{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"4505","rtpr_id":"nPn6QyMdwa","ticker":"AAWH","exchange":"OTC","all_tickers":["AAWH"],"title":"Ascend Wellness Holdings Announces the Opening of East Coasting Dispensary in Eatontown, New Jersey","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-04-22T12:00:00.112Z","article_body":"Ascend Wellness Holdings Announces the Opening of East Coasting Dispensary in Eatontown, New Jersey\n\nPR Newswire\n\nNEW YORK, April 22, 2026\n\nIndependent Adult-Use Dispensary Established with Cannabis Reform Advocate\nKyle Page\n\nNEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=404110225&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 leading,\nmulti-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator and consumer packaged\ngoods company, today announced the opening of East Coasting\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=2434692029&u=https%3A%2F%2Feastcoasting.com%2Fstores%2Feast-coasting-new-jersey&a=East+Coasting)\n, a new adult-use cannabis dispensary located at 178 NJ-35 Eatontown, NJ.\nThrough a partnership agreement under New Jersey law that facilitates expanded\ninvestment opportunities for diversely-owned businesses in the cannabis\nindustry, East Coasting will operate independently, with Ascend providing\noperational support and resources along with cannabis reform advocate Kyle\nPage. Today marks the soft opening of the new storefront, with a grand opening\nplanned for April 24th.\n\n(https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2962284/Ascend_Wellness_Holdings__Inc__Ascend_Wellness_Holdings_Announce.html)\n\nKyle Page will serve as owner and operator of East Coasting, bringing both\nlived experience and hands-on industry expertise to the dispensary. Page's\njourney has been shaped by the unequal enforcement of cannabis laws in Black\ncommunities and the long-term barriers created by cannabis-related\nconvictions. After entering the legal cannabis industry in 2022, Page built\nhis career at Ascend, progressing from cultivation associate to supervisor and\nlater returning to the Company for retail and operational training in\npreparation for dispensary ownership.\n\n\"East Coasting represents everything I've learned through my journey,\nincluding the setbacks, the growth, and the responsibility that comes with\nleadership,\" said Kyle Page, owner and operator of East Coasting. \"This is\nabout building a dispensary that people are proud to visit, leading a team\nwith care, and creating a space that reflects community, opportunity, and\nprogress. With Ascend's support, my goal is for East Coasting to be more than\na store and to become a destination and a brand that stands for inclusion,\nadvocacy, and hope for what this industry can become.\"\n\nPage was initially hired by Ascend through the Company's hiring efforts for\nreturning citizens and quickly became an advocate at expungement clinics and\ncommunity events, where he shared his experience and supported others\nnavigating similar barriers. Despite facing regulatory challenges tied to his\npast conviction, Page persisted, continued working in the industry, and\nultimately partnered with Ascend to launch his own dispensary.\n\n\"Kyle's story reflects both the harm caused by prohibition and the promise of\na more equitable cannabis industry,\" said Danielle Drummond, Vice President of\nSocial Equity for Ascend Wellness Holdings. \"He has demonstrated resilience,\nleadership, and a deep commitment to community throughout his time with\nAscend. East Coasting represents exactly what our social equity partnerships\nare designed to achieve by creating meaningful ownership opportunities for\nindividuals who were once excluded from this industry.\"\n\nEast Coasting Dispensary will operate from 9 AM - 9 PM daily. A grand opening\ncelebration is planned for April 24th and will feature giveaways, promotions\nand in-store activations. For more information on East Coasting Dispensary,\nvisit https://eastcoasting.com/stores/east-coasting-new-jersey\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=1724997835&u=https%3A%2F%2Feastcoasting.com%2Fstores%2Feast-coasting-new-jersey&a=https%3A%2F%2Feastcoasting.com%2Fstores%2Feast-coasting-new-jersey)\n.\n\nAscend's CO-LAB for Social Equity\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=1736701109&u=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fco-lab-for-social-equity%2F&a=CO-LAB+for+Social+Equity)\nprogram focuses on restorative justice, economic empowerment, and community\nreinvestment. CO-LAB has also supported mentorship, education, and funding for\naspiring cannabis entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. By fostering\ninclusivity and supporting community-driven initiatives, Ascend aims to help\ncreate pathways to success for minority-owned businesses. For more information\non 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=4669941-1&h=769357903&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 owns\nand operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning\nstrains and producing a curated selection of products for retail and wholesale\ncustomers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Simply Herb, Ozone, Ozone\nReserve, High Wired, Honor Roll, Effin', Common Goods, and Royale branded\nproducts. For more information about AWH, visit www.awholdings.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=3303564664&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-east-coasting-dispensary-in-eatontown-new-jersey-302749742.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-the-opening-of-east-coasting-dispensary-in-eatontown-new-jersey-302749742.html)\n\nSOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n\n\n\nCompany Contact: Frank Perullo, Founder, President & Director, IR@awholdings.com; Investor Relations & Media Inquiries: MATTIO Communications, AWH@mattio.com, IR@awholdings.com\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2962284/Ascend_Wellness_Holdings__Inc__Ascend_Wellness_Holdings_Announce.jpg\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPn6QyMdwa","title":"Ascend Wellness Holdings Announces the Opening of East Coasting Dispensary in Eatontown, New Jersey","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"AAWH","created":"2026-04-22T12:00:00.112Z","tickers":["AAWH"],"exchange":"OTC","article_body":"Ascend Wellness Holdings Announces the Opening of East Coasting Dispensary in Eatontown, New Jersey\n\nPR Newswire\n\nNEW YORK, April 22, 2026\n\nIndependent Adult-Use Dispensary Established with Cannabis Reform Advocate\nKyle Page\n\nNEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=404110225&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 leading,\nmulti-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator and consumer packaged\ngoods company, today announced the opening of East Coasting\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=2434692029&u=https%3A%2F%2Feastcoasting.com%2Fstores%2Feast-coasting-new-jersey&a=East+Coasting)\n, a new adult-use cannabis dispensary located at 178 NJ-35 Eatontown, NJ.\nThrough a partnership agreement under New Jersey law that facilitates expanded\ninvestment opportunities for diversely-owned businesses in the cannabis\nindustry, East Coasting will operate independently, with Ascend providing\noperational support and resources along with cannabis reform advocate Kyle\nPage. Today marks the soft opening of the new storefront, with a grand opening\nplanned for April 24th.\n\n(https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2962284/Ascend_Wellness_Holdings__Inc__Ascend_Wellness_Holdings_Announce.html)\n\nKyle Page will serve as owner and operator of East Coasting, bringing both\nlived experience and hands-on industry expertise to the dispensary. Page's\njourney has been shaped by the unequal enforcement of cannabis laws in Black\ncommunities and the long-term barriers created by cannabis-related\nconvictions. After entering the legal cannabis industry in 2022, Page built\nhis career at Ascend, progressing from cultivation associate to supervisor and\nlater returning to the Company for retail and operational training in\npreparation for dispensary ownership.\n\n\"East Coasting represents everything I've learned through my journey,\nincluding the setbacks, the growth, and the responsibility that comes with\nleadership,\" said Kyle Page, owner and operator of East Coasting. \"This is\nabout building a dispensary that people are proud to visit, leading a team\nwith care, and creating a space that reflects community, opportunity, and\nprogress. With Ascend's support, my goal is for East Coasting to be more than\na store and to become a destination and a brand that stands for inclusion,\nadvocacy, and hope for what this industry can become.\"\n\nPage was initially hired by Ascend through the Company's hiring efforts for\nreturning citizens and quickly became an advocate at expungement clinics and\ncommunity events, where he shared his experience and supported others\nnavigating similar barriers. Despite facing regulatory challenges tied to his\npast conviction, Page persisted, continued working in the industry, and\nultimately partnered with Ascend to launch his own dispensary.\n\n\"Kyle's story reflects both the harm caused by prohibition and the promise of\na more equitable cannabis industry,\" said Danielle Drummond, Vice President of\nSocial Equity for Ascend Wellness Holdings. \"He has demonstrated resilience,\nleadership, and a deep commitment to community throughout his time with\nAscend. East Coasting represents exactly what our social equity partnerships\nare designed to achieve by creating meaningful ownership opportunities for\nindividuals who were once excluded from this industry.\"\n\nEast Coasting Dispensary will operate from 9 AM - 9 PM daily. A grand opening\ncelebration is planned for April 24th and will feature giveaways, promotions\nand in-store activations. For more information on East Coasting Dispensary,\nvisit https://eastcoasting.com/stores/east-coasting-new-jersey\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=1724997835&u=https%3A%2F%2Feastcoasting.com%2Fstores%2Feast-coasting-new-jersey&a=https%3A%2F%2Feastcoasting.com%2Fstores%2Feast-coasting-new-jersey)\n.\n\nAscend's CO-LAB for Social Equity\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=1736701109&u=https%3A%2F%2Fletsascend.com%2Fco-lab-for-social-equity%2F&a=CO-LAB+for+Social+Equity)\nprogram focuses on restorative justice, economic empowerment, and community\nreinvestment. CO-LAB has also supported mentorship, education, and funding for\naspiring cannabis entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. By fostering\ninclusivity and supporting community-driven initiatives, Ascend aims to help\ncreate pathways to success for minority-owned businesses. For more information\non 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=4669941-1&h=769357903&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 owns\nand operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning\nstrains and producing a curated selection of products for retail and wholesale\ncustomers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Simply Herb, Ozone, Ozone\nReserve, High Wired, Honor Roll, Effin', Common Goods, and Royale branded\nproducts. For more information about AWH, visit www.awholdings.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4669941-1&h=3303564664&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-east-coasting-dispensary-in-eatontown-new-jersey-302749742.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascend-wellness-holdings-announces-the-opening-of-east-coasting-dispensary-in-eatontown-new-jersey-302749742.html)\n\nSOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.\n\n\n\nCompany Contact: Frank Perullo, Founder, President & Director, IR@awholdings.com; Investor Relations & Media Inquiries: MATTIO Communications, AWH@mattio.com, IR@awholdings.com\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2962284/Ascend_Wellness_Holdings__Inc__Ascend_Wellness_Holdings_Announce.jpg\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-04-22T12:00:00.22940372Z","server_sent_at_ms":1776859200229},"received_at":"2026-04-22T12:00:00.285Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"3165","press_release_id":"4505","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Food, Beverage & Tobacco","sector":"Consumer Staples"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"product_launch","narrative":"Ascend Wellness Holdings opened the East Coasting adult-use cannabis dispensary in Eatontown, New Jersey, operating under a social equity partnership agreement.\n\nKyle Page, a former Ascend employee and cannabis reform advocate, serves as the independent owner and operator while Ascend provides operational support.\n\nA grand opening celebration with promotions and in-store activations is planned for April 24th.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"New Jersey footprint expands via social equity partnership with former employee."},"keyFigures":{},"quotedText":"Kyle's story reflects both the harm caused by prohibition and the promise of a more equitable cannabis industry","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Kyle Page","role":"Owner and Operator of East Coasting"},{"name":"Danielle Drummond","role":"Vice President of Social Equity"}],"products":["East Coasting","Simply Herb","Ozone","Ozone Reserve","High Wired","Honor Roll","Effin'","Common Goods","Royale"],"companies":[{"name":"Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.","ticker":"AAWH"},{"name":"East Coasting","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"Single dispensary opening expands the company's footprint and demonstrates progress in social equity partnerships, but is not financially material enough to move the stock significantly."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"AAWH"},"eventTypeSecondary":["partnership"]},"event_type":"product_launch","event_type_secondary":["partnership"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"Ascend Wellness Holdings opened the East Coasting adult-use cannabis dispensary in Eatontown, New Jersey, operating under a social equity partnership agreement.\n\nKyle Page, a former Ascend employee and cannabis reform advocate, serves as the independent owner and operator while Ascend provides operational support.\n\nA grand opening celebration with promotions and in-store activations is planned for April 24th.","key_figures":{},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Kyle Page","role":"Owner and Operator of East Coasting"},{"name":"Danielle Drummond","role":"Vice President of Social Equity"}],"products":["East Coasting","Simply Herb","Ozone","Ozone Reserve","High Wired","Honor Roll","Effin'","Common Goods","Royale"],"companies":[{"name":"Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.","ticker":"AAWH"},{"name":"East Coasting","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:2f2748f0fcc8c4f2","schema_hash":"sha256:ad96b863d7123008","created_at":"2026-04-22T13:46:54.923Z","global_importance":3,"audience_relevance":3,"importance_components":{"method":"backfill-heuristic","signals":{"bodyLong":false,"headlineTier1":false,"tickerCovered":false,"hadSignificance":false},"version":1,"computedAt":"2026-04-27T11:52:54.094Z"}},"durationMs":163838,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}