Chicago, April 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Thumb Industries (GTI), a vertically integrated national cannabis cultivator and dispensary operator dedicated to providing dignified access to safe and effective cannabis, will receive a pre-approval for a grow license in Maryland via a bill designed to include companies that qualified for a grower’s permit in the state’s initial rankings based on merit. The bill was also created to ensure diversity in the state’s cannabis program.

“This is great news for patients in Maryland as well as minority applicants who deserve a fair and equitable opportunity to participate in the state’s medical marijuana industry,” says GTI Chief Executive Officer Pete Kadens. “Of course, GTI is also pleased to be granted a pre-approval to grow in Maryland and to be able to further serve patients across the state. It’s a big win all around.”

GTI currently operates two dispensaries in Maryland in Silver Spring and Bethesda with others slated to open this spring. It also operates a processing facility in Centreville in partnership with Chesapeake Alternatives. GTI will work in partnership with the state and the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission to determine the location for its grow facility, with particular attention paid to areas that would most benefit from newly created jobs.

“We are especially appreciative of the efforts of Senator Joan Carter Conway and Delegate Cheryl Glenn who, throughout the entire process, kept advocating for a fair resolution for the citizens of Maryland and for the minority-owned businesses seeking entry into the industry,” says Kadens. “Justice prevailed today for GTI, MCP and the minority applicants who deserve the ability to compete in the medical marijuana market in the state.”

About Green Thumb Industries:

Green Thumb Industries (GTI) is a national cannabis cultivator, processor and dispensary operator dedicated to providing dignified access to safe and effective cannabis nationwide, while giving back to the communities in which they serve. With 27 operational licenses across five highly regulated U.S. markets, GTI’s team of experienced business professionals, entrepreneurs and philanthropists bring unmatched expertise, superior quality and transparency to the cannabis industry by operating world-class cultivation facilities and creating customer-first retail experiences via the suite of RISE dispensaries. GTI employs hundreds of people and serves hundreds of thousands of patients and customers each year. More information is available at GTIgrows.com.

Linda Marsciano GTI 773-354-2004 lmarsicano@gtigrows.com