The Botanist, in turn, was fined for pressing ahead with licensing applications which exceeded the limit for how many stores a single business may control or own. In this case, The Botanist has provisional licensing applications for stores in Worcester and Shrewsbury, while Acreage Holdings, its parent company, also has contractual agreements with Patient Centric of Martha’s Vineyard, HCI, and Mass Medi-Spa, each of which holds one provisional license, according to CCC documents.
According to CCC documents, Acreage Holdings said in a disclosure it does not own or have direct or indirect control over the operations of these businesses nor any equity interests. However, CCC enforcement staff concluded in September the commission would likely consider the agreements between Acreage and the three companies to constitute having a controlling stake in their businesses, according to the CCC report.
In January, The Botanist continued with its provisional licensing application processes without adequately restructuring those contracts, according to the CCC, resulting in Thursday’s fine. The Botanist has since either terminated or restructured its contracts with PCMV and HCI.