Ohio medical marijuana CEO suspended for giving out product samples, regulators say

The top executive of a medical marijuana cultivator and processor in southwest Ohio had his employee license suspended last week after regulators accused him of giving out samples.

The Department of Commerce says Ancient Roots CEO David Haley gave away products to visitors at his Wilmington facility that were intended for distribution to dispensaries, according to records obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. Ancient Roots opened in 2018 under Ohio's medical cannabis program.

The company's licenses are still in effect.

More: Ohio Senate passes bill to expand medical marijuana program

Department officials have been investigating since November and say Haley failed to securely store his products and maintain accurate records. For example, the inventory system incorrectly showed that the cannabis given away by Haley was still in the processing facility's vault.

Haley declined to be interviewed. According to an online biography, he has also worked for a medical device company.

A department spokeswoman declined to provide additional details about the allegations and say whether the matter was referred to law enforcement.

It's illegal to divert marijuana from the tightly regulated program crafted by state lawmakers in 2016. Licensees were required to undergo background checks as part of the application process.

Haley's suspension is indefinite, and he won't be allowed to access the company's facilities or records during that time. He can request a hearing to challenge the decision.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio medical marijuana: Ancient Roots CEO license suspended