Mr. Rick Wilkins reports

AWH OPENS 5TH OHIO DISPENSARY IN HIGHLY COVETED LOCATION IN CINCINNATI

Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. has opened an Ascend dispensary, located at 824 Reedy St., Cincinnati, Ohio. The dispensary is a flagship store for the company, situated next to the Hard Rock Casino and just minutes from the Kentucky border. The dispensary will be Ascend's fifth in the state of Ohio and 35th across its seven-state footprint.

The Cincinnati dispensary will be open Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The dispensary will offer medical products and accept both cash and debit cards through provided cashless automated teller machine terminals. Ascend is proud to offer a wide range of products, including a variety of cannabis strains, edibles, tinctures, topicals and other cannabis-infused products.

"This is a momentous occasion for Ascend as we expand our footprint in Ohio with the opening of our fifth dispensary in the vibrant city of Cincinnati," says Rick Wilkins, chief of stores at Ascend Wellness Holdings. "We are excited to provide our premium cannabis products and exceptional service to the residents of Cincinnati at this highly desirable location."

Looking ahead, Mr. Wilkins shares the company's anticipation for the potential adult-use market in 2024. "The prospect of adult-use sales commencing in the second half of 2024 adds an extra layer of excitement to our journey. We are prepared to adapt and continue serving the evolving needs of our community, contributing to the responsible growth of the cannabis industry in Ohio."

The location is equipped with ample parking, making it easily accessible for residents and visitors to the area. Patients must hold an active Ohio medical marijuana card to purchase medical cannabis products at the Cincinnati dispensary.

In 2022, AWH entered into a definitive agreement providing AWH the option to acquire 100 per cent of the equity of Ohio Patient Access LLC. AWH will benefit from the economics under a support service agreement with OPA.

Grand opening events

Ascend will be celebrating the opening of this dispensary with a special event.

About Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc.

AWH is a vertically integrated operator with assets in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. AWH owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products for retail and wholesale customers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Common Goods, Simply Herb, Ozone, Ozone Reserve, Tunnel Vision and Royale branded products.

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