CHICAGO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Green Thumb Industries Inc. (Green Thumb) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), a leading national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of RISE dispensaries, is expanding its partnership with Olive-Harvey College by donating $200,000 to support the school’s cannabis education program. The program provides training, scholarships, equipment, staffing and industry access to help create a more diverse workforce within the cannabis industry. Olive-Harvey is a community college on the southeast side of Chicago and is part of the City Colleges of Chicago.

The donation was made on behalf of Green Thumb’s Growing for Good social impact program and fulfills the Company’s Social Equity Inclusion plan requirement for Illinois’ early approval adult-use cultivation license holders. Green Thumb chose to partner with Olive-Harvey College, which has the only credit-approved cannabis training program in Chicago, to further the impact the school is making to prepare Black and Brown students for a career in cannabis while strengthening diversity in the industry​​.

“Olive-Harvey College is doing the important work of building opportunity for Black and Brown students across Chicago by providing them with education, training and industry expertise, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership with them,” said Green Thumb Director of Social Impact Jai Kensey. “Giving back is at the core of Green Thumb and we believe it is our responsibility to reduce barriers to entry into the cannabis industry for those most impacted by the War on Drugs. We look forward to working alongside the team at Olive-Harvey to create a more equitable cannabis industry.”

Amanda Gettes, Executive Dean of Urban Agriculture at Olive-Harvey, said: “Green Thumb’s contribution will ensure the Cannabis Education program at Olive-Harvey College continues to thrive and provide training and industry access to a diverse workforce.”

Those interested in learning more about the Cannabis Education program should contact Olive-Harvey College directly. More information is available at

www.ccc.edu

. More information on Green Thumb’s Growing for Good social impact program is available at

www.gtigrows.com/social-impact

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About Green Thumb Industries

Green Thumb Industries Inc. (“Green Thumb” or the “Company”), a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and retailer, promotes well-being through the power of cannabis while giving back to the communities in which it serves. Green Thumb manufactures and distributes a portfolio of branded cannabis products including Beboe, Dogwalkers, Doctor Solomon’s, Good Green, incredibles and RYTHM. The company also owns and operates rapidly growing national retail cannabis stores called RISE. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Green Thumb has 17 manufacturing facilities, 76 open retail locations and operations across 15 U.S. markets. Established in 2014, Green Thumb employs approximately 3,800 people and serves millions of patients and customers each year. The company was named to Crain’s Fast 50 list in 2021 and a Best Workplace by MG Retailer magazine in 2018, 2019 and 2021. More information is available at

www.GTIgrows.com

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Source: Green Thumb Industries