Founder of Harrison Dispensary Faces Lawsuits for Intimidation & Mismanagement

Cookies dispensary founder Gilbert Anthony Milam, Jr. remains under fire amid allegations of misconduct.Photo by89Stocker/Canva

40-year-old Gilbert Anthony Milam, Jr., founder of Cookies Harrison, a dispensary located at 331 Angelo Cifelli Dr, has been fighting numerous lawsuits since the establishment’s grand opening in August of 2023. Investors have accused Milam, Jr., also known as hip hop artist Berner, of making physical threats and breach of contract since the start of their business relationship. He’s also facing allegations of financial mismanagement.

SeedJunky, a seed bank, filed a lawsuit based on similar allegations against Milam, Jr., but has since obtained a voluntary dismissal. Previously, the company claimed that Milam, Jr. stole cannabis genetics, which consists of plant characteristics such as physical traits and profiles, to present himself as a certified breeder.

Other investors such as Red Tech and Gron Ventures attempted to end the partnership with Cookies after the company failed to meet a specific financial target in the summer of 2022.

When Milam, Jr. spoke with Honeysuckle Magazine in 2022, he maintained optimism about his brand, and a desire to open a Cookies establishment in New York City.

“This is a huge move for CookiesSF and solidifies us as one of the most recognized streetwear brands in the world," Cookies co-founder Berner said in a press release. "This location is iconic for so many reasons. We plan on doing some incredible things. We’ve hired some really cool employees and plan on bringing big vibes to the Big Apple."

In September 2023, Milam, Jr. was interviewed by NJ Insider, about the expansion of Cookies from its headquarters in San Francisco to other cities. He was adamant about proving his dedication and removing the negative stigma and bad reputation surrounding the cannabis industry.

“We’ve actually just been doing this for a long time and we actually care. We’re in it for the long run. We really believe in the long vision and creating a brand that is just passed on from generation to generation. We’re not here to pump and dump or to build something to sell. This is my life. I live and breathe and piss this every day. So I put my heart behind it.”

Milam, Jr. has yet to talk about the lawsuits and accusations of shrewd business tactics and aggressive conduct toward investors in detail. However, he has additional lawsuits pending in Massachusetts and Georgia. However, the current status of each case is unknown.