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

Demand for CBD Places Power in Hands of Extraction Providers

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Extraction technology plays a crucial part in the production of cannabidiol (CBD) from hemp.

Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) (SGMD Profile), a company already established in the hydroponic equipment business, is making plans to add extraction technology to its repertoire. Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) has been researching new medical applications for CBD and related chemicals — medicines for which extraction will be critical. KushCo Holdings Inc. (OTCQX: KSHB) has moved from providing support services to CBD-related companies to running its own store and has recently bolstered its leadership team for further growth. Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. (CSE: HARV) (OTCQX: HRVSF) has expanded swiftly over the past six years, growing from a single operation to a presence in five U.S. states. And in a boost to CBD’s public profile, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB) has teamed up with UFC to research the application of CBD and related treatments for mixed martial artists.

  • Extraction technology is not normally owned by the cultivators growing the crops.
  • The technology uses a range of different methods, utilizing substances such as ethanol and carbon dioxide.
  • The need to extract CBD oils allows extractors to take a substantial portion of hemp harvest profits.
  • Soaring demand for CBD has added to the profits for those providing extraction equipment.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Turning Hemp Into CBD

In the modern market, CBD is money, a sure seller that can be easily turned into cash by companies with even halfway capable supply chains and marketing. The incredible popularity of this hemp-derived substance has led to its use in medicines, foods, vaping oils, cosmetics and anything else manufacturers can think of.

But just as money doesn’t grow on trees, CBD doesn’t grow in the form of a pure oil that cultivators can just pick and put in a packet. The valuable commodity has to be extracted from hemp plants, a sophisticated process that involves expensive equipment and technical expertise. The need for that extraction work is fueling an important subsector of the hemp industry.

Extraction Efforts

The CBD industry is a complex one, with a range of companies providing different services at different places in the process. Key players include farmers and cultivators, who get most of the press attention; product developers and brand managers, who draw commercial attention onto products; and of course behind-the-scene companies such as Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD), which provides cultivation supplies. Perhaps the most overlooked element of the process — extraction — may be one of the most important in adding value.

All CBD extraction is achieved using a type of solvent. This chemical is mixed with the prepared hemp plants in carefully controlled conditions within specialist machines. The solvent attaches to the CBD and draws it out of the plant. The machinery then separates the solvent-CBD mix from the rest of the hemp remains, and then extracts the CBD from the solvent. The aim is to complete this extraction process as quickly, efficiently and affordably as possible. The ideal extraction system draws all of the CBD from the plant, though it is seldom possible to get 100%; even high-grade ethanol extraction equipment works at 98.5%.

A number of different solvents are used. Carbon dioxide, butane and ice water are among the options. The one favored by many companies, including Sugarmade, is ethanol extraction, in which alcohol detaches CBD from hemp as easily as it extracts common sense from a student on a Saturday night.

Because CBD is essentially useless until it has been extracted, a delicate balance exists in the relationship between farmers and extractors. Growing a crop of hemp takes months, during which the plants are carefully fed, watered and monitored to ensure the best possible harvest. The valuable crop is then taken to the extraction company, which might process the entire crop in a matter of days. Right now, extraction technology is in short supply and high demand, so the extraction companies can take up to 60% of the CBD or its value as a processing fee — a highly profitable outcome for the minority of the work.

This imbalance appears certain to change. While the number of hemp growers has risen dramatically recently, the number of extraction operations has not. Clearly, the time has come for extraction operations to catch up, both in the number available and in the scope of their processing. This obvious need is what Sugarmade is working on as the savvy company makes a move into the market.

As with its previous work in cultivation, Sugarmade isn’t going into extraction itself — at least not yet. Instead, the company is preparing to provide state-of-the-art extraction equipment. Move is designed to allow more companies to get involved in this lucrative piece of the CBD trade. As more companies get involved and existing operations grow larger, supply should push down prices, meaning a better deal for cultivators.

A change looks to be imminent in the CBD industry. But how did this extraction bottleneck arise?

The CBD Rush

The answer lies in the extraordinary growth of the CBD industry. Barely even a novelty talking point a decade ago, CBD has seen its profile soar in recent years. In the health and well-being sector in particular, CBD has become the new wonder ingredient, the elixir that customers want and retailers are eager to provide. The key component is used to tackle problems such as pain, insomnia and anxiety, and is also used in relaxing vaping oils and edibles.

CBD was given a boost in December when the U.S. government legalized its production on the federal level. Previously produced under state-level licenses, CBD was grown in an uncomfortable legal area, with federal constraints making business complicated. With the change in the legal status of this crop, cultivators are making the most of a CBD rush.

But despite the best efforts of companies such as Sugarmade, supply of CBD isn’t keeping up with demand. It’s been less than a year since laws making production easier were introduced in both the United States and Canada, and the industry is working feverishly to catch up. In many areas, companies can’t obtain enough CBD to keep up with what their customers want.

This supply-vs.-demand problem is exacerbating the power imbalance between cultivators and extractors. Working to meet the mounting demand — a demand that appears certain to only continue its upward trend—cultivators are eager to obtain CBD as quickly as possible and move it on to market. This forces them to accept the rates offered by extractors. But fortunately, as is often the case, the trend is forcing change.

The same legal changes that have created greater demand and greater cultivation make it easier for companies to move into or expand their extraction business. Supply chains are becoming better established both for CBD and for the equipment involved in its processing. The provision of more extraction equipment, regardless of the solvent used, will remove the bottleneck and allow the CBD to flow free.

CBD Spreads

The growth of the CBD market has both encouraged and been driven by the success of companies working in the field.

Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) is one of the largest companies working with CBD, in part thanks to a multibillion-dollar investment from drinks manufacturer Constellation Brands. Already a leading player in the market before the Constellation deal, Canopy Growth has seen its profile and business go from strength to strength. But while that deal drew attention to the recreational side of the company’s work, and it has recently made a move in skin care through acquisition of This Works, Canopy Growth’s core focus is still on medicine. The company’s research division recently provided an update on its work, which includes the development of a whole range of medicines that include CBD.

Like Sugarmade, KushCo Holdings Inc. (OTCQX: KSHB) first moved into the CBD space as a support company, providing packaging solutions. The company has since moved to a more central position, with an online store for CBD and related products. And to ensure continued high-quality leadership, the company recently bolstered its leadership team.

Founded by a former lawyer in 2013, Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. (CSE: HARV) (OTCQX: HRVSF) provides CBD-related products in the United States. The company has shown an eagerness to expand, already spreading from a single location to five states in the space of six years. Harvest also has a focus on education and information that reflects the community-minded approach of many businesses within the sector.

One of the companies that has seen the greatest growth is Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), which has profited from Canada’s liberal drug laws. Aurora has become heavily involved in research, looking at new treatments that can be produced with CBD. The company has even partnered with mixed martial arts company UFC to explore how its products and discoveries can help consumers.

All of these companies rely on extraction technology to create products that use CBD. Growth in the extraction industry and better provision of its technology will provide a boost for many of them as the CBD market grows.

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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420 with CNW – New Technologies Offer Solutions to Cannabis Dosing Challenges

One of the biggest issues that has stood in the way of medical marijuana patients and healthcare professionals has been the challenge of how to determine the precise dosage to be administered in order to attain the required therapeutic effects. Additionally, it has been hard to find cannabis products whose potency is uniform in order to trigger repeatable outcomes in patients. To compound matters even further, CBD normally brings therapeutic effects at a certain specific concentration. Anything greater or lower than that optimum level reduces its efficacy. The marijuana industry has responded to these challenges by getting more clinical and scientific.

Stratos, a cannabis company based in Colorado, is one of those entities which have stepped up to provide medical cannabis products that are consistent in terms of potency. Their products are so precise that splitting a tablet in half is a guaranteed way to take just half of the dose indicated on the product label.

Charlotte Payton, the VP of Development and Co-founder of Stratos, revealed that the company leveraged the roots of its founders in the medical arena to find ways to bring the consistency which is a given in other industries to the medical cannabis space. She wondered why people would easily get reliability and consistency in pharmaceuticals but not cannabis. Strato’s solution addressed that issue.

GoFire is another healthcare technology company which is also blazing a trail in finding solutions to deliver consistency in the medical cannabis industry. One of the products which they have brought to market is called the GoFire Inhaler. The inhaler’s unique convection heating system, precision dosing mechanism and medical-grade materials and design have just been patented.

The inhaler made by GoFire was designed for medicines extracted from plants, so patients can use this product to take cannabis flower and concentrates. Buyers of the inhaler also get an app which allows them to track and document their dosage preferences in addition to connecting with a community of other users of the GoFire Inhaler.

The work of these two companies has been welcomed by both medical professionals and patients. One such professional who was full of praises for the inhaler is Denver-based Dr. Michael Keller. He said such devices help to ease some of the concerns that members of the medical community have about prescribing medical marijuana products. The possibility of recommending exactly how much a patient should consume at a given frequency brings medical marijuana closer to what is expected of any therapeutic product.

VPR Brands LP (OTC: VPRB) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) applaud the innovations introduced by Stratos and GoFire since these technologies will bring medical cannabis closer to becoming a mainstream way to treat or manage different health conditions.

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 – First Cannabis Charity Launches in Canada

Hope for Health, a Toronto-based charity, has been launched as the first cannabis charity registered by the Canadian government. The charity is registered in the category of organizations whose intention is the “advancement of education.”

Hope for Health says it aims to enable patients to manage their health effectively while also giving them the autonomy to choose which cannabis products and cannabis producers to deal with.

The charity kick-started its operations amidst fears that medical marijuana patients are getting reduced attention as more attention is directed towards the recreational market. This is seen in the rising medical marijuana product prices. Access points for medical cannabis are also reducing while a new excise tax on marijuana prices has also been imposed on medical marijuana products. This excise tax can only be waived on the product price if the company selling medical marijuana products opts to absorb that cost.

To alleviate this increased cost of medical marijuana products, Hope for Health has decided to avail a renewable monthly stipend to patients who meet the eligibility criteria of the charity. This stipend is conditioned upon the patient purchasing their medical marijuana products from one of the 170 producers licensed by the Canadian federal government.

Hope for Health intends to take on at least 150 patients during its first year of operation. More patients will be onboarded each year and the number will vary depending on the resources available as well as the level of interest displayed by patients.

The charity doesn’t only have its eyes on patients. Hope for Health plans to create and disseminate educational materials to health care professionals about the medicinal benefits of marijuana. This will be done in conjunction with creating partnerships with research organizations, academic institutions and medical associations.

Hope for Charity is the brainchild of Auxly Cannabis Group, an entity that provides financing to cannabis cultivators. Auxly Cannabis Group has committed itself to availing funding that they are calling “a cornerstone donation.” The funds will be used to get the charity on its feet.

Hugo Alves, the director of Hope for Health, remarked that the idea of the charity was conceived three years ago. The founders felt that every entity which had reaped from the cannabis industry in the country would rally around the idea and support its operations.

The founders also strongly felt that the leadership and management of the charity should be independent if Hope for Health is to retain its appeal to all players in the industry. To this end, they selected Dr. Jenna Valleriana as the Executive Director of the charity.

Dr. Valleriana is a respected cannabis policy expert who heads the National Institute for Cannabis Health and Education. She recently published a cannabis education toolkit which was used by two other organizations to design digital tools aimed at educating students and parents about marijuana.

TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FRA: TH8) and Therma Bright Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) commend the people behind Hope for Health and wish them all the best in their noble undertaking.

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 – NBA Commissioner Says the League’s Cannabis Rules Could Be Updated

After the NFL announced that it was studying the possibility of using marijuana as a pain treatment for players, the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has revealed that they too are considering the matter.

While the Commissioner was non-committal about when the rule changes would be made, he did admit that the matter was up for discussion with NBAPA (NBA Players Association).

Any changes to the marijuana rules of the NBA can only come as an inclusion in the collective bargaining agreement signed with the players association. However, the commissioner says that the players haven’t reached a consensus on the matter, so more discussions are needed to get everyone on board.

Commissioner Silver revealed that some players are concerned that if a teammate gets on the court while high on marijuana, such as player could let down the entire team by not giving the game their all.

Silver also said that in his opinion, there was nothing wrong with a player taking some cannabis as a way of winding down after a major game. To him, this is no different than taking a drink, and he feels that the NBA hasn’t moved with the times in permitting such social use of marijuana.

Silver is also open to looking into the medical uses, such as pain relief, of cannabis for NBA players. This is major attitude shift from the position he held two years ago when he told the press that he saw no need to amend the NBA policies to accommodate medical marijuana.

While the commissioner hasn’t made any firm commitments regarding reforming the cannabis policy of the league, the good news is that he is open to the possibility. However, any changes to be made are likely to take a few more years before coming into force since the current collective bargaining agreement with the association of players is still in force until the 2023/24 season comes to an end.

All the same, the fact that the NBA and other sports associations are looking into the potential benefits of marijuana is good news to advocates since such associations have always been notoriously conservative.

The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) hope that the NFL updates its marijuana rules next year as is widely expected. This will open the way for other associations to follow this lead and update their own policies as well so that players enjoy the benefits of 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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420 with CNW – Cancer Patient Launches Legal Challenge to Michigan Cannabis Testing Rules

Sherry Hoover, a retired nurse suffering from stage 4 cancer, has taken Michigan to court to challenge its newly imposed medical marijuana testing rules. The lawsuit filed in a federal court seeks to obtain a temporary restraining order so that the plaintiff can continue accessing her marijuana-derived medicine which has since become hard to obtain due to the new testing rules imposed by the state regulator.

The 57-year old plaintiff was diagnosed with mastocytosis leukemia in 2011. She used several prescription drugs, such as fentanyl patches and Norco, with limited effect until she discovered that medical marijuana could improve her appetite, alleviate her pain and enable her to sleep better.

Before April 1 this year, LARA (Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) permitted untested medical marijuana products to be sold in medical marijuana dispensaries. However, those untested tinctures, oils and other medicinal products made by registered caregivers would no longer be sold without being tested once the April 1 deadline passed.

The testing rules have since taken effect, and Hoover is finding it hard to access the products which have been instrumental in giving her a better quality of life. The lawsuit she filed on Wednesday (June 5) seeks to compel the state to extend the commencement of enforcing the testing rules to December 31.

She argues that the current restrictions have resulted in stock-outs in the only two licensed medical marijuana dispensaries which carried the products she uses. Continuing to enforce the testing rules may therefore leave her with no choice but to resort to the black market for her medicine, a step she doesn’t want to take.

The suit states that the four licensed testing facilities cannot cope with the demand for testing services from licensed cultivators, manufacturers and caregivers. Additionally, the added steps, such as transporting the untested products to the testing facilities and then hiring transport firms permitted to carry tested products to medical marijuana dispensaries prolongs the duration needed to get tinctures and other medical marijuana products made by caregivers to the dispensing points where patients can buy them.

In short, Hoover argues in her suit that the state is violating her rights of access to medical marijuana products and yet she is licensed and duly authorized to use such products.

This isn’t the first time that Sherry Hoover is suing the state. Last year, she successfully sued LARA to compel it to extend deadline imposed for unlicensed dispensaries to get the necessary permits or close by December 31, 2018. Her lawsuit was successful and the deadline was extended to April 1 this year.

Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) longs for the day when all the kinks in the way medical marijuana is regulated are fixed so that these seemingly endless deadline extensions and lawsuits in Michigan come to an end.

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 – 4 Roadblocks in the Way of Marijuana Franchises

Franchising is one of the giant economic forces in the U.S. given the fact that this business model generated approximately $451 billion in 2018. Are we about to see cannabis enterprises built upon this model? Anyone intending to enter cannabis franchising needs to think about and find remedies to the following major bottlenecks.

Conflicts Between State and Federal Laws

Despite the legalization of marijuana for recreational or medical use in various states across the U.S., cannabis remains a Schedule 1 substance at the federal level. This creates major legal issues for businesses which wish to operate franchises in the cannabis industry. For example, a franchise owner cannot ship products across state lines in order to sell the excess products from one state in another state where supply is limited. This makes the possibility of prices nose-diving a real concern since gluts inevitably result in plummeting prices.

Tax Issues

According to the federal tax code, marijuana businesses aren’t eligible for any deductibles on the costs that they incur during the execution of their business activities. For example, marijuana businesses cannot deduct the cost of buying business premises and yet other enterprises which don’t transact in Schedule 1 substances can claim tax deductions on this business expense. These tax disadvantages mean that cannabis businesses will struggle to be profitable unless they can find ways to be super-efficient regarding non-deductible expenses.

Limited Consumer Awareness

Marijuana has been prohibited for long and certain stereotypes about the substance still exist even where prohibition has ended. Cannabis franchisees would therefore have to do a lot to educate their prospective customers in order to make sales on a consistent basis. This added challenge of performing customer education on an ongoing basis isn’t faced by franchises in other industries, such as the fast foods industry.

Limited Investor Interest

Currently, investors aren’t too eager to put their money in an industry which still faces legal uncertainties. This explains why US-based marijuana companies are generally undervalued when compared to their Canadian-based counterparts, for example. While this limited investor appeal exists, any cannabis franchisers that set up shop may struggle to attract investors unless the legal space changes for the better.

In the true entrepreneurial spirit, every challenge presents a business opportunity. The cannabis franchise space is therefore open for the taking for those individuals who devise ways to bring a franchise concept into the cannabis space in a way that ensures that investors will earn a return despite the challenges above. Sproutly Canada Inc. (CSE: SPR) (OTCQB: SRUTF) (FRA: 38G) and SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) hope that enterprising individuals will take up this challenge and devise franchises which will spur the growth of the cannabis industry even more.

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 – Congressional Report Raises Issues on Marijuana Impaired Driving

A Congressional research body has released a report whose findings bring into question a common assumption which has always been made by legislators that the legalization of marijuana leads to more accidents on roads due to impairment.

The experts, who were instructed by Senate and Congress to study the issue of impaired driving, didn’t find any conclusive evidence that marijuana can cause a driver to be impaired.

While law enforcement agencies have tried and true tools to identify people who are driving while impaired by alcohol, developing similar tools for dealing with marijuana driving impairment has proved to be very challenging.

The problem isn’t just the lack of appropriate technology. Additional questions also exist regarding how much THC can cause impairment and how that impairment is caused. The CRS (Congressional Research Service) writes in its report that while laboratory tests have proved that one can be impaired after consuming marijuana, conflicting results were found when studies were done to ascertain the degree of added risk of fatal crashes resulting from marijuana consumption.

Both opponents and advocates of legalizing marijuana agree that a lasting solution should be found to the issue of how to detect marijuana-impaired driving. However, the experts still doubt whether it will be possible to develop appropriate technology to detect impaired driving since what is currently available can only test whether someone has recently consumed cannabis.

It is remarkable that the Congressional report mentions several times that it isn’t clear cut that marijuana consumption is associated with a heightened risk of traffic accidents. This runs counter to the assumption which has been commonly held by Congress that when marijuana restrictions are loosened, there will be a rise in traffic accident fatalities.

This line of thinking also appeared in the wording of a recent House Appropriations Committee report in which funds were allocated to law enforcement agencies to identify drivers impaired by marijuana as a way of reducing the fatal accidents resulting from the increasing legalization of marijuana by states around the country.

Different researchers have reported that fatalities on the road don’t increase after marijuana has been legalized by a state. However, this doesn’t alter the reality that both sides on the marijuana legalization issue advise against driving after one has consumed cannabis.

The deputy director of NORML explained how hard it is to determine impairment from marijuana. He says that the effects on the psychomotor system are normally less acute and take a shorter time if one consumes marijuana, unlike the opposite case after alcohol consumption. Furthermore, THC remains detectable for a longer time, so a positive test doesn’t prove that one is impaired or consumed cannabis recently.

The Congressional researchers offer a number of recommendations on what Congress can do in light of the information gathered by the researchers. One recommendation is that more research should be done to determine whether a quantitative standard is feasible when determining cannabis impairment.

Redfund Capital Corp. (CSE: LOAN) (OTCQB: PNNRF) (Frankfurt: O3X4), Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQB: PLPRF) welcomes the report of the Congressional Research Service because it helps to dispel some of the misconceptions about marijuana use.

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 – Rhode Island Invites Blockchain Tech to Help Track Medical Marijuana

According to a notice published on Monday (June 3), Rhode Island hopes that blockchain technology can be harnessed to help the state to track medical marijuana and identify illegal actors.

The state has called on blockchain technology developers to submit concepts from which the state will select a provider to develop a system that is customized for the medical marijuana program in Rhode Island.

In a press release, the department of Business Regulation revealed that the call for concepts is a challenge to the blockchain companies to showcase their value to government institutions by testing blockchain technology applications within government entities.

The notice published was categorical in stating that Rhode Island was seeking technology which would increase the visibility of the medical marijuana industry from seed to sale so that opportunities for fraud and abuse could be reduced.

Additionally, blockchain technology could also assist different government agencies in designing an authoritative record of the chain-of-custody during the gathering of evidence while criminal investigations are conducted. This is particularly needed for the enforcement of marijuana laws.

Rhode Island looks at this as the first step towards understanding how blockchain technology can facilitate the improvement of government processes now and in the future.

Bijay Kumar, Rhode Island’s CIO added that he was “excited to see the possibilities regarding the ways in which this technology is helping public and private entities become more innovative in security, business and other areas.”

Developing new technologies to track cannabis sales has taken on an increasing level of urgency given that financial institutions are reluctant to work with marijuana businesses for fear that the federal government will take enforcement action against them. A reliable tracking system can provide assurance that only state-legal marijuana is passing through the system, and this can provide a basis for banks and other institutions to defend themselves.

Jared Moffat, Marijuana Policy Project’s political director in Rhode Island, welcomed the move by the state government to explore new ways to make the medical cannabis program more efficient.

While the notice doesn’t make any reference to medical marijuana banking, Rhode Island seems interested in using the encryption of the blockchain technology system to track the transactions which take place within the industry. This will provide a trail for regulators to confirm that the companies are paying the requisite taxes and no marijuana from licensed growers is leaking out to the black market.

Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX.V: OGI) (NASDAQ: OGI) and Net Element Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) commend Rhode Island for being forward-looking and seeking to deploy blockchain technology in the nascent medical marijuana 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.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com

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420 with CNW – Bipartisan Governors Write to Congress Calling for Marijuana Policy Reform

The governors of 12 states across the U.S. penned a letter to leaders in Congress on Monday (June 3) urging Congress to pass bipartisan legislation which will make it possible for states to pass their own marijuana laws and implement them without any fear that the federal government will interfere in their jurisdictions.

In their letter, the Democratic and Republican governors noted that the majority of the states in the country have taken steps to legalize marijuana either for recreational or medical use. The governors also stated that state legislators had gone to great lengths to draft and pass regulations which would protect consumers, eliminate illegal marijuana sales, promote public safety and regulate the nascent marijuana industry.

Despite those great lengths to which states have gone to ensure that the emerging cannabis industry grows in a responsible way, those states only have Congressional funding riders as safeguards against federal interference in the marijuana industry. Such riders aren’t sufficient, and the governors want Congress to codify those protections into law.

The governors make specific reference to the STATES (Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States) Act. The governors describe this bipartisan bill as a logical step for the federal government to take since the bill would protect marijuana businesses which are operating in accordance with state law.

They also write that the STATES Act doesn’t seek to take sides regarding whether cannabis should or shouldn’t be legal. The Act simply recognizes that states have a right to pass and implement laws which respond to the needs of their people.

In short, the governors write that the STATES Act would make the federal government a partner of the constituent states which make up the union instead of being an impediment. The governors would wish to see the federal government constantly seeking to be a partner of the different states.

The governors of Colorado, California, Maryland, North Dakota, Massachusetts, New York, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington State signed the letter.

This letter is similar to another which was also signed by 12 governors. The version sent last year didn’t have Vermont and Utah as signees but it included New Jersey and Alaska (whose governors didn’t sign this latest letter).

The letter from the bipartisan governors adds to the long list of groups which have written to Congress calling for federal marijuana law reform. The other groups include the association of banking institutions, the association of cities and local authorities as well as attorneys general.

For how long will the federal government remain impervious to all these calls? Nabis Holdings (CSE: NAB) (OTC: INNPF) (FRA: 71P) and MustGrow Biologics Corp. hope it doesn’t take much longer than it already has for the federal government to listen and act upon the voices calling for cannabis law reform.

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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CannabisNewsBreaks – HempFusion Progressing with $30M Funding Initiative

On Tuesday, HempFusion, a leading U.S. hemp-based CBD company with distribution to over 3,400 retailers and an expanding product catalog, announced its engagement of RADD Capital, a partner of NetworkNewsWire, for advisory services related to its 2019 private funding initiative of more than $30 million. HempFusion co-founder and President Jason Mitchell noted in the release that the capital raised through the initiative is expected to be “a key building block to (HempFusion’s) planned growth and help accelerate (its) expansion throughout the United States and global markets including Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East and South America.” HempFusion is currently targeting over 26,000 new retail outlets, including conventional grocers, drug and convenience stores, vitamin and fitness shops and doctor and practitioner networks, in a global CBD industry that’s forecast by Brightfield Group to reach $22 billion by 2022.

Per the company’s website, HempFusion has been credited with creating a new category with the introduction of hemp-based nutritional supplements. Its product line is all natural, plant-based and predicated on the “amazing health benefits of (the company’s) proprietary Whole Food Hemp Complex derived from full-spectrum nutritional hemp as well as other botanicals and naturally occurring dietary hemp phytocompounds.”

To view the full press release, visit http://cnw.fm/F9IoL

About HempFusion

HempFusion is a Life Sciences company engaged in advancements of the therapeutic benefits of hemp-based CBD products, through research, collaboration, sourcing, innovation, extraction, developing and marketing of products targeting Endocannabinoid System support. The Company’s primary focus is formulating and marketing consumer-specific product lines across multiple channels and distribution platforms. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.HempFusion.com

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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