The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) is suing marijuana businesses across the state for advertising violations, including accusing one dispensary of offering free treats from an ice cream truck and advertising online with the slogan “Can you get me high?”
Five marijuana companies that could face a total fine of $212,500 have agreed to pay $12,500 each, for a total of $62,500.
The botanist’s parent company, Greenleaf Apothecaries, has the opportunity to contest the remaining $150,000 during a hearing.
“The department has taken enforcement action against several licensees who have violated the program’s advertising rules,” said department spokesman Jamie Crawford. “All licensees are fully aware that they must comply with the medical advertising rules, and violations of this policy are taken seriously. The department continues to monitor licensees’ compliance with all program rules to ensure a level playing field for all licensees.”
The Division of Cannabis Control plans to impose a civil penalty of $150,000 on Greenleaf Apothecaries
DCC plans to impose $150,000 in civil penalties for three separate alleged violations by Greenleaf Apothecaries, which operates under the name The Botanist in the Ohio cities of Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus and Wickliffe. However, the company, which is part of a larger conglomerate called Acreage Holdings that operates in multiple states, can request a hearing to present its case.
The department intends to impose a civil penalty of $50,000 for each of the following alleged violations by the company on August 6, the first day of legal adult-use marijuana sales in Ohio:
- Distribution of food and drinks from an ice cream van in suspected violation of DCC guidelines.
- According to the DCC, the posting of “free ice cream” on social media had not been pre-approved by the department, as required by industry rules.
- Posting exterior signs that were larger than 16″ x 18″ and were not attached to the pharmacy’s permanent structure, allegedly a violation of industry rules.
A representative of Greenleaf Apothecaries provided the following written statement to the Beacon Journal: “We are grateful for the opportunity to be one of the few operators in Ohio serving non-medical cannabis consumers in Ohio at five dispensaries. We also value our close working relationship with the Division of Cannabis Control and take our commitment to operate in compliance with state regulations seriously. We look forward to reaching a resolution with the Division as we continue to serve non-medical consumers at our Botanist dispensaries in Akron, Canton, Wickliffe, Cleveland and Columbus.”
Greenleaf Apothecaries agrees to pay a separate penalty of $12,500
DCC also fined Greenleaf Apothecaries $12,500 for online advertising and menus with the headline “Can you take me higher?” during or around the month of June. The company agreed to pay this fine.
Greenleaf Apothecaries did not submit the statement to DCC for pre-approval as required by industry regulations.
127 OH, which operates under the name Bloom Medicinals, agrees to pay a fine of $12,500
127 OH, which does business as Bloom Medicinals, operates marijuana dispensaries in Akron, Columbus, Maumee, Painesville and Seven Mile.
On or about June 19, DCC discovered a sign that 127 OH had placed at the company’s Seven Mile Dispensary advertising “Bloom Medical Marijuana.” The sign, which was not attached to the dispensary, was larger than 16″ by 18″, which violated industry rules and had not been pre-approved by the department.
DCC imposed a penalty of $12,500 on 127 OH, which the company agreed to pay.
A representative for Bloom Medicinals was not immediately available for comment.
Green Thumb Industries, operator of Rise Dispensaries, agrees to pay a fine of $12,500
Green Thumb Industries operates dispensaries in Cleveland, Lakewood, Lorain and Toledo in Ohio.
The company sent an email to some medical marijuana patients on June 6, noting that it would be expanding its hours on June 10 and that “Rise Ohio locations will be open to recreational and medical customers during the following hours: June 10 and thereafter: 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.”
The email was not pre-approved by DCC and the company has confirmed that it was sent in error.
Green Thumb Industries agreed to pay the department a fine of $12,500.
Green Thumb Industries was not immediately available for comment.
Standard Farms agrees to pay a fine of $12,500
Standard Farms, a marijuana processor with operations in Garfield Heights, Ohio, agreed to pay a $12,500 fine to DCC for sending an email in early July stating that the company had received a “dual-use permit for adult use/recreational sales!” The email also included the statement “some highlights below!”
However, Standard Farms had not yet received a license to process recreational marijuana at the time and had not pre-approved the declaration with the DCC. The company has since received a license to operate from the department.
A media representative for Standard Farms’ parent company, TILT Holdings, declined to comment.
Guaranteed Investments OH, doing business as Guaranteed Dispensary, agrees to pay a fine of $12,500
Guaranteed Investments OH operates a guaranteed dispensary in Dayton.
On or about June 17, DCC saw that the pharmacy’s website described its business as a “recreational and medical dispensary,” even though the business did not have an operating license for adult-use sales at the time and did not submit the statement to DCC for pre-approval. Guaranteed Investments OH agreed to pay a $12,500 penalty.
Representatives of Guaranteed Investments OH were not immediately available for comment.
Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. Reach him via email at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @pwilliamsOH.
