Is an Aplus franchisee prohibited from selling synthetic marijuana?
Aplus Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
You are prohibited from displaying or selling any adult/sophisticate magazines and/or any other materials that we determine are offensive to the general public or which may be prohibited from sale or display by applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations. You are prohibited from selling marijuana of any kind (synthetic or otherwise), unauthorized drugs, drug paraphernalia of any type or nature, and "bath salts" in any form or known by any name, as further described in the Systems Manual.
Source: Item 16 — RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL (FDD pages 52–53)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Aplus's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Aplus franchisees are expressly prohibited from selling synthetic marijuana. The FDD specifies that this prohibition extends to synthetic marijuana, also known as Spice and K-2, as well as drug paraphernalia and "bath salts." The document lists several names by which bath salts may be known, including Bliss Blue Light, Blue Silk, Charge, Cosmic Blast, Disco Concentrate Bath Salts, Ivory Snow, Ocean Burst, Pure Ivory, Purple Wave, Snow Leopard, Stardust, Tranquility Bath Salts, White Dove, White Knight, White Rush, Zeus 2, Ivory Wave, and White Lightening.
The FDD emphasizes that sales of these prohibited products can lead to criminal and civil charges, as well as immediate termination of the Franchise Agreement. This restriction is in place to maintain the favorable public image of the Aplus brand and to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
This prohibition is a significant restriction for potential franchisees, as violation can result in severe penalties, including the loss of their franchise. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these restrictions and ensure they fully understand and comply with all prohibited sales to avoid potential legal and contractual repercussions.