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 – California Rakes in $300 Million in Cannabis Taxes in 2018

The statistics are out; California earned approximately $300 million in taxes during the first year of recreational cannabis sales in the state. This information was released by the Department of Tax and Fee Administration in California on February 19.

While the $300 million tax collection is high, it is way below what the state had initially anticipated to collect during the first year of commercial cannabis sales ($655 million). Two reasons may explain why the taxes collected were below the projected figure.

First, it is hard to predict with any degree of certainty what quantity of cannabis will be sold if the state doesn’t have any historical data to rely upon when making those projections. Any figure arrived at is therefore likely to be a “guesstimate” at best.

Secondly, most city and local authorities, up to 75 percent of them, banned any business activity related to cannabis within their jurisdictions. This meant that recreational cannabis could only be accessed in a few areas within the state.

This same scenario played out in all the states where recreational cannabis was legalized. However, those local authorities gradually came around and permitted cannabis businesses to open so that residents can get jobs and the local authorities can also collect taxes.

California also expects more local authorities to come on board and cannabis sales will soar once access is ramped up in more cities and municipalities.

Another important fact to note about the taxes collected by California in 2018 is that the other states that also ended prohibition in 2016 earned “peanuts” if their collections are compared to California’s.

For example, Nevada collected only $69.8 million while Massachusetts is likely to collect $60 million once it completes its first year of recreational sales.

The collections in those other states are understandable because none of them comes even close to the size of California’s economy.

California is justified to be optimistic about future tax revenues from recreational marijuana because an analysis of the 2018 taxes shows that there was a general upward trend from one quarter to the next. This clearly paints a bullish picture for the industry going forward.

More reason for optimism also comes from the fact that the earnings in just 2018 triple or more than triple the annual taxes that the state had ever collected from the sale of medical marijuana throughout the 23 years when medical cannabis was available in the state.

While California seems to be on course to collect $1 billion as tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales within three years, industry players are crying out for a reduction in the taxes levied. It remains to be seen whether their calls will be heeded by the lawmakers since any change requires a supermajority before Proposition 64 can be amended.

Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTCQB: MCOA) and Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions (OTC: REFG) congratulate California for setting a record of taxes earned from recreational cannabis sales.

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 – Four Ways Cannabis Entrepreneurs are Using AI in Sales and Ecommerce

As the marijuana industry has grown and become more widely accepted, many tech companies have introduced new products to enable the cannabis industry. Here are the four major AI products that marijuana businesses are deploying to boost sales and make ecommerce more successful.

Chatbots

The explosion of interest in cannabis means that the limited staff of marijuana companies can easily be overwhelmed if they decided to address each person’s queries without the help of AI.

Chatbots have been introduced to engage customers and potential customers quickly and efficiently by providing all the information one needs. For example, the chatbot can take a potential customer through the different cannabis strains that may help to ease the symptoms that the client is experiencing. These bots have revolutionized the way cannabis businesses attend to their customers at a time when people make a query and expect an answer to it “yesterday.”

Finding Leads

One of the hardest aspects of selling is to find prospects. Cannabis businesses are turning to AI tools, such as Node, to generate lists of potential customers. This is a more reliable method than the traditional way of buying lists of prospects who often turned out to be uninterested in what one was selling.

Filtering Prospects

It is one thing to get a list of prospects and it is another matter to filter them into warm or cold prospects. That is where AI comes in. Artificial intelligence systems are now available to analyze data in order to establish which particular products a potential customer has been searching for.

The findings of such AI systems can help sales personnel to concentrate their efforts on those individuals that are most likely to make a purchase instead of spending time and effort on people with a low possibility of making a purchase. An example of this type of AI system is Netra. This system understands consumer preferences by analyzing the visual content on different social media platforms.

Sales Forecasting

As you may know, there is always a multitude of demands competing for the resources that any company has at its disposal. The same applies to cannabis businesses. One of the best ways to determine how to allocate those scarce resources is by forecasting sales so that intelligent decisions can be made for the company.

AI systems have been deployed to forecast cannabis sales so that businesses can plan for the future more effectively, such as by making decisions on when to scale up or down.

While some people may think that AI has come to take cannabis jobs, the truth is that AI can only go so far. For example, AI fails dismally at comprehending the nuances of language based on different contexts and humans have to step in at such points. Cannabis businesses should therefore regard AI as an aid to their workforce rather than as a tool to cut back on human employees. Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: GRYN) and Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) look forward to seeing even more AI products in every aspect of the cannabis industry.

About CannabisNewsWire

CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge.

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420 with CNW – New Jersey Moves Closer to Legalizing Pot as Top Leaders Strike a Deal

Plans to legalize marijuana in New Jersey ground to a halt last year amidst a disagreement between Gov. Murphy and legislative leaders over taxes and a few other issues. However, a compromise deal on the key sticking points has now put the legalization plans back on course.

We reported at the end of last month that a new tax proposal had given cannabis legalization plans a breath of life. That proposal sought to provide a middle ground between the Governor who wanted a higher sales tax and Sweeney, the State Senate leader, who was adamant anything higher than 12 percent was unacceptable.

In the deal that has been reached, marijuana would be taxed by weight instead of the earlier plan to impose a sales tax. This new plan will insulate the state from witnessing a drop in tax revenue if marijuana prices eventually reduce as has been the case in other states where marijuana has been legal for several years.

The second major bone of contention that has also been reportedly resolved under the new deal has to do with the manner in which the marijuana industry will be regulated. Previously, the legislative leaders had wanted a separate commission to take charge of overseeing most aspects of the new industry. However, the Governor was uncomfortable with that proposal.

Under the new arrangement, an independent commission will still be set up to oversee the cannabis industry. The change in this regard is that the state governor will have the power to appoint three of the five individuals who will constitute the Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Legislators are also working on a bill to expunge cannabis convictions from the criminal records of New Jersey residents. This law will help to address some of the historical wrongs that were committed against racial minorities, such as African-Americans, who were unduly targeted during the war on drugs that lasted decades.

Once that expungement bill is in place, the Governor, State Senate leader and the leader of the state Assembly will have plenty of work to do to mobilize votes among the legislators so that the marijuana legalization bill passes in both Houses before it can reach the desk of the Governor to be signed into law.

Now that the bickering seems to have come to an end, there is widespread hope across the industry that an enabling law will soon be passed so that a roadmap to the implementation of that law can be known to all concerned. Golden Developing Solutions Inc. (OTC: DVLP) and Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF) wish New Jersey a smooth path to legalization now that the major stumbling blocks have been addressed.

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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CannabisNewsBreaks – Beverage Trade Network Issues Update Ahead of Cannabis Drinks Expo

Beverage Trade Network (“BTN”) this morning issued a news release detailing the upcoming Cannabis Drinks Expo, which is hailed as the first-ever event focusing on the cannabis-infused beverage industry. Per the update, the trade event is scheduled to take place on July 25, 2019, in San Francisco. BTN notes that the Cannabis Drinks Expo will give the worldwide drinks industry, and North America in particular, an opportunity to come together and look at ways to address the legalization of cannabis while examining avenues to protect the future of the larger beverage industry. In addition to a trade show floor, the Cannabis Drinks Expo will feature a one-day business conference hosting renowned speakers from the cannabis drinks industry who are scheduled to discuss a wide range of important topics.

To view the full press release, visit http://cnw.fm/FFx3T

About Beverage Trade Network

Beverage Trade Network is a producer of competitions, conferences, expos and trade shows for the alcohol beverage trade industry around the world. BTN is the alcohol beverage industry’s leading network and is committed to helping importers and distributors find new suppliers from all over the world. BTN hosts events in London, New York, and San Francisco, including the highly acclaimed International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show (London and San Francisco), the London Wine Competition (London) and the USA Trade Tasting show (New York).

About CannabisNewsWire

CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge.

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420 with CNW – New York City Legislators Consider Banning Pre-Employment Cannabis Tests

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has outlined his plan to legalize recreational marijuana and this has put New York in pole position to become the 11th state where adult-use cannabis is legal. This development has prompted some lawmakers in New York City to draft a bill that seeks to ban employers from conducting marijuana drugs tests before hiring an employee.

Councilman Jumaane D. Williams is the NYC lawmaker who has filed a draft law that will stop marijuana tests from being part of the hiring process in the city.

Councilman Williams feels that the legislators and the city should be creating more avenues through which people can find jobs, but the drugs tests do the opposite by making it harder for jobseekers to get hired.

He adds that pre-employment drugs tests for marijuana should be done away with now that preparations were in advanced stages to legalize recreational cannabis. Why should employers continue to test prospective employees for a substance that will soon legal?

The bill tabled by Williams provides exceptions to this ban on pre-employment drugs tests. People who intend to get jobs where safety and security are paramount, as well as jobs with the federal government or its agencies would not be covered by this ban on pre-employment drugs tests. Additionally, individuals who are required to undergo drugs testing as a condition for securing a grant or contract from the federal government will not use this local law as a reason to skip the required drugs tests.

If passed, the bill will take effect one year from the time of its enactment as part of the city’s laws. This will remove the ambiguity that has been observed in various jurisdictions, such as Massachusetts, where marijuana is legal but an employee can still be fired for testing positive for THC.

It is good that the lawmakers in New York City have been proactive in tabling this bill instead of waiting to take action after recreational cannabis becomes legal across the state. In such a case, there would be a legal grey area since the existing laws permit pre-employment marijuana tests, which would run counter to the freedom granted by the law legalizing recreational pot.

It remains to be seen what form the final bill will take once the Committee on Civil and Human Rights discusses it and presents it to the full council for debate and a vote. Generation Alpha Inc. (OTCQB: GNAL), Global Payout Inc. (OTC: GOHE) and the whole marijuana industry say kudos to Councilman Williams and the other two co-sponsors of this reform that will remove the ambiguity regarding the use of legal cannabis and its effects on one’s prospects of getting hired.

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 – Fewer Teens Used Pot after Medical Marijuana Legalization, Study Finds

It was always feared that teen pot use would go through the roof as more states legalized marijuana either for medical or recreational use. However, a recent study has found that the contrary is happening as fewer teens reported using marijuana in the states where medical cannabis is legal.

The researchers found that the states where medical cannabis is legal had 1.1 percent fewer teens taking pot when compared to the states where no medical cannabis laws exist.

While that overall statistic looks small, the figures take on greater importance when one examines the data for various groups of teens. For example, there was a 2.7 percent reduction among high school males while pot use decreased by 3.9 percent among African-American students. Similarly, there was a drop of 2.7 percent observed among Hispanic students.

The researchers who came up with these findings are based at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. The team was led by Rebekah Levine Coley.

The researchers used data collected by the U.S. CDC during the Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted every other year.

Coley’s team focused on the data collected between 1999 and 2015. This data involved about 860,000 students in 45 states.

The researchers tracked how teen pot use had been changing during that 16-year timeframe. Results for states that enacted medical marijuana laws were compared to those of states where medical cannabis remained illegal.

Interestingly, the researchers found that the drop in teen pot use increased the longer a state had medical cannabis laws on its books. For example, teens were nine percent less likely to use marijuana if a state had medical marijuana laws that were less than five years old while the odds of a teen using marijuana reduced by 32 percent for states that legalized medical marijuana ten years ago.

Coley explains that some theories could account for this reduction of teen pot use in states where medical marijuana has been legalized.

First, the drop may be because the adolescents start viewing marijuana as something used as a medicine, so they no longer have the urge to use it recreationally.

Secondly, the change in marijuana laws may have prompted parents to start talking to their kids about marijuana use, as well as supervising them to ensure that they aren’t using drugs.

However, some people have criticized the conclusions of this research saying that the researchers didn’t consider the states where recreational marijuana is legal. Coley and her team responded that they were now turning their attention to studying the data from states where adult-use marijuana laws are in place.

Be that as it may, the cannabis industry, especially Earth Science Tech Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) and FinCanna Capital Corp. (CSE: CALI) (OTCQB: FNNZF) welcomes this study because it helps to dispel some of the false information circulated about marijuana.

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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More Mergers Expected as Cannabis Sector Heads into New Year of Growth

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Several years of impressive growth are expected to continue in the cannabis sector in 2019, and companies are making the most of it through mergers and acquisitions.

  • The cannabis industry has seen growth in acquisitions over the past two years.
  • A large part of this comes from the emergence of the hemp/CBD market.
  • Industry commentators expect these trends to continue.

SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) (SING Profile) is tapping into this exciting potential through a strategy of well-financed acquisitions and investment in other cannabis companies. PotNetwork Holdings Inc. (OTC: POTN) has built up a series of subsidiaries and is now reaching out to mainstream markets with its products. KushCo Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB) has recently established new supply arrangements that will increase its already growing profits. Following the legalization of hemp farming, CV Sciences Inc. (OTCQB: CVSI) has become one of the United States’ first certified hemp producers. And The Green Organic Dutchman (OTCQX: TGODF) (TSX: TGOD) (TGOD Profile) is building improved cultivation facilities to meet the demand of cannabis’s growing customer base.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

The Cannabis Merger Boom

Over the past year, the cannabis industry has seen a significant new trend emerge. So far, the industry has mostly been made up of small businesses, but a series of mergers and acquisitions have started to change the layout of the land. The larger, more confident cannabis businesses have started to absorb their smaller competitors, creating businesses with greater efficiency, vertical integration and increased market shares.

This boom in cannabis mergers and acquisitions extends beyond committed cannabis companies. Top-tier businesses have started paying attention to the sector, buying substantial holdings in cannabis companies. Cannabis companies themselves have encouraged this interest, seeking outside help to fuel their growth.

The Merger Market

For companies building a strategy around cannabis acquisitions, such as SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING), current trends are legitimizing what they already held to be true — that there’s great potential in building larger, more diverse cannabis companies through mergers and acquisitions.

The numbers are clear. Eighty-six cannabis companies in the United States were targeted for mergers and acquisitions in 2017, and that number rose to 140 in 2018. That’s a significant increase two years in a row for an industry that’s previously been driven by small start-ups, and commentators expect the trend to continue. In Canada, recreational legalization has triggered an intensive period of ambitious growth. In the United States, the illegality of transporting cannabis across state lines has discouraged expansion beyond the state level, but companies are starting to overcome that barrier, finding ways to run nationwide businesses in a state-by-state market.

For SinglePoint, this means making moves such as the company’s recent significant investment in TorusMed, an organization working on finding new ways to grow industrial hemp. Hemp is an important subset of the cannabis industry — and one that looks set to expand, thanks to federal legalization of the crop under the 2018 Farm Bill.

The bill allows cultivators to grow hemp for cannabidiol (CBD), an increasingly popular component, without the restrictions placed on other forms of cannabis. SinglePoint’s work with TorusMed is aimed at producing more consistent crops of high-CBD hemp with lower costs because of TorusMed’s greater efficiency. The investment appears to provide an effective way for SinglePoint to gain an advantage in the cannabis sector across the United States and beyond.

SinglePoint’s investment in TorusMed isn’t an isolated example. SinglePoint has built a solid strategy around acquisitions and investment. SinglePoint President Wil Ralston appeared on MoneyTV to discuss the company’s financing options for acquisitions, and in November, SinglePoint announced that it had raised $5 million in fresh funding from its own investors for the explicit purpose of fueling this approach. Thanks to the confidence of the market in the future of cannabis, SinglePoint has had no trouble raising funds or gaining attention for its work.

A Growing Industry

One of the reasons SinglePoint has seen such success in finding funding is the wider growth of the cannabis sector.

In the United States, where SinglePoint is based, cannabis legalization has steadily been spreading on a state level. Thirty-three states have now made the drug legal for medical purposes, while 10 have made recreational cannabis legal. North of the border, Canada has become the first G8 country to legalize cannabis nationally, not only setting an international precedent but also generating interest from American companies. The spread of public health solutions to cannabis use over prohibitory ones has become an international trend, creating a global cannabis market.

Over the past five years, this trend has led in a surprising direction: hemp and CBD. Hemp is a form of cannabis that doesn’t contain THC, the chemical that produces a high in users. Related to that trend, researchers have found growing evidence that CBD, a nonpsychoactive ingredient found in all strains of cannabis, may be beneficial for health and well-being.

This promising research has led to a surge in hemp cultivation and even the legalization of hemp farming in the United States, a move that is expected to provide a lifeline for many struggling farmers. Hemp cultivation is an increasingly large portion of the cannabis market, and one that the deal with TorusMed will help SinglePoint access.

Based on both this shift for hemp and wider trends, commentators are predicting even greater growth in 2019 and beyond; one report has calculated that the industry will be worth $146.4 billion by 2025. Even half that growth would provide a huge opportunity for companies such as SinglePoint, and if the industry actually reaches that figure, current players could be big winners.

Positioning for Advantage

It is in this context that SinglePoint, a company whose other work lies in the tech sector, has made the move to expand its position in cannabis. Through its SingleSeed subsidiary, SinglePoint has become a distributor of hemp-derived CBD products at a critical moment.

“It seems like two years ago I started to hear a little bit about CBD and what it was doing for people,” said SinglePoint CEO Greg Lambrecht. “Momentum has really been building for CBD. People are using it for a variety of things. As CBD becomes legal, you’re going to see this product sold in more traditional stores like Walgreens and 7-Eleven. We’re really excited about our online presence, but we’re also very focused on putting this product into retail too.”

The cannabis market has already been seeing steady growth. The legalization of hemp is likely to continue this promising trend. Companies such as SinglePoint that have raised funding and established a foothold in the hemp sector appear to be well positioned to take advantage of that change.

Lining Up for Growth

Of course, It’s not just a matter of making mergers and acquisitions, it’s making the right ones. Several other companies join SinglePoint in making those sound decisions. Among the companies making significant mergers and acquisitions in cannabis are holding companies such as PotNetwork Holdings Inc. (OTC: POTN). PotNetwork’s subsidiaries cover various parts of the cannabis industry, including production, sales and support; its subsidiaries include Diamond CBD Inc., which produces a line of CBD-based oils, creams and edibles.

Like SinglePoint, KushCo Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB) has entered the cannabis sector from elsewhere through an interest in providing other services to cannabis companies. In KushCo’s case, this was packaging solutions, the sort of unglamorous but important service that any industry needs. KushCo has since expanded its work in the sector, creating a one-stop shop for cannabis products. This approach paved the way for KushCo to secure new long-term supply arrangements with three large companies, agreements expected to be worth $75 million. Having already seen its quarterly revenues rise 186 percent on the same period last year, 2019 is off to a strong start for KushCo.

CV Sciences Inc. (OTCQB: CVSI) has a business rooted in the fundamentals of the cannabis market, with two distinct business segments: research and development, and consumer products. Following the recent founding of the U.S. Hemp Authority certification program, CV Sciences has become one of the country’s first certified hemp manufacturers. This certification provides CV Science customers assurance about the quality and safety of the company’s products, including verifying that its products are made entirely from hemp and not from other cannabis strains.

The Green Organic Dutchman (OTCQX: TGODF) (TSX: TGOD) produces organic, sustainably grown cannabis, catering to the substantial part of the cannabis market concerned with the environment and ethical farming. The company is building two new growing facilities and has been looking for ways to improve its designs as it builds. Recent improvements will increase production capacity from 156,000kg of cannabis to 202,500kg.

While improvements in technology, techniques and certification are helping companies tap into the growing cannabis sector, mergers and acquisitions are also allowing companies to access all of these while increasing their market share. Those who make the right moves now could benefit from dramatic growth over the next few years.

For more information on SinglePoint, visit SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING)

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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DISCLAIMER: CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by CNW are solely those of CNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable CNW for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. CNW is a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and is NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, CNW, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment.

CNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and CNW undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

420 with CNW – Judge Faults Walmart in Arizona Medical Cannabis Case

A federal judge in Arizona has faulted Walmart for dismissing an employee who tested positive for cannabis even after that employee informed her employer that she had a valid medical marijuana card issued by the state.

It all started when Carol Whitmire sustained an injury while doing her work in one of Walmart’s stores in May 2016. Whitmire, who had worked with the same company for eight years, was immediately rushed to receive medical care after the accident. Blood and urine samples were also taken for analysis as part of Walmart’s policy.

Whitmire informed the HR department about her status as a medical cardholder after that incident and she continued to work after she recovered. However, she was terminated in July for being in contravention of Walmart’s policy on drugs.

Consequently, Whitmire sued Walmart for discrimination and wrongful dismissal. Walmart responded by telling court that it had a right to dismiss Whitmire due to her positive drugs test results.

However, court disagreed and pointed out that Walmart failed to prove that the positive drugs test indicated that Carol Whitmire had been working while intoxicated with marijuana. Had Walmart provided such proof, the court may have considered their assertion that they had good faith in terminating Whitmire.

Whitmire’s attorney, Joshua Carden, applauded the decision of Judge James Teilborg. Carden said that the judge had set a precedent that paved the way for private right-of-action lawsuits under the Arizona medical marijuana laws.

Joshua Carden revealed that the court would soon set a date for delivering its ruling regarding the possibility of reinstating Whitmire, as well as determining how much is due to her for damages and costs for the suits she filed.

Walmart was also glad that the federal court dismissed some of the claims made by Carol Whitmire in her suit. The company reiterated its ceaseless efforts to provide a safe environment for all its customers and associates.

Cases like Carol Whitmire’s are likely to crop up frequently because there is a lot that is still not known about cannabis. For example, for how long can someone remain impaired after consuming cannabis? Part of the reasons why Walmart couldn’t be justified to fire Whitmire is that it wasn’t clear whether a positive drugs test meant that Whitmire was under the influence while at work. Until scientific studies resolve this grey area, employers and employees will not be certain where the boundary is.

All in all, Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) as well as Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) welcome the judgment that made it clear that patients using medical marijuana legally will not lose their jobs just because they test positive for cannabis.

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 – Demand Soars as UK Customers Fear CBD Drinks Ban

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the UK has triggered panic buying after it announced that CBD drinks fall under the “novel” products category as stipulated by the EU. This classification means that such “novel” products can only be available for sale after being tested and approved.

2018 saw an explosion of CBD-based products on the UK market. These included CBD chocolates, sweets, cakes and even pet products. All these products hit the market amidst a rise in the popularity of CBD.

However, January saw the FSA vowing to exert more control over CBD products on the market. It called on local authorities to work with it to remove any CBD products that were being sold without undergoing the required public safety tests.

As a result of that announcement, customers are rushing to bulk buy CBD drinks just in case the regulator makes good on the threat to pull CBD products from retail shelves.

Green Monkey Drinks (the first UK company to make carbonated CBD drinks) revealed that its online sales have jumped by 8,000 percent ever since the FSA made its ruling. They believe that this rise in sales can be attributed to customers who are trying to stockpile CBD products.

Green Monkey Drinks expressed disappointment that the Food Standards Agency hasn’t been in touch with the different companies that have invested heavily in the CBD industry. The drinks maker believes that the regulator hasn’t taken the right decision given the fact that the World Health Organization has just asserted that CBD is safe and should therefore not be subjected to any international controls.

For its part, the FSA insists that its decision is based on the changes that were made to the Novel Food Catalogue of the EU. The EU says players in the CBD industry failed to prove that CBD products have a history of consumption dating back to 1997 or earlier within the EU. This means that CBD is a novel product which should not be allowed on the market without undergoing safety testing and approval.

The FSA therefore wants to find a way forward in light of the decision made by the EU. They intend to meet different stakeholders, such as CBD product manufacturers and local authorities in order to clarify how the different players will execute their role in ensuring that the CBD industry complies with the existing laws.

ChineseInvestors.com (OTCQB: CIIX) as well as Choom Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO) (OTCQB: CHOOF) hope that the UK regulator finds a solution that addresses the regulatory needs without stifling the nascent CBD industry there.

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

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

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Savvy Companies Make Acquisition Moves in Booming Cannabis Industry

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: As the cannabis sector consistently shows impressive growth, acquisitions within the market allow cannabis companies to develop greater vertical integration.

  • Cannabis companies are looking to acquire other organizations to strengthen specialist knowledge and skills.
  • Similar moves have led to impressive success in industries such as coffee production.
  • The strength of the cannabis market is also attracting other additional investment.

Youngevity International Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) (YGYI Profile) is following the vertically integrated model, having recently acquired a company specializing in cannabis processing machinery. Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) finalized an all-cash transaction to acquire one of the world’s most technologically advanced vaporizer companies. In an all-stock option, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) agreed to purchase a British Columbia-based craft grower, which offers premium organic products produced at low volumes. Late last year, MedMen Enterprises Inc (OTCQX: MMNFF) signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of one of the largest medical cannabis providers in the United States. And with the cannabis sector as a whole seeing healthy growth, GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) recently completing a public offering to fund further growth, raising $345 million to expand its cannabis-oriented pharmaceuticals work.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here

Cannabis Companies Turn to Vertical Integration

The global cannabis industry continues to grow — especially in the United States and Canada — creating promising opportunities for companies eager to find ways to improve their productivity and leverage their strengths. A wide range of companies covering the production, processing, marketing, and sales of cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) products are vying for a position in the space. Consequently, smart organizations are looking for ways stand out from the rest.

Many are opting for vertical integration. Their strategy is simple and straightforward — by bringing together production, processing and distribution, companies can cut costs, improve efficiency and ensure quality control.

Acquisitions for Growth

This all-under-one-roof strategy is one that the management at Youngevity International Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) not only believes in but has successfully applied. A leading omni-directional lifestyle company, Youngevity recently moved into the cannabis sector through investment in CBD.

CBD is one of two significant active ingredients found in cannabis. Unlike THC, which until a few years ago was the best-known of these chemicals, the nonpsychoactive CBD does not induce the highs or impairment that accompanies THC. In addition, recent research has indicated that CBD could have a broad range of benefits general well-being and health, leading to a burgeoning market for CBD products. This promising research, along with a growing popular acceptance of cannabis, has led to a resurgence in the growth of hemp — a variety of cannabis that can be rich in CBD but low in THC — and hemp-based products.

Youngevity saw the opportunity and entered the cannabis space last year, with the release of its Hemp FX product line. Hemp FX products are designed to help consumers relax and soothe muscle pain. As it launches this new product offering, the company will leverage the success it has already seen through its hybrid model of direct selling, social selling and e-commerce.

To further take advantage of this opportunity, Youngevity has announced its acquisition of Khrysos Global, a large hemp and CBD machine manufacturing company. Khrysos’s proprietary technology is specifically designed to extract active ingredients from hemp and cannabis, thereby providing the best possible yields from crops. The company also offers planning and consulting for cannabis companies looking to take full advantage of technology throughout the extraction process.

“Our acquisition of Khrysos is extremely exciting on a number of levels,” said Youngevity CEO Steve Wallach. “Beyond the fact that Khrysos’ hemp-CBD extraction technology is far more efficient than most anything else on the market, we’re acquiring a turnkey business model here. Their systems are applicable to the entire industry and are immediately implementable across our own line of HempFX products as well as in offtake agreements we have through our existing business relationships. We see this as providing not only immense value to our company, but also to our investors–by selling not just the extraction systems, but also servicing and operating those systems via a rental model, they will provide us with continuous, ongoing profitability.”

Field to Finish

The Khrysos acquisition appears to be a logical step for Youngevity, not only because of the company’s interest in the hemp market but also because of its already-proven business model. This model, which the company refers to as “field to finish,” has been successfully tested through its CLR Roasters subsidiary.

In this model, CLR is involved in every stage in the coffee production process, from farming and green coffee distribution to roasting and sales of branded goods. This vertically integrated approach includes a plantation and dry-roasting facility in Nicaragua, established U.S. facilities and sales networks, and the company’s own coffee brand. The comprehensive approach allows the company to control the entire process of coffee production from the field to the consumer’s cup, not only delivering profit at every level but ensuring the quality and the reputation of the company’s branded products.

The acquisition of Khrysos and a 20 percent ownership stake in the Carolina Cannabis Company allows Youngevity to follow a similar model in the cannabis sector. By taking ownership of the production, processing, branding and sales of its CBD product line, the company plans to profit every step of the way, while also ensuring that its products are produced both efficiently and to the highest standards.

The acquisition also gathers the skills and experience of Khrysos’s technical and managerial staff under the same roof as Youngevity’s already assembled team, another critical advantage. The cannabis sector is still young, and smart companies regularly evaluate and refine their processes as the industry grows and evolves. Having specialist knowledge about the equipment used in processing cannabis will only strengthen Youngevity’s ability to be nimble and adapt, optimizing its processing systems and ensuring a smooth supply chain and efficient manufacturing.

Like any win-win acquisition, both the purchasing company and the company being acquired are set to benefit from the deal. Youngevity’s experience in reaching customers will provide opportunities for the technology developed by Khrysos to expand and reach a wider market, scaling up its equipment and advisory business.

“This is an exhilarating time for us,” said Dave Briskie, president and CFO of Youngevity. “This is just the first step Youngevity plans to take as we look to continue developing in the hemp-derived CBD industry. Right now, that industry is expanding so quickly that companies are struggling to keep up with demand. So acquiring the production capabilities of Khrysos, and adapting a creative model that allows us to upscale the usage of its technologies across our own properties and the properties of our partners — I feel — really stakes our claim within the industry at large.”

An Industry Expanding

Youngevity’s work represents only one part of a broader wave of expansion for the cannabis industry.

Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) has acquired Storz & Bickel, a vaporizer design and manufacturing company with a 22-year track record of breakthrough innovations. The move brings together the world’s most technologically advanced vaporizer company and world’s leading cannabis company and will enhance Canopy Growth’s product device development capabilities. Canopy Growth is dedicated to advancing the world’s perception of cannabis by focusing on research, product development, and innovative production capabilities by offering brands consumers can trust.

In January, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) signed a letter of intent to acquire Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation in an all-share transaction valued at up to approximately $175 million. Whistler has developed one of Canada’s most iconic cannabis brands, built on quality, award-winning organic certified BC bud. The Transaction is expected to provide Aurora with a premium and differentiated organic certified product suite, expanding both its medical and adult-use offerings, and reinforcing Aurora’s presence in the well-established west coast cannabis market.

In one of the largest cannabis acquisitions in history, MedMen Enterprises Inc. (OTCQX: MMNFF) entered an agreement for the acquisition of Chicago-based PharmaCann, one of the largest medical cannabis providers in the U.S. The move is will permit the company to operate 76 retail stores and 16 cultivation and production facilities in 12 states. Through the transaction, MedMen is anticipated to add licenses in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia and Michigan.

A world leader in the development of cannabis-related medicine, GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) has built a strong research program and developed remarkable manufacturing expertise. With its public-offering expansion, the already-strong company becomes a major presence in one of the most attractive investment sectors. This funding allows GW Pharmaceuticals to keep growing its impressive research and production work.

With these strategic moves made by companies intent on leveraging their positions in the growing cannabis market, the time appears ripe for interested investors to take a closer look at the industry’s potential.

For more information on Youngevity, visit Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI)

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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303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

DISCLAIMER: CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by CNW are solely those of CNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable CNW for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. CNW is a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and is NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, CNW, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment.

CNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and CNW undertakes no obligation to update such statements.