{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"173936","rtpr_id":"nPn53c29sa-20261020","ticker":"AAWH","exchange":"OTC","all_tickers":["AAWH"],"title":"Ascend Wellness Holdings Announces the Opening of Ascend of Evesham Dispensary in Marlton, New Jersey","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-10-20T12:06:02.422Z","article_body":"Ascend Wellness Holdings Announces the Opening of Ascend of Evesham Dispensary in Marlton, New Jersey\nPR Newswire\n\nNEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2026\n\nNew adult-use dispensary opens through Ascend's social equity partnership\nprogram with New Jersey entrepreneur and community advocate Michael Santana\n\nNEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=2230865581&u=https%3A%2F%2Fawholdings.com%2F&a=Ascend+Wellness+Holdings%2C+Inc.)\n (\"AWH,\" \"Ascend\" or the \"Company\") (CSE: AAWH.U) (OTCQX: AAWH), a\nmulti-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator and consumer packaged\ngoods company, today announced the opening of Ascend of Evesham\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=3471650413&u=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fstores%2Fmarlton-new-jersey%2Finfo&a=Ascend+of+Evesham)\n, a new adult-use cannabis dispensary located at 601 Route 70 in Marlton, New\nJersey. Through an agreement permitted under New Jersey law that facilitates\nexpanded investment opportunities for diversely owned businesses in the\ncannabis industry, Ascend of Evesham will operate independently, with Ascend\nproviding operational support and resources along with local entrepreneur\nMichael Santana. Today marks the soft opening of the new storefront, with a\ngrand opening planned for October 23, 2026.\n\nAscend of Evesham is owned and operated by Michael Santana, a lifelong New\nJersey resident, minority business owner, and participant in Ascend's social\nequity partnership program. Santana brings extensive operational and\nleadership experience to this new endeavor, having built his career in the\nconstruction industry. He also volunteers at expungement clinics across New\nJersey, helping individuals navigate the record-clearing process and access\nnew opportunities.\n\n\"Opening Ascend of Evesham is the culmination of years of hard work, learning,\nand believing in the potential of this industry,\" said Michael Santana, owner\nand operator of Ascend of Evesham. \"As someone who has built a business from\nthe ground up, I understand the importance of creating opportunities, serving\ncustomers with integrity, and investing in the community. My goal is to make\nAscend of Evesham a trusted destination for cannabis consumers while creating\na positive impact here in Marlton and throughout South Jersey.\"\n\n\"Michael's entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to his community, and dedication\nto building opportunities for others make him an ideal partner,\" said Danielle\nDrummond, Vice President of Social Equity at Ascend Wellness Holdings.\n\"Through our social equity partnership program, we aim to help entrepreneurs\naccess the tools, training, and support needed to succeed in this industry.\nMichael has demonstrated the leadership, determination, and operational\nexcellence needed to build a thriving business, and we are proud to support\nhim as he opens Ascend of Evesham.\"\n\nAscend of Evesham offers a curated selection of cannabis products from leading\nbrands, including Ascend's award-winning portfolio Ozone, Simply Herb, High\nWired, Honor Roll and Effin', in a welcoming retail environment focused on\neducation, accessibility, and customer service. The dispensary will operate\ndaily from 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM E.T. A grand opening celebration is planned for\nOctober 23, 2026, and will feature promotions and in-store activations.\n\nFor more information on Ascend of Evesham, visit:\nhttps://letsascend.com/stores/marlton-new-jersey/info\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=1832788064&u=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fstores%2Fmarlton-new-jersey%2Finfo&a=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fstores%2Fmarlton-new-jersey%2Finfo)\n\nAscend's CO-LAB for Social Equity program focuses on restorative justice,\neconomic empowerment, and community reinvestment. CO-LAB has also supported\nmentorship, education, and funding for aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs from\ndiverse backgrounds. By fostering inclusivity and supporting community-driven\ninitiatives, Ascend aims to help create pathways to success for minority-owned\nbusinesses. For more information on CO-LAB and its initiatives, please visit\nhttps://letsascend.com/co-lab-for-social-equity/\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=2973044083&u=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fco-lab-for-social-equity%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fco-lab-for-social-equity%2F)\n.\n\nAbout Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n\nAWH is a vertically integrated cannabis operator with assets in Illinois,\nMaryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. AWH\nowns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing\naward-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products for retail\nand wholesale customers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Ozone,\nSimply Herb, High Wired, Honor Roll, Royale, and Effin' branded products. For\nmore information about AWH, visit\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=1837888815&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.awholdings.com%2F&a=%C2%A0)\nwww.awholdings.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=1476792388&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.awholdings.com%2F&a=www.awholdings.com)\n.\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information\n\nThis news release includes forward-looking information and statements\n(together, \"forward-looking statements\"), which may include, but are not\nlimited to, the plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the\nCompany. Words such as \"expects\", \"continue\", \"may\", \"will\", \"anticipates\",\nand \"intends\" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking\nstatements. Without limiting the generality of the preceding statement, all\nstatements in this press release relating to estimated and projected revenue,\nexpectations regarding production capacity, anticipated capital expenditures,\nexpansion, profit, product demand, margins, costs, cash flows, sources of\ncapital, growth rates, potential acquisitions, closing dates for transactions,\nregulatory approvals, future facility openings, and, enhancing shareholder\nvalue, reducing downward pressure on the stock, and future financial and\noperating results are forward-looking statements.\n\nWe caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are based on the\nCompany's current projections and expectations about future events and\nfinancial trends, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and on\ncertain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of the\nexperience of the Company and perception of historical trends, current\nconditions, and expected future developments and other factors management\nbelieves are appropriate.\n\nForward-looking statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known\nand unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual\nevents, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially\ndifferent from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed\nor implied by forward-looking statements herein. Such factors include, among\nothers, the risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's most recently\nfiled Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in subsequently filed Quarterly\nReports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, and in the Company's other reports and\nfilings with the applicable Canadian securities administrators on its profile\non SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca (http://www.sedarplus.ca) and the SEC on its\nprofile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov) . Although the Company\nbelieves that any forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, in light\nof the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent\nin such statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking\nstatements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to\nrely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not\nplace undue reliance upon such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking\nstatements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by\napplicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention\nto update or revise any forward-looking statements herein or to update the\nreasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected\nin any forward-looking statements herein, whether as a result of new\ninformation, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by\napplicable laws. No securities regulator nor the Canadian Securities Exchange\nhas reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this press release.\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-the-opening-of-ascend-of-evesham-dispensary-in-marlton-new-jersey-302913994.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-the-opening-of-ascend-of-evesham-dispensary-in-marlton-new-jersey-302913994.html)\n\nSOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n\n\n\nCompany Contact: Frank Perullo, Founder, President & Director, IR@awholdings.com, (646) 661-7600; Investor Relations & Media Inquiries: MATTIO Communications, AWH@mattio.com, IR@awholdings.com\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1579205/Ascend-Wellness-Holdings-Inc-Ascend-Wellness-Holdings-Announce.jpg?id=OA3023787\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPn53c29sa-20261020","title":"Ascend Wellness Holdings Announces the Opening of Ascend of Evesham Dispensary in Marlton, New Jersey","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"AAWH","created":"2026-10-20T12:06:02.422Z","tickers":["AAWH"],"exchange":"OTC","article_body":"Ascend Wellness Holdings Announces the Opening of Ascend of Evesham Dispensary in Marlton, New Jersey\nPR Newswire\n\nNEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2026\n\nNew adult-use dispensary opens through Ascend's social equity partnership\nprogram with New Jersey entrepreneur and community advocate Michael Santana\n\nNEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=2230865581&u=https%3A%2F%2Fawholdings.com%2F&a=Ascend+Wellness+Holdings%2C+Inc.)\n (\"AWH,\" \"Ascend\" or the \"Company\") (CSE: AAWH.U) (OTCQX: AAWH), a\nmulti-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator and consumer packaged\ngoods company, today announced the opening of Ascend of Evesham\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=3471650413&u=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fstores%2Fmarlton-new-jersey%2Finfo&a=Ascend+of+Evesham)\n, a new adult-use cannabis dispensary located at 601 Route 70 in Marlton, New\nJersey. Through an agreement permitted under New Jersey law that facilitates\nexpanded investment opportunities for diversely owned businesses in the\ncannabis industry, Ascend of Evesham will operate independently, with Ascend\nproviding operational support and resources along with local entrepreneur\nMichael Santana. Today marks the soft opening of the new storefront, with a\ngrand opening planned for October 23, 2026.\n\nAscend of Evesham is owned and operated by Michael Santana, a lifelong New\nJersey resident, minority business owner, and participant in Ascend's social\nequity partnership program. Santana brings extensive operational and\nleadership experience to this new endeavor, having built his career in the\nconstruction industry. He also volunteers at expungement clinics across New\nJersey, helping individuals navigate the record-clearing process and access\nnew opportunities.\n\n\"Opening Ascend of Evesham is the culmination of years of hard work, learning,\nand believing in the potential of this industry,\" said Michael Santana, owner\nand operator of Ascend of Evesham. \"As someone who has built a business from\nthe ground up, I understand the importance of creating opportunities, serving\ncustomers with integrity, and investing in the community. My goal is to make\nAscend of Evesham a trusted destination for cannabis consumers while creating\na positive impact here in Marlton and throughout South Jersey.\"\n\n\"Michael's entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to his community, and dedication\nto building opportunities for others make him an ideal partner,\" said Danielle\nDrummond, Vice President of Social Equity at Ascend Wellness Holdings.\n\"Through our social equity partnership program, we aim to help entrepreneurs\naccess the tools, training, and support needed to succeed in this industry.\nMichael has demonstrated the leadership, determination, and operational\nexcellence needed to build a thriving business, and we are proud to support\nhim as he opens Ascend of Evesham.\"\n\nAscend of Evesham offers a curated selection of cannabis products from leading\nbrands, including Ascend's award-winning portfolio Ozone, Simply Herb, High\nWired, Honor Roll and Effin', in a welcoming retail environment focused on\neducation, accessibility, and customer service. The dispensary will operate\ndaily from 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM E.T. A grand opening celebration is planned for\nOctober 23, 2026, and will feature promotions and in-store activations.\n\nFor more information on Ascend of Evesham, visit:\nhttps://letsascend.com/stores/marlton-new-jersey/info\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=1832788064&u=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fstores%2Fmarlton-new-jersey%2Finfo&a=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fstores%2Fmarlton-new-jersey%2Finfo)\n\nAscend's CO-LAB for Social Equity program focuses on restorative justice,\neconomic empowerment, and community reinvestment. CO-LAB has also supported\nmentorship, education, and funding for aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs from\ndiverse backgrounds. By fostering inclusivity and supporting community-driven\ninitiatives, Ascend aims to help create pathways to success for minority-owned\nbusinesses. For more information on CO-LAB and its initiatives, please visit\nhttps://letsascend.com/co-lab-for-social-equity/\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=2973044083&u=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fco-lab-for-social-equity%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fco-lab-for-social-equity%2F)\n.\n\nAbout Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n\nAWH is a vertically integrated cannabis operator with assets in Illinois,\nMaryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. AWH\nowns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing\naward-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products for retail\nand wholesale customers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Ozone,\nSimply Herb, High Wired, Honor Roll, Royale, and Effin' branded products. For\nmore information about AWH, visit\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=1837888815&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.awholdings.com%2F&a=%C2%A0)\nwww.awholdings.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4799782-1&h=1476792388&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.awholdings.com%2F&a=www.awholdings.com)\n.\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information\n\nThis news release includes forward-looking information and statements\n(together, \"forward-looking statements\"), which may include, but are not\nlimited to, the plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the\nCompany. Words such as \"expects\", \"continue\", \"may\", \"will\", \"anticipates\",\nand \"intends\" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking\nstatements. Without limiting the generality of the preceding statement, all\nstatements in this press release relating to estimated and projected revenue,\nexpectations regarding production capacity, anticipated capital expenditures,\nexpansion, profit, product demand, margins, costs, cash flows, sources of\ncapital, growth rates, potential acquisitions, closing dates for transactions,\nregulatory approvals, future facility openings, and, enhancing shareholder\nvalue, reducing downward pressure on the stock, and future financial and\noperating results are forward-looking statements.\n\nWe caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are based on the\nCompany's current projections and expectations about future events and\nfinancial trends, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and on\ncertain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of the\nexperience of the Company and perception of historical trends, current\nconditions, and expected future developments and other factors management\nbelieves are appropriate.\n\nForward-looking statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known\nand unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual\nevents, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially\ndifferent from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed\nor implied by forward-looking statements herein. Such factors include, among\nothers, the risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's most recently\nfiled Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in subsequently filed Quarterly\nReports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, and in the Company's other reports and\nfilings with the applicable Canadian securities administrators on its profile\non SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca (http://www.sedarplus.ca) and the SEC on its\nprofile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov) . Although the Company\nbelieves that any forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, in light\nof the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent\nin such statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking\nstatements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to\nrely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not\nplace undue reliance upon such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking\nstatements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by\napplicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention\nto update or revise any forward-looking statements herein or to update the\nreasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected\nin any forward-looking statements herein, whether as a result of new\ninformation, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by\napplicable laws. No securities regulator nor the Canadian Securities Exchange\nhas reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this press release.\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-the-opening-of-ascend-of-evesham-dispensary-in-marlton-new-jersey-302913994.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-the-opening-of-ascend-of-evesham-dispensary-in-marlton-new-jersey-302913994.html)\n\nSOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n\n\n\nCompany Contact: Frank Perullo, Founder, President & Director, IR@awholdings.com, (646) 661-7600; Investor Relations & Media Inquiries: MATTIO Communications, AWH@mattio.com, IR@awholdings.com\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1579205/Ascend-Wellness-Holdings-Inc-Ascend-Wellness-Holdings-Announce.jpg?id=OA3023787\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-20T12:06:02.481206437Z","server_sent_at_ms":1792497962481},"received_at":"2026-10-20T12:06:02.533Z","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-the-opening-of-ascend-of-evesham-dispensary-in-marlton-new-jersey-302913994.html"},"analysis":{"id":"162008","press_release_id":"173936","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail","sector":"Consumer Staples"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"Ascend Wellness Holdings opened Ascend of Evesham, a new adult-use dispensary in Marlton, New Jersey, with a soft opening and a grand opening planned for October 23, 2026.\n\nThe store is owned and operated by local entrepreneur Michael Santana under Ascend's CO-LAB social equity partnership program, with Ascend providing operational support and stocking it with its in-house brands.\n\nThe opening expands Ascend's New Jersey retail footprint, though no financial details were disclosed and the revenue contribution is likely modest.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Routine retail expansion via social equity partnership -- incremental New Jersey footprint, not a needle-mover."},"keyFigures":{},"quotedText":"Michael's entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to his community, and dedication to building opportunities for others make him an ideal partner","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Michael Santana","role":"owner and operator of Ascend of Evesham"},{"name":"Danielle Drummond","role":"Vice President of Social Equity at Ascend Wellness Holdings"},{"name":"Frank Perullo","role":"Founder, President & Director (company contact)"}],"products":["Ozone","Simply Herb","High Wired","Honor Roll","Royale","Effin'"],"companies":[{"name":"Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.","ticker":"AAWH"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"A single new retail storefront opening through a social equity partnership; modest revenue contribution expected and no financial figures disclosed."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"AAWH"},"globalImportance":14,"audienceRelevance":15,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap cannabis operator","eventGravity":"single-store opening","sectorWeight":"niche consumer retail"}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"Ascend Wellness Holdings opened Ascend of Evesham, a new adult-use dispensary in Marlton, New Jersey, with a soft opening and a grand opening planned for October 23, 2026.\n\nThe store is owned and operated by local entrepreneur Michael Santana under Ascend's CO-LAB social equity partnership program, with Ascend providing operational support and stocking it with its in-house brands.\n\nThe opening expands Ascend's New Jersey retail footprint, though no financial details were disclosed and the revenue contribution is likely modest.","key_figures":{},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Michael Santana","role":"owner and operator of Ascend of Evesham"},{"name":"Danielle Drummond","role":"Vice President of Social Equity at Ascend Wellness Holdings"},{"name":"Frank Perullo","role":"Founder, President & Director (company contact)"}],"products":["Ozone","Simply Herb","High Wired","Honor Roll","Royale","Effin'"],"companies":[{"name":"Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.","ticker":"AAWH"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-20T12:06:06.852Z","global_importance":14,"audience_relevance":15,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap cannabis operator","eventGravity":"single-store opening","sectorWeight":"niche consumer retail"}},"durationMs":4292,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}