Independent investigative Massachusets journalist Grant Smith – Ellis has alleged in the following piece published via his Medium that..
A secretive Beacon Hill lobbying firm called The Novus Group, with clients in the cannabis space, was initially formed (under a different entity name) by a group with ties to former Massachusetts CCC Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan (currently, director of government and regulatory policy for Vicente LLP).
He does not spcifically allege any illegal activity on the part of those named but that the relationships and positions held by these individuals may engender a discussion about ethics
He goes on to say
Frank Perullo formed Sage consulting, which then became The Novus Group (and, interestingly, Perullo is also a co-founder of a cannabis industry firm called Ascend Wellness).
Flanagan, for her part, was a client of the Novus Group for a number of years, per public records maintained by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign Finance – https://m.ocpf.us/Filers/
Also, shockingly, Rebecca Rutenberg (someone who now works with Flanagan at Vicente LLP) was, at one point, listed as the Treasurer of a campaign committee tied to Flanagan and Novus.
However, right when Flanagan joined the CCC, Rutenberg’s name was removed (in name only) from that role (apparently this was related to potential recusal concerns, were the ongoing relationship between Rutenberg and Flanagan to have become public at the time).
Earlier today, I also reported that Shawn Collins, the former executive director of the Massachusetts CCC, has been a registered lobbyist for MSO Ascend Wellness (via The Novus Group) since June of 2024. Read more here – https://www.instagram.com/p/C-
Interestingly, Collins began lobbying for Ascend Wellness during a series of summer, 2024, discussions on Beacon Hill related to expanding the number of cannabis licenses that a single entity can own or control in the state.
Collins resigned from the CCC in December of 2023 as chaos consumed the agency, in particular as to Collins’ relationship to a license holder (Greatest Hits) that was under investigation. Collins is currently doing lobbying work with a lawyer for Greatest Hits. Read more here – https://www.patreon.com/posts/
I. Trouble continues to mount at Ascend Wellness
Today I further reported that Abner Kurtin, an owner of Ascend Wellness, allegedly owns/controls between 6-9 licenses in the state of Massachusetts (other reports also came out indicating that Ascend was behind a failed summer, 2024, lobbying effort to increase the number of licenses that a single entity can own/control in Massachusetts. Read more here – https://www.instagram.com/p/C-
Internal text messages, circulating within the company, confirm Kurtin’s ownership interest in those licenses (which, because the licenses are all related to retail operations in the Commonwealth), would bring Kurtin far above and beyond the three license limit imposed, per license type, by regulators in the state.
In July of 2023, I reported that Union Twist dispensary in Massachusetts (with a location in Framingham and a new shop coming soon in Allston) continues to have a close relationship with Ascend Wellness that may test the limit’s of the state’s strict ownership and control rules (Ascend Wellness already has three adult-use retail locations in the state – the maximum allowed by law).
I am also told that high-level Ascend were designated as “paid consultants” so that those staff could do side work over union twist, without violating ownership and control rules.
Previously, I reported that whistleblowers had stepped forward to reveal two active lawsuits against Ascend Wellness related to allegations of theft of budtender tips by management and shocking employment discrimination against an employee with a tumor. Read more here – https://x.com/GrantSmithEllis/
In 2022, I also reported on serious allegations of DV involving Kurtin. Read more here – https://www.facebook.com/
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
