420 with CNW – Senate Committee Confirms Marijuana Banking Hearing Date

On Monday, we reported that a key senate committee would soon schedule a hearing on marijuana banking. Now the Republican-controlled committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs has revealed that it will hold this hearing on Tuesday next week (July 23).

This announcement comes as yet another indicator that marijuana reform is gaining momentum at the highest levels of decision making in the country. The legislation to be discussed is geared at finding a solution to the challenges that marijuana businesses have been having regarding access to banking services.

A similar law, which was passed by a Congressional committee, now has almost half of the members of Congress as co-sponsors after 206 representatives signed on. The Senate companion bill so far has 32 senators signed on from a total of 100 senators in that chamber.

The senate hearing slated for Tuesday is titled “Challenges for Cannabis and Banking: Outside Perspectives.” Representatives of CUNA (Credit Unions National Association), Smart Approaches to Marijuana (a prohibitionist advocacy group) and Citywide Banks will testify during this hearing.

Jim Nussle, the CEO and president of CUNA remarked that his organization was willing and happy to work with senate leaders to find a solution to marijuana banking which is a public safety issue.

John Lord, the CEO of LivWell Enlightened Health (a marijuana retail chain) is also lined up to testify before the senate committee, as will Cannabis Trade Federation’s Neal Levine (who also testified before a sub-committee of Congress on how prohibition can be ended).

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), the main GOP cosponsor of the Senate cannabis banking bill has also been booked to appear before the committee during this hearing.

Support for marijuana banking has been growing steadily with pressure being mounted for action on this matter by the highest financial sector regulators in 25 states, a huge majority of state attorneys general, 20 state governors from both sides of the political divide, banking associations from 50 states across the country and the National Association of State Treasurers. All these groups want the STATES Banking Act to be passed by Congress.

While Chairman Crapo is personally opposed to marijuana, his scheduling of the senate committee’s hearing on this matter shows that he recognizes that matters of cannabis banking present serious public safety concerns that have to be addressed soon rather than later.

Consensus is also growing on the need to make broader reforms to marijuana policy beyond access to banking services. The clearest example of this was the Congressional subcommittee hearing last week at which all parties agreed on the need for reform although there were some disagreements on how that reform can be realized.

Industry watchers believe that the entire marijuana industry, including Geyser Brands Inc. (TSX.V: GYSR) and Earth Science Tech Inc. (OTCQB: ETST), is now encouraged to believe that federal marijuana reform may happen soon.

About CNW420

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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420 with CNW – New Jersey Starts Accepting Applications from Additional Marijuana Businesses

On Monday, the Department of Health in New Jersey announced that interested parties could start submitting their applications to grow and sell marijuana. Both nonprofit and for-profit entities are eligible to apply during this round of licensing.

Those planning to be growers or sellers of medical marijuana have until August 21 to submit their applications. New Jersey plans to license five additional cultivation facilities as well as 15 medical marijuana dispensaries. 4 licenses will also be granted to “verticals.” These are entities which are vertically integrated (they can cultivate, process and sell marijuana).

Entities that apply for the licenses will pay an application fee of $20,000 and those whose applications aren’t successful will get back $18,000 of that application fee.

All the people involved in the companies that apply have been notified that they will be subjected to a criminal background check. These people include directors, owners, board members and employees.

The interested companies are also expected to provide proof that the local authorities in the area where they wish to operate have given them approval to operate a marijuana business in that area.

Another requirement is that the companies must submit their security plans as well as an environment impact statement as they send in their applications.

All the companies that apply are expected to show that they have sufficient experience in the particular aspect of the industry for which they would like to be licensed. For example, aspiring growers must show they have experience cultivating medical marijuana. Quality assurance and quality control are important, so applicants are also required to submit their plans for these aspects of their operations.

While the state hasn’t imposed any minimum level of capitalization that aspiring industry participants should have, the applicants are nonetheless expected to provide proof that they have sufficient funding for the operations they wish to undertake. Funds should be available for the activities shown in their plans.

The state has also organized a pre-application webinar for all those interested on August 2. The Department of Health has revealed that people can submit the questions that they would like the department to address during that webinar. While it may not be practically possible to respond to each of the questions submitted, the state will address the issues that cut across the queries sent in.

This medical marijuana program expansion comes at a time when plans to legalize adult-use pot failed after advocates failed to secure ample support in the state senate and a vote on the matter was called off at the last minute. Analysts expect that the cannabis industry, including entities like Choom Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO) (OTCQB: CHOOF) and ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX), will take comfort in the fact that with the expansion of the medical cannabis program, patients will get solutions to many of the issues that they have been facing, such as lack of variety in the products available.

About CNW420

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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420 with CNW – Marijuana Legalization Results in Fewer Illegal Grows in National Forests, Study Finds

New research shows that as marijuana started being legalized for recreational purposes in different states across the U.S., the reported cases of illicit grow sites within protected lands started falling.

The research findings, released in Ecological Economics, specifically point out that illegal grows on national forests saw a major decline in the Pacific Northwest after cannabis legalization started.

USDA’s Forest Service analyzed the available data on the illegal marijuana grow sites discovered and reported between 2004 and 2016. This data was in regard to 111 national forests. The researchers considered several factors, such as the retail price of pot, state laws, risks of being discovered running an illegal grow site, and many others.

The researchers then used that data to create six different simulations of what would happen to the number of illegal grows if marijuana policies changed.

For example, one simulation seeks to see how the number of these illegal grows would change if all the state laws legalizing both medical and recreational cannabis were revoked. Another simulation explores what would happen assuming that all the taxes on the legal marijuana on the market were waived/eliminated.

The researchers found that policies legalizing some form of marijuana are linked to a reduction in the number of reported cases of illegal grow sites within national forests.

The predictive models of the research also show that if the existing medical and recreational marijuana laws in different states were to be revoked, then the rate at which illegal grow sites would be discovered is likely to grow by double digit percentages while expanding the number of states with laws legalizing marijuana would reduce such grows by at least a fifth, as per the available 2017 data.

For example, if all the 23 states that had enacted medical cannabis laws by 2016 enacted recreational marijuana legalization laws as well, then the illegal grows within those areas would reduce by at least 35 percent and as high as 51 percent.

While the researchers found that marijuana decriminalization didn’t have any effect on illegal grows, they discovered that imposing harsher penalties on those convicted on charges related to illegal marijuana cultivation activities had an effect of reducing the number of illegal grows. Increasing law enforcement personnel in the national forests only had a negligible effect on the stats, according to the research.

The study concludes that of the two ways (legalization and increased enforcement) to reduce illegal grows in forests, legalization offers a more cost-effective way to preserve the forests from the attendant problems, such as the use of strong rodenticides, which come with the illegal grow sites.

Analysts think industry players like Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) aren’t surprised by the findings of this research since the cannabis industry has always asserted that legalization can stamp out the black market and its risks.

About CNW420

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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With 10,000 Licenses Issued, California Reflects the Growing Power of Hemp

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: As hemp production increases, Californian legislators have extended the duration of thousands of cannabis cultivation licenses to support the state’s thriving industry.

Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) (SGMD Profile) is supporting many of these companies that have cultivation licenses by providing cultivation and extraction equipment. Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC), one of the biggest companies in the sector, is increasing its growing capacity while helping educate about medicines. Cronos Group Inc. (TSX: CRON) (NASDAQ: CRON) is leaning into new technology, with new facilities for R&D and processing. The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) (TGODF Profile) has tapped into the demand for organic produce and is now expanding into global CBD market. GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) (OTC: GWPRF) is developing powerful new medicines, in which hemp could help tackle previously uncurable illnesses.

  • California is one of the largest regions for cannabis and hemp cultivation.
  • Recent legislative moves show that the state’s politicians are hemp friendly.
  • Demand for hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) continues to soar.
  • Companies are responding with increased production, acquisitions and new technology.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

The Land of Mass Licensing

The past year has seen substantial growth in the Californian hemp industry, and with that growth came challenges for the state’s governing bodies. The state is home to one of the largest legalized recreational cannabis markets in the world, and Californian authorities have reportedly issued over 10,000 licenses to producers, processors and retailers involved in the cannabis industry. This includes those working with hemp, a non-psychotropic form of cannabis, and CBD, a chemical derived from hemp.

The swift growth of the state’s industry almost triggered a crisis this spring, as thousands of temporary licenses were set to expire before authorities had time to process permanent licenses. The state senate stepped in to extend the duration of temporary licenses and protect law-abiding business owners from a bureaucracy struggling to keep up with demand.

The legal move to extend the licenses may indicate the state’s political attitude toward the industry and holds promise for companies working in California.

A Friendly Place to Work

For companies working with hemp and related products, California is possibly the most business-friendly place in the world to be based. The state is headquarters for a wide range of companies working in the sector, from producers and retailers to companies providing support services, such as Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD).

Based in Monrovia, California, Sugarmade develops brands and products with disruptive potential. Over the past few years, this strategy has led the company to develop a growing focus on hemp and the surrounding sector, a space filled with innovation, fast-developing new practices and promising potential.

Rather than being cultivator or retailer, however, Sugarmade is a supplier of vital materials to the hemp industry. The company sells hydroponic equipment and supplies needed for growing consistent, high-quality crops in secure, climate-controlled indoor facilities. SGMD is moving deeper into the market by extending its catalog to include extraction equipment, essential in the process of acquiring valuable CBD from hemp plants.

California is home to so many of these companies for a number of reasons. The state is one of the largest markets in the world by population for hemp and related products, with only Canada matching it in scale. In addition, California is one of the first areas to become friendly to the industry, passing groundbreaking legislation in the 1990s allowing the space to progress.

This attitude has been both supported and encouraged by a political establishment that appears to look favorably on the industry. The Californian senate, having seen thousands of new businesses such as Sugarmade spring up, is eager to nurture these entities for the jobs and wealth they bring to the state’s economy. This general support is reflected in the government’s decision to extend temporary licenses to prevent new businesses from faltering just as they had been established.

Staggering growth has caused challenges for the Californian authorities in providing licenses. The federal legalization of hemp in December added to interest in the industry and pressure on the licensing system. The state’s responsiveness to problems within the system has shown how serious it is about hemp and creating a friendly environment for the likes of Sugarmade and its customer base.

The Hemp Revolution

The situation in California appears to reflect a much wider pattern in the hemp industry, across the United States and beyond.

Ten years ago, hemp was barely even mentioned in conversations about business. As a source of useful materials, its use had fallen out of fashion with the end of the age of sail, during which it had provided fibers for ropes and canvas. But then a shift came, as companies in the cannabis space looked for other options they could market. As a nonpsychoactive ingredient, CBD could be sold in markets where cannabis itself couldn’t. And hemp offered a rich source of CBD without many of the complications surrounding the rest of cannabis.

Since then, demand for CBD has rocketed. The component is used in a wide range of products including cosmetics, health foods, and vaping liquids. Companies have emerged specifically to cater to the hemp market, and those companies have turned to the likes of Sugarmade for the equipment they need.

The popularity of CBD among consumers has also rocketed, leading to shortfalls in supply. The 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the hemp trade at the federal level in the United States, will help with meeting this demand in the long term. But the bill is no magic bullet, and companies need time to gear up in the new commercial environment that has been created.

This gearing up has led to increased demand for cultivation equipment, creating shortages in that area. Cultivators have bought everything that Sugarmade can provide, as hydroponics companies see a boom in sales alongside the hemp companies they serve.

Dealing with Demand

Sugarmade has made a variety of moves — in California and beyond — to meet this growing demand.

Expansion is obviously critical to making the most of this opportunity, and the company has entered a period of serious growth in its sales, product lines and bottom line. As a critical link in the hemp supply chain, Sugarmade is not just in a position to grow, the company must grow in order to meet customer needs.

One of the key tactics in this expansion has been SGMD’s use of acquisitions and agreements. The company acquired Sky Unlimited LLC and, through it, the AthenaUnited.com online sales operation, increasing its sales capacity. Sugarmade has also struck deals with companies such as Hempistry, BizRight Hydroponics and Plantation Corp, ensuring smooth supply chains and greater capacity to meet surging demand.

Adding new technology to its catalog has allowed Sugarmade to make better use of this moment. The company is moving to supply next-generation extraction machinery and develop artificial intelligence systems to monitor hemp crops. By providing its customers with the latest technology, Sugarmade may be better able to distinguish itself from its competitors and ensure the profitability of its customers, for its own long-term good.

Space for Growth

With customer demand firmly outstripping supply, the hemp sector is creating a space in which a wide range of businesses can flourish.

One of the most important is Canadian company Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC), which was the largest cannabis company in the world by market capitalization as of April this year. Like Sugarmade, Canopy Growth Corporation has taken big steps to continue expanding and claim a larger share of the hemp and related markets. The company has increased its production capacity through a mixture of acquisitions and ongoing work to increase its existing licensed production facilities. Acquisitions have also featured in its work further down the supply chain, such as acquiring hemp skin care company This Works.

Like Sugarmade, Cronos Group Inc. (TSX: CRON) (NASDAQ: CRON) is looking to new technology to support its expansion. The company recently announced the creation of an R&D facility, which has the potential to provide new products for a curious and often experimental customer base. To support such innovations, the company is also acquiring a state-of-the-art fermentation and manufacturing facility, which will allow Cronos to produce cultured cannabinoids.

The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) has focused on a specific sector of the customer base, setting itself up as a source of organic and sustainably grown products. The creation of two new production facilities will allow the company to tap into rising demand, increasing its growing capacity from 156,000kg to 202,500kg. And with the growing popularity of hemp-CBD products, the company is setting up a global strategic hemp division to give it greater global reach in an important part of the sector.

GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) (OTC: GWPRF) is applying the power of cannabidiol to tackle otherwise untreatable diseases. The company’s 20 years of experience in the sector is currently being applied to seizures associated with tubular sclerosis complex, for which one of its drugs recently underwent successful clinical trials. GW has become a world leader in cannabinoid medicines, whose value is increasingly widely recognized.

With hemp and related sectors growing so fast, California’s senators appear to have made a wise decision to smooth the way for local cultivators. Both customers and businesses in the state and beyond may see the benefits.

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

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.

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Waves of CBD Beauty Products Filling Shelves of Major Retailers Across the US

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Mainstream retailers across the United States are embracing the growing popularity of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), making room for CBD products on their prominent shelves.

With the rise of these cannabis beauty products, major stores from luxury retailers Barney’s and Neiman Marcus down to Walgreens, Rite Aid and now Kroger are stocking products from a range of CBD SKU producers, including Green Growth Brands (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF) (GGBXF Profile), Charlotte’s Web Holdings (TSX: CWEB) (OTCQX: CWBHF), CannTrust Holdings Inc. (TSX: TRST) (NYSE: CTST), Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX.V: OGI) (NASDAQ: OGI) (OGI Profile) and HEXO Corp. (TSX: HEXO) (NYSE American: HEXO).

  • Bridge-building companies strengthening bonds between retailers and CBD producers.
  • GGB has solidified several influential deals with top companies.
  • Cannabis beauty products could make multibillion-dollar impact in the CBD sector.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Partnerships Key to CBD Growth

The bond between retailers and CBD producers seems to be growing stronger by the month, ushered forward by bridge builders such as Green Growth Brands (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF), whose management team’s CVs read like that of a mall directory, including executive-level experience with major brands such as American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, DSW, Luxottica and Virgin Entertainment.

These relationships have already resulted in GGB inking a series of deals with major retailers, most recently with American Eagle Outfitters. Starting in October 2019, the clothing retailer will be carrying GGB’s hemp-derived, CBD-infused personal care products in almost 500 physical stores as well as on the company website. These products — which include lotions, muscle balms and aromatherapy items — were developed exclusively for American Eagle.

Two weeks prior to the American Eagle announcement, GGB expanded its partnership with Abercrombie & Fitch to offer its Seventh Sense Botanical Therapy CBD products through the iconic fashion brand. The growing popularity of CBD products such as Seventh Sense has led analysts to increase their targets on the cannabis industry as a whole.

Back in March, New York-based investment bank Cowen & Co. put out a study on the CBD market, citing a $16 billion target by 2025. BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research gave a more optimistic assessment, projecting that the collective market for CBD sales in the US will exceed $20 billion by 2024.

Welcoming the CBD Retail Revolution

Perhaps the most impactful addition to the CBD sector is the rise of “cannabis beauty.” Analysts at Piper Jaffray believe the cannabis beauty wave could potentially boost the overall CBD market to between $50 billion to $100 billion.

In July, American Eagle agreed to stock the shelves of nearly 500 stores with Green Growth Brands’ tailor-made, CBD-infused personal care products. The new line of products will be available as early as October and will be available for purchase online as well.

In late June, fashionable brand Abercrombie & Fitch expanded its partnership with Green Growth Brands to sell Seventh Sense Botanical Therapy products in more than 160 A&F stores. After a retail trial in 10 stores, the increase in exposure is expected to be mutually beneficial as A&F carries Seventh Sense’s CBD-infused body lotions, muscle balms, lip balms and sugar scrubs.

The American Eagle and A&F placements supplemented the string of partnerships Green Growth Brands has secured so far in 2019, which began with a partnership with DSW Inc. to sell Seventh Sense in 96 U.S.-based DSW stores. GGB also signed a licensing agreement with Authentic Brands Group and the Greg Norman brand to develop CBD personal care products for active adult men and women.

With its management team’s impressive retail experience, much of which is centered around prominent space in malls, GGB has aggressively launched its own Seventh Sense stores and kiosks across the country. In just the first four months after launch, over 50 Seventh Sense stores had been opened by June.

GGB’s goal is to have approximately 70 stores opened by the end of 2019. Given the company’s seemingly advantageous deals with major mall chain owners such as Brookfield Properties, Simon Property Group, and a series of independent malls, it appears likely the company will hit this target.

In a recent interview with Jim Cramer, CNBC host of Mad Money, GGB CEO Peter Horvath confidently reiterated his company’s strategy that plays off its retail expertise, and in particular the potential of CBD, specifically topical products. Harvath noted that the partnerships in place mean that GGB stores are opening in prime locations in some of the country’s best malls.

Developments in the CBD Upswing

This potential isn’t being missed by other CBD innovators in the market.

Early pioneers in the CBD space, Charlotte’s Web Holdings (TSX: CWEB) (OTCQX: CWBHF) now manufactures and markets CBD wellness products, including capsules, topicals and gels in more than 3,000 retail locations across the country. Named after a little girl named Charlotte who suffered from up to 300 grand mal seizures per week, the company is focused on what ended up being a cure for her malady — CBD. The brothers who manufactured the strain that helped Charlotte went on to found Charlotte’s Web in 2013. As recently as December 2018, CWEB products were available in 3,680 retail locations. That number has since exploded to 6,000.

CannTrust Holdings Inc. (TSX: TRST) (NYSE: CTST) increased its portfolio by expanding its CBD product lines with the addition of three new products: high-dose CBD oil capsules and a low-dose and high-dose version of CBD drops. In addition, the company recently announced plans to enter the U.S. CBD market, starting with a hemp-production joint venture in California. As part of the deal, CannTrust plans to cultivate upwards of 3,000 acres of hemp for CBD in California. CannTrust continues to develop its lines of innovative products, including CBD beverages, pet-care products and confectionaries.

North of the border, East Coast Canadian company Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX.V: OGI) (NASDAQ: OGI) is developing a nano-emulsion technique to help cannabinoids such as CBD to dissolve in water, which isn’t done naturally. Organigram has recently developed an emulsification system to turn cannabinoids into a dissolvable powder, making CBD more shelf stable, thermally stable, water compatible and palatable. Focusing outside of the United States and its home jurisdiction of Canada, Organigram Holdings Inc. is making a play to jump the pond into what’s being touted as a lucrative EU CBD market. Teaming with Alpha-cannabis, Organigram has its sights set on the German medical cannabis market, while also partnering with Eviana to obtain hemp-derived CBD to supply into key EU markets.

HEXO Corp. (TSX: HEXO) (NYSE American: HEXO) is also in the development of beverages through its partnership deal with Molson Coors. Aligned with the Canadian brewing giant, HEXO is gearing up for cannabinoid-infused beverages that could one day be sold in the refrigerated aisle of the local grocer. HEXO also recently outlined plans to enter eight U.S. states with CBD products — but not until 2020. The company wouldn’t say which states it is targeting, but expectations are that it will make the move through its joint venture with Molson Coors, which includes plans to co-launch a portfolio of cannabis-infused beverages called Truss.

Key relationships and a promising cannabis beauty space bode well for continued strong growth in the CBD sector. Companies such as Green Growth Brands appear well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.

For a free research report on Green Growth Brands, visit PotStockNews.com

For more information on Green Growth Brands, visit Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF)

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.

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420 with CNW – Senate Could Hold Hearings on Cannabis Banking Later this Month

The Senate Banking Committee could schedule hearings on bipartisan legislation on cannabis banking in as little as two weeks. This revelation was made by the chairman of that committee, Mike Crapo (R-ID) as he talked to American Banker.

Crapo said that he was looking into the prospect of scheduling a hearing on the matter and added that the hearings will be “relatively soon.”

This statement marks a huge change of heart for the senator from Idaho who is on record saying (in April) that he wouldn’t commit his committee to holding sessions on marijuana banking as long as marijuana is still illegal at the federal level.

Banking industry insiders believe that the committee is likely to have two hearings in the week starting July 22. One hearing will be centered on hearing from the regulators of the banking sector while the second hearing will listen to the other stakeholders on this matter.

A similar bill was passed by the Congressional Banking Services Committee in March and similar language to the contents of the STATES Act was included in the appropriations bill.

While pro-cannabis advocates have been hoping that the STATES Act is put on the schedule for a vote by the entire House before the legislative chamber goes for recess in August, this hasn’t happened as yet. It now seems that a vote on the bill may have to wait until the fall.

Concerns have also been voiced about how the STATES Act would be received once it gets to a Senate that is dominated by Republicans.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), the chief sponsor of the House version of the bill, revealed that lawmakers are currently exploring other ways to generate Republican support for the bill. One of the avenues being explored is including language to the effect that regulators will not prevent payday lenders and gun manufacturers from accessing banking services.

Another avenue that could be used is the inclusion of language that protects the hemp industry so that Republicans don’t look at that the bill as one on just marijuana.

A senate hearing on marijuana business banking would mark another milestone for those who want to see marijuana policy reform. While the STATES Act will not alter the status of marijuana federally, it is a step in the right direction since many advocates see the incremental approach to legalization as a more realistic option when compared to the chances of a standalone bill on legalization passing in both chambers.

Industry watchers believe that the entire cannabis industry, including Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTCQB: NUGS) and Youngevity International Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI), will be waiting with bated breath to hear what comes out from the Senate committee hearings.

About CNW420

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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420 with CNW – Witnesses and Lawmakers Share Views on Federal Marijuana Policy Reform Strategy

Last week, the Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security sub-committee of the powerful House Judiciary Committee held a landmark session in which they listened to testimony from a variety of experts on how marijuana prohibition could be brought to an end federally.

This hearing was largely focused on evidence, unlike previous Congressional discussions on the matter that largely seemed to be driven by scaremongering. However, there were some disagreements regarding the strategy that should be used to legislate marijuana policy reforms.

For example, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) argued that the Democrats were wrongly framing the issue along racial lines and this would divide the country. The Chairperson of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrod Nadler, responded by saying that marijuana laws had been designed and implemented in a racially disparate manner, so the solution should also emerge after considering the racial factors involved.

Nadler added that in his own opinion, it is ill-advised to use marijuana, but that doesn’t mean the drug should be criminalized. Instead, adults should be left to make informed decisions on the substance as is the case with other substances like alcohol and cigarettes.

While testifying before the subcommittee, Malik Burnett, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said that it was wrong to have two widely different situations on the subject of marijuana. He explained that the U.S. can be divided into two, with one half made up of whites who are minting billions from state-legal marijuana while the other half of the U.S. made up of poor people, especially blacks, are arrested in their thousands for the same marijuana that whites are getting rich from.

Marilyn Mosby, the State Attorney for Baltimore also told the subcommittee that the current lopsided enforcement of marijuana laws not only worsens the existing inequalities in the U.S. justice system but also alienates the community from law enforcement agencies. No public safety benefit accrues from the enforcement of marijuana prohibition, she added. She concluded by saying that full legalization is the way to go since decriminalization of marijuana isn’t enough. Mosby’s office is noted for announcing earlier this year that they would no longer prosecute marijuana possession cases.

Davis Nathan, the president of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation (a pro-marijuana legalization group of physicians) testified that the prohibition of marijuana has done more harm than any good that was anticipated. He also said that the drug should never have been criminalized since it is less harmful than tobacco and alcohol.

There was a heated discussion regarding the way in which cannabis reform should be made to happen after Neal Levine, the CEO of Cannabis Trade Federation) suggested that the process should be incremental, starting with the passing of the STATES Act currently before lawmakers.

For example, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) wondered why full legalization shouldn’t be done in one fell swoop since prohibition had lingered for far too long. Other lawmakers disagreed and preferred the cautious approach of incremental policy adjustments in order to avoid passing bills that ultimately fail once they reach the Republican-controlled Senate.

Industry pundits strongly believe that the cannabis industry, including players like Willow Biosciences Inc. (CSE: WLLW) and Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF), is hoping that concrete action follows this hearing on the modalities of ending marijuana prohibition.

About CNW420

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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420 with CNW – Group Announces Intention to Initiate Ballot Measure to Legalize Recreational Marijuana in Arkansas

A marijuana education and advocacy group in Arkansas has announced that it plans to file two petitions with the state government so that recreational marijuana can be legalized through a ballot measure. The second petition covers the expungement of marijuana-related convictions.

Drug Policy Education Group (DPEG), the nonprofit planning the petitions, says that they had initially wanted to have both issues (legalization and expungement) in the same initiative. However, their legal advisors recommended that they submit separate petitions since it would be hard for the Attorney General to approve a petition which has a constitutional amendment within another proposed amendment.

Melissa Fults, the Executive Director of DPEG, revealed that they had been planning the petitions for more than a year but they decided to move quickly since the lawmakers seem to be moving towards making it harder for voters to effect changes to the state constitution.

Fults revealed that there was consensus among pro-medical marijuana advocates that the Medical Marijuana Commission (MMC) and the State General Assembly had deliberately delayed the launch of the medical cannabis program after voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2016. Sales started 2.5 years after the constitutional amendment, and sales totaling $2 million had so far been registered.

Fults and other advocates have been trying to see more reforms made to the existing cannabis laws. For example, they tried to expand the list of medical marijuana qualifying conditions to three times its current size but the bill failed to make it beyond committee level during the legislative session that has just ended.

The first petition, named Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment (AAUCA) seeks to give the state’s finance department, through its Alcohol and Beverage Control Division, permission to draft regulations for the recreational marijuana program (cultivation, manufacturing, testing and sales). Under the proposal, adults who are at least 21 years old will be allowed to purchase recreational marijuana in addition to having a maximum of six seedlings and six mature plants for their own use.

The second ballot petition, named the Arkansas Marijuana Expungement Amendment (AMEA), seeks to allow people who were convicted for possessing up to 16 ounces of cannabis to petition a court (which will be set up for this purpose) to be released from prison, have the conviction expunged or request for the restoration of their rights.

Under Arkansas law, any proposed petition for the passing of a new law requires signatures of at least 8 percent of the voters who participated in the most recent elections. A petition for a constitutional amendment requires 10 percent voter support to be approved for inclusion on the ballot.

The nonprofit and its supporters therefore have their work cut out if their petition is to see the light of day. Pundits think that the entire cannabis industry, including participants like VPR Brands LP (OTC: VPRB) and VIVO Cannabis, Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF), will be rooting for the success of the initiatives since adult Arkansans will be able to enjoy the numerous benefits of the adult-use marijuana industry, such as employment.

About CNW420

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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420 with CNW – The Global Cannabis Market is Expected to Be Worth $66.3B by 2025

The global legal cannabis market size is predicted to reach $66.3 billion by the end of 2025. This market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.9 percent within the years covered in the forecast. The increasing legalization of marijuana and the demand for medicinal marijuana is expected to be the key driver of this market growth.

In the coming years, the growing demand for cannabis products in the treatment of various health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, Parkinson’s, arthritis, and several neurological conditions is expected to boost the demand for marijuana as a pharmaceutical product.

Additionally, many countries and jurisdictions have legalized marijuana either for recreational or medicinal purposes. This has had a major adverse effect on the black market of marijuana in those areas, and this is a plus for the legal industry that will see the market expand at the predicted pace. The desire for governments to earn from the legal industry is another factor that will contribute to further legalization and expansion of the marijuana market.

Regionally, the demand for marijuana products is likely to be largely driven by the huge market in the U.S. and Canada, especially for medical marijuana. In contrast, the stringent regulations and rules imposed on the cultivation and sale of medical marijuana in Europe may dampen the growth of the industry on the European continent even if markets like Germany offer great promise.

At the moment, Israel is playing a pivotal role of sharing its technological prowess and cannabis knowledge with other parts of the world. As these markets, such as Thailand the U.K, open and grow, the global market will benefit from these potentially major players in the industry.

The report also points out that in 2018, the cannabis market in the U.S. was valued at $11.9bn and it is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 24.1 percent for the duration of the forecast in the report till the end of 2025.

Cannabis buds or dried flower took the lion’s share of the global marijuana market in 2018 because it accounted for more than half of all the sales recorded in the industry. This segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.6 percent during the forecast period.

Analysts strongly feel that this bullish outlook for the global marijuana industry will spur industry players like TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FRA: TH8) and Therma Bright Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) to ramp up their own growth plans in order to cash in on the global growth of the industry.

About CNW420

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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420 with CNW – Marijuana Justice Coalition Releases Statement on Principles for Ending Marijuana Prohibition

The Marijuana Justice Coalition, an entity that brings together different groups that want to see justice in all matters connected to marijuana, have released a statement in which they outline the principles that the federal government and Congress should bear in mind as they consider bringing an end to the prohibition of marijuana nationwide.

The entities which signed this statement include Human Rights Watch, Center for Law and Social Policy, Immigration Legal Resource Center, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Center for American Progress, Drug Policy Alliance, and NORML, among others.

The group starts by remarking that marijuana prohibition has devastated people’s lives for decades, and that 600,000 people are arrested annually for marijuana-related offenses. However, people of color are disproportionately affected since their chance of being arrested quadruples the chance of a white person being arrested for marijuana possession even if the rates of using the substance don’t vary across the races.

The coalition also points out that minor marijuana possession was the fourth most cited cause for non-citizens being deported from the U.S. The coalition was disturbed that these arrests and deportations continue even when polls show that 68 percent of American voters favor an end to prohibition while 73 percent say that marijuana convictions should be sealed automatically.

The Marijuana Justice Coalition suggests seven principles that Congress should think about and include in any legislation that will bring cannabis prohibition to an end.

For example, they say that marijuana should be descheduled since retaining it in the Controlled Substances Act preserves the criminalization of marijuana and provides a basis for the continued enforcement of prohibitionist laws.

Any law passed should also include provisions that get rid of barriers to public benefits, such as housing, nutritional assistance and other benefits that people are otherwise entitled to or eligible for.

Additionally, the coalition wants to see protections from immigration action against non-citizens who use or participate in the marijuana industry once it is legalized federally. This is aimed at ending the arrests and deportations, as well the denial of entry into the U.S.

Another principle listed by the Marijuana Justice Coalition has language to the effect that a portion of the revenue generated by the federal government from the marijuana industry should be allocated to entities or units of local governments that will reinvest that money in communities or individuals most impacted by the prohibitionist laws, especially for removing the collateral harms (lack of access to education or housing loans, for example) of the war on drugs.

This statement comes at a time when a Congressional sub-committee is receiving testimony from different experts who are expected to shed light on how prohibition can be ended. Analysts opine that the entire cannabis industry, including players like The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) could be very pleased that this influential group has come out so strongly on the issues that will bring justice regarding all things marijuana.

About CNW420

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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