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 – Why Ohioans Aren’t Rushing to Buy Medical Cannabis

Medical cannabis has been available in Ohio for about three months now, but the latest data shows that the 20,000 people registered on the program haven’t displayed much eagerness to buy all the cannabis available at dispensaries. Here are some reasons that could explain this lack of buyer enthusiasm.

High Product Prices

One major concern for Ohio medical cannabis patients is the high prices being levied for medical cannabis products. On average, an ounce of cannabis costs $470. This is twice the cost of medical cannabis in Michigan.

Why is Michigan significant in this case? Patients from Ohio and other states can use their medical cannabis cards to buy medical marijuana in Michigan. It is therefore regrettable that the products in Ohio are so expensive.

This high cost can be attributed to the high licensing fees levied, as well as the rigid product packaging and testing requirements imposed by the state.

Dispensaries Aren’t Evenly Distributed

Ohio licensed 56 dispensaries. So far, only nine have opened their doors to patients. Unfortunately, all those nine are found on the Eastern side of the state.

Patients must therefore drive for several hours in order to find a dispensary and buy the products they need. Obviously, not many of the patients have felt the urge to endure those long drives.

Sales may therefore remain lukewarm until more dispensaries open closer to the patients who need the products available.

Unfavorable Possession Rules

Another major factor that can explain why patients aren’t buying as much medical cannabis as the state would expect is that the rules restrict a patient to just 90-days’ worth of cannabis. However, the clock starts ticking on those 90 days from the time you get your prescription from a doctor.

This means that every day you take without buying the maximum amount of cannabis allowed reduces the quantity that you will buy when you eventually visit a dispensary.

For example, a patient who goes to a dispensary 60 days after getting their prescription can only buy medical cannabis that can last a maximum of 30 days.

Furthermore, the high cost of cannabis means that patients may find it hard to buy a large amount of cannabis during one visit to a dispensary.

A Limited Range of Products

The law bars patients from smoking medical marijuana. However, only dried flower is currently available in the dispensaries that have so far opened.

This means that patients who want cannabis oil, tinctures, patches, lotions and edibles cannot spend any money on cannabis products until what they want is available.

All these issues show that the medical marijuana program has gotten off to a rocky start. Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE: VIDA) (OTCQX: PHVAF) and Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQB: PLPRF) hope that the medical cannabis program matures quickly so that each patient can get what they want at an affordable cost.

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 – Proposed Bill Aims to Make Illinois Medical Cannabis Program Permanent

A bill sponsored by Rep. Bob Morgan seeks to make the pilot medical program in Illinois permanent. The bill also has provisions to include more qualifying conditions for the program.

The pilot program was approved in 2013 and lawmakers expanded as well as extended its duration to mid-2020.

Under the existing program, patients who suffer from one or more of the 40 qualifying conditions can buy a maximum of 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis every fortnight as long as a doctor approved their enrollment on the program.

It should be noted that law enforcement agencies haven’t raised any red flags about the program. For example, no reports have emerged of people using medical cannabis when they aren’t licensed to do so.

In contrast, the program has received a lot of praise from patients because those patients have been able to wean themselves off of stronger prescription drugs as a result of using medical cannabis.

Currently, about 58,000 people are registered on the medical marijuana program. However, this number is small when compared to the number of patients on the medical cannabis programs of other states.

One of the reasons for the low enrollment in Illinois is that chronic pain isn’t one of the qualifying conditions for which someone can enroll on the program.

This is set to change if Morgan’s bill becomes law. Chronic pain, migraines, autism, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis and several other conditions will be added to the list of qualifying conditions.

The bill also wants to make it possible for doctors to receive payment from patients or medical marijuana businesses. This payment is necessary because a lot of responsibility is given to doctors and yet no compensation was prescribed for the services that they offer to keep the medical marijuana program running.

However, the bill clearly states that doctors will not be paid for making medical cannabis referrals. Instead, they can be paid for conducting medical cannabis research.

Notably, the bill tabled by Rep. Morgan also wants to put in place mechanisms for veterans to access medical marijuana. Veterans need special attention in this regard because marijuana is still illegal under federal law, so Veterans Affairs doctors cannot prescribe it.

Morgan’s bill wants medical marijuana to be available to veterans as an alternative to the opioids that the veterans take to deal with chronic pain.

If all goes according to plan, the bill introduced by Morgan may be passed by fall. MustGrow Biologics Corp. and Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) hope that Rep. Bob Morgan’s bill sails through so that patients aren’t left wondering what will happen to them once the pilot medical cannabis program runs its course.

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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Cannabis Conference: Leading Cultivation and Dispensary Education Event Is Fast Approaching

In just 4 weeks, industry leaders will gather in Las Vegas for Cannabis Conference. March 31 is the final day to register for the conference online.

 WHO: Produced by the award-winning publications Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary, Cannabis Conference 2019 is the only North American conference focused exclusively on cultivators and dispensaries. Conference attendees will have the ability to get up close and personal with many of the brightest minds in the cannabis industry.

WHAT: Cannabis Conference 2019 will host 3,000+ industry professionals from 26 different countries. 40+ sessions will be led by 90+ cultivation, retail and business experts; and a sold-out expo floor spanning 70,000 square feet will showcase over 125 technology and solutions providers serving cannabis cultivation and dispensary businesses.

WHERE: Cannabis Conference will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Westgate Resort & Casino, 3000 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109.

WHEN: April 1-3, 2019. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on Monday 4/1. All-Access Pass registrants will gain special admission to pre-show workshops on a variety of topics including expansion and franchising, biological control, supply chain management, extraction facility design, cannabis disease prevention and more.

WHY: Cannabis Conference 2019 will bring together more than 90 world-class speakers, including Jeremy Plumb, John Cochran, Leif Abel, Laura Day, Scott Reach, Wanda James, Sjoerd Broeks and more. In-depth educational programming completely focused on cultivation and/or dispensary business’s success will be offered. There will be daily networking and opportunities where attendees can personally meet with professionals from both ends of the supply chain. Pre-show workshops and post-show video access will be available to All-Access Pass registrants. The expo floor at Cannabis Conference will be more than 70,000 square feet and will showcase the industry’s latest cutting-edge technologies and solutions. This premier industry event will offer unprecedented insights into the dynamic global cannabis industry at a time when business growth and legalization are intersecting in new markets almost every day.

Note to Editors: Press passes are available. Interviews can be arranged with the editors of Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary (which produce the Cannabis Conference), as well as with conference speakers. Speaker headshots and images from previous Cannabis Conference events are available.

Media contact: Brooke Bogdan, 216-393-0332 or bbogdan@gie.net. Find more information on Cannabis Business Times’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. More information is also available on Cannabis Dispensary magazine’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Visit www.cannabisconference.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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This article contains Third-Party Content submitted by third parties, including articles submitted through the CNW Premium Partnership Program. All opinions, statements and representations expressed by such third parties are theirs alone and do not express or represent the views and opinions of CNW or its affiliates and owners. Content created by third parties is the sole responsibility of such third parties, and CNW does not endorse, guarantee or make representations concerning the accuracy and completeness of all third-party content. You acknowledge that by CNW providing you with this internet portal that makes accessible to you the ability to view third-party content through the CNW site, CNW does not undertake any obligation to you as a reader of such content or assume any liability relating to such third-party content. CNW expressly disclaims liability relating to such third-party content. CNW and its members, affiliates, successors, assigns, officers, directors, and partners assume no responsibility or liability that may arise from the third-party content, including, but not limited to, responsibility or liability for claims for defamation, libel, slander, infringement, invasion of privacy and publicity rights, fraud, or misrepresentation, or an private right of action under the federal securities laws of the United States or common law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CNW reserves the right to remove third-party content at any time in its sole discretion.

CBD Surges into Mainstream with New Products, Celebrity Endorsements and Emerging Consensus about Benefits

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Analysts at Brightfield Group see CBD (cannabidiol) gobbling up a sizeable chunk of a projected $100 billion nutraceuticals 2022 U.S. market.

  • Growing CBD market could eclipse broader cannabis market
  • Consensus about health benefits backed by clinical work, personal endorsements lead to heightened interest
  • CBD found in vast array of new products

As CBD moves into the mainstream, opportunities are likely to grow exponentially for a variety of companies, including plant-based health and wellness product developer Wildflower Brands Inc. (OTCQB: WLDFF) (CSE: SUN) (WLDFF Profile). Canadian company Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is riding the wave by acquiring Manitoba Harvest, the world’s largest hemp foods company. Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) recently announced it has closed a billion-dollar equity investment from an outside company. Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) just received a cultivation license from Health Canada for its facility in New Brunswick. Aphria (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA) also received additional licensing approval from Health Canada, permitting the company to commence production in an additional 800,000 square feet of facilities.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

An Established Wellness Ingredient Goes Mainstream

The recent passage of the Hemp Farming Act in the 2018 U.S. farm bill made hemp an ordinary agricultural commodity, swinging open the door for hemp-derived CBD. The industry is seeing everyone from A-list celebs at the Oscars to noted medical professionals such as American neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta extolling the therapeutic benefits of CBD.

Already incorporated into to a wide variety of functional foods and beverages, CBD has also started to show up in coffee and cocktails, with specialty CBD drinks joining the menus at bars and coffee shops across America. Many users swear by the efficacy of CBD to combat ailments such as anxiety, sleeplessness or physical pain.

With mounting therapeutic credence and a raft of celebrity endorsements, its little wonder that CBD has exploded into the mainstream. Product developers have been scrambling to incorporate cannabidiol into every kind of consumer product imaginable, from health and beauty items for the skin to tasty treats for the family pet. The accumulating evidence for CBD’s health benefits also owes a great deal to watershed achievements such as Epidiolex, a CBD-derived anti-seizure medication that has been through numerous clinical trials, becoming the first FDA approved cannabis-based drug utilized to treat severe forms of childhood epilepsy.

There’s an emerging consensus among consumers that CBD has broad ranging medicinal benefits with the ability to treat something as serious as epilepsy yet also safe enough to be used for daily aches and pains or address a myriad of anxieties and ailments. This awareness, combined with the rapid proliferation of CBD consumer products ranging from vape pens to functional foods, has led to a veritable grassroots market revolution.

Any lingering stigma or confusion between CBD and THC is rapidly eroding, particularly with the likes of homemaking legend Martha Stewart now providing her knowledge of consumer products to CBD developers. And household names such as Kim Kardashian, Olivia Wilde and Jennifer Aniston are also going on record as having enjoyed the health benefits associated with their personal consumption of CBD products.

Growing Consensus about Healing Power of Plants

Grabbing A-list celebrity attention, the Wildflower Brands Inc. (OTCQB: WLDFF) (CSE: SUN) CBD+ Healing Stick was in each of the gift bags of the stars during Oscar weekend 2019. Packing 500mg of highly concentrated, full-spectrum CBD, Wildflower’s cooling and soothing stick is easy to apply for targeted pain relief and skin care, providing relief through a unique CBD blend that includes therapeutic ingredients such as arnica, wintergreen and other essential oils.

An established, respected brand, Wildflower Wellness’s overriding mission is to connect people to the healing power of plants via the company’s increasingly sophisticated line of CBD vaporizers, capsules, tinctures, soaps and topicals – formulating its extracts with essential amino acids and beneficial terpenes, the organic compounds that provide flavor and scent. A testament to the popularity of Wildflowers’ proprietary formulations can be found in a NY Magazine article “The Best CBD and Hemp Products for the Tasteful Non-Stoner” touting the company’s CBD Immunity Vaporizer, stating that, “Wildflower also made the perfect CBD starter kit…”

The company’s products are made in the United States at Wildflower’s GMP facilities, third-party lab tested and backed by a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Wildflower’s well-formulated, convenient and consumer conscious products such as its disposable ACHES CBD+ vaporizer are increasingly enjoying widespread acceptance, in part due to education of the consumers by cannabis and wellness influencers.

Flexing its branding and marketing muscle, Wildflower Wellness partnered with Bridges General to take that company’s reimagined convenience store concept to the next level. The partnership fuses together the immense popularity of the Bridges General design-centric retail space that delivers convenience for the on-the-go urban professional with an engaging opportunity to experience and learn about the benefits of CBD. The partnership is already serving some of the most powerful and influential people in the country at its Lower Manhattan store, as well its Madison Avenue Bridges General store. Further expanding reach, Wildflower has also engaged Retail Worx to establish shop-in-shop retail availability at more than 20 locations in the heart of New York City’s booming cannabis market.

Industry Seeing Retail Renaissance in Consumer Products

Wildflower continues to expand its impressive retail reach, with the Wildflower Wellness brand already enjoying distribution in key states, such as Washington at more than 200 retailers. The company’s California-based King Extracts brand is focused on cannabis technology and delivery systems. The company’s King Extracts product, the King Recharge, is a discreet but powerful little pocket vaporizer that comes in its own sleek charging and storage case, which has room for two 500mg cartridges and a backup battery.

King Recharge offers fractionally distilled CO2 extractions in exceptionally clean and sophisticated blends that utilize proprietary terpenes in order to deliver a full, robust flavor profile. Sativa, Indica and Hybrid, as well as two limited-edition Sativa flavors (watermelon and bubble gum), are currently available. Additionally, Wildflower’s growing national distribution arm includes over 80 other wellness and healthcare practitioners, bringing the company’s total to some 300-plus stores nationwide.

The company has even branched out into physical retail itself, harnessing the power of increasing brand recognition, a firm footing in the California market and tightly knit relationships with local hospital oncology departments and community programs. Wildflower has launched its own dispensary in Los Angeles and provides on-demand, legal and licensed cannabis delivery services to adults in the L.A. area. The second quarter of 2019 saw the 10th consecutive quarter of increased revenue for Wildflower, with $1.4 million in sales underscoring a burgeoning direct-to-consumer online channel that witnessed 300 percent growth last year alone.

Many analysts are saying that the CBD rush is just getting started. One recent estimate indicates that the CBD market alone could eclipse the entire remainder of the cannabis market combined. Wildflower is making all the right moves to capture an outsized share of the CBD bonanza.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

Other companies are recognizing the potential profit CBD may provide. Canadian company Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) just finalized its acquisition of Manitoba Harvest, a move Tilray president and CEO called a milestone for the cannabis industry. “It builds on the strategic partnerships we have formed with consumer brand industry leaders and demonstrates our track record of disrupting the global pharmaceutical, alcohol, CPG, and functional food and beverage categories,” said Brendan Kennedy. The deal gives Tilray access to a broad portfolio of food products that are distributed in 16,000 stores across the United States and Canada, as well as the opportunity to expand beyond the food category, possibly including extracts.

Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) just closed a C$2.4 billion investment from Altria, the American company behind brands such as Marlboro and Benson & Hedges. The move is a sign of the huge interest the CBD market is generating from companies both in and outside the industry. Cronos operates two wholly owned, Canadian-licensed producers and has multiple international production and distribution platforms and partnerships across five continents. Cronos intends to continue to expand its global footprint as it focuses on building an international iconic brand portfolio and developing disruptive intellectual property. The company is committed to building industry-leading companies that transform the perception of cannabis and responsibly elevate the consumer experience.

Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) predicts the new facility in Fredericton, New Brunswick, will produce more than 5,000kg of cannabis annually, with first harvests expected to become available to the market within six months. In addition, the company expects to create more than 130 jobs at the plant. “New Brunswick has emerged as a leader in the legal cannabis sector, and the province is an excellent place to do business,” said co-CEO and Canopy Growth chairman Bruce Linton. “We will leverage our existing operational expertise to ensure we support the needs of our customers while making a meaningful contribution to the local economy primarily through new job creation.”

As part of its Part IV and Part V expansions, Aphria (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA) is increasing production at its Aphria One location. The expansions brig industry-leading automation to the company. While critical phases such as initial cuttings, trimming and pruning mature plants will be performed by hand, the in-house designed technology will automate key steps, including transplanting cuttings, transplanting plans through harvesting, de-budding and rough trimming, drying and curing, and waste disposal.

With the 2018 Farm Bill thrusting hemp-derived CBD into the limelight, the broader industry likely stands to experience a rising tide that will lift all boats.

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

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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CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
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420 with CNW – Utah Moves to Hire Software Provider for Medical Marijuana Program

After passing a medical marijuana law in December 2018, Utah has now engaged high gear in moving towards implementing the program. The state is currently looking for a software provider who will design a two-part system that will, in effect, run the entire medical cannabis program.

One part of the system will track each medical cannabis plant from the time it reaches eight inches tall to the point when it is bought by a patient registered to use medical marijuana in the state.

Tracking the plants is important because the state will be sure that legally grown weed isn’t being channeled to the black market.

The second part of the software will be used to enroll patients on the medical cannabis program, store information about the prescriptions issued by doctors and keep track of how much medical cannabis each patient is buying.

The state will have a big decision to make regarding whether one provider will be sufficient for the two components of the medical cannabis system or multiple providers should be sourced for the different aspects of the system.

State officials want to select the firms that will provide the software by May so that the second half of the year is devoted to selecting medical marijuana cultivators. The deadline for starting to receive applications from patients who want to use medical marijuana is March 1, 2020, but the officials want to start receiving applications earlier than that date, if possible.

However, eyebrows have been raised about the plan to allow law enforcement to access the system. Advocates are concerned that the police or any other law enforcement agency (state or federal) may abuse that access they are granted.

The state insists that law enforcement will only be allowed to confirm whether someone is authorized to possess medical cannabis or not. Other details, such as the qualifying condition for which a patient got approval to use medical cannabis, will be inaccessible to law enforcement.

The software program is expected to cost anywhere from $2 million to $5 million. This amount will cover the cost of building as well as running the system for its first five years of existence.

To put this cost into perspective, think about what Pennsylvania spent for a similar system. The state spent $10.4 million for building and operating its system for five years.

However, Nevada spent approximately $816,000 to acquire and operate a traceability system for its medical cannabis program for four years. Traceability covers just half of what Utah is seeking, but you can get a picture of how the costs compare.

Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTCQB: MCOA) and Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions (OTC: REFG) hope that the provider selected designs and implements a system that will not be plagued by the glitches that have disrupted medical cannabis programs in other states.

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 instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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420 with CNW – New York Cannabis Legalization Process Hits Major Snag

The process of legalizing recreational marijuana in New York has hit a major snag with the announcement that it isn’t included in the state budget for 2020. This means that it may now be harder to pass the legalization bill as a standalone bill.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has been pushing to have the bill included in the state budget for 2020, but it seems things haven’t gone his way.

The major issue in the way of legalization appears to be disagreements regarding how the program will be implemented. For example, the legislators are sharply divided about the way in which the taxes from recreational weed should be spent.

Another source of disagreement is the insistence by people of color that measures should be included in the law to avail economic opportunities in the industry to the racial groups, such as African Americans, which suffered the most during the war on drugs. Expunging criminal records isn’t enough, they say.

Even Cuomo admits that the task of passing the bill will be harder now that it isn’t included in the budget. However, the Governor is still optimistic that discussions on legalization will continue at a slower pace and a law may be in place this year.

Before this setback, many legislators had expressed reservations about the possibility of reaching a consensus in time to include marijuana legalization in the budget. Their fears just materialized, and cannabis legalization just got a little harder to attain.

The setback in New York State comes just days before neighboring New Jersey was expected to vote on a bill that would legalize recreational pot. However, that vote was called off on Monday (March 25), to the disappointment of marijuana advocates.

The New Jersey vote cancellation was a strategic decision by the Governor, the State Senate leader and the head of the Assembly. They opted to delay the vote so that they work to secure sufficient support for the bill, rather than insisting that the vote happens and the bill fails to get enough support.

You can now see how the situation in New York State is similar to what happened in New Jersey. Both processes have slowed or stalled because of insufficient support or disagreements among legislators despite the overwhelming public support for legalization.

Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: GRYN) and Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) urge the legislators in New York State to listen to each other and reach a compromise for the good of the people in the state.

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 – Why New Jersey Marijuana Legalization Bill Vote May Have Been Called Off

On March 25, the planned vote on a marijuana legalization bill in New Jersey was suddenly called off by both legislative houses in a move that disappointed cannabis advocates who had thought that the bill would sail through. Here are some possible reasons for the cancellation of the vote.

Insufficient Time to Convince Legislators

The legalization bill was released by the different committees less than a fortnight before a final vote was scheduled by the two houses.

This time was too little for advocates to convince legislators to support the bill. Consequently, Senate President Sweeney thought it wise to cancel the vote rather than take a risk and the bill fails to garner the required number of “yes” votes.

Strong Resistance Among Democrats

From the time Gov. Murphy made legalizing marijuana a priority of his term in office, there were a number of Democratic legislators that vowed not to support the legalization process.

These senators included Fred Madden (D-Gloucester), Richard Codey (D-Essex), Ronald Rice (D-Essex) and so many others. To compound this opposition, other Democratic senators joined those opposing the bill late during the legalization process.

This opposition from within the Democratic camp made it even more urgent to rally some Republican senators for the cause, but as earlier mentioned, there wasn’t enough time for this.

Last-Minute Changes Unsettled Some Legislators

Another possible reason why voting on the legalization bill was called off is because there were some changes that were made to the bill in the committees just before it was sent to be voted on by all legislators in the different houses. These changes weren’t agreeable to all supporters, especially in the state senate.

Of particular concern were changes that were introduced on matters of expunging the criminal records with respect to cannabis arrests and convictions.

Some legislators who would have voted for the bill were dismayed when they discovered that the threshold for possession was set at five pounds for those to benefit from the expungement provisions. This was unacceptable to these legislators and some decided to switch from supporting the bill to opposing it.

So, what happens next?

There is hope that the bill may be reconsidered for a vote before June 30 when the next budget of the state is due to be passed. If that doesn’t happen, then legalization may be delayed by another year or until another set of legislators is voted into office.

The cannabis industry, including Global Consortium, Inc. (OTC: GCGX) and Global Payout, Inc. (OTC: GOHE) hope that the current wave of support for cannabis legalization in the public and among the legislators results in a speedy passing of this bill.

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 – DEA Seeks Contractor to Burn Illegal Weed in Arizona

The U.S. DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is looking for a contractor in Arizona to incinerate cannabis between the months of March and September. The contractor will be expected to burn cannabis at a rate of 1,000 pounds every hour.

The marijuana will be brought to the incineration facility from about 12 cities within Texas. While the agency isn’t certain about the way in which the marijuana to be burnt will be packaged, they predict that some of it will be in the form of tightly packed “bales” or ”bricks” weighing less than 60 pounds.

Some marijuana will be in plastic evidence bags, in aluminum foil, in packing tape, and so many other packing methods.

Needless to say, the DEA got its hands on this marijuana during its field operations against those who sell the drug on the streets, and other illegal activities.

The federal agency reveals that the selected contractor should be able to burn marijuana for eight hours straight on a daily basis and the incineration equipment is expected to have interlocks so that the process can be halted during an emergency.

The marijuana should be destroyed to an extent that standard analytical tests will be unable to detect any cannabis residues once the incineration process has been completed. The DEA will also conduct inspections to confirm that the substance has been destroyed to the required standard.

Additionally, the federal agency will have its representatives or staff present to witness the destruction process, and the facility should have a fence that is so high that onlookers cannot observe the destruction process from outside the facility.

The incineration facility is also expected to have CCTV cameras recording every step of the process. The DEA says that they reserve the right to access the CCTV footage in order to ascertain that the burn was conducted in accordance with the specifications provided, and that the representatives of the agency are safe in that environment.

The contractor selected should have employees who undergo background checks in addition to drugs tests annually.

While the notice has been published to receive applications from interested contractors, the DEA seems to already have an entity in mind that they plan to award this contract. Tuscon Iron & Metal is located within close proximity to the towns where the DEA keeps all the marijuana it confiscates in Arizona. The DEA mentions this company as a potential “sole source” provider of the service they seek.

Golden Developing Solutions, Inc. (OTC: DVLP), Green Growth Brands, Inc. (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF) and the entire cannabis industry congratulate Tuscon Iron & Metal for positioning itself in such a powerful way that the DEA can consider them as a sole source of their incineration requirements in the area.

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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John Cochran, Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. COO and former Pabst Brewing Co. CEO, to Deliver Cannabis Conference 2019 Welcome Keynote

John Cochran, Chief Operating Officer of Harvest Health & Recreation, (CSE: HARV) (OTCQX: HRVSF) (“Harvest”), will deliver the Welcome Keynote, “Tapping the Beverage Market Boom,” at Cannabis Conference 2019, April 1-3, in Las Vegas, Nev.

“While alcohol and cannabis differ in many ways, the regulatory framework and consumer trends shed light on the future of the plant in this country and around the world,” said Cochran, who is the former CEO of multistate cannabis company Loudpack Inc., former CEO of Pabst Brewing Company, and former president and COO of Fiji Water Company. “I’m excited to share the lessons I’ve learned after decades at some of the largest beverage and cannabis companies in the world with attendees of Cannabis Conference.”

Harvest is a vertically integrated cannabis company with licenses for more than 140 retail, cultivation, manufacturing and distribution facilities across 12 states. In his Keynote, Cochran will also explore Harvest’s value chain and frameworks for considering profitable, scalable solutions and the importance of communicating those shifts to investors.

“John’s experience at leading beverage brands and his role at Harvest Health & Recreation can shed light on key opportunities in today’s cannabis industry. We’re excited for our attendees to have the opportunity to learn from him,” said Noelle Skodzinski, Cannabis Conference editorial director.

This year, 3,000+ industry professionals from 26 different countries are expected to attend Cannabis Conference; 40+ sessions will be led by 90+ cultivation, retail and business experts; and a sold-out expo floor spanning 70,000 square feet will showcase technology and solutions providers serving cannabis cultivation and dispensary businesses.

“Cannabis Conference is the most valuable educational event we have brought to market for plant-touching cannabis businesses. What a fitting way to kick off the week with a Keynote from John,” said Jim Gilbride, group publisher, who oversees the Cannabis Conference.

About Cannabis Conference:
Cannabis Conference, April 1 – 3 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, is produced by Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary, and is the only North American conference focused exclusively on cultivators and dispensaries. The final day to register online (at CannabisConference.com) is March 31. “To request a press pass, email conference@gie.net.

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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CBD Going Mainstream amid Flood of New Products, Celebrity Endorsements, and Emerging Consensus about Benefits

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Analysts at Brightfield Group see CBD (cannabidiol) gobbling up a sizeable chunk of a projected $100 billion nutraceuticals 2022 U.S. market.

  • $22 billion-plus CBD market could eclipse broader cannabis market
  • Growing consensus about health benefits backed by clinical work, personal endorsements
  • CBD found in everything from beverages and dog treats to pharmaceuticals and wellness products

The opening of the CBD floodgates represents a huge opportunity for plant-based wellness and health-product developers such as Wildflower Brands Inc. (OTCQB: WLDFF) (CSE: SUN) (WLDFF Profile) and Green Growth Brands Inc. (OTCQB: GGBXF) (CSE: GGB), a lifestyle-oriented developer of cannabis and CBD consumer products. Similarly, some of the fastest-growing producers in the industry today, such as Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), Green Organic Dutchman (OTCQX: TGODF) (TSX: TGOD) and HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO) all stand to benefit as the rising tide of the CBD market continues to see tremendous growth for a number of reasons.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

An Established Wellness Ingredient Goes Mainstream

The recent passage of the Hemp Farming Act in the 2018 U.S. farm bill made hemp an ordinary agricultural commodity, swinging open the door for hemp-derived CBD. The industry is seeing everyone from A-list celebs at the Oscars to noted medical professionals such as American neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta extolling the health benefits of CBD.

Already incorporated into to a wide variety of functional foods and beverages, CBD has also started to show up in coffee and cocktails, with CBD drinks being added to menus at bars and coffee shops across America. Many users swear by the efficacy of CBD to combat ailments such as various anxieties, sleeplessness or physical pain. Little wonder that CBD is going mainstream, and product developers have been racing to put the stuff into every kind of consumer product imaginable, from health and beauty items for the skin to tasty treats for the family pet. The accumulating evidence for CBD’s health benefits also owes a great deal to watershed achievements such as Epidiolex, a CBD-derived anti-seizure medication that has been through numerous clinical trials, becoming FDA-approved in severe forms of childhood epilepsy.

There appears to be an emerging consensus among consumers that CBD is strong enough to treat something like epilepsy but also safe enough to be used for daily aches and pains or address the myriad anxieties that plague the modern mind. This awareness, combined with the rapid proliferation of CBD consumer products ranging from vape pens to functional foods, has led to a kind of grassroots market revolution. Any stigma remaining due to laymen confusing CBD with THC is rapidly eroding, particularly with the likes of homemaking legend Martha Stewart now providing her knowledge of consumer products to CBD developers. And household names such as Kim Kardashian, Olivia Wilde and Jennifer Aniston are also going on record as having enjoyed the health benefits associated with their personal consumption of CBD products.

Growing Consensus about Healing Power of Plants

Speaking of A-list celebrities and CBD products, it was the Wildflower Brands Inc. (OTCQB: WLDFF) (CSE: SUN) CBD+ Healing Stick that found its way into the gift bags of the stars during Oscar weekend 2019. Packing a walloping 500mg of highly concentrated, full-spectrum CBD, Wildflower’s cooling and soothing stick is easy to apply for targeted pain relief and skin care, providing relief through a unique CBD blend that includes therapeutic ingredients such as arnica, wintergreen and other essential oils.

A reputable brand whose stated mission is to connect people to the healing power of plants via the company’s increasingly sophisticated line of CBD vaporizers, capsules, tinctures, soaps and topicals, Vancouver-based Wildflower Wellness packs its extracts with essential amino acids and beneficial terpenes, the organic compounds that give plants flavor and scent.

The company’s products are made in the United States at Wildflower’s GMP facilities and are third-party lab tested; they are also backed by a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Such well-formulated, convenient and discrete products as Wildflower’s disposable ACHES CBD+ vaporizer are increasingly enjoying widespread acceptance. This is in part due to education of the consumers by cannabis and wellness influencers.

Wildflower Wellness has even partnered with Bridges General to take that company’s reimagined convenience store concept to the next level. The partnership fuses together the popularity of the Bridges General design-centric retail space that delivers convenience for the on-the-go urban professional with an engaging opportunity to experience and learn about the benefits of CBD. The partnership is already serving some of the most innovative minds in tech at its Lower Manhattan store, as well its Madison Avenue Bridges General store. The company has also engaged Retail Worx to establish shop-in-shop retail availability at more than 20 locations in the heart of New York City’s booming cannabis market.

Industry Seeing Retail Renaissance in Consumer Products

Wildflower also has a surprisingly impressive retail reach for a company of its size, with the Wildflower Wellness brand already enjoying distribution in key states, such as Washington at more than 200 retailers. The company’s California-based King Extracts brand is focused on cannabis technology and delivery systems.

King Extracts’ flagship product, the King Recharge, is a discreet but powerful little pocket vaporizer that comes in its own sleek charging and storage case, which has room for two 500mg cartridges and a backup battery. King Recharge offers fractionally distilled CO2 extractions in exceptionally clean and sophisticated blends that utilize proprietary terpenes in order to deliver a full, robust flavor profile. Sativa, Indica and Hybrid, as well as two limited-edition Sativa flavors (watermelon and bubble gum), are currently available. Additionally, Wildflower’s growing national distribution arm includes over 80 other wellness and healthcare practitioners, bringing the company’s total to some 300-plus stores nationwide.

The company has even branched out into physical retail itself, harnessing the power of increasing brand recognition, a firm footing in the California market and tightly knit relationships with local hospital oncology departments and community programs. The company has launched its own dispensary in Los Angeles and provides on-demand, legal and licensed cannabis delivery services to adults in the L.A. area. The second quarter of 2019 saw the 10th consecutive quarter of increased revenue for Wildflower, with $1.4 million in sales underscoring a burgeoning direct-to-consumer online channel that witnessed 300 percent growth last year alone.

Many analysts are saying that the CBD rush is just getting started. One recent estimate indicates that the CBD market alone could eclipse the entire remainder of the cannabis market combined. Wildflower can apparently read the handwriting on the wall and intends to apply the $1.882 million in proceeds from the company’s recent, oversold private placement to good use.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

Green Growth Brands Inc. (OTCQB: GGBXF) (CSE: GGB) is also enjoying the upside as CBD goes mainstream, with increasing traction for the company’s Seventh Sense CBD-infused body care collection. Similar upside is being seen across the company’s other retail arms, including curated product mix Meri+Jayne, CAMP lifestyle product kiosks, women’s wellness focused Green Lily and Nevada-based The +Source dispensaries. Its Indiana shop marks the start of a massive retail push that will see Green Growth Brands leverage newly gained access to some 108 prime retail locations at thriving malls throughout the United States. The push is backed by an $85 million private placement from late last year, which will also bolster the company’s XanthicBiopharms operation and may open the door to a variety of strategically significant new products.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), one of the biggest and fastest growing producers in the industry today, has seen a somewhat meteoric rise since opening the company’s initial facility in Alberta in 2013. Today, Aurora is engaged in an aggressive international expansion, grounded in an increasingly diverse constellation of subsidiaries and strategic partnerships. Global reach and proprietary high-yield production technologies and techniques have put Aurora on the map as a funded producer, which can deliver more than 500,000 kilograms per year.

Green Organic Dutchman (OTCQX: TGODF) (TSX: TGOD), a premier certified organic Canadian producer, is another input supplier benefitting from the increased market exposure CBD has been getting, with 2018 being a pivotal year for the company. Green Organic Dutchman executed two bought deals worth $101.2 million in gross proceeds and pulled another $77.6 million in gross proceeds via private placements. The company was also able to report a healthy $263.5 million in cash and restricted cash for 2018. The Green Organic Dutchman is in a solid position to expand existing facilities and pursue international growth into markets such as Jamaica.

HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO) is a notable low-cost producer with more than 579,000 square feet of production capacity and a 1,000,000-square-foot facility currently under construction. The company recently moved to acquire an additional 470,000 square feet of production space via an all-share acquisition of Newstrike Brands Ltd., valued at approximately $263 million. This news comes on the heels of the company’s recent announcement that it is the first cannabis company to join the FCPC (Food & Consumer Products of Canada), arguably the biggest voice in Canadian food, beverage and consumer products. This prestigious feather in HEXO’s cap was acquired just days prior to announcing impressive results for what is the first full quarter following the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Canada.

With the 2018 Farm Bill thrusting hemp-derived CBD into the limelight, the broader industry likely stands to experience a rising tide that will lift all boats.

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

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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