CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cresco Labs, Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) (“Cresco” or “the Company”) announced today that shareholders representing 205,172,192 common shares (the “Shareholders”) have entered into voluntary lock-up agreements with the Company (the “Agreements”), representing 97% of the shares subject to the initial lock-up and 80% of the total issued subordinate voting shares (on an as-if converted basis). Included among the Shareholders are all of the Company’s founders, its entire executive management team and board of directors, as well as several of the largest outside investors in Cresco. The voluntary lock-up Agreements stipulate that these shareholders will not, subject to limited exception, offer to sell, contract to sell, lend, pledge or otherwise dispose of any Cresco securities, or enter into any transaction to such effect, directly or indirectly, in addition to other restrictions until December 3rd, 2019 when a portion of the shares will be released followed by the remainder of the shares being released by June 3, 2020.

Charlie Bachtell, CEO & Co-Founder of Cresco, commented, “ The lock-up agreements announced today reflect the continued confidence that Cresco’s management, board and outside shareholders have in the future of the Company. Our ability to deliver on the vision we have for building Cresco into one of the most important company’s in the U.S. cannabis industry has instilled a high level of trust among our investors that we can continue executing on plan, responsibly manage the increase of the Company’s liquidity and continue to preserve and create long-term shareholder value.”

About Cresco Labs, Inc.

Cresco Labs, based in Chicago, is a leading U.S. cannabis company with experienced management, access to capital and a demonstrated growth strategy. As a differentiated grower, processor and retailer of premium cannabis operating in seven states, the company focuses on entering highly regulated markets with outsized demand potential and high barriers to entry. Its impressive speed-to-market gives Cresco a distinct competitive advantage as it replicates its model to expand its national footprint. Cresco’s proven ability to execute is complemented by a cutting-edge brand strategy spearheaded by several of the brightest minds in consumer marketing in the nation. Cresco’s products are tailored to all major consumer segments: everyday cannabis, medicinally focused, connoisseur grade, and chef inspired edibles by James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Mindy Segal. Learn more about Cresco Labs at crescolabs.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, ‘may,’ ‘will,’ ‘should,’ ‘could,’ ‘would,’ ‘expects,’ ‘plans,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘projects,’ ‘predicts,’ ‘potential’ or ‘continue’ or the negative of those forms or other comparable terms. The Company’s forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks discussed under "Risk Factors" in the company’s CSE Listing Statement and other public filings on SEDAR; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Because of these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. No assurances are given as to the future trading price or trading volumes of Cresco’s shares including, without limitation, as a consequence of the Lock-Up Agreements, nor as to the locked-up shareholders’ compliance with or the Company’s enforcement of the terms thereof. The Company does not intend to update any of these factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the Company’s forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, any future event or otherwise. Except as otherwise indicated, this press release speaks as of the date hereof. The distribution of this press release does not imply that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company after the date hereof or create any duty or commitment to update or supplement any information provided in this press release or otherwise.