Cresco Labs Receives Approval to Enter the Michigan Market

CHICAGO & LANSING, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Cresco Labs Inc. (“Cresco Labs” or the “Company”) (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF), one of the largest vertically integrated multistate cannabis operators in the United States, today announced that it has completed the most comprehensive portion of Michigan’s application process, being pre-qualified for a cultivation and processing license by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Medical Marihuana Licensing Board. The pre-qualification represents the authorization of the entity to move forward with the licensing process for its intended facilities.

“We continue to execute well on our expansion strategy and leverage our professional, proven approach to win access to new markets,” said Cresco Labs CEO and Co-founder Charlie Bachtell. “Entering Michigan will add another large market opportunity to our growing footprint and increase our total addressable consumer base to more than 150 million people. Michigan is one of the largest medical cannabis markets in the country with an estimated patient population of nearly 300,000 patients and is steadily moving towards implementation of an adult-use program. Pre-qualification is the most significant regulatory hurdle in the Michigan licensing process. We expect to replicate the process that has enabled us to quickly and efficiently get operational in other markets and begin making our full suite of brands available to patients wanting to experience the positive medicinal benefits of cannabis.”

Cresco Labs has applied for a cultivation and processing facility to be located in a former 100,000+ square foot factory in Marshall, Michigan. The Company has been granted conditional local approval to build and operate the facility pending final approval of its state facility license application.

Michigan Market:

Michigan is the 10^th largest state in the country with a population of nearly 10 million people and more nearly 300,000 registered patients in the state’s medical cannabis program. According to Arcview Market Research/BDS Analytics, the total cannabis market in Michigan – including both medical spending and future legalized adult-use spending – is projected to increase to nearly $1.4 billion by 2022 from $869 million in 2018.

Cresco Labs Footprint:

Upon the receipt of licensure in Michigan and the closing of the Company’s pending acquisition in Florida, Cresco Labs will have 15 production facilities, 21 operational retail dispensaries and licenses to operate a total of 51 retail dispensaries across 11 states – Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida, and Michigan with New York, Maryland and Massachusetts pending regulatory approval. The Company’s products are currently on the shelves of over 250 dispensaries. Cresco Labs will have operations in seven of the ten most populated states in the country with legalized cannabis programs totaling more than 150 million residents, which is nearly 70% of the estimated total addressable US cannabis market.

About Cresco Labs:

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 ten 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 atcrescolabs.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 filed with 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, nor as to the Company’s financial performance in future financial periods. 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.

Contacts

Media:
Jason Erkes, Cresco Labs
Chief Communications Officer
[email protected]

Investors:
Aaron Miles, Cresco Labs
Vice President, Investor Relations
[email protected]

For general Cresco Labs inquiries:
312-929-0993
[email protected]