Author: CannabisNewsWire (CNW)

About CannabisNewsWire CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge. To receive SMS text alerts from CannabisNewsWire, text “CANNABIS” to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

420 with CNW – Cuomo Signs Marijuana Expungement and Decriminalization Bill

On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed into law a bill that expanded marijuana decriminalization and also paved the way for people with certain marijuana convictions to have their criminal records wiped clean.

The new law, which will take effect 30 days from the date of signing, will make the possession of less than two ounces of cannabis a non-criminal offense punishable by a fine that varies between $50 and $200 depending on how much marijuana one is convicted for possessing.

In a press release, Cuomo stated that the signing of this law is a critical step towards mending the discriminatory and broken criminal justice system in which people of color were disproportionately targeted during the failed War on Drugs. He added that the expungement provisions and the change in the draconian penalties for marijuana possession offers the affected communities a chance for a fresh start.

Marijuana law reform advocates hailed this new law although it fell short of the full legalization that they had hoped for during the just-ended legislative session. Cuomo had delivered his budget proposal without marijuana legalization, but there was hope that any differences over the implementation of the program would be ironed out in the final months of the session.

However, the disagreements over how the policy would be implemented dragged on until the governor announced that a deal couldn’t be agreed upon in time for a vote during the closing days of the session.

The key sticking points were whether local authorities would have the final say on whether marijuana businesses operated within their jurisdictions and the second major cause of disagreement regarded the way in which taxes from marijuana would be spent by the state.

The decriminalization and expungement bill was a compromise law upon which there was little disagreement. Carl Heastie (D), the Assembly Speaker, hailed the law saying that it removed the barriers that were standing in the way of many New Yorkers who wished to find housing, a job and get an education.

Even anti-marijuana legalization groups, such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), welcomed the law saying that it was a reasonable piece of legislation that was long overdue. SAM admitted that they had worked hard to defeat the broader legalization bill, and would continue to campaign for marijuana to remain prohibited in the state.

Sen. Diane Savino (D), who has been a longtime campaigner for marijuana law reform, commented that the decriminalization and expungement law was slight progress since the sale of marijuana was still left in the hands of criminals instead of letting licensed businesses participate in a regulated industry.

Cannabis industry analysts believe that industry players like SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) and Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQB: PLPRF) will be pleased by the signing of this law since it marks another chip taken off the wall of prohibition.

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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Political Backing, Investor Interest Fuel Kentucky Hemp Boom

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The surging hemp industry means exciting benefits for Kentucky.

Hemp is big business in Kentucky. Among the companies working in the state is Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) (SGMD Profile), a supplier of hydroponic equipment that is now moving into hemp through an investment in Hempistry. In New York, a leading politician has been in contact with Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) to ensure the survival of a hemp project threatened by executive upheaval. Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is looking even further than North America for growth. Cronos Group Inc. (TSX: CRON) (NASDAQ: CRON) is focusing on innovation in the sector. New Age Beverages Corporation (NASDAQ: NBEV) has been expanding its distribution and marketing power to reach into an ever-growing hemp market.

Kentucky is now the largest producer of hemp by state in the United States, fueled by local and national political support.
The hemp boom promises an alternative crop to struggling farmers.
The burgeoning industry is drawing investment into the state from hemp companies.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Hemp Achieves Great Growth in Kentucky

This year has seen a serious ratcheting up of hemp production across the United States. After the 2018 Farm Bill passed late last year legalizing national widespread hemp production, companies have been rushing to establish a foothold in the industry. Some are expanding test cultivation sites established under the 2014 bill, while others are setting up new operations.

This boon is proving particularly profitable for Kentucky. Having wholeheartedly embraced hemp cultivation under the previous regulations, the state is benefiting from a relatively well-developed industry that has existing strong political support. These favorable circumstances are attracting hemp companies and hemp investment into the state, helping to balance declines seen elsewhere in the state’s agriculture space.

Heading for Kentucky

A wide range of businesses, including brand-development company Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD), are investing in Kentucky’s hemp sector, funding the cultivation, processing and sale of the plant. Whether it’s being used for grain, fiber or CBD production, hemp crops are booming.

Hemp production in Kentucky began in 2014, when 20 approved growers planted 33 acres of the crop under legislation that supported trials of hemp farming. By 2018, the industry had grown 200 times in size to 6,700 acres cultivated by 210 growers. On top of this, 14 university projects and 72 processors were invested in the crop. Only Colorado exceeded Kentucky for hemp production within the United States.

Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the state has seen a further staggering surge in production. Kentucky now has 60,000 acres devoted to hemp production, making it the biggest hemp-producing state in the country. The industry has produced nearly a thousand jobs, 250 of them in the first half of this year. And as companies such as Sugarmade increase their investments in the state, that growth looks set to continue.

Sugarmade entered the hemp sector through hydroponics. A significant portion of hemp is grown indoors to provide greater control over how the crop is grown. Growth and acquisitions have made Sugarmade one of the hemp sector’s leading providers of hydroponic equipment and supplies, which are vital for this indoor growth.

Now the company is taking a more direct interest in hemp by exercising its option to invest in Hempistry Inc. Founded by Sugarmade’s own CEO Jimmy Chan, Hempistry is growing hemp in Madison County, Kentucky. Sugarmade is making a series of investments in the project that are expected to total an estimated $1 million.

“These investments into Hempistry make sense for Sugarmade, not only from a financial standpoint relative to probable rate of return, but also from a business development standpoint,” said Chan. “As Hempistry and other local cultivators grow, we believe Sugarmade’s status as a potential supplier to cultivators will also continue to rise. We look forward to a successful growing season with Hempistry.”

Kentucky Politicians Back Hemp Farmers

One of the reasons for Kentucky’s hemp boom is the strong support provided by politicians across the state. Representative James Comer and Senator Mitch McConnell have actively backed the industry at a national level, while Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles has been an advocate within the state. Under Quarles’s leadership, the Kentucky Agricultural Department has encouraged the development of the hemp industry, putting policies in place to support it.

This political support is at the heart of what makes Kentucky so appealing to companies such as Sugarmade as they seek opportunities for hemp investment. Though hemp is once again legal on a federal level, the road to this point has been rocky, and the industry is likely to face further political hurdles. Knowing that Kentucky will provide political support makes the state an appealing place to invest.

McConnell has been particularly essential in establishing this support. The senior Kentucky senator used his position as majority leader to push hemp reform through the federal legislative process. This summer, he publicly reinforced his support for hemp through a tour of the industry in Kentucky with Sonny Perdue, head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The tour marked an important moment for Kentucky as a leader in that industry, as well as the hemp industry as a whole, acknowledging its newfound legitimacy.

Among the issues the two men talked about on the tour was improving access to finance for hemp growers. Though December’s farm bill legislation theoretically should have removed financial barriers, in practice, banks need encouragement to change their approach. With high-profile advocates such as McConnell and Perdue taking a firm stance, this is likely to change rapidly, making life easier for companies such as Hempistry and Sugarmade.

Hemp Provides Something We Need

In strained political times, hemp has provided something we all need — an issue on which politicians from both major parties can agree. The hemp provisions of the farm bill passed thanks to cross-party support, and politicians from both sides of the aisle have been keen to encourage the industry.

Nothing makes this clearer than the involvement of both Democrat and Republican senate leaders in supporting and encouraging the industry. Earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke directly to the leadership of Canopy Growth Corp. to ensure that recent changes at the company wouldn’t stand in the way of a building a cutting-edge hemp facility in New York. When companies such as Sugarmade see this type of support, they feel confident investing heavily in hemp, knowing that both parties support industry expansion.

The reason behind this widespread support is that hemp caters to another need — new avenues for farmers to make a living. Farm production in the United States is at a six-year low, with many farmers struggling to get by. Economic disruption and trade wars threaten to further undermine their financial well-being. As a high-value cash crop, hemp offers a lifeline to farmers, making support of the industry more important than ever.

The money poured into the industry by Sugarmade and other savvy companies may be the difference between success and failure for rural communities. And it doesn’t hurt that, along the way, these investments appear likely to be highly profitable for these companies and their investors.

Hemp Producers Rise to Prominence

The growth of the industry has brought hemp-growing companies to greater prominence than ever.

Schumer’s call to Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) highlights just how much influence these companies now have, as they nurture the first shoots of what promises to become a fruitful industry. Canopy Growth Corporation is one of the largest Canadian companies operating in the hemp space, a leader in the field with significant resources and influence. The surprise removal of CEO Bruce Linton caused alarm in some quarters as well as uncertainty about the company’s future direction. But Schumer’s direct intervention has brought reassurance that the company will move ahead with its New York hemp plans.

While Canopy Growth has shed its most prominent executive, competitor Cronos Group Inc. (TSX: CRON) (NASDAQ: CRON) has added a new one to its team. Dr. Todd Abraham is joining the company as chief innovation officer. A thought leader in the field of consumer packaged goods, Abraham has shown faith in the staying power of the hemp industry through his move to Cronos. He’ll have plenty of tools to innovate with, as the company recently announced that it is establishing a brand new R&D facility, as well as acquiring a state-of-the-art fermentation and manufacturing facility. These deliberate moves put Cronos Group in a strong position to create new products using cultured cannabinoids.

The industry expansion isn’t limited to just the United States and Canada. Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) has recently arranged the export of CBD-rich oils to Ireland and is expanding its European leadership team. Hemp and CBD markets operate under different rules in Europe, so local knowledge is essential for expansion there, and Tilray is investing in that knowledge.

New Age Beverages Corporation (NASDAQ: NBEV) has also been pushing to become a global brand, following an announcement to this effect in April. But the company isn’t neglecting its American markets. It recently acquired marketing, sales and distribution company Brands within Reach to strengthen its marketing and distribution position in North America, working to take its relaxing drinks to an ever-wider market.

With the support of politicians and business leaders, hemp is clearly growing in popularity. Nowhere is the economic impact of that felt more strongly than in Kentucky.

For more information on Sugarmade, visit Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD)

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420 with CNW – Congressional Bill Seeks to Protect Some Students from Losing Financial Aid Due to Marijuana Convictions

On Friday, a group of Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill in Congress that would protect some college students from losing their federal financial aid if they are convicted for possessing marijuana. The bill also states that to benefit from this protection, those affected students must complete a rehabilitation program in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

The existing law allows the government to strip students of their federal financial aid for a period that can range from a year to indefinitely based on their prior drugs convictions and the gravity of the drugs offense they have been convicted for.

The bill titled “Second Chance for Students Act” is sponsored by Reps. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Bill Forster (D-IL). Under this proposed legislation, students who are convicted for the first time for possessing marijuana without any intention to distribute the drug can continue to receive financial assistance as long as they enroll for, and complete an approved drugs rehab program in six months.

In a press release, Rep. Forster stated that a single mistake shouldn’t cost a student their education. He added that for many students, their college education is entirely dependent on the federal financial aid that they receive. Discontinuing that aid therefore means that the student’s education, and their future, has taken a huge blow from which they could never recover.

Moore also stated that the existing law harms students of color more than any other demographic group of students since these people are particularly targeted for low-level crimes like cannabis possession.

While the bill has received a lot of support, some critics have argued that it will perpetuate a wrong mentality that people who use marijuana have a disorder for which they need rehabilitation.

Those opposed to the proposed law believe that if it is passed, it will strengthen the stigma against marijuana use and yet advocates are working hard to have the substance legalized. By treating users as people suffering from substance abuse disorder, one unwittingly admits that nobody should be using marijuana.

These critics are more comfortable with a similar draft law which was filed in the Senate by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) in May. In that legislation, the question on whether a student applying for federal financial aid has ever been convicted for possessing or selling illegal drugs would be removed from the application form. Consequently, more students would be able to benefit from the protection without being coerced into signing up for drug rehab programs whose effectiveness is questionable.

It would be interesting to hear what advice cannabis industry players like Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) and Hemptown USA would have on this matter so that students are protected from lifelong punishment for one mistake they make.

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420 with CNW – Cannabis Flavonoids Could Trigger Another Medical Marijuana Revolution

Just as skeptics were beginning to grudgingly acknowledge that marijuana’s cannabinoids do have medical benefits, a new wave or revolution is about to start if new research into the painkilling effects of the flavonoids unique to cannabis is anything to go by. A team of Canadian researchers has found that two flavonoids found in cannabis could be 30 times more powerful than aspirin, without the adverse effects associated with the conventional painkiller.

The work of these scientists seems poised to open another front in the medicinal potential of the cannabis plant which is enjoying growing popularity as the decades of prohibition get reversed in several states and jurisdictions.

Many plants have flavonoids, and these compounds give those plants their unique pigmentation. These compounds protect plants from diseases and UV radiation, and they also attract pollinators to the flowers of the plants.

More importantly, flavonoids have anti-inflammatory effects, and that is why many so-called superfoods are hailed as beneficial to people with inflammation in their bodies. The Canadian scientists have identified specific flavonoids that are only present in marijuana, and they have called them Cannaflavins.

Of particular interest is Cannaflavin A and Cannaflavin B which appear to be 30 times more potent than aspirin. Their healing effects were first hinted at by scientists at the University of London back in 1980.

However, there seems to be one major hurdle in the way of tapping the therapeutic value of these cannaflavins. These compounds occur in such small amounts that it could be hard to extract them in a way that makes economic sense.

This is where the work of the Canadian scientists comes in. The team, led by Tariq Akhtar (an assistant professor in the department of molecular and cellular biology at Guelph University), has developed and patented a novel technique through which the genes responsible for the formation of Cannaflavin A and B can be identified.

Their method then uses that genetic information to metabolically engineer the properties of those genes so that the therapeutic compounds can be obtained without having to grow vast amounts of cannabis plants.

The scientists have a lot of hope in these cannaflavins since they deal with inflammation at its source without any adverse effects. They therefore hope to conduct more research into these compounds now that the regulatory environment in Canada is supportive of such research.

Cannabis industry analysts believe that industry players like Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: GRYN) and Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF) could be very pleased because of the Guelph University research that shows there is still so much more that cannabis can offer in the medical arena.

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420 with CNW – Bipartisan Senate Bill Seeks to Ease Marijuana Business Access to Insurance Services

A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on Monday seeks to ensure greater access to insurance policies for marijuana businesses in states where the drug is legal. The bill titled “Clarifying Law Around Insurance of Marijuana (CLAIM) Act” was sponsored by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). The cosponsors of the legislation are Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

Currently, federal law makes it very difficult for cannabis businesses to get casualty, property and title insurance cover regardless of the state laws on the matter.

If the CLAIM Act is passed, insurance companies wouldn’t have to fear that they would be penalized or discouraged from selling insurance policies to companies that directly or indirectly serve the marijuana industry. For example, federal punitive action wouldn’t be taken against an insurer who covers the property managers hired by marijuana businesses.

Additionally, the law would bar federal agencies from incentivizing, encouraging or recommending that insurance companies refrain from working normally with a business in the marijuana industry or one indirectly serving the industry.

The draft law also includes protections for people who are employed by insurance companies. Its provisions free these people from being held liable for the work that they do when serving marijuana businesses.

While introducing the bill, Menendez said that marijuana businesses are unable to protect their customers, employees, premises and other property. The bill would therefore correct this situation and put cannabis businesses at par with businesses in other industries.

Sen. Rand Paul added to what Menendez said by saying that the basic principles behind the CLAIM Act are that the federal government should respect what the people in many states have decided and put an end to the barriers legitimate businesses are facing regarding access to basic protections.

The supporters of this bill assert that giving cannabis companies access to insurance cover would also remove some barriers to financing since many lending institutions automatically disqualify businesses that cannot get insurance cover.

While supporting this legislation, the media relations director of NCIA (national cannabis industry association) said that the wildfires in California and other cannabis growing regions had shown that the long-term survival of the marijuana industry depends on their ability to get insurance cover against all the foreseeable risks, just like other businesses do.

Gov. Phil Murphy (D) of New Jersey, who recently signed a law expanding the medical marijuana program of the state, also supported the bill introduced by Menendez. Murphy said it was important that medical marijuana providers are given the same protections that are the norm for the providers of other medical services.

Analysts are waiting to hear what the different marijuana businesses, such as Grapefruit Boulevard Investments Inc. (OTCQB: IGNG) and Golden Developing Solutions Inc. (OTC: DVLP), have to say about the flurry of activity regarding marijuana policy reform in both legislative chambers of the U.S.

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420 with CNW – Poll Finds Cannabis Legalization More Popular than $15 Minimum Wage and Free College Education

A new national survey has found that legalizing marijuana is more popular than providing free college education and instituting a $15 minimum wage across the country. The poll, conducted by Marist Poll, was funded by PBS NewsHour and NPR.

In the poll, 1,346 adults from across the country were interviewed over the phone between July 15 and 17 about their views on 20 policy proposals. More specifically, the respondents were asked to state whether those policy proposals were or weren’t a good idea. 63 percent of the people polled said legalizing cannabis was a good idea while 32 percent were opposed to this policy proposal.

Only four policy proposals ranked higher than cannabis legalization during this poll. Those policies are; making it mandatory for a background check to be done before anyone buys a firearm, government passing regulations for the prices of prescription drugs, giving people the liberty to opt in to Medicare, and creating a mechanism through which people who enter the U.S. illegally can acquire citizenship.

On the issue of Medicare, 70 percent of the respondents said that they supported a system that would allow people to choose between being on the national healthcare insurance scheme and enrolling on a private one.

The findings of this poll provide some explanation as to why many see marijuana policy reform as a politically correct view to hold. For example, almost all the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have voiced their support for cannabis legalization.

That said, previous polls suggest that advocates shouldn’t be excited by this development since marijuana policy reform hasn’t yet become a strong enough issue upon which political offices can be won or lost across the country. Many voters would still elect a candidate even if that candidate wasn’t in favor of marijuana legalization.

The Marist Poll also highlights the ideological and demographic patterns defining whether someone thinks cannabis legalization is a good or bad idea. For example, more Democrats (74 percent) support legalization while less than half of Republicans are in favor. Younger adults are also more likely to welcome legalization when compared to those who are passed 50.

All in all, this particular poll doesn’t differ from the findings of the Gallop poll of June this year which found that 64 percent of American adults want to see marijuana legalized. Industry analysts believe the cannabis industry, including Geyser Brands Inc. (TSX.V: GYSR) and Earth Science Tech Inc. (OTCQB: ETST), must be wondering when all this public support will eventually trigger federal marijuana policy reform.

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420 with CNW – NYC Council Passes Two Cannabis Reform Resolutions

On Tuesday this week, the New York City Council passed two cannabis-related resolutions as part of a package of marijuana laws that the progressive-minded caucus of the chamber wants to see enacted.

One of those resolutions calls on the Administration of Children’s Services (ACS) to adopt a new policy to the effect that finding someone using or in possession of marijuana shouldn’t in itself mean that a child is in danger and should be removed from that person.

Child custody issues constitute one of the most serious yet overlooked consequences of cannabis consumption, even in places where the drug has been legalized for either recreational or medical use.

The City Council’s resolution details how there is a racial disparity in the way marijuana possession arrests are done, and also points out that the ACS doesn’t immediately conclude that a child is at risk of harm just because a parent or caregiver takes alcohol. This same principle should apply in the case of marijuana consumption, the council argues.

The second measure is addressed to the state legislature. It requests the lawmakers to enact legislation mandating the Department of Health in New York State to formulate hospital drugs testing guidelines or regulations for pregnant women and those giving birth. Those regulations should include provisions on informing hospital patients about their rights if matters of drug testing and drug use are to be discussed.

The current practice is that as soon as a pregnant woman tests positive for any drug, including cannabis, the hospital reports this to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. On the basis of that report, ACS launches an investigation into the matter.

The NYC Council notes in its resolution that while it isn’t clear how hospitals enforce their drug testing policies, people of color and those from impoverished communities seem to be particularly targeted.

Additionally, the resolution notes that there is still limited research regarding the effects of marijuana use during pregnancy. However, even that limited research doesn’t show that cannabis use is on its own a risk factor for serious neonatal problems.

The lack of clarity on the drug testing policies of hospitals means that pregnant women often volunteer information about their drug use not knowing that such information could result in child welfare issues.

Having a clear drug testing policy would encourage women to be free about disclosing their drug use habits since they will not have any fear that child welfare cases will be instituted simply because those women tested positive for marijuana, the councilors reason.

These resolutions show how keen the city council is to see marijuana reform implemented. Earlier in April, they also passed a resolution to put an end to pre-employment marijuana testing. This takes effect next year.

It remains to be seen whether the state legislature will act upon the well-intentioned resolution on hospital drug testing, but pundits believe that the entire cannabis industry, including industry players like ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF), will be rooting for a positive outcome so that women stop being unfairly victimized for using cannabis.

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420 with CNW – First US Marijuana Cafe Set to Open in September

Lowell Farms: A Cannabis Café is set to become the first marijuana café to open its doors to the public if its launch on September 1 this year goes according to plan. The West Hollywood Business License Commission gave the new business its final approval by a unanimous decision during a meeting that was held on July 16.

Andrea Drummer, the Head Chef of the café, said that they are proud to be the first in the U.S. to open a cannabis café. Drummer added that they take that responsibility highly, since it will set the pace for the educational and responsible use of marijuana as a food ingredient.

Drummer, a longtime cannabis advocate has authored a marijuana cookbook titled “Cannabis Cuisine: The Art of Cooking with Marijuana.” She has also served as a private chef to several celebrities, including Whiz Khalifa and Miguel. Andrea Drummer has also appeared on a number of television shows showcasing how people can cook with marijuana. These include “Cooking on High” on Netflix and Chelsea On!

The menu of the café, which will include CBD and THC-infused edibles, was designed by Drummer.

The café will have an area designated for people who don’t smoke cannabis and another area for those who smoke the drug. In the smoking area, a tableside service featuring unique strains grown by the company, will be available. A “Flower host” will be in charge of offering this service.

This “flower host” will explain the flavor profiles and specific effects of the different strains on offer before helping patrons to roll a joint. Dabs and bongs will also be available.

Representatives of the café also revealed that the establishment will have an advanced air filtration system in order to respect the interests of people in the neighborhood who may object to the cannabis smells wafting from the café.

The value of this filtration system took on greater importance when it emerged that the rabbi of a nearby synagogue had written to the license commission objecting to the planned location of the cannabis café.

The café is also taking the added precaution of planting landscaping that has been proven to absorb odors and purify air. Digital renderings of this landscaping were released to show that the café is taking every possible step to limit the impact of the establishment upon those in the neighborhood.

Drummer disclosed that the café idea has been fine-tuned over a period of four years and it was a logical next step after the push to have marijuana legalized was attained. Industry watchers believe that the entire industry, including Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTCQB: NUGS), will be thrilled when this café opens since it will be another step towards making cannabis a mainstream substance.

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420 with CNW – Michigan Caregivers Grow More than a Million Marijuana Plants

The registered medical marijuana caregivers in Michigan are authorized to grow more than a million cannabis plants, according to state statistics. This information is crucial as the state transitions from a purely medical cannabis program to one that embraces the recreational use of the drug by adults.

Even if the state accelerates the process by which new commercial growers are licensed, it is unlikely that any of those licensees will have harvested, processed and distributed their marijuana crop at the time recreational sales are launched.

In August 2017, Andrew Brisbo, the Director of the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation stated that approximately 43,000 patients had nominated a caregiver to grow a maximum of 12 cannabis plants for the medical use of the patient.

That statistic means that approximately 1.14 million marijuana plants are under the direct control of the registered caregivers in the state.

Currently, the number of caregivers on the medical marijuana program has risen to an estimated 47,000. This could mean that nearly 1.5 million cannabis plants are grown by these caregivers.

To put this figure in context, the 78 commercial cultivators with state-issued licenses have a 108,000 plant cultivation limit.

All the existing large scale growers and the caregivers currently supply the medical marijuana market whose current patient population stands at 300,000 (Michigan has the second strongest medical marijuana market in the country).

If recreational users come on board, the number of medical marijuana patients will be dwarfed by the number of adults who use cannabis recreationally. Statistics suggest that at least 1.54 million Michigan adults have used recreational marijuana at some point in their lives, so once recreational sales begin, the number of recreational users is likely to be five times that of medical marijuana users.

This means that Michigan could face the same supply shortages that have been witnessed in the states that transition from just medical marijuana markets to recreational cannabis as well. Such supply shortages normally trigger a frenzied expansion of cultivation capacity, which in turn causes a glut once all that extra marijuana finally enters the market.

To prevent the nosedive in prices which results from the glut, Michigan would be well advised to incorporate the caregiver-grown marijuana in the recreational market as well so that the recreational market is kept stable during its first months. This shouldn’t present any quality issues since the caregivers have been supplying the medical cannabis market of the state for years.

Analysts hope that the cannabis industry’s major players in Michigan and elsewhere, such as Youngevity International Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and Willow Biosciences Corp. (CSE: WLLW), will welcome the caregivers whose role provides all-round benefits to all concerned.

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420 with CNW – Study Looks at How Marijuana Extracts Can Kill Cancer Cells

A recent study shows that cannabis extracts can impair the survival of some types of cancer cells and also inhibit their spread. However, the effects of the cannabis extracts vary according to the chemical profile of the extracts used, the researchers discovered.

The team of researchers found that the results of using just one compound of cannabis, such as THC, to kill cancer cells wasn’t as promising as using full-spectrum cannabis extracts. Since marijuana has hundreds of compounds whose concentration varies from one preparation or marijuana strain to another, it was difficult to determine which particular combination of compounds had the most significant therapeutic effect.

The team, whose findings were published in Oncotarget, a journal centered on cancer research, show that 12 cannabis extracts having varying phytocannabinoid profiles were tested on 12 different human cancer lines.

Each of the 12 cancer cell samples was treated using increasing doses of different marijuana extracts over a 24-hour duration. Of the 12 cannabis extracts, five were especially effective in acting on a variety of cancer types. Nevertheless, the researchers found that different cancers seemed to respond to different marijuana extracts even if those cancers originated from the same body organ.

For example, two forms of prostate cancer cells were most responsive to different cannabis extract formulations and yet it would be expected that the same formulation would work for these two cancers since they all affect the prostate gland.

The marijuana extracts also exhibited different levels of effectiveness in terms of shrinking cancer cells. Out of the 12 preparations, only three were able to shrink cells by up to 51 percent of their baseline (original) size.

Some of the common attributes shared by the extracts which showed higher levels of effectiveness included their higher concentration of THC and the larger variety of phytocannabinoids which have been decarboxylated.

The researchers concluded that the therapeutic action of marijuana extracts on cancer cells cannot be attributed to a single compound, but rather to the synergy of different compounds acting together.

They also added that the fact that cancers from the same line react differently to cannabis extracts means that other compounds, apart from THC, work together to produce a pharmacological effect upon the cancer cells.

The team of researchers therefore called for more research to be done about the way cancer cells respond to cannabis. For example, more information is needed regarding the effect of the presence or absence of cannabis receptors on cancer cells when treating those cancers using marijuana extracts.

Marijuana industry pundits think that industry participants like Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF) and VPR Brands LP (OTC: VPRB), will feel vindicated that the industry’s assertion regarding the therapeutic effects of marijuana is starting to be proved by independent researchers.

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