Debra BorchardtJune 4, 2020
Grassroots Cannabis has sold two facilities it operated in North Dakota to Scythian Real Estate. Scythian purchased the properties from Grassroots Cannabis for $3.4M. Grassroots is going to lease back the properties. Grassroots Cannabis will continue to operate both North Dakota locations under the name Herbology, offering high-quality medical marijuana products including flower, concentrates, tinctures, vape pens and topicals, as well as one-on-one patient consulting.
“This sale-and-leaseback agreement with Scythian represents a non-dilutive capital solution for Grassroots Cannabis as we expand our retail operations,” said Steven Weisman, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-founder of Grassroots Cannabis.
Curaleaf (OTC:CURLF) announced it was acquiring Grassroots in 2019, but the deal has yet to close. In May, Curaleaf said it is still working through state approvals and hopes to close by the end of the second quarter.
Joseph Lusardi, Chief Executive Officer of Curaleaf said in the company’s recent earnings release, “We expect the pending completion of our purchase of Grassroots, the largest private vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator, to affirm our position as the world’s largest cannabis company by both revenue and operating presence.”
Scythian Deal
The acquisition includes a recently renovated 4,500-square-foot facility located at 310 US-2 in Devils Lake and a newly constructed 4,995-square-foot facility located at 318 24th St. East in Dickinson.
“Scythian is committed to working with cannabis operators like Grassroots Cannabis that have a proven track record of success,” said Randy Roberts, Partner at Scythian. “Both of these locations are well-positioned to support the long-term growth of Scythian’s portfolio as we continue to identify opportunities with highly sophisticated operators in quality markets.”
Scythian’s investment fund is currently valued at nearly $40 million with 18 assets under management, including various locations operated by The Green Solution in Colorado. The firm is raising an additional $25 million in capital to fulfill an existing acquisition pipeline across multiple states.
Acreage Holdings has announced early in April it was closing the North Dakota dispensary. The North Dakota location operated under Acreage’s “Botanist” banner — reopened as Pure Dakota Health, according to the state’s Division of Medical Marijuana.
