TWICL (7/17/26) - DEA Hearing, Senate Dems Refile the CAOA, Pennsylvania Punts (Again) + Kiva x Conan

It was a massive week in cannabis policy — and we're breaking it all down live with the teams from Cultivated, High Spirits and Cannabis Musings, Friday at 12 PM ET. On the docket: 🏛️ The DEA's rescheduling hearing wraps up — what did we learn, and what happens next? 📜 One day later, Senate Democrats reintroduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act — led by Sens. Booker, Schumer, and Wyden — which would fully deschedule cannabis, expunge low-level federal convictions, and stand up a federal regulatory framework across FDA, ATF, and TTB.  🚫 Pennsylvania does it again: another legislative session ends without adult-use over the line. What's actually blocking the sixth-largest state? 📈 Ascend Wellness preps for an uplisting — what it signals for capital markets and who might follow. 💰 ICYMI: Cultivated teamed up with Moby for a webinar on the shifting landscape of cannabis investing — we'll share the highlights. 🎬 Plus, a bonus segment: Jay's interview with Melissa Henry of Kiva Confections on the brand's work with the Conan O'Brien show — a case study in cannabis breaking into mainstream entertainment. 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.