Nominee Name: Social Impact Award: Cresco Labs
Award category:Social Impact Award
About the nominee:Cresco Labs is one of the largest publicly traded, vertically integrated multistate operators in the cannabis industry. The company produces an industry-leading portfolio of cannabis brands featuring some of the most popular products in America. It also operates highly productive dispensaries under the Sunnyside® brand nationally that focus on delivering consumer education, trust and convenience. Founded in 2013, Cresco Labs has a presence in 10 states where thousands of employees work in service of a mission to normalize and professionalize the cannabis industry. Through year-round policy, community outreach and SEED initiative efforts, the company embraces the responsibility to support communities through authentic engagement, economic opportunity, investment and advocacy to help formerly incarcerated people get their lives back, people find careers in cannabis and influence legislative changes that will help the industry achieve its full potential.
Why they should win:In furtherance of ongoing commitment to support the growth of minority businesses in the U.S. cannabis industry, Cresco Labs partnered with 1871 and Grown In for the first-ever Cannabis Lab featuring 2 distinct cohorts of more than 40 startup organizations, some of which were recently licensed Illinois retailers, infusers, craft growers and transporters, as well as minority-owned businesses. Throughout the four-month program, Cresco Labs provided education, insights and one-on-one support, contributing over 20 subject matter experts in corporate social responsibility, public affairs, investor relations, corporate development, technology, retailing, wholesaling, product development and more for public panels and small private mentoring sessions. It also hosted a training at the company's Illinois Cannabis Education Center which features a fully functioning dispensary, hosted an infused products workshop at the company's R&D Lab at The Hatchery Chicago, and had its Board Director Michele Roberts give a morning keynote at the April 20 Cannabis Innovation Summit.