The Chicago-based multistate cannabis operator co-applied for an Ohio license in 2018 with Bobby George, who turned himself in to authorities Aug. 13.
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Northeast Ohio business owner Robert “Bobby” T. George, 43, turned himself in to Cuyahoga County authorities Aug. 13 after being charged with nine felony offenses, including attempted murder and rape.
The charges—also including four counts of kidnapping, felonious assault, and two counts of strangulation—were filed Aug. 9, according to Cleveland Municipal Court records. The warrant for George’s arrest was issued that day but was withdrawn on Aug. 13, according to the court records.
George owns or is involved in several eateries and local businesses, including TownHall, REBoL, Barley House, Green Goat Cafe and others, 19 News reported.
Some Ohioans have also incorrectly speculated that George owns and/or operates five licensed RISE cannabis dispensaries as a franchisee, including two store locations in Lakewood and one each in Cleveland, Toledo and Lorain. RISE Dispensaries is a nationwide cannabis retail banner owned by Chicago-based multistate operator Green Thumb Industries, one of the largest publicly traded cannabis companies in the world.
The speculation in Ohio comes six years after George co-applied for Ohio medical cannabis licenses with Green Thumb in 2018 under the GTI Ohio LLC business name. Green Thumb even referred to George as a GTI Ohio partner in 2018 after GTI Ohio won five of the original 56 medical cannabis dispensary licenses in the state.
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However, George never had operational involvement in RISE Dispensaries or Green Thumb, and the company ended the partnership, including George’s equity interest in GTI Ohio, years ago, according to a Green Thumb statement provided to Cannabis Business Times.
“We are horrified by the allegations involving Bobby George and stand by our past decision to dissociate him from our business,” according to the company statement provided by Vice President of Communications Shannon Weaver.
According to SEC filings, a Green Thumb Industries subsidiary entered into a membership interest purchase agreement with George Management Ltd. (registered by George) in April 2019 to acquire 59% of the 60% interest that George Management held in the Ohio retail and processing licenses.
On June 7, 2019, Green Thumb completed the acquisition of George Management’s noncontrolling interest in GTI Ohio LLC through the issuance of subordinate voting shares valued at nearly $14 million and $5.15 million in cash, $1.65 million of which was contributed by George Management during 2019 as part of a capital call.
George, a Lakewood, Ohio, resident, is now being held by Cuyahoga County authorities after a Cleveland criminal court judge set his bond at $200,000 and ordered him to turn in his passport during an Aug. 13 hearing.
The nine felony charges George faces include offense dates ranging from Nov. 1, 2023, to July 27, 2024. The attempted murder charge from June 8, 2024, correlates with one count of kidnapping and one count of strangulation.
Specifically, George is accused of strangling a woman, “throwing her around” their shared residence and shoving a towel down her throat, according to an arrest warrant, Fox 8 News reported.
George’s criminal defense attorney, Kevin Spellacy, denied all charges on Aug. 13. Spellacy also requested a lower $100,000 bond than what the Cuyahoga County judge set.
“He has no prior felony history,” Spellacy said during Tuesday’s court hearing. “He has one misdemeanor conviction [listed] for a failure to display a license plate. Other than that, he has no criminal history whatsoever. He is a local businessperson. He has great ties to this community."
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