Author: CannabisNewsWire (CNW)

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

420 with CNW – Dutch Government Unveils Plan to Conduct Regulated Cannabis Market Experiment

The Netherlands has had a unique model in which marijuana is neither legal nor illegal yet it is sold in coffee shops. However, the cultivation of cannabis is illegal in the country, so the cannabis products consumed in the licensed coffee shops are obtained from illegal sources. The government wants to end this situation by conducting experiments in the regulated production of cannabis.

To this end, ten cultivators have been selected and each one of them is expected to grow between six and ten different varieties of marijuana. The THC content of that marijuana will be prominently indicated on the product label.

Additionally, about six or ten local authorities will be selected to participate in this experiment. The cannabis grown by the selected cultivators will be exclusively sold in the local authorities that are selected for the program.

This planned experiment was revealed last year when consultations about the program started. The experiment will last for four years, so a final decision on the matter is likely to be made by the government or cabinet that is elected once the current one runs its course.

Already, opposition to this experiment has emerged from different quarters. For example, the umbrella body of the local authorities in the Netherlands (the VNG) says that the government will have a hard time getting local authorities that are willing to participate in the experiment.

This is because those selected areas will have to commit, and ensure that no cannabis from illegal sources is sold within their jurisdictions during the experiment.

Furthermore, the local authorities near borders are also expected to prevent cannabis from being sold to non-residents of Holland to prevent what the government is calling “drug tourism.”

In response to this criticism, the government stated that it would introduce the legally-grown cannabis in phases so that the participating local authorities and coffee shops don’t get rushed into the program.

The Council of State, which is the highest advisory body to the Dutch government, also criticized the cannabis experiment saying that its scope was too small. Just ten local authorities cannot be based upon to get representative information about the whole country, they said.

Nevertheless, the government is pressing on with its plan to announce the ten local authorities that have been selected to participate in this program by the end of this year.

Perhaps this approach of experimenting before passing laws legalizing or outlawing recreational cannabis needs to be adopted by other jurisdictions, such as the U.S. federal government. Such a controlled experiment can bring reliable results instead of passing laws based on preconceived ideas about the perceived effects of recreational cannabis.

Generation Alpha Inc. (OTCQB: GNAL) and Global Consortium Inc. (OTC: GCGX) look forward to the results of the Dutch experiment since those findings will provide valuable lessons that jurisdictions elsewhere can learn from.

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

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420 with CNW – Canadian Army Veterans Switch to Cannabis Instead of Opioids

Veterans Affairs Canada has revealed that marijuana use among veterans in the country has skyrocketed so much that $65 million was spent on weed for veterans last year. This rise in medical cannabis use not surprisingly coincides with a decline in the use of prescription opioids by the veterans.

Previously, injured veterans had to take a cocktail of medications for the different conditions they were suffering from. Major Mark Campbell (Rtd) is one such former soldier who lost both legs during a tour to Afghanistan.

The retired major calls cannabis “magic” because it was the only remedy that could give him some relief from the chronic pain he felt since his final tour of duty. He reveals that he has reduced the prescription opioids that he takes by half from the time that his doctor recommended that he tries medical marijuana.

He added that the fact that so many veterans are turning to medical cannabis shows that it works for them. They aren’t taking it just to be high 24/7, Major Campbell joked.

The statistics of cannabis use among Canadian veterans are staggering. For example, 10,000 veterans used medical marijuana in 2018 alone. This is much higher than the 1,700 who used weed in 2015.

That surge in number explains why the department of Veteran Affairs forked out $65 million last year to reimburse medical cannabis dispensaries that dispensed marijuana to vets. That expenditure on cannabis comes as the reimbursements for prescription painkillers are dropping.

For instance, reimbursements for the prescription opioid fentanyl have reduced by 85 percent in just five years while the reimbursements for oxycodone have registered a 75 percent reduction in the same five-year duration.

Veteran affairs experts say that they have witnessed firsthand the switch by veterans from prescription opioids to marijuana without the accompanying depression and other symptoms of withdrawal from the addictive opioids.

The experts, such as Zachary Walsh (a University of British Columbia psychology professor), say that cannabis also holds massive promise because of its ability to combat different health challenges simultaneously. For instance, the veterans who use cannabis say it helps them fight pain, anxiety and sleep disorders.

While the department of Veteran Affairs in Canada has been spending record-breaking amounts of money on medical marijuana for veterans, advocates say a lot still needs to be done. The advocates say the department has a huge backlog of disability benefits to process and they are woefully understaffed.

Addressing those concerns would go a long way in assuring the former members of the armed forces that their contribution to the nation is valued. Earth Science Tech Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) and FinCanna Capital Corp. (CSE: CALI) (OTCQB: FNNZF) call on the federal government in Canada to fix the kinks in the Veterans Affairs department so that the injured former soldiers can access medical cannabis without any needless hassles.

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420 with CNW – Washington State Passes Medical Cannabis in Schools and Marijuana Testing Bills

Two separate cannabis bills have been passed by the Washington state Senate. One has to do with the use of medical cannabis in schools and another regards testing cannabis products before they get on the market.

The bill on medical cannabis in schools is intended to help students with chronic illnesses for which they are being treated using medical marijuana. The bill will allow those students to get their medical cannabis treatment while at school.

More specifically, the treatment will be administered by a parent, and not a school official or a nurse. This provision was intended to eliminate any liability issues that can arise from the administration of medical cannabis to students.

Secondly, the stipulation that only parents can administer medical cannabis to their children at school will also remove any issues that could have arisen regarding the licensing of the people administering medical cannabis to kids.

The senate bill also bans smoking medical cannabis on school premises. Students can therefore only receive medical cannabis edibles and other forms of marijuana. Cannabis products whose THC content is high are also banned from school premises. Most medical cannabis plants are carefully bred to have a high CBD content and very low, if any, THC.

The bill has a trigger clause that allows schools in Washington State to suspend accepting medical marijuana for students once the federal government threatens to cut off the funding of the schools over the medical marijuana program.

In a related development, the senate also passed a bill to modify the marijuana testing requirements of the state. This bill looks at various testing parameters, such as potency, mold, and pesticides.

The lawmakers observed that the existing law had gaps which allowed players in the cannabis industry to make some claims that are hard to verify on their product labels.

The bill wants to transfer oversight of cannabis testing labs from the Liquor and Cannabis Board to the Department of Ecology.

If the bill becomes law, the ecology department will be expected to table new testing guidelines in 2020 and 2021. These guidelines will stem the tide of facilities springing up and claiming to be cannabis testing labs.

The two bills had already got the nod from the state Assembly. The “yes” vote from the senate therefore means that the modified bills will be sent back to the House so that the lawmakers there can approve the changes made by the senators. Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) welcome the two bills because they will not only inspire confidence in cannabis products but also make it easy for students to receive their medical cannabis treatment while at school.

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420 with CNW – New York City Council Wants to End Employee Drug Testing

As New York State gets closer to legalizing recreational marijuana, the city council of New York has voted in favor of a bill that will ban employers from subjecting prospective employees to pre-employment cannabis tests.

If enacted into law, this bill will be a trailblazer because no other city or municipality in the U.S. has passed such a law explicitly stating that employers are no longer allowed to test job applicants for marijuana before considering them for employment.

The bill contains a clause that it will only be enacted a minimum of one year after the bill has been passed. This lag time is understood to mean that by the time the bill is enacted, the State of New York will have passed its own recreational cannabis legalization law.

Advocates for this bill in the City Council should have no fears because the Mayor of New York City has indicated on several occasions that he will sign the bill when the time comes.

This bill will apply to employees in both the private and public sector. However, some categories of workers would be exempted from the protections of this law. For example, truck drivers, pilots and police officers will still be tested for marijuana.

Similarly, employees who are suspected of smoking marijuana on the job will also not be exempted from this ban on employee testing.

The city council of New York also passed another bill that removes marijuana testing as a condition for parole or probation. This particular bill will be enforced as soon as the Mayor signs it into law.

Analysts say the bill on parole and probation could possibly have a more significant impact than the one on pre-employment cannabis testing. This is because the bill brings a major shift in the dispensing of justice in the City.

According to available statistics, more than half of the companies in New York City perform pre-employment marijuana testing. These tests are expensive, as each test costs approximately $31-$40.

However, the usefulness of such tests has been brought into question since cannabis metabolites can be detected in a sample of blood or urine months after the individual consumed marijuana. Additionally, a positive test result doesn’t give any indication of the frequency of cannabis consumption, or whether the person tested was impaired at the time the test was done.

As more states legalize either recreational or medical marijuana, the likelihood of getting a positive test result increases exponentially and it gets harder to decide what to do with those results since an individual can claim to have consumed cannabis months back when traveling through a state where it is legal.

ChineseInvesters.com (OTCQB: CIIX) and Choom Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO) (OTCQB: CHOOF) applaud the framers of the bill since the law will prevent the needless waste of precious resources on drug tests for a substance that is legal in for medical use two-thirds of the country.

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420 with CNW – Cannabis Inhalers Could Be the Next Asthma and Cancer Pain Medication

Whole smoking is the most common administration method for medical cannabis, not all patients are willing or able to use this method. For example, those who have respiratory challenges like asthma are unable to smoke cannabis because it may aggravate their condition. Terminally ill patients may also find it hard to smoke marijuana as part of their treatment. For such patients, two Israeli companies have teamed up to develop cannabis inhalers through which they can take their medication.

The two firms are Panaxia Pharmaceuticals and Rafa Pharmaceuticals. The two companies are working together to bring marijuana inhalers to the market so that patients have one more way to get their medication.

For now, the companies are targeting asthma and the pain suffered by cancer patients. The companies hope to avail an administration mode that will bring quick relief to cancer pain or respiratory distress resulting from asthma symptoms.

This administration mode may easily gain acceptance in the market for several reasons.

First, inhalers aren’t a new mode of administering medication to patients. Asthma sufferers carry them around, so it would not be hard for them to switch to the cannabis version.

Secondly, it is possible to determine what precise dose of cannabis a patient should receive when using inhalers since the patient can be told to inhale a given number of times at stipulated intervals in order to get the right dose of cannabis into the body. Medical practitioners can therefore easily see cannabis as medicine if its dosage can be controlled.

Additionally, inhalation can provide faster therapeutic outcomes when compared to other modes, such as consuming cannabis edibles. This is precisely why asthma sufferers often carry an inhaler so that they can use it and see results faster when an asthma attack occurs.

At the moment, the innovators are conducting clinical trials together with the Israeli Ministry of Health in order to ascertain whether the product is ready to hit the market, or some kinks remain which need to be resolved.

Meanwhile, the companies have decided to start a marketing drive for the inhalers while the clinical trial is ongoing.

The plan is to avail the inhalers on the Israel market later this year. Only patients with a doctor’s prescription will be able to access the product. It is not yet clear when the two companies will start exporting their invention to the rest of the world. Remember, the Israeli parliament passed a law towards the end of last year allowing companies that have been licensed by the state to export medical marijuana.

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) congratulate the two Israeli companies for finding a solution to administering medical cannabis to patients who are unable to use the modes that are currently available on the market.

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420 with CNW – Cumbersome UK Medical Cannabis Program Forces Parents to Resort to Smuggling

Legally, patients who qualify can access medical cannabis across the UK ever since an enabling law paved the way for this treatment to be available from November 1, 2018. However, the reality is another thing altogether as patients are made to jump endless hoops in order to access medical marijuana through the National Health Service (NHS).

The cumbersome bureaucratic system has compelled many desperate parents of kids who badly need medical marijuana to resort to smuggling the medicine from other countries.

Emma Appleby is one of those parents, and her story is heart-wrenching. She says her daughter, aged nine, suffers from severe epilepsy that causes the child to have more than 300 seizures every single day.

Appleby tried to follow the official channels in order to get her daughter on the medical cannabis that has been documented to help patients like her child. However, she got one flat “no” after another as she presented her case before various medical officials who had to approve her application before her daughter could get medical cannabis.

This rejection pushed Appleby to the edge and last week, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She travelled to the Netherlands and bought medical cannabis oil worth nearly $6,000. This was sufficient to treat her daughter for three months.

However, customs authorities seized the medicine as soon as she landed back home. She is angry that her daughter continues to suffer while the medical professionals and the NHS keep arguing about what sort of evidence is required for one to access medical marijuana.

Emma Appleby has vowed to fight until the seized medication is returned so that her child can be treated. Hers isn’t a farfetched dream, since there is a precedent on this issue.

Earlier this year, another parent, Charlotte Caldwell, also tried to smuggle medical cannabis into the UK but it was intercepted by customs. However, the medicine was quickly returned to her (in less than a week) after her sick son’s health deteriorated and he was admitted. Cannabis had been keeping the boy stable, so when he went without it as the authorities prevented his mother from treating him with the smuggled medicine then his health went downhill rapidly.

Such cases have led medical cannabis supporters in the British parliament to rise up in arms against the implementers of the medical cannabis law who have made it hard for the intended beneficiaries of that law to access badly needed treatment.

The program is so hard to navigate that only 12 patients have got licenses to receive medical cannabis since November 1 last year when the law came into effect. TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) sympathize with the parents who have been forced to try and circumnavigate the law in order to access medical cannabis. The authorities should do whatever is possible to make it easier for patients to get the treatment they need.

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420 with CNW – California’s Cannabis Home Delivery Policy Faces Legal Challenge

Recently, California passed a rule to allow the statewide delivery of cannabis. However, a legal battle between the state and 25 cities is brewing after the cities went to court to have that rule overturned.

When California legalized marijuana, local governments were given the right to decide whether cannabis businesses and sales would be permitted in their jurisdictions and the conditions under which such operations could be permitted.

Many local governments exercised their right and opted to ban recreational cannabis from their jurisdictions. The new rule allowing cannabis retailers to deliver cannabis to “any address” within the state has angered the local authorities and 25 of them have gone to court over the matter since the rule would, in effect, render their position to ban cannabis ineffective.

At the core of this lawsuit is a desire to determine whether it is the state regulators in charge, or the local authorities where marijuana is cultivated and sold.

Marijuana companies and consumers advocated for the passing of the rule allowing the delivery of cannabis in the state because there were large “marijuana deserts” created by the action of local authorities that banned marijuana in their jurisdictions.

Those “deserts” made it difficult for people, especially frail patients, in those areas to access cannabis and yet the products were legal in the state.

Prop 64, the law under which cannabis became legal in California, indicates that cannabis can be delivered anywhere in the state by employees of a licensed cannabis retail business.

The cities that have gone to court therefore seem to be interested in establishing whether that provision overrides their power to restrict cannabis businesses from operating within their jurisdictions.

The state insists that the delivery rule is merely reinforcing what is already in the law while the cities argue that cannabis businesses are trying to circumvent the ban imposed by local governments. The cities insist that the deliveries should only be to the areas where the local governments have consented to the operation of cannabis businesses in their areas.

Currently, California is the largest cannabis market within the U.S., but many residents have been finding it hard to buy marijuana because of the ban imposed by several local authorities. This case is therefore going to be a landmark one since the ruling may make a definitive determination of how the cannabis industry in the state will operate.

The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF), Therma Bright, Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) and the entire marijuana industry are watching with bated breath to see how the court will rule on this latest source of friction between the state and the local governments.

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420 with CNW – New Mexico Makes Sweeping Changes to its Medical Cannabis Law

Ever since the Compassionate Use Act was signed into law in 2007, no major changes had been made to it until last week when Gov. Michele Grisham appended her signature to Senate Bill 406. This bill, now a law, makes numerous changes to the medical cannabis law of New Mexico.

One major change that will take effect on June 14 has to do with medical cannabis in schools. Under the updated law, medical cannabis will be administered on school premises under specific circumstances. For this to happen, parents of kids on medical cannabis will present to the school a detailed treatment plan designed by a medical professional.

However, schools will still reserve the right to accept or outlaw medical marijuana if the school district thinks that their federal funding may be at risk.

The new changes to the law will also allow patients who have a license to grow their own medical marijuana to take their produce to a manufacturer for processing into edibles, concentrates or any other form desired by the patient. This will, of course, be at the expense of the patient.

Previously, only Non-Profit producers of medical marijuana could take it to manufacturers for processing.

Medical cannabis users from other states also have a reason to smile after the governor signed this bill. Out-of-state medical cannabis users will now be able to take part in the medical marijuana program of New Mexico. Previously, only residents could benefit from this program.

The validity period of medical cannabis cards issued by New Mexico has also been extended from one year to three years. This will save the time and expenses associated with renewing a card each year.

It has also been hard for patients to find a place outside their homes where they can consume medical cannabis. The new law intends to put an end to this since it contains provisions for the licensing of consumption areas. The only condition here is that those consumption areas have to be approved by the New Mexico Department of Health.

The law has provisions that cement the protections accorded to patients using medical cannabis. For example, a patient will not be fired from a job just because he or she uses medical cannabis. However, this protection doesn’t save you from being fired if you are under the influence while at your job. Similarly, a parent will not be denied visitation or custody rights on account of being a user of medical cannabis.

The entire cannabis industry, including Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) (OTC: FLWPF), welcomes the updates which have been made to the cannabis law in New Mexico in order to bring the law in line with the evolving needs of the patients using medical marijuana.

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Mainstream Acceptance, Strong Growth Adds to Growing CBD Market

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The CBD market is experiencing explosive growth as a result of growing mainstream acceptance and strong leadership.

The North American CBD market, worth more than $9 billion in 2017, is projected to be worth $47 billion by 2027.
Growth is possible partly through mainstream acceptance, with pressure on a variety of institutions to accept medical CBD.
Leaders are emerging within the CBD and cannabis markets, as leading voices gain recognition for their work.

Wildflower Brands Inc. (OTCQB: WLDFF) (CSE: SUN) (WLDFF Profile), which focuses on health and wellness products, is benefiting from this growth through the establishment of strong distribution deals. Several companies are responding to the growth by expanding operations. Canadian-based Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is adding production capacity in both Canada and Europe. Aphria (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA) is increasing its indoor grow operations. Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) is focusing its development efforts on projects in the United States. And Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) is using a significant outside investment to make strategic growth plans.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Growing Goodness

The CBD market has seen tremendous growth in the past few years, seemingly coming out of nowhere to become a billion-dollar industry. This eye-popping growth has been fueled in large part by CBD’s potential for health and well-being, an area that many researchers are focusing on. Companies have leapt upon the opportunity to offer consumers the benefits associated with cannabis without some of the other issues regularly linked with the drug, including getting users high.

If the past few years have been fruitful, the future looks even brighter for CBD. Soaring sales, growing acceptance within mainstream sports, and the recognized influence of some of the major players within the broader cannabis industry all point to positive movement forward for CBD. And as companies overcome the challenges offered by distributing a previously obscure product to a broad market, the industry looks set to soar.

A Rising Global Market

The growth of the CBD market has so far come mostly out of North America, where the likes of health and wellness company Wildflower Brands Inc. (OTCQB: WLDFF) (CSE: SUN) have launched a variety of compelling CBD products. This geographical growth is rooted mostly in legal status, as CBD is extracted either from cannabis or from its nonhigh-inducing form hemp. Though legalization of cannabis remains variable in the United States, hemp is now legal at a national level in both the United States and Canada, with cannabis growth widely permitted.

As a result, the North American cannabis — including CBD — market, has grown in spectacular fashion. The market was worth $9.2 billion in 2017, and estimates project those numbers to reach $47.3 billion by 2027. Savvy companies, such as Wildflower Brands, are paying attention and taking action.

The European CBD market has seen less expansive growth. Within the EU, the range of processed products that can be made incorporating cannabis is more limited, and there’s been less of a concerted push towards legalization for both CBD and cannabis products. Consequently, market growth there has been less impressive.

But that may be about to change, according to analysis from market intelligence firm the Brightfield Group. The company recently predicted 400% growth in the European CBD market from 2018 to 2023, a massive rise in a short five-year span. It looks as if the CBD boom may be set to go global.

Sports and CBD

Cannabis prohibition isn’t the only thing shaping the CBD market. Society’s acceptance of cannabis and CBD cannot be overlooked as a contributing factor. The rules of entities not typically associated with cannabis have sometimes created obstacles to growth in the cannabis sector. But as the legal market develops, those institutions are shifting their attitudes as well.

The sports industry is an ideal illustration of this. During the war on drugs, many teams, leagues and professional organizations took a firm public stance against cannabis, laying down rules that prevented their players from indulging. The NFL, for example, has strict rules against cannabis consumption. Currently, however, former players are campaigning for a change to those rules, not just to allow players access to the same experiences as other people but to tackle issues specifically related to sports.

Recently, cannabis and CBD-infused products, including those such as Wildflower’s topical treatments, have provided a growing number of pain-treatment choices. Given the injuries so frequently seen in professional sports, pain management is crucial. Sports doctors, trainers, coaches and players are always on the lookout for the most effective treatment options. Currently the ban on cannabis and CBD restricts players from choosing such seemingly effective options, fueling the call for change.

Changes could also have a significant impact on the sponsorship side. Currently, only one professional sports team in the United States has a cannabis-related sponsorship, despite the growing wealth and influence of the industry. As barriers come down, the time may come for CBD, much like other recreational and medical products, to gain attention in the sport and beyond through sponsorship and supporter arrangements.

The Challenge of Delivery

This expansion doesn’t come without some challenges. As the market grows and evolves, CBD companies must find ways to distribute products to a sector that didn’t exist a decade ago. The infrastructure most other industries take for granted is being built from scratch.

Fortunately, the companies moving into this space are nimble and flexible, moving quickly to find solutions as they expand and grow. These solutions often include forming partnerships with other players within the cannabis sector to increase their combined reach. Wildflower has recently done this through a delivery fulfillment agreement with HelloMD, a leading digital healthcare platform for cannabis doctors, consumers and brands. The deal will allow Wildflower to potentially reach more customers through HelloMD’s expansive e-commerce platform.

Such moves should increase opportunities for CBD businesses to accelerate their expansion and reach a broader customer base, reversing years of prohibition. These partnerships may not only boost individual businesses but also add to the rising tide of CBD.

Cannabis Leaders Emerge

Celebrated leaders are starting to emerge at the head of the cannabis industry. Some have come from outside, their fame drawing attention to the industry. Others have come from within.

A recent list of the top 100 figures in the industry includes actor Jim Belushi, former Mexican president Vicente Fox and retired boxer Mike Tyson. The list also includes cannabis executives such as Terry Booth of Aurora and Elizabeth Hogan of GCH.

Wildflower Brands CEO William MacLean was included in the list, thanks to his hands-on approach to sales and marketing. His extensive travels to hospitals in North America have also given him insight into patient experience and the benefits that cannabis and CBD can offer. Combined with years of marketing experience, this impressive background puts MacLean in a strong position to market his brand and build teams of skilled experts for ongoing growth.

Cannabis Companies Reach New Highs

As the cannabis sector expands, many companies are going through periods of growth and rising revenues. Over the past few years, this rocketing trajectory has allowed the cannabis sector to diversify in interesting ways.

Based in Canada, Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is looking to expand through acquisitions. The company recently acquired the largest hemp foods company in the world — Manitoba Harvest — to strengthen its foothold in the exploding hemp market. The company is also making other strategic growth and development moves, including moving into Europe.

Aphria (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA) recently received a license amendment to expand its growing space. Headquartered in Leamington, Ontario, Aphria is working to set the standard for the low-cost production of safe, clean and pure pharmaceutical-grade cannabis at scale, grown in the most natural conditions possible. Aphria is committed to bringing breakthrough innovation to the global cannabis market and has a presence in more than 10 countries across 5 continents.

One of the large Canadian cannabis companies, Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) is looking to expand in the United States following the passing of the 2018 farm bill. Canopy is building a hemp-production facility in New York state and acquired hemp enterprise AgriNextUSA, moves that position the company to make the most of America’s swing towards hemp and become a leading player as the market heats up across North America. Canopy Growth boasts an extensive range of licenses and distribution deals north of the border, giving it a strong base from which to build its U.S. business.

The Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) recently closed a deal with outside company Altria, providing that company with a way into the hemp space. The C$2.4 billion strategic growth investment will provide Cronos with essential resources to expand during its critical phase of market growth in the United States.

With scientific and business innovation being led by a raft of far-sighted and innovative pioneers, the cannabis and CBD industries look set for another decade of incredible growth.

For more information on Wildflower Brands, visit Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF)

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420 with CNW – California Bill Aims to Allow Terminally Ill Patients to Use Marijuana in Hospitals

Senate Bill 305, also called The Compassionate Access to Cannabis Act, has been tabled (this week) before a Senate Committee in California. The bill is intended to allow patients who are terminally ill to access medical marijuana while they are in hospital or other care facilities.

The bill is also referred to as “Ryan’s Law.” Ryan Bartell lost his life to pancreatic cancer at 42 years of age last year. After he was diagnosed with the disease, Ryan received high doses of prescription opiates in the Washington-based facility where he was admitted.

His family wanted to switch to cannabis, but they were dismayed to learn that the hospital where Ryan was admitted could not accept the use of cannabis on its premises. The Cannabis Nurses Network came to the rescue of the family and helped them to move the patient to another hospital where he could receive cannabis medications.

The cannabis medications produced astonishing results because Ryan remained alert and pain-free throughout his final days. In contrast, the opiates he had previously been taking kept him barely conscious and the pain didn’t go away.

Upon the death of Ryan, his father (Jim Bartell) hired a lawyer to help him to draft The Compassionate Access to Cannabis Act in memory of his son. Jim Bartell didn’t want other patients to be restricted to opiates that would deny them the chance to have some quality time with their families in their final days.

The federal Drug-Free Workplace Act compels all institutions that receive funding from the federal government to prevent the distribution and use of controlled substances, such as marijuana.

The bill before California’s senate committee wants to provide a way for medical facilities to put in place mechanisms by which patients receiving end-of-life care can, upon the recommendation of their doctor, access cannabis within the healthcare facility.

The bill will prevent a scenario in which hospitals scramble to find a way to provide medical marijuana. Instead, they will plan ahead so that once a patient or their doctor requests for medical cannabis, then the hospital would simply activate the system that they had established proactively.

If enacted, the bill will play a big role in bringing medical marijuana into the mainstream as far as the field of medicine is concerned. The stigma against medical marijuana can reduce drastically with this one measure.

VPR Brands, LP (OTC: VPRB) and Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF) earnestly hope that Ryan’s Law is passed so that medical cannabis takes its rightful place among the treatments that patients can receive while in hospital.

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