EDDIE KEEGAN, left, chief operating officer, and Joseph Pakuris, co-owner of Mother Earth Wellness in Pawtucket. The R.I. Department of Business Regulation ordered the dispensary to remove its three billboards it had erected along Interstate 95. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket marijuana dispensary has removed the three advertising billboards it had erected along Interstate 95, WPRI-TV CBS 12 reported Monday.
The R.I. Department of Business Regulation had ordered the signs be removed due to the state’s advertising ban on marijuana businesses.
However, Mother Earth Wellness owner Joseph Pakuris told WPRI-TV that he still believes he is legally entitled to have the billboards because Massachusetts dispensaries are allowed to advertise in both the commonwealth and Rhode Island.
Pakuris added that multiple billboards for dispensaries in Massachusetts are in full view from Mother Earth Wellness’ location at 125 Esten Ave.
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“If I would have kept those billboards up, they could have suspended my license and I would have had to lay off my entire staff and potentially put us out of business,” Pakuris said. “It’s just bad business.”
The Department of Business Regulation sent