Massachusetts Suspends Elev8 License After Owner Threatens Former Employees

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Board issued an order last week suspending the retail licenses held by Elev8 Cannabis Inc. after the owner published violent threats against former employees on social media.

The CCB said in its order that Elev8’s owner, Oluwaseun Adedeji, recorded and posted a five-minute video on Instagram in which he made the following comments:

and for my all old employees, if you step on my fucking property without my permission, bro, on god, you will feel it

goofy ass people fucking, fucking with my business, don’t ever fuck with my business. Y’all goofy ass boy. I’ll put a bounty on you…on god, if you ever fuck with me. Fuck with my business, Ima dog you. Ima dog you. Ima fuck you, you fuck with my business, I would dog you

you touch my business, I will kill you. No, boy. I will not kill you. You fuck with me I’m gonna come for your everybody. Your whole family tree

I pay your bills and you got the nerve to disrespect me bitch. I’ll dog you and everybody else. Disrespect me, hoe. Anybody got a problem, pull the fuck up, gang

In addition to the comments, Adedeji frequently made gun gestures with his hands and said bang bang.

In February 2023, the CCB issued a Notice of Intent to Limit Sales of Marijuana and Marijuana Products due to the respondent’s substantial noncompliance with commission laws.

“The notice identified 10 substantial violations of commission regulations and mandated the respondent take corrective action to address each of the deficiencies by March 9, 2023. The notice warned that failure to take corrective action by that date could result in the Commission issuing an order prohibiting respondent from selling marijuana and marijuana products at its Athol store.”

Following that notice, Adedeji told the CCB he had promoted an employee to interim CEO. Three weeks later he terminated the employee, which caused the general manager of the Athol store in Massachusetts to resign.

That triggered a response in the company’s Eugene, Oregon, office resulting in that store’s general manager and the entire staff walking out.

The licensing enforcement staff continued to ask Adedeji to provide the requested information. but he responded by saying the stores were closed. That seemed to set Adedeji off and that’s when he posted his five-minute rant on Instagram on March 23. That social media account is now closed.

“By threatening to commit acts of violence, including sexual assault, against former employees and their families, respondent, through the acts of Mr. Adedeji, poses an immediate or serious threat to the public safety and welfare,” the commission said in its order.

The order also noted that Adedeji publicly stated that he was running his dispensary by himself, which would not adequately secure the location from theft or diversion.

The company’s website does not say the locations are closed nor does it mention any of the trouble with the CCB.