Why did Ohio fine marijuana businesses $212,500 in the summer? | How to order weed online

CLEVELAND – The state must approve all marketing and advertising of marijuana in Ohio.

Since the beginning of recreational marijuana sales, on August 6, customers have spent nearly $44 million in dispensaries. 11 million dollars of that total was spent in the fourth week.

Five companies have been fined $212,500 for marketing violations relating to the rollout of recreational marijuana.

The Ohio Department of Commerce has provided News 5 with documentation that details each penalty.

Greenleaf Apothecaries doing business as The Botanist : $150,000 plus $12,500 penalty

The Botanist has five dispensaries in Ohio, from Akron to Columbus. Acreage Holdings, a New York company, owns the dispensary.

In June, a banner on the website read, “Can you take me higher than this?“

Documents show that The Botanist had not been issued a certificate to sell adult-use marijuana at the time. It also “failed” to submit the marketing statements and advertisements to the Division for approval.

According to state lawA dispensary may not use a logo, sign, or name unless it has been submitted to the state, and the advertising fee applicable.

The Botanist was fined $12,500 for this infraction.

Both parties signed an agreement of consent, and the fine had to be paid within 14 days after July 26.

According to Division of Cannabis Control documents, The Botanist received a second citation for allowing a vendor of an ice-cream truck to distribute food and drinks on the premises of a dispensary on August 6.

The Botanist also posted a social media post with the caption “Free Ice Cream.”

Documents show that The Botanist displayed external signage larger 16 by 18 inchs, which was not attached to the permanent structure of the dispensary.

The Botanist spent $150,000 on the social media post, food vendor and unattached exterior signage.

Greenleaf Apothecaries had the option of negotiating the fine within 30 day.

News 5 contacted the journalist for an interview, but did not hear back before publication.

Standard Farms: $12,500

Standard Farms, a medical marijuana processing facility in Garfield Heights, is owned by Standard Farms.

In July, the Ohio Department of Commerce found an email sent by Standard Farms that stated it had “Our Dual-Use Licence Approval for Adult use/Recreational Sale“Below are some highlights!“

Standard Farms did not submit the statement to the Division of Cannabis Control before sending it.

Standard Farms was not issued a certificate for the adult use of marijuana until then.

Standard Farms was ordered to pay $12,500 in 14 days after August 6 by a Consent Agreement.

News 5 contacted the journalist for an interview, but did not hear back before publication.

Guaranteed Dispensary: $12,500

Guaranteed Dispensary operates a medical marijuana dispensary in Montgomery.

Documents from the Ohio Department of Commerce indicate that the agency located Guaranteed Dispensary’s website. The site stated that it was a “recreational and medicinal dispensary.”

The Guaranteed Dispensary was not approved for adult use until then.

A signed Consent Agreement is dated 22 July.

Guaranteed Dispensary was required to pay $12,500 within two weeks after the Consent Agreement.

News 5 reached out to an interviewee but did not hear back before publication.

Bloom Medicinals: $12,500

Bloom Medicinals operates dispensaries in Ohio from Akron to Columbus. It’s owned and operated by a Florida company.

The Ohio Department of Commerce reports that it found a billboard sign that was larger than 16 inches in mid-June. By 18 in. “Bloom Medical Marijuana” is advertised.

According to reports, the billboard was not submitted for pre-approval by the state.

“After six years in Ohio, it was our first infraction. It was also our first fine. It was an oversight. “We took full responsibility for it,” Bloom Medicinals Vice-President of Marketing Missy Starr told News 5.

Bloom agreed to obtain pre-approval for the future and removed the sign in question.

“The process is that we basically submit [marketing/advertisement statements]. Starr explained that sometimes it gets approved immediately, and other times we go through something called remediation in which they need a bit more information from them. “They have been easy to work with, and the process is pretty straightforward.”

Starr said Bloom Medicinals had not considered the idea of another billboard without an attachment since.

“I come from the world of digital marketing. Starr said that she has been working in the cannabis industry for 25 years. “Cannabis, no matter where it is grown, comes with its own challenges.” “I think the most important thing for us is to educate the public and make them feel comfortable when they enter our store.”

Bloom Medicinals was fined $12,000. Bloom Medicinals was ordered to pay $12,500 within two weeks from July 19.

Green Thumb Industries, doing business as The Rise (GTI): $12,500

The Rise is located across Ohio in five different areas, including Cleveland and Toledo.

According to records from the Ohio Department of Commerce, GTI sent an e-mail to some of its patients in early June announcing that it would soon open to both medical and recreational guests.

According to reports, the email was not approved by state.

GTI began correcting the error within three hours after the email was sent.

According to documents from the state, a corrected notice was sent out half an hour later.

The state was informed of the email on June 8 and deemed it “inappropriate” to use the term “recreational,” when referring adult-use marijuana.

According to the Ohio Revised Code “the state of Ohio has an overwhelming interest in ensuring any advertising or marketing campaigns related or involving medical cannabis does not encourage, support, or otherwise create the impression… that recreational marijuana usage had any potential health benefits or therapeutic benefits.”

GTI was fined $12,500, and is expected to pay it by June 24.

GTI also had to post signs on its website and doors clarifying the legal status of adult-use cannabis.

News 5 tried to reach out for an interview, but did not hear back before publication.

Ohio Department of Commerce Response

“The Division has taken enforcement action against several licensees for violating the rules of program advertising. All licensees are aware that they must adhere to medical advertising rules, and any violations are taken very seriously. The Division continues to monitor all licensees to ensure compliance with all program regulations to ensure that all licensees are on an equal playing field,” said Jamie Crawford, Department of Commerce Public Information Officer.