420 with CNW – 50 Marijuana Dispensaries in Michigan Get Temporary Reprieve in Court

On Thursday last week (March 28), Judge Stephen Borrello of the Michigan Court of Claims issued a temporary order stopping the state from implementing its decision to close down any medical marijuana dispensary that hadn’t received its license by March 31.

The restraining order gives the businesses in question another 14 days within which to get their operations legalized in accordance with the licensing requirements of the state.

For long, players in the Michigan medical marijuana industry have been complaining that the state takes an inexplicably long time to process and issue a license to an applicant. This slow bureaucratic pace has affected growers, manufacturers and dispensing outlets.

For example, in early February alone, about 150 dispensaries were still awaiting the outcome of their applications for licenses. Similarly, 130 prospective medical cannabis cultivators were also awaiting the fate of their applications for grow licenses.

Because of those complaints, the state decided to allow medical cannabis businesses to open while their applications were still being processed.

However, the state eventually set deadlines for all unlicensed dispensaries to close, but these deadlines have either been unilaterally postponed by the regulators or courts have intervened and forced the state’s hand.

This recent extension is an example of the judiciary stepping in and compelling the state to refrain from implementing its decision to close medical marijuana businesses without licenses.

In response to the restraining order issued by the Court of Claims, the state published a statement in which it revealed that it will hit the brakes on its decision to close unlicensed medical cannabis businesses until court issues further orders or the pending litigation is disposed of by the courts of law.

In a bid to put an end to the endless delays in the licensing process, the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, has established a new agency to superintend over the marijuana industry.

The persistent problems over licensing issues have also come to a head as the state is working to start recreational cannabis sales after voters approved adult-use marijuana during the midterm elections towards the end of last year.

Cannabis advocates worry that if the problems in the medical cannabis sector aren’t fixed in time, then those problems will get worse once recreational cannabis is added to the menu. Wildflower Brands Inc. (CSE: SUN) (OTCQB: WLDFF) and Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) call on the regulators to study what other states have done to streamline the licensing process. Creating new agencies to oversee the industry may not fix the problem if a proper diagnosis of the issues isn’t done.

About CNW420

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

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire420
Denver, Colorado
http://www.CNW420.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Colorado House Bill Could Make Marijuana Consumption Lounges Legal

Recreational marijuana has been legal in Colorado since 2012, but the people who buy legal pot have been having a hard time finding where they can consume their purchase. This is now set to change if a bill that has been approved by a House Committee eventually gets the nod from the entire State Assembly and Senate.

Under current law, recreational cannabis can only be consumed in private residences and private establishments. The ban on public and open consumption of cannabis remains in place even if the law legalizing recreational cannabis intended to regard recreational cannabis in the same way that alcohol is treated by the law.

In the past, all efforts to create a system by which the social consumption of marijuana could be licensed have failed. However, the sponsors of HB 1230 feel that the time may now be right for an enabling to law to be enacted so that businesses can get licenses for the social consumption of marijuana on their premises.

Representative Jonathan Singer, the sponsor of the bill, says that his intention is to fix two major issues in the law.

First, his bill will provide more clarity about the meaning of “open and public” so that cannabis businesses and consumers can know the limits of where cannabis consumption is allowed or not. Currently, marijuana seems to be in no man’s land on this issue, he added.

By defining what “open and public” means, it will be possible to license premises where tourists and residents can consume recreational marijuana. This is especially important because many people who live in rented premises cannot consume recreational cannabis at home because the landlords don’t permit its consumption on the premises.

HB 1230 seeks to create two kinds of licenses that businesses can apply for in order have cannabis users consume their stuff in the premises.

The first kind of license will enable consumption lounges and other public places to have a limited amount of cannabis that people can buy and consume while in the premises.

The second type of license wouldn’t allow on-site cannabis sales, but people can come in with their own cannabis and consume it from those premises.

However, any business that is licensed to sell or facilitate the consumption of alcohol wouldn’t be eligible for any of the cannabis social consumption licenses. Under the proposed law, local authorities would also have the right to decide whether to permit or ban cannabis consumption lounges and other such facilities within their jurisdictions.

Now that the bill has passed the first hurdle in the Business Affairs and Labor Committee of the House, it now heads to the House Finance Committee. The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) and Therma Bright, Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) hope that this bill is enacted into law so that the dilemma of where people can consume legal weed in Colorado can be solved sooner rather than later.

About CNW420

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire420
Denver, Colorado
http://www.CNW420.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Congressional Committee Approves Marijuana Banking Bill

On Thursday last week (March 28), the House Financial Services Committee voted to pass a bill that will make it easier for cannabis businesses to access banking services. The bill will now be scheduled for consideration by the entire House after it passed at the committee level when 45 legislators voted in favor while 15 voted against the bill.

Marijuana advocates see this committee action as a sign that the Democrats who dominate the House are finally making good on their support for cannabis law reform.

The bill seeks to make it possible for marijuana businesses to get access to banking services without any fear of federal action against them. Some of these businesses are working with some banks, but the majority of the financial services providers are reluctant to accept cannabis businesses as clients for fear of violating federal money laundering or illicit drug laws.

The SAFE Act was passed after being debated for several days in which a number of amendments were considered and either passed or rejected when a vote on them was called.

For example, one amendment sought to compel the federal government to conduct research on inclusion and diversity in the cannabis industry so that the damage caused by the war on drugs on minorities can be corrected.

Another amendment that was included in the bill added insurance companies to the list of entities that would be protected by the SAFE Act. It should be remembered that cannabis businesses have also been finding it hard to access insurance services that are vital for any business. If the bill becomes law, then marijuana companies will be able to access insurance services in the same way that other legitimate businesses can.

Another amendment added will compel the Government Accountability Office to study the reports banks are required to file about the marijuana businesses they have as clients. This examination is intended to find out how effective those reports are in helping the authorities to unearth illegal activity.

Those reporting requirements have previously been mentioned as one of the major reasons why it is very expensive for cannabis businesses to access banking services even when some banks are willing to accept these businesses as clients.

One proposed amendment tabled by a Republican legislator wanted to delay the implementation of the SAFE Act until the federal government rescheduled marijuana. Sensing that the amendment wouldn’t pass, the mover withdrew it before it could be voted on.

Many of the amendments that were rejected were mainly proposed by Republicans who wanted to cleverly water down the impact of the proposed law or even render it unenforceable. But the Democrats used their majority on the committee to sidestep all those traps.

Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) (OTC: FLWPF) are glad that Congress is finally acting to enact laws that bring U.S. cannabis businesses into the fold of all other legitimate businesses across the country.

About CNW420

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000

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

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire420
Denver, Colorado
http://www.CNW420.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Michigan Commission Advises the State to Avoid Setting THC Impairment Limit for Drivers

The Impaired Driving Safety Commission, a body that was set up by Michigan’s Governor, has recommended that the state should not set any threshold for the THC content in someone’s blood before that person is regarded as being impaired while driving.

This six-member panel was mandated to find a scientifically-backed limit for THC in blood and suggest what provisions should be put in the law to define when a driver is impaired by cannabis.

The members of the commission include a toxicologist, a law enforcement officer, a medical cannabis patient, doctors and cannabis use and traffic experts.

This panel wrote in its report that there was no scientific information upon which they could base a decision on how much THC in someone’s blood renders that person impaired while driving.

Additionally, the commission stated that there wasn’t any correlation between the amount of THC present in a driver’s blood and driving impairment.

The members also observed that according to the research they reviewed, the THC content in someone’s blood drops rapidly shortly after the person consumes cannabis. Conversely, impairment increases slowly and reaches its peak long after THC levels have dropped in that individual’s blood.

The issue of impairment is also affected by someone’s history of cannabis consumption. For example, a non-regular user of cannabis may become impaired after taking a small amount of marijuana.

However, a more regular user may require a larger dose of the substance in order to be impaired to the same degree as the individual who is an irregular user and consumed a little cannabis. Consequently, the commission recommended that the THC level in someone’s blood was a poor determinant of whether that person was driving while impaired.

The panel then suggested that roadside sobriety tests should be used as a more reliable way to determine if a given driver is impaired or not. This suggestion brings to mind the sobriety tests that are administered to drivers who are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol.

How then can a police officer distinguish between impairment due to alcohol and impairment due to cannabis consumption? A blood test administered once a person fails the sobriety tests can help to distinguish between impairment caused by cannabis and that caused by alcohol.

The findings of this commission bring to question the decision of the states that set a THC threshold to determine when a driver is impaired by cannabis.

For example, Colorado, Montana and Washington State put the threshold at 5ng/ml. Nevada put the limit at 2ng/ml while Pennsylvania set its limit at 1ng/ml. How were these limits arrived at?

Redfund Capital Corp. (CSE: LOAN) (OTC: PNNRF) (Frankfurt: O3X4) and SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) applaud the commission for looking at the available scientific data and then making an objective decision without being influenced by what other states have done to define driving while impaired by 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.

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

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

420 with CNW – Mexican Government Official Uses Twitter to Measure Public Opinion on Cannabis Legalization

The Mexican Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection took to Twitter on Monday (March 25) to ask citizens to share their opinions regarding whether recreational cannabis should be legalized in the country or not. The cabinet official oversees the federal police, intelligence services and prisons.

Less than 24 hours after the poll was initiated, 81 percent of all the respondents said that adult-use marijuana should be legalized while 19 percent said that it shouldn’t be legalized. More than 82,000 people had participated in this survey by that time, so those percentages should not be taken lightly.

It wasn’t immediately clear what the intention of the government was in doing the survey, and it is not clear what they will use the findings for. Whatever their reasons, the social media poll can be seen as further proof that the federal government in Mexico is serious about reforming its marijuana laws.

Last year, one senator tabled a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in the country. That senator is now the Interior Secretary of the country.

Shortly afterwards, the Senate released a report listing the different aspects that lawmakers should keep in mind when drafting a bill to legalize recreational marijuana. These included product labeling, age-restrictions, modes of consumption to be allowed, THC limits, and so many others.

That report didn’t make any specific recommendations about what the law should stipulate. Instead, it outlined the different areas that the proposed legislation should cover. This report was based on what other jurisdictions around the world have looked at while drafting their own marijuana legalization laws.

It should also be remembered that in 2018, Mexican cabinet members visited Canada in order to talk to officials there about the Canadian recreational cannabis legalization program.

This cabinet visit took place shortly before the Supreme Court in Mexico made a ruling that it was unconstitutional to ban the consumption of marijuana by adults.

The Twitter poll may therefore be regarded as something that will further galvanize the lawmakers to discuss the legalization bill with the knowledge that the public is solidly in support of the legislation.

However, it should be noted that social media polls cannot in any way be seen as representative or scientific, so any findings collected from such a poll may not stand up to rigorous scrutiny. Nevertheless, the cannabis industry, including Sproutly Canada, Inc. (OTCQB: SRUTF) (CSE: SPR) (FRA: 38G) and Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) regard the poll by a cabinet member as a signal that robust discussions are taking place to decide what form cannabis legalization in Mexico takes.

About CannabisNewsWire

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

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

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

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

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

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

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

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

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

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

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

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.

Receive Text Alerts from CannabisNewsWire: Text “Cannabis” to 21000

For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com and or https://CannabisNewsWire.News

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
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.

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

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

Do you have a questions or are you interested in working with CNW? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com