Hello Farms v. Curaleaf

In February 2025, a Michigan jury awarded Hello Farms, a Michigan-based cannabis grower, $31.8M in its lawsuit against Curaleaf. The verdict stems from a contract dispute stretching back to 2020, when Curaleaf’s Michigan subsidiary contracted with Hello Farms for two full years of cannabis harvest. When marijuana prices subsequently plummeted, Curaleaf attempted to renegotiate the price and then breached the contract. In addition to the damages, $5M in interest was also awarded in May 2025 and continues to accrue a per diem of a little more than $4K, for a total liability that today exceeds $38M.

Curaleaf’s main defense is that its Michigan contract with Hello Farms “may not be enforced” because marijuana is illegal at the U.S. federal level. Curaleaf had argued that “Manufacturing and distributing cannabis remain illegal, and against federal public policy, even in the current landscape. Contracts to manufacture and distribute marijuana are unenforceable, period.”

The judge in the case called Curaleaf’s “hypocrisy and illegal gamesmanship.”

Curaleaf’s argument is the height of hypocrisy and in direct opposition to its entire business model and deeply troubling for any business, executive, employee, or investor who relies on contracts in the United States.

Hello Farms has been confident in our case from the beginning. We are pleased that the jury saw the facts, as did the judge. We intend to see that justice is served.