At a glance
Gelato Canna Co is a San Diego cannabis brand founded in March 2022 by father-and-son entrepreneurs George and Cody Sadler. It sells colorful, dessert-led flower, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates and edibles through separately licensed operations in California, Michigan and Arizona.
Brand snapshot
Gelato is not the Gelato cultivar or an umbrella name for unrelated products. It is a specific consumer brand built around bright packaging, food-inspired formats and the phrase “Forget about what cannabis was. Enjoy what cannabis is.” Product selection and legal limits vary substantially by state.
Founders and history
George Sadler is co-founder and CEO, and Cody Sadler is co-founder. Before Gelato, the pair created Platinum Vape, giving them experience in regulated manufacturing and multi-state brand licensing. They launched Gelato in 2022 with Janet Matula helping lead compliance, product development and brand operations.
Ownership and licensing
California records associate George and Cody Sadler with GC Global, LLC and related retail, distribution and manufacturing licenses. The brand site displays distributor license C11-0001454-LIC for California. Michigan and Arizona products are made by locally licensed partners, so a California license number does not authorize production in those states.
Products and formats
The catalog has included 3.5-gram flower, Sprinkles smalls, Cookie Crumbs shake, standard and diamond-infused Lolli's pre-rolls, one-gram concentrates, cartridges and rechargeable all-in-one vapes. Edibles include gummies, Sugar Drop candies and Last Bite chocolate-filled mini cones. Michigan also lists higher-dose market-specific cookies, cereal bites, chocolate and cooking oil.
State-by-state footprint
The official entry page currently lists California, Michigan and Arizona and warns that product availability varies by state. California and Arizona generally show 100-milligram edible packages, while Michigan pages list many 200-milligram packages. Consumers should never transfer a familiar serving assumption from one state menu to another.
Brand extensions and community work
Gelato has extended beyond cannabis with branded spring water and has explored other consumer categories. During the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, George Sadler distributed canned water to affected communities, first responders and animal shelters. The community effort is separate from the testing and compliance record of cannabis products.
Mandatory 2024 recall
On January 10, 2024, California's Department of Cannabis Control issued a mandatory recall for Gelato Orangeade hybrid flower distributed under Urban Therapies Distribution LLC license C11-0001454-LIC because of Aspergillus flavus contamination. Only the listed batches were recalled; consumers should match the UID and batch on their package to the regulator notice.
Recognition and media record
The brand's fastest documented achievement is scale: trade and business profiles describe an eight-figure business within three years and expansion from California into Michigan, followed by Arizona. No judged cannabis-competition award is asserted here because a reliable award body, category, product and year were not found.
Safety, scope and buying guidance. Do not infer potency, ingredients or effects from playful names. Read the state-specific package for total THC, serving size, allergens, additives, device-disposal instructions, test information and the responsible licensee. Check California recall notices for affected flower and return or dispose of a matching package as directed; current locator listings can change independently of license status.