail landscape—where MSOs use MSAs to bypass store caps—and explore Tanya’s provocative thesis: that "dropping into flow states" through cannabis, intimacy, and wellness isn't just a lifestyle choice, it’s a competitive advantage for scaling high-growth companies.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The Illinois "Muddled Mess": An inside look at the X2Vets LLC lawsuit and how MSOs are consolidating power in one of the country's most expensive markets.
• Franchising vs. Mom & Pop: Can a franchise model provide the operational backbone that social equity operators need to survive against giants like GTI and Cresco?
• Scaling Sexual Wellness: The "soup-to-nuts" journey of building oOYes, a brand at the intersection of women's health, cannabinoids, and dismantling sexual shame.
• The Power of Bootstrapping: Why Tanya owns 100% of her companies and her "Crawl, Walk, Run" advice for surviving a market with zero access to traditional capital.

🌟 Meet Tanya Griffin:

Tanya Griffin is the founder of Water and Trees, a growth management firm, and the visionary behind brands like oOYes and Uh huh Honey. With over 35 years of experience building retail companies (from midwifery clinics to dispensaries), she is a prominent deal-maker and consultant in the Illinois market. Tanya is also a fierce advocate for harm reduction through her nonprofit, Save My Life, which provides free Narcan throughout Illinois.

📅 Why Tune In?

This isn't your average business podcast. If you’re tired of the corporate "suit and tie" narrative in cannabis and want to hear how raw authenticity and lean operations can win against billion-dollar MSOs, this conversation with Tanya Griffin is required listening.

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.

On this episode of High Spirits, hosts Ben Larson & AnnaRae Grabstein are joined by Elliot Lane, Co-Founder and President of IgniteIt. After years of building the cannabis vertical at Benzinga, Elliot and his team are striking out on their own to create a more intentional, high-impact space for cannabis leaders. From navigating the "pure terror" of entrepreneurship to the tactical secrets of building a world-class B2B network, Elliot shares how Ignite It is cutting through the noise to provide the financial and strategic clarity the industry desperately needs in 2026.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
The Ignite It Origin Story: Why the team moved on from Benzinga to build a focused, niche ecosystem for emerging markets.
Tactical Business Development: How Elliot uses curiosity and "leading with value" to crack open relationships in new state markets.
The Future of Cannabis Media: How to build a platform that serves as an industry dashboard without adding to the "headline noise."
Founder Reality Check: A candid look at the mix of fear, imposter syndrome, and excitement that comes with being a first-time founder in cannabis.

🌟 Meet Elliot Lane:
Elliot Lane is a seasoned media and events leader and the Co-Founder of IgniteIt. Previously the head of product and sales for Benzinga Cannabis, Elliot was instrumental in turning their conferences into "must-attend" rooms for the industry's elite. With a background in New York City hospitality and the performing arts, he brings a unique ability to read a room and foster genuine human connection, making him one of the most effective networkers in the cannabis and hemp sectors.

📅 Why Tune In?
Whether you are looking to scale your B2B networking strategy or want an inside look at how the industry’s premier events are actually built, this conversation is a goldmine.

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.