555 - The State of Cannabis and Path to Regulation with Jim Higdon of Cornbread Hemp

Bourbon Pursuit

Hobbies, Food, Leisure, Arts

4.8 • 926 Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 75 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Is the bourbon industry about to meet its biggest competitor? Today, we’re welcoming back a familiar face, Jim Higdon, co-founder of Cornbread Hemp and the author of The Cornbread Mafia. Last time Jim was on Episode 342, we were talking about the history of Kentucky's most infamous drug ring, but today we’re looking at the future of cannabis and how it’s fighting for its life against big bourbon. It's no doubt that THC beverages have been on a meteoric rise and Jim shares a vision of a future where a THC drink is just as mainstream as a vodka soda was back in the '60s. But it’s not an easy road; Right now there is a lobbyist war, where Jim feels bourbon's powerful political engines are squaring off against the hemp industry to protect their shelf space. It gets a bit dicey with Fred taking the counterposition but I won't ruin it for you. Jim also highlights the looming legislative cliff, breaking down the regulatory hurdles and upcoming deadlines that could threaten the entire hemp-derived industry overnight. It’s a conversation about coexistence, regulation, and what you might see a different on your liquor store shelves very soon. Show Notes: Comparisons between THC beverages and historical liquor consumption patterns Growth story of Cornbread Hemp from CBD to THC labels The impact of bourbon lobbyists on cannabis regulatory issues Importance of the upcoming November deadline for hemp legality Variances in THC regulations across different states Consumer safety and dosage concerns regarding THC beverages Future collaboration potential between bourbon and cannabis industries Advocacy strategies for hemp products within the political landscape Reflection on the ongoing evolution of cannabis regulation and societal perception Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	If we in the hemp industry can't solve this problem before November, every hemp product in America, and interviews, with people making the bourbon whiskey industry happen, and I'm one of your
0:37.6	host, Kenny Coleman.
0:39.2	Is the bourbon industry about to meet its biggest competitor?
0:42.5	Well, we've talked about the rise of cannabis and hemp and all that sort of stuff on the show
0:47.2	before, but we're going to welcome back a familiar face to really dig into it, and that's
0:51.7	Jim Higden.
0:52.5	He's the co-founder of cornbread hemp and,
0:55.1	you might remember, as the author of Cornbread Mafia. The last time Jim was on was episode
0:59.8	342, and we talked about the history of Kentucky's most infamous drug ring, but today we're
1:06.1	to be talking about the future of cannabis and how it's fighting for its life against what Jim calls
1:11.5	Big Bourbon. It's no doubt that THC beverages have been on a meteoric rise, and Jim shares
1:17.4	a vision of the future where he thinks a THD drink can be just as mainstream as vodka
1:21.9	soda was back in the 60s. But it's not an easy road. Right now, there is a lobbyist for
1:27.2	where Jim feels
1:28.0	Irvin's most powerful political itgens are starting to square off against the hemp
1:32.7	industry to protect their shelf space. I'll be honest, it gets a little dicey because Fred
1:37.6	takes a counter position, but I don't want to ruin it for you. I'm just happy we all came out
1:41.9	alive. But Jim also highlights the looming
1:44.3	legislative cliff and breaks down the regulatory hurdles and upcoming deadlines that could
1:49.1	threaten the entire hemp-derived industry overnight. It's a conversation about coexistence,
1:54.6	regulation, and perhaps what you might see differently on your liquor store shelves very soon.
2:00.0	With that, enjoy this week's episode.
	...

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