CannabisNewsBreaks – Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQX: PLPRF) Releases Shareholder Letter Discussing COVID-19 and Strategic Changes

Plus Products (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQX: PLPRF), a leading branded cannabis products company based in California, today released a letter from its Co-founder and CEO, Jake Heimark, discussing the COVID-19 pandemic and recent company developments. “We do not know how COVID-19 will affect our business, but we believe that we are well prepared to respond to this crisis. For our company’s full response and real-time updates on the actions we are taking to respond to this crisis, please visit PlusProductsInc.com/coronavirus,” Heimark stated in the letter. “PLUS continues to have a strong foundation as a leader in the California cannabis market. We have set three critical objectives as a Company over the next four quarters: 1) to ensure the safety and health of our employees and customers, 2) to continue to establish ourselves as a clear, long-term leader in the California edibles space and 3) to become a cash-flow positive business.”

To view the full press release, visit http://cnw.fm/v1xDs

About Plus Products Inc.

PLUS is a hemp and cannabis food company focused on using nature to bring balance to consumers’ lives. PLUS’s mission is to make cannabis safe and approachable — beginning with high-quality products that deliver consistent consumer experiences. PLUS is headquartered in San Mateo, California. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.PlusProducts.com.

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CanadianCannabisWire (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 – Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) Commences COVID-19 Drug Delivery Program

Lexaria Bioscience (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, this morning announced the initiation of a program, in collaboration with leading laboratories in Canada and the USA, to analyze the benefits of Lexaria’s DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery platform for improving delivery and effectiveness of certain antiretroviral drugs in the fight against coronavirus disease COVID-19. Researchers around the world are currently examining several antiretroviral drugs, many of which are fat soluble, as possible candidates to combat COVID-19. When administered in oral form, fat soluble drugs are known to present considerable bioavailability challenges in effectively reaching the human bloodstream. Lexaria is an established leader in oral delivery of fat-soluble drugs. Lexaria plans to conduct a pilot human pharmacokinetic exploratory study in healthy volunteers of three antiretroviral drugs that have previously been studied against other coronavirus strains, assessing DehydraTECH formulations against controls without the technology. The company intends to conduct the study at a leading Canadian University where a study design and plan has already been submitted for ethics board approval. The company has held discussions with some laboratories that could potentially expand the number of prospective drugs using DehydraTECH under evaluation for coronavirus applications. Following positive conclusions from its planned research activities, Lexaria will aggressively engage with prospective strategic partners to enhance drug development where applicable.

To view the full press release, visit http://cnw.fm/xYe8u

About Lexaria

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. is a global innovator in drug delivery technology. Its patented DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery technology changes the way active pharmaceutical ingredients enter the bloodstream, promoting healthier ingestion methods, lower overall dosing and higher effectiveness for lipophilic active molecules. DehydraTECH increases bio-absorption; reduces time of onset; and masks unwanted tastes for orally administered bioactive molecules including nicotine, vitamins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other molecules. Lexaria has licensed DehydraTECH to multiple companies for use in various oral application formats, including to a world-leading tobacco producer for the development of smokeless, oral-based nicotine products. Lexaria operates a licensed in-house research laboratory and holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 16 patents granted and over 60 patents pending worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

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420 with CNW – Cannabis Sales Surge as Customers Fear Coronavirus Restrictions

The novel Coronavirus virus first appeared in Wuhan, China and in the months since it has infected over 170,000 people and left at least 7,000 dead. Naturally, countries are taking precautions, locking down cities, and restricting travel and public meetings to curb the spread of the virus. In the U.S., states and cities are slowly shutting down, with President Trump urging people to limit themselves to groups of no more than 10 people.

As people prepare for a long period of isolation, marijuana stores have experienced a dramatic surge in sales, especially over the past weekend. Seeing as most retail outlets expect food stores and pharmacies may be shutting down in the future, and already have in some European nations, people are stocking up.

New England Treatment Access is one of the few licensed cannabis stores in Boston, and the dispensary has had to eliminate all walk-in orders due to an influx of customers. An announcement on the store’s website states that ‘in light of the current environment, we will remain open but will move to Reserve Ahead only starting on Saturday.’

Employees at Brookline Store wear latex gloves, with bottles of hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray beside each checkout station.

Higher Leaf stores in Kirkland and Bellevue, WA have also adopted a similar pre-order system to avoid overcrowding at their locations. “We will also be limiting the number of customers in the store so as to maintain a safe distance between people.

According to statewide delivery service Ganja Goddess Delivers, month by month sales traffic spiked by 20% first then by 50%. Stores and delivery services in California have reported 4/20 and Black Friday style sales volumes as people bulk up for an indeterminate isolation period.

After crunching the numbers, the cannabis data experts at Headset found that adult-use cannabis sales in Washington were up 23% on Friday, 14% on Saturday and 33% on Sunday.

In Green Cross, an adult-use cannabis store in San Francisco, many shoppers have been buying up to the legal limit (one ounce). Harborside, a store in Oakland has asked customers to order ahead online and has encouraged them to use its delivery services.

Here are a few tips for shopping during these trying times. Wear protective equipment when in enclosed spaces like stores, visit the store early to reduce exposure to others, keep six to nine feet from others and use licensed delivery if possible.

Experts say that this surge in sales could boost the bottom line of many companies that had low demand for their products. Industry players like MCTC Holdings Inc. (OTC: MCTC) may be hoping that the crisis doesn’t lead to a total shutdown since it would be a huge blow not just to the cannabis industry but the national economy as well.

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW – Congressional Committee Passes Bills Expanding Veterans Access to Medical Cannabis

For the past few years, attitudes towards cannabis have been shifting. Although it is still illegal at the federal level, the narrative isn’t as dire as it used to be. We now know that the cannabis plant produces a group of chemicals called cannabinoids that have potent and diverse medical properties. We also know that taken consistently and at a reasonable dosage, cannabis can alleviate a ton of conditions, ranging from insomnia and anxiety to chronic pain.

However, the road hasn’t been easy. A number of states have legalized medical and recreational marijuana use, but the fact that it’s illegal at the federal level doesn’t help matters. Medical marijuana has still come a long way, though, and it might go even further thanks to a pair of key bills that were recently approved by a Congressional committee.

The bills expand veterans’ access to medical marijuana. One would allow Veteran Affairs (VA) doctors to issue medical marijuana prescriptions in states with legal programs. They currently aren’t allowed to do so. The other bill would direct the VA to conduct a clinical trial to test the efficacy of marijuana in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and other health issues veterans are likely to get.

“We have been working for years to give veterans the opportunity to receive legal medical cannabis treatment for chronic pain and PTSD. Even though this has been approved on the floor of the House in the past as an amendment to appropriations bills, it has been stonewalled by the Senate Republican leadership. This is the way forward to guarantee it becomes the law of the land,” says Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who introduced the first bill.

Currently, veterans can only access medical marijuana if they choose to go outside their VA network and cover all the costs out of pocket. The VA department accepts this arrangement as stated on its website. Its leadership has also stated that it will follow the example set by the federal government, which holds that marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug.

According to Don Murphy, the director of federal policies at the Marijuana Policy Project, passing these bills should be the first order of business for a ‘Congress that prides itself on supporting our veterans.’

“Like every American, veterans should be granted the freedom to access cannabis to treat their medical conditions as an alternative to potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals,” Don Murphy asserts.

Former VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin states that there is growing evidence that properly prescribed medical marijuana may have some real benefits in anxiety improvement, pain management and potentially, in the issue of substance abuse.

“I think the time is now. I believe that the VA should be involved in research on anything that could potentially help veterans and improve their health and well-being,” says Shulkin.

The bills still have a long way to go before they become law, so experts think cannabis companies like SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) will only be happy once veterans are allowed by law to consider medical marijuana for their needs.

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HempNewsBreaks – MCTC Holdings, Inc. (MCTC) Announces New Line of Hemp You Can Feel(TM) Sweeteners, Coffee Creamers

MCTC Holdings (OTC: MCTC), a cannabinoid and hemp extract science forward company developing infusion and delivery technologies, today announced the completion of its research and development phase for its Hemp You Can Feel(TM) line of sweeteners and coffee creamers. Each product in the line, comprised of two low-calorie sweeteners, two organic natural sweeteners and three powdered non-dairy creamers, will feature the company’s new new ultra-low dose form of its patent pending Hemp You Can Feel(TM) technology based on all-natural hemp infusions. MCTC intends to offer consumer sized packaging of the products on its website (www.HempYouCanFeel.com) and plans to provide larger unit sizes to food manufacturers and processors. “This is an exciting and unique product line, not only because it features our revolutionary Hemp You Can Feel(TM) technology, but also because the products in the lineup utilize 100% natural infusions of hemp,” MCTC Holdings CEO Arman Tabatabaei stated in the news release. “With our technology, chemical surfactants, emulsifiers and processing agents are not needed. Consumers can now simply and easily add these sweeteners and non-dairy creamers to beverages for easy flavorings.”

To view the full press release, visit http://cnw.fm/8Dhdb

About MCTC Holdings, Inc.

MCTC Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a: Cannabis Global) is a Delaware registered, fully reporting and audited publicly-traded company. With the hemp and cannabis industries moving very quickly and with a growing number of market entrants, MCTC plans to concentrate its efforts on the middle portions of the hemp and cannabis value chain. The company plans to actively pursue R&D programs and productization for exotic cannabinoid isolation, bioenhancement of cannabinoids and polymeric solid nanoparticles and nanofibers for addition into consumer products and for dermal application. The company was reorganized during June of 2019 and announced its intent to enter the fast-growing cannabis sector and its intent to change its corporate identity to Cannabis Global, Inc. The company is headed and managed by a group of highly experienced cannabis industry pioneers and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.CannabisGlobalinc.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to MCTC are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/MCTC

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HempWireNews (HWN) is a dedicated information provider focused on (1) aggregating hemp-related news, (2) issuing HempNewsBreaks designed to update investors on the latest developments in the hemp market, (3) enhancing corporate news releases, (4) providing full-service distribution and social media offerings to public and private client-partners and (5) designing and implementing all-inclusive corporate communication solutions. HNW is strategically positioned within the rapidly expanding hemp sector with a team of journalists working to help a growing roster of public and private companies reach a wide audience of investors, consumers and members of the media. We leverage a vast network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets to deliver unparalleled visibility, recognition and content to the hemp industry. HempWireNews (HWN) is where HEMP news, content and information converge.

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420 with CNW – Study Finds Marijuana Legalization Boosts Housing Prices

For many, the legalization of recreational marijuana might as well have been trumpets loudly declaring the end of times. Arguments against it ranged aplenty, with some claiming it is a gateway drug while others claimed it would result in increased crime rates. But what many hadn’t considered was the effect it would have on real estate.

Economists from the University of Oklahoma ran a study to find out the effect marijuana legalization had on housing prices, and their results were quite interesting. They examined listings on Zillow, and after tracking them against legalization in Colorado and Washington State, found that legalization ‘has beneficial spillover effects at both the state and local levels.’

“Concern about the potential effect on crime rates and the difficulty in policing impaired driving have been cited as reasons to slow-walk the path to full recreational legalization. This research contributes to the discussion, providing evidence that recreational marijuana legalization (RML) has large spillover effects on the local housing market,” the study authors write.

According to the study, neighborhoods in Colorado and Washington saw a 7% price increase as marijuana retailers opened shop. “Considered together, this research suggests that there are second order benefits associated with marijuana legalization that policy makers and voters should be aware of when deciding the drug’s legal status,” the authors assert.

Apparently, marijuana dispensaries are seen as amenities, and they affect the value of the neighborhoods around them.

“Marijuana’s legalization provides a novel source of tax revenue which states have used to fund capital expenditures, especially in education and it acts as an amenity via the dispensaries that distribute it,” says the paper which was published online by the SSRN. It adds that the creation of a new legal market has direct implications for the local economy, as it establishes new dispensary jobs and reduces arrest rates. All these factors have well-established impacts in housing markets.

One of the more interesting discoveries was that while the prices of more expensive homes increased immediately following a successful ballot drive to legalize marijuana, homes in less expensive homes only saw a price increase after the stores started business. They say liquidity may be a factor as “the wealthiest households can more rapidly move to legal states if they believe there to be some positive spillover effects from legalization.”

However, they say that their research may not be able to determine whether their positive effect will persist. At the moment, though, it seems marijuana dispensaries offer a lot more than cannabis.

“This demonstrates that it is not simply the benefit of increased tax revenue, but also the existence of the dispensaries themselves that is driving the price increases. The dispensaries act as commercial amenities that the public puts a premium on being nearby.”

These study findings may come as welcome news to members of the cannabis industry, such as Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP), who have always believed that the full benefits of marijuana may take long to be fully enumerated.

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420 with CNW – The Marijuana Industry Has Already Created More Than 250,000 Jobs

Marijuana is quite a divisive topic. For the most part, most opinions are split down the middle, with people being either for or against legal marijuana. There’s a lot you can say in defense of marijuana, such as its diverse range of medical applications to the fact that it doesn’t have the side effects pharmaceuticals are known for. However, marijuana’s ability to create employment is almost unparalleled.

According to Leafly’s annual Cannabis Jobs Report, there were 240,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs supported by the legal cannabis industry as of January 2020, a 15% increase from 2019. This translates to 33,700 new jobs in 2019 alone, with Illinois, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts enjoying the most cannabis industry job growth.

Coupled with a projected growth rate of 250% between 2018 and 2028, this makes legal marijuana the fastest growing industry in America, surpassing even the most in-demand tech jobs. However, the fact that marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, and is subject to a patchwork of state legislation, complicates matters.

“There are now nearly a quarter of a million Americans whose professional lives are categorized as illegal or non-existent by the government of the United States,” the report states. “That is outrageous.”

Massachusetts saw an increase of 10,226 jobs and Oklahoma added more than 7,300 jobs. Illinois’s legal marijuana market opened just this year for sales, and it has seen explosive growth in the short period, with 9,176 new jobs being created. The report ranked the state tenth in marijuana jobs in the country.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a variety of other white-collar professions have also sprouted around the legal marijuana industry, including attorneys specializing in cannabis law as well as doctors and other medical professionals who treat medical cannabis patients.

Dr. Rahul Khare, for instance, is a former emergency physician who has been treating medical cannabis patients at his Lincoln Park urgent care center. “I didn’t ever think cannabis would ever be legal in medical school. I never thought I’d be using cannabis as a medication,” he says.

Florida, on the other hand, has a massive market for medical marijuana, with more than 300,000 medical marijuana patients. According to a 2019 study by New Frontier Data, Florida’s adult-use market may make up 12% of the national cannabis market and employ 128,000 by 2025 if recreational marijuana becomes legal.

Experts say that this huge explosion of marijuana jobs gives credence to what industry actors, such as ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX), have always said about the economic and other benefits of legalizing cannabis at all levels.

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HempNewsBreaks – MCTC Holdings, Inc. (MCTC) Launches Unique, All-Natural Line of Hemp You Can Feel(TM) Coffee Products, Offers Free Samples / Special Promos

MCTC Holdings (OTC: MCTC), a cannabinoid and hemp extract science forward company developing infusion and delivery technologies, today announced the launch of its Hemp You Can Feel(TM) Coffee, a unique, all-natural line of coffee products in single-serving compostable pods and packaging. The Company is offering free samples and special discounts during the first week of the launch, with a limited number of free samples consisting of a package of three Hemp You Can Feel(TM) coffee pods available at www.HempYouCanFeel.com. “This is a unique product line based on what we believe to be the most bioavailable infusion technologies in the marketplace,” MCTC Holdings CEO Arman Tabatabaei said in the news release. “The organic coffee is super-premium and sourced directly from South America, and we supervise the roasting, grinding and packaging on-site. But, there is a lot more to the Hemp You Can Feel™ coffee story. We have been able to achieve true water solubility without using chemicals or any of the unsophisticated, chemical laded nano-emulsions that are currently being widely used. Our unique combination of hemp extracts produces a coffee product that really needs to be experienced to fully appreciate. Thus, we are running these special promotions this week only with immediate shipping, so that consumers can enjoy this unique coffee product. Free samples are limited, so don’t delay in ordering at our website, www.HempYouCanFeel.com.”

To view the full press release, visit http://cnw.fm/r5MFZ

About MCTC Holdings, Inc.

MCTC Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a: Cannabis Global) is a Delaware registered, fully reporting and audited publicly-traded company. With the hemp and cannabis industries moving very quickly and with a growing number of market entrants, MCTC plans to concentrate its efforts on the middle portions of the hemp and cannabis value chain. The Company plans to actively pursue R&D programs and productization for exotic cannabinoid isolation, bioenhancement of cannabinoids and polymeric solid nanoparticles and nanofibers for addition into consumer products and for dermal application. The Company was reorganized during June of 2019 and announced its intent to enter the fast-growing cannabis sector and its intent to change its corporate identity to Cannabis Global, Inc. The Company is headed and managed by a group of highly experienced cannabis industry pioneers and entrepreneurs. More information on the Company can be viewed at www.CannabisGlobalinc.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to MCTC are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/MCTC

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420 with CNW – Alabama Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

Ten years ago, the thought of states legalizing marijuana seemed ludicrous enough. The plant has always been quite divisive, with most people being either for or against marijuana. However, what’s certain is that marijuana does have plenty of medicinal properties that make it a good natural alternative to a variety of medications including opioids.

The past few years have seen cannabis become more mainstream, with a number of states legalizing it for both recreational and medical use. Alabama quite recently joined the club after the state Senate voted to pass a bill to legalize marijuana in the state. The bill would allow qualifying patients to purchase certain medical marijuana products from state-licensed dispensaries.

It would also prohibit cannabis for smoking or vaping, with only tablets, topicals, and certain cannabis-infused edibles being legally available for sale.

“I think in this day and time, with the opioid crisis, we need to try alternative medicines that will help people,” says Sen. David Sessions, who voted to pass the bill. The proposal now heads to the House, and it’s sure to be a nail biter. Speaker McCutcheon has been non-committal, stating last month that he’s in ‘wait and see mode.’

Dubbed SB 165, the bill would establish a state Medical Cannabis Commission to register patients and oversee licensing businesses. Patients suffering from qualifying conditions such as anxiety, cancer, epilepsy, and post-traumatic stress disorder will be eligible for the program. They will be able to purchase up to a 70-day supply of medical marijuana products at a time.

The bill also sets a cap of 32 dispensaries allowed in the state, and the products they sell will be tested for potency and contaminants. Sales from the licensed dispensaries will be subject to a 9% tax, and part of those funds will be used to create a new Consortium for Medical Cannabis Research that will provide grants to study cannabis.

Under the proposal, medical marijuana will be tracked from seed to sale, and workers at the cannabis facilities will be subject to background checks.

“Today’s landslide vote in the Alabama Senate shows lawmakers in even the most conservative states in the nation are starting to recognize that allowing medical cannabis is good politics and good policy. Voters of every political background overwhelmingly support allowing medical cannabis,” says Karen O’Keefe, state policies director for the Marijuana Policy Project.

“That said, with polls showing upwards of 90% of Americans support allowing medical marijuana, it’s alarming that 27 states continue to criminalize patients for choosing a safer alternative to opioids.”

It remains to be seen what established companies like Champignon Brands Inc. (CSE: SHRM) think advocates should do to win support from the lawmakers in the House who aren’t in support of the legislation.

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420 with CNW – Maine Issues 31 Conditional Licenses in First Wave of Licensing

Cannabis is becoming more and more popular these days, and it’s not only due to its psychoactive properties. A while back, it was discovered that the controversial plant was filled with cannabinoids, a group of unique chemicals that have potent medicinal properties. What’s more is quite a number of states have recognized this potential, and have taken steps to legalize both recreational and medical marijuana use within their borders.

In Maine, preparations for this year’s season are in full swing, with the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy issuing its first round of conditional adult-use marijuana business licenses. It gave provisional approval to 31 businesses to open growing operations, manufacturing facilities and retail shops in 10 cities and towns in the state.

The Office of Marijuana Policy granted conditional approval to one nursery, 10 growing operations, four manufacturing facilities, and 16 retail stores. “We have said the adult-use industry will launch in spring 2020, and today’s announcement moves us another step closer to honoring that pledge,” says Erik Gundersen, Director of the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy.

He says that the state won’t issue active licenses until it has a testing lab ready, with all its licenses and certifications, to run the health, safety and potency tests required under state law. At the moment, there are four labs thinking of entering the Maine market, but only one is close to being fully licensed.

A conditional license is the first step in a three-step process. After one is issued, the business has to obtain local authorization before returning to the state to obtain the final active license. Depending on the town or city, this process could take two weeks to an entire year. However, host towns will have 90 days or if they have an extension, 180 days to respond to applicants’ requests for local authorization.

According to Gundersen, the Office of Marijuana Policy will receive completed local authorization forms as well as continue to review pending conditional licenses through April. He expects the first active state licenses to be issued then, and retail sales to begin in June, with the delay in between to allow cultivation and harvest.

“Setting such a date will ensure stores have time to stock their shelves and allow products to build up in the system to meet the demand for marijuana and marijuana products in the first few days of legal retail sales. This approach has been used by other states,” says Gundersen. The delay will also allow the state’s first licensed testing lab to come online before the recreational markets are open to consumers.

“Testing bottlenecks have occurred in many states during implementation. To avoid a similar situation in Maine, we will continue to work closely with our prospective testing facilities to ensure they are able to provide this new industry with adequate testing in a timely manner.”

The news of the provisional licenses is likely to be welcomed by the entire cannabis industry, including companies like HTC Extraction Systems (TSX.V: HTC) (OTCQB: HTPRF), which would like adults who wish to consume marijuana to have access to tested products regulated by the state.

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