2019-02-04 09:16 ET - News Release

Ms. Kim Rivers reports

TRULIEVE WINS SUIT TO EXPAND PATIENT ACCESS

After nearly a year of litigation, Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has won a suit alleging the statutory caps on the number of dispensaries permitted for each licensed medical marijuana treatment centre were unfairly and wrongly added by the state legislature after voters approved the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative in 2016. Judge Karen Gievers of Florida's Second Judicial Circuit ruled that the statutory caps placed on the number of dispensaries allowed across the state were not only unconstitutionally added after Amendment 2 had been approved by voters, but were adversely impacting patient access.

In response to the ruling, Trulieve chief executive officer Kim Rivers said: "Trulieve was originally designated as the licensee for the northwest region of Florida, which is the most rural region in the state. As a result, during the original application process, a cornerstone of our application was patient access and being able to dispense to patients in less populated areas. The court has sided with the argument that access to medicine is critical; Trulieve stands ready to fulfill our commitment to open dispensaries in these areas."

The suit, filed by Trulieve in April, 2018, alleged that the statutory caps, which were established after Trulieve had been awarded a licence to grow, cultivate, distribute and sell medical cannabis in Florida, were unconstitutionally added after the fact and that such restrictive caps were never contemplated during the application and selection process.

Regarding the caps, Judge Gievers ruled, "The evidence clearly and conclusively establishes beyond any doubt that the imposition of regional and statewide caps on the number of dispensaries for each licensed [medical marijuana treatment centre] does not support voter-approved constitutional goals." Judge Gievers added that when the legislature established the statute, they used language that was different from what voters approved, effectively ignoring voters' instructions.

In response to the order, Trulieve's attorney David Miller stated: "Since being granted a licence, Trulieve has operated with a strong emphasis on patient safety and access. Limiting the number of dispensaries affects patients negatively. Dispensaries not only allow for more efficient and less costly patient access, they promote in-person communication, helping patients make more informed decisions in regard to their care. This order will change the landscape of the medical marijuana market in Florida for the better."

About Trulieve Cannabis Corp.

Trulieve Cannabis is a vertically integrated seed-to-sale company and is the first and largest fully licensed medical cannabis company in the state of Florida. Trulieve Cannabis cultivates and produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulieve Cannabis-branded stores (dispensaries) throughout the state of Florida, as well as directly to patients through home delivery.

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