New Lawsuit alleges ‘cartel’ colludes to keep cannabis prices high in Illinois. Industry members say there’s no evidence for the allegations. Companies named are Green Thumb Industries Verano Holdings Surterra Holdings (now Parallel) Akerna Reports the Chicago Tribune A federal lawsuit accuses cannabis companies of running a “Chicago cartel” that colludes to keep prices high in Illinois ― but industry participants say the allegations are groundless. The suit was filed by True Social Equity in Cannabis, which includes consumers, workers and potential competitors in the industry. The group held a news conference Tuesday to get the state to drop limits on cannabis licenses and legalize any amount of cannabis. Member Anna Rose Li-Epstein said that would help marginalized people get into the business, and the state would make more money. The lawsuit Defendants in the case are Akerna Corp., Green Thumb Industries Inc., ILDISP LLC, Verano Holdings Corp., and Surterra Holdings Inc. The complaint alleges violations of anti-trust law under the Clayton Act, specifically that officers from some of the firms serve on the boards of their competitors.
Cannabis Law Report, 04/21/2022 22:18:00