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Back Cover Story: NFL Veteran, Boo Harvest Health & Recreation

Williams: Saving Lives and Changing Minds to Acquire Verano

Continued from back page. marijuana use, Williams founded the Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc., a seven manufacturing facilities, with
from concussions. Boo Beary Kares Foundation that helps vertically integrated cannabis compa- expected further aggressive opera-
Unlike opioids, Williams also points the homeless and underprivileged, work- ny with one of the largest footprints in tional expansion. By the end of 2019,
out that cannabis is non-addictive and ing to provide CBD to those who need it. the U.S., is pleased to announce that it Harvest expects to have over 70 dis-
non-toxic, and is a better alternative for Williams also recently invested in his has entered into a binding agreement pensaries, 13 cultivation facilities and
anyone who is struggling with chronic own cannabis-related businesses, Boo to acquire Verano Holdings, LLC, an 13 manufacturing facilities in opera-
pain. Beary Products. This line of hemp arm’s length third party, one of the tion. The company expects continued
While marijuana remains illegal, cur- extract products is formulated to address largest privately held multi-state, verti- growth in 2020.
rently 25 states have laws allowing for every day ailments, provide mental cally integrated licensed operators of “The combination with Verano fits
medical marijuana use, including health support, and to enhance training cannabis facilities. perfectly with our vision of creating
Florida. Williams believes that the NFL for athletes. The combined company will be one the world’s most valuable cannabis
is behind on this issue because of a lack “I developed my Boo Beary hemp of the largest multi-state operators company,” said Jason Vedadi,
of education. extract products for the average person (“MSO”) in the U.S., as measured by Executive Chairman of Harvest.
“We have to keep pushing products going through chronic pain, whether it’s licenses held and facilities permitted. “We are confident that this is an
containing just THC or just CBD,” says mental or physical,” he says, adding that Upon completion of the transaction opportunity to continue to leverage
Williams. “The more we can push it in his goal is to provide information, prod- and regulatory approval, Harvest will each of our company’s strengths and
that form, we will see things start to ucts and services to people from all hold licenses that will allow it to oper- drive continued shareholder value,
change. The training staff would have to facets of life and wellness. “Anyone and ate up to 200 facilities in 16 states and while at the same time achieving the
become involved and be the ones who everyone’s lives can be improved with territories across the country, includ- scale we know will give us a leadership
would administer the products with the health benefits of cannabis. This ing 123 retail dispensaries. position in one of the largest cannabis
CBD or THC and monitor the players. I alternate medicine is the route to go Harvest’s planned acquisition of markets in the world.”
think once more people become educat- because cannabis is not a drug, it’s a Verano will include: “This is a natural match between
ed about medical cannabis, it will pick medicine.” •Licenses and operations in 11 like-minded entrepreneurs who have
up more steam, you will see changes.” states and territories, including seven built our companies from the initial
While he keeps advocating for medical For more information, cultivation licenses, 37 retail licenses facilities into two of the largest MSOs
visit boobearyproducts.com. and potential to reach 150+ million in the U.S., with an unwavering focus
Americans; on operational excellence, superior
•Vertically integrated, cash-flow quality products and service, and
positive operations; delivering value to customers and
•Proven executive team with retail, shareholders,” said George Archos,
manufacturing, branding, logistics and Verano Co-founder and CEO.
operational experience and 300 “Our growth and unique positioning
employees. Hiring for approximately in key markets allowed us to evaluate
300 new positions in 2019 with a some of the largest players in the
focus on hiring minorities, women and space, but we only had one unanimous
veterans; choice for a major transaction and that
•Game changing ethanol extraction was Harvest.”
technology at pharmaceutical grade The newly combined company plans
levels providing new market opportu- to continue hubs of operation in both
nities for cannabis biotech, food and Arizona and Illinois and merge key
beverage verticals; leadership talent to create a team of
•Portfolio of premium proprietary the most professional operators in
brands with 150 + product SKUs sold cannabis.
in 150 + retail locations; Both companies have recently
•Total cultivation expansion capaci- attracted management expertise across
ty of 900,000 sq. ft in Illinois, Nevada consumer-packaged-goods, beverage,
& Maryland; spirits, logistics, branding, horticul-
•Ownership of an interest in nine ture, and extraction technologies from
Zen Leaf™ dispensaries with average some of the largest most influential
annual revenues 2.5x higher than companies in the world, all supporting
retail cannabis industry averages; the companies’ explosive growth.
Following completion of the trans- Similarly, the combined company
action, the combined company is expects to grow new and existing
expected to be operating 30 dispen- brands throughout its expanded terri-
saries, eight cultivation facilities and tory.

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36 April 2019 cannabisnewsflorida.com Cannabis News Florida