Company receives notice of intent for license in Utah following
highly competitive application process that included over 130
applications and 60 businesses
Columbia Care now licensed to operate in 16 US markets on a proforma
basis
Columbia Care Inc. (NEO: CCHW) (OTCQX: CCHWF) (FSE: 3LP) (“Columbia
Care” or the “Company”), one of the largest fully integrated operators
in the global cannabis industry with licenses across the US and EU,
today announced that it is one of 14 entities chosen by the Utah
Department of Health (UDOH) to dispense medical cannabis in the state.
Applicants were evaluated through a rigorous review and selection
process, which, according to the UDOH, included a range of criteria such
as prior experience in the medical cannabis industry, the ability to
ensure safety and security of cardholders, engagement with the local
community and an overall strategic plan considered to have a high
likelihood of success.
Utah is one of fastest growing and most popular states in the US with a
current population of over 3.2 million residents and over 19 million
visitors annually. The combination of the highly regulated, limited
license program and a significant total addressable market make Utah a
highly attractive, business friendly environment. Columbia Care’s
Springville dispensary is ideally located in the “Art City” within Utah
County, the second most populous county in the state, just 45 minutes
from Salt Lake City and its surrounding area, providing the Company with
access to over 80% of the state’s residents. Through its Springville
location, Columbia Care will introduce its differentiated,
patient-centric experience designed to educate and serve those looking
for high-quality, plant-based solutions to meet their unmet medical
needs.
With ongoing operations in Arizona and California, as well as its recent
acquisition of The Green Solution in Colorado, Columbia Care’s newest
market complements and strengthens its regional presence and allows the
Company to leverage its existing infrastructure, personnel and know-how
to achieve scale seamlessly and efficiently. Additionally, according to
the National Institute of Drug Abuse, Utah ranks among the top 15 in
opioid prescribing states per capita, and in 2017 experienced 15.5
opioid-related deaths per 100,000 persons. Through its 100 Million Ways
to Break the Opioid Crisis initiative, Columbia Care is dedicated and
committed to providing safe, natural alternatives for opioids to
patients throughout the state. Pending final regulatory approvals,
Columbia Care’s anticipates opening its Springville location later this
year.
“Utah represents the 14th market that Columbia Care has been
awarded through a competitive application process, reflecting the
proficiency of our local advisory board partners and our pursuit and
development teams and allowing the Company to build one of the largest
and most scalable US MSO footprints while efficiently allocating its
resources through continued organic growth,” said Nicholas Vita, chief
executive officer at Columbia Care. “Our ability to meaningfully engage
with local communities to understand their unmet needs and identify ways
in which we can best serve them is a key component to our application
process, as Columbia Care aims to operate in markets where it can make a
positive difference in the lives of its residents. We are delighted to
continue to build our national scale in a profitable, capital efficient
and shareholder friendly manner.”
As the Utah medical program continues to develop, Columbia Care
anticipates offering its premium suite of services designed to
differentiate the Columbia Care patient experience, including its
proprietary CNC credit card, the nation’s first legal credit card for
cannabis purchases, and its home delivery service “CC@Home.” For more
information on the Utah Medical Cannabis Program, please visit: https://medicalcannabis.utah.gov/.
About Columbia Care Inc.
Columbia Care Inc. is one of the largest fully integrated operators in
the global medical cannabis industry with licenses in 16 jurisdictions
in the US and the EU. With over 1.4 million sales transactions since its
inception, Columbia Care is a patient-centered organization setting the
standard for compassion, professionalism, quality, caring and innovation
in cannabis, working in collaboration with some of the most renowned and
innovative teaching hospitals and medical centers in the world. The
Company is committed to providing the type of education and transparency
patients deserve and quality of product that clinicians expect. For more
information on Columbia Care, please visit www.col-care.com.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities
laws (“forward-looking statements”). Statements concerning Columbia
Care’s objectives, goals, strategies, priorities, intentions, plans,
beliefs, expectations and estimates, and the business, operations,
financial performance (including adjusted EBITDA, growth rate, cashflow
and profitability targets) and condition of Columbia Care are
forward-looking statements. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”,
“estimate”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “should”,
“continue”, “plan”, “goal”, “objective”, and similar expressions and the
negative of such expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these
identifying words.
Certain material factors and assumptions were applied in providing these
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information involves
numerous assumptions, including the ability of the Company to meet its
adj. EBITDA, growth rate and cashflow and profitability targets, to
obtain certain third party consents, permits and approvals; the ability
of Columbia Care to meet its dispensary targets, including the ability
to negotiate additional lease arrangements satisfactory to the Company;
the ability of the Company to complete all planned construction in a
timely manner; and the ability of the Company to identify and attract
qualified staff. Projections may be impacted by macroeconomic factors,
in addition to other factors not controllable by the Company. Columbia
Care has also made certain general industry assumptions in the
preparation of such forward-looking statements. Management believes that
the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are based upon
reasonable assumptions; however, Management can give no assurance that
actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
Not all factors which affect the forward-looking information are known,
and actual results may vary from the projected results in a material
respect and may be above or below the forward-looking information
presented in a material respect.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause Columbia Care’s actual
results, performance or achievements, or developments in its industry,
to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance,
achievements or developments expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. When considering these forward-looking statements, readers
should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in
Columbia Care’s final prospectus dated March 21, 2019 (the “Prospectus”)
and filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities
on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The risk factors and other factors noted in the Prospectus could cause
actual events or results to differ materially from those described in
any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on
management’s current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and
opinions, and Columbia Care does not undertake any obligation to update
forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans,
estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change except as required
by applicable securities laws. All of the forward-looking statements
made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements
and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there
can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be
realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the
expected consequences to, or effects on, Columbia Care.
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