Ohio Marijuana Dispensary Fined $150,000 for Ice Cream Giveaway on First Day of Recreational Sales

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A marijuana dispensary in Columbus has been fined $150,000 after offering “free ice cream” to customers on the first day of adult-use sales, a marketing tactic that violated state regulations.

(Photo credit: Susan Post).

Greenleaf Apothecaries, also known as The Botanist, is one of several Ohio dispensaries fined since adult-use sales began in August. The dispensary advertised the giveaway on social media on August 6 and brought an ice cream truck to its property.

Altogether, fines across several companies exceeded $200,000, with The Botanist’s Columbus location by far receiving the largest share.

Under Ohio law, dispensaries must have marketing tactics approved by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control. The Botanist’s promotions were not authorized, claims the state, including a previous violation in June when it posted promotions on its website featuring the phrase “Can you take me higher,” a reference to a song by Creed. That earlier violation resulted in a $12,500 fine. The division noted that The Botanist took corrective actions for the earlier violation.

The Botanist, owned by Acreage Holdings, operates five dispensaries in Ohio, including locations in Akron, Cleveland, and Columbus. WOSU contacted the company for comment but did not receive a response by the deadline.

Other dispensaries receiving $12,500 fines included Standard Farms in Garfield Heights, Guaranteed Dispensary in Montgomery, Bloom Medicinals with locations across Ohio, and Green Thumb Industries (GTI), also known as The Rise.

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