Ohio Attorney General Sues Major Cannabis Companies for Antitrust Violations

Lawsuit alleges multistate operators coordinated to squeeze out smaller Ohio businesses and raise prices for consumers.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 3:31pm

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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed an antitrust lawsuit against nine major multistate cannabis companies, accusing them of coordinating business practices to harm Ohio-based cultivators, processors, and consumers. The lawsuit alleges the companies entered into reciprocal purchasing agreements to prioritize each other's products in Ohio dispensaries while reducing orders from independent Ohio businesses, limiting consumer choice and allowing them to maintain higher prices.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights growing tensions between large multistate cannabis operators and smaller, independent businesses in the rapidly evolving legal marijuana industry. The allegations raise concerns about anticompetitive practices that could stifle innovation, reduce product selection, and keep prices artificially high for Ohio consumers.

The details

The lawsuit, filed in Franklin County, alleges the nine companies - Ascend Wellness, Ayr Wellness, The Cannabist Company, Cresco Labs, Curaleaf, Green Thumb Industries, Jushi, Trulieve and Verano - violated Ohio's antitrust law through coordinated business practices. According to a tip received in 2024, senior representatives from the companies met in 2022 and agreed to reduce purchases from independent Ohio cultivators and processors in order to preserve shelf space for each other's products during a period of increased supply and declining prices.

  • The lawsuit was filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on February 6, 2026.
  • The investigation was launched in October 2024 based on a tip from a cannabis industry employee.

The players

Dave Yost

The Attorney General of Ohio who filed the antitrust lawsuit against the nine cannabis companies.

Ascend Wellness

One of the nine multistate cannabis companies named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Jushi

One of the nine multistate cannabis companies named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“Our investigation uncovered allegations of an industry-wide scheme designed to push small Ohio businesses out of the market.”

— Dave Yost, Attorney General of Ohio (cleveland.com)

“We are prepared to vigorously defend against the allegations. Our Ohio stores maintain longstanding relationships with local single-state operators, prominently featuring their products on our retail menus and accounting for roughly two-thirds of third-party inventory at our retail stores.”

— Ascend Wellness representative (cleveland.com)

“We respectfully disagree with the allegations, and believe that the complaint reflects several mischaracterizations. We intend to vigorously defend our company.”

— Trent Woloveck, Chief Strategy Director, Jushi (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The case will now proceed through the legal system, with the nine cannabis companies preparing to defend themselves against the antitrust allegations.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the tensions between large multistate cannabis operators and smaller, independent businesses in the rapidly evolving legal marijuana industry. The allegations raise concerns about anticompetitive practices that could limit consumer choice and keep prices high, underscoring the need for robust antitrust enforcement as the cannabis market continues to mature.