A newly filed class action lawsuit against three major cannabis companies alleges they unlawfully and deceptively marketed cannabis as a treatment for mental health and other medical conditions despite a lack of scientific proof to support their claims.
The suit, filed in Illinois by a coalition of attorneys on behalf of cannabis consumers from 12 different states, names Cresco Labs, Green Thumb Industries, and Verano Holdings, The Free Press reported. The plaintiffs argue that the companies spent years misleading consumers by promoting cannabis’ supposed health benefits and failing to “warn consumers about the well-known, obvious, and scientifically validated dangers of cannabis.”
The lawsuit hinges on the allegation that the companies marketed cannabis as a medicine rather than a drug. It points to advertising campaigns and social media content — including promotions such as “Best Cannabis Strains for Anxiety & Stress” — that suggested marijuana could effectively treat certain conditions despite scientific evidence to the contrary. In some cases, studies found cannabis use even worsened the same ailments it was intended to treat.
The suit also references Harvard Medical School professor Bertha Madras’ 2024 interview with The Wall Street Journal, in which she said that marijuana marketing closely resembles the promotion of opioids. In both cases, she said, “the benefits have been exaggerated, the risks have been minimized, and skeptics in the scientific community have been ignored.”
Beyond deceptive advertising, the suit alleges that the companies’ actions constitute racketeering and organized crime on a large scale.
The Free Press described the stakes of the case as “enormous,” saying that the suit could be joined by millions of plaintiffs and result in civil penalties and punitive damages for the companies.
Former White House drug policy adviser Kevin Sabet told the outlet the case could mirror the landmark tobacco lawsuit in the 1990s, which resulted in a $206 billion settlement in 1998 and a shift in tobacco marketing and consumption.
According to The Free Press, the companies have highlighted cannabis as beneficial for “wellness” and “well-being.” Cresco Labs CEO Charlie Bachtell said following marijuana’s reclassification as a Schedule III substance that “cannabis is medicine and deserves responsible, common-sense regulation.”
Verano has denied the allegations, telling The Free Press that it “operates in compliance with applicable state laws and regulations” and intends to fight the suit.