420 with CNW – Marijuana Linked to Higher Sperm Concentrations

New research has revealed that men who smoke or have ever smoked cannabis have a higher concentration of sperm when compared to those who have never smoked marijuana. This study was conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The team of researchers, led by a group based at Harvard Chan School of Public Health, based their work on a hypothesis that smoking marijuana would have an adverse effect (poor quality sperm) on the reproductive health of men.

They selected that hypothesis because some previous research seemed to suggest that smoking marijuana was detrimental to male reproductive health. However, those previous studies may have been flawed because they focused on men with drug abuse problems or the research was conducted on mice.

Nevertheless, this research sought to dig deeper into the link between smoking cannabis and sperm health.

To this end, the researchers obtained semen samples from 662 men. These samples (totaling 1,143) were collected for nearly two decades from 2000 to 2017. The men were approximately 36 years old and they were largely white with college degrees.

317 men from that group of participants also provided blood samples to the researchers. These blood samples were analyzed to check for the presence of reproductive hormones.

Additionally, the study participants were asked to fill a questionnaire about their use of marijuana. The questions included whether those men had ever smoked a total of two or more marijuana joints in their lives, and whether they were current cannabis smokers.

55 percent (a total of 365 of that group) of the study subjects admitted that they had ever smoked cannabis. From this number, 11 percent said they still smoked cannabis while 44 percent said they no longer did.

The researchers discovered that the men who smoked or had ever smoked cannabis had approximately 62.7 million sperms in each milliliter of ejaculate. The average sperm concentration for those who said they had never smoked cannabis was 45.4 million in each milliliter of ejaculate.

The World Health Organization puts the threshold for normal sperm concentration at 15million/mL of ejaculate. Interestingly, only 5 percent of the men who smoked cannabis had concentrations lower than this threshold while those who had never smoked had 12 percent of their members registering sperm concentrations that were below this threshold.

Serum testosterone was also higher among men who smoked or had ever smoked cannabis when compared to those who had never done so.

Feiby Nassan, the lead author of this research, warned that their findings should be taken with some caution because the researchers were aware that there is so much that may be going in the bodies of the study participants to explain why the results came out the way they did.

For example, the compounds in cannabis may work with the endocannabinoid system, thereby boosting male fertility.

On the other hand, one can also claim that men who have higher testosterone may be more likely to smoke cannabis since this hormone makes them more likely to indulge in risky behavior.

All in all, the researchers appealed for more research to be conducted on how marijuana affects the reproductive system and the entire body. This is exactly why cannabis industry players like Redfund Capital Corp. (CSE: LOAN) (OTC: PNNRF) (Frankfurt: O3X4) and SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) have been hoping that the U.S. federal government eases its restrictions on cannabis so that American researchers can add onto what researchers elsewhere are doing to increase the available knowledge about 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 – First Marijuana Hearing Scheduled in Congress

In the past, all the bills and measures related to cannabis have been voted out by a Congress that was dominated by Republicans. Now the Democrats have control of the House, and the first hearing on cannabis has been scheduled for tomorrow (February 13).

This particular hearing is slated to consider making legal changes to federal laws so that cannabis businesses can access banking services.

The hearing is titled “Challenges and Solutions: Access to Banking Services for Cannabis-Related Businesses.” This hearing is intended to address the problems that legitimate marijuana-related businesses face when trying to access banking services.

For example, while state-level laws may permit cannabis businesses to open and operate in these jurisdictions, federal laws govern the banking industry and these federal laws don’t allow players in the banking industry to do business with firms involved with cannabis.

Many cannabis businesses have therefore been left with no choice but to operate on a cash basis, and stories abound of businesses that keep their earnings in sacks. In some places, unions and some banks have defied the federal government and decided to take on marijuana businesses as clients.

Even then, only limited banking services are provided by those few banks or unions that decide to accept marijuana businesses as clients. This has constrained the ability of cannabis businesses to obtain credit or even get basic banking services affordably.

It should be remembered that federal banking laws impose strict reporting requirements upon any financial institution that works with a company that is involved in an industry that is regarded as illegal. These reporting requirements inflate the cost of getting banking services.

Congressman Denny Heck, who has been an advocate of the cannabis industry for years, revealed that the hearing plans to address those issues so that the cannabis industry can handle its finances in a way that can easily be tracked by regulators for different purposes, such as ensuring that these businesses are paying their taxes as expected.

This hearing is one of the signs that cannabis may be a major issue during this legislative session. This is a positive step that hasn’t come too soon given the fact that the majority (33) of the states in the union have legalized marijuana, including at least 10 states that now allow recreational marijuana.

It makes sense that federal laws need to be reformed so that there is some kind of alignment between what is happening in the different states and the position of the federal government. Sproutly Canada, Inc. (OTCQB: SRUTF) (CSE: SPR) (FRA: 38G), Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) and everyone in the marijuana industry is waiting with bated breath to see what will come of this hearing tomorrow.

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Cannabis Cultivators Profit from Growing Legal Market

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The growth the legal cannabis market has created has turned cultivation facilities into invaluable assets.

The cannabis market is predicted to generate $146 billion in revenues by 2025.
Legal changes are accelerating this expansion in the United States and beyond.
Cultivation facilities are fundamental to this growth, providing the raw materials for the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures (OTC: NUGS) (NUGS Profile) recently announced plans to establish a multi-acre cultivation facility in California to meet market demands. Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is increasing its cultivation space through the acquisition of Natura Naturals Holdings. In addition, the need to equip cultivation facilities is fueling growth for hydroponic suppliers such as GrowGeneration Corp. (OTCQX: GRWG). Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB) has issued a letter of intent to acquire Whistler in an effort to increase cultivation. Meanwhile, Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) is looking beyond North America, cultivating new markets in Europe.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Cannabis Cultivation Provides Prime Opportunity

The continuing growth of the cannabis industry has created a powerful investment opportunity around cultivation sites. These farms are the bedrock of the industry, producing the raw materials that are essential to both medical and recreational customers around the world. Given the balance of supply and demand, companies with cultivation sites can practically guarantee themselves a market for their product.

One of the reasons behind the high value of these sites is the continuing development of cannabis-friendly regulations. State and federal laws becoming more cannabis friendly, and as that happens, the industry appears destined for substantial growth.

Potential of the Cannabis Cultivation Market

The growth of the cannabis sector has led to the rise of companies such as Cannabis Strategic Ventures (OTC: NUGS), a holding company for cannabis industry start-ups and growth-stage enterprises that is moving into cannabis cultivation in Northern California. Such companies are keen to talk up the potential of the cannabis market, and unlike some other sectors, cannabis shows every sign of living up to the hype.

The global market for legal marijuana was valued at $9.3 billion dollars in 2016. By the end of 2025, the market is forecast to reach $146.4 billion. That’s staggering growth for an industry that didn’t even exist legally a mere 20 years ago and that has only recently started to attract substantial investor attention.

The largest part of the market is currently medical cannabis and cannabis-derived wellness products. Medical use provided cannabis with its foot in the door of the legal economy, thanks to its applications in providing pain and nausea relief, but the potential has exploded from there. Legalization has allowed better research into the effects of cannabis’ active ingredients, in particular tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The plant is used in a wide variety of health and wellness products tailored to increasingly specific customer bases, such as Cannabis Strategic Ventures’ Fitamins brand, formulated to relieve muscle pain in athletes.

The breakthrough research is driving demand for cannabis in various forms. The plant itself can be preserved and smoked for medical and recreational effects. Plant derivatives are used in a wide range of pills and ointments. And CBD and THC oils can be vaped or used in even more products.

As it becomes easier for companies to legally process cannabis, these companies are exploring making cannabis edibles. The changes are even fostering a surge in the production of hemp, a variety of the cannabis plant that doesn’t contain high-inducing quantities of THC. And in addition to being used in the manufacture of CBD products, hemp is also used to make textile products.

Legal Changes for Cannabis

The societal clamor for access to cannabis’ derivative benefits is driving new waves of legislation, including the legalization of recreational cannabis in several U.S. states as well as countries such as Uruguay and Canada. Across the United States, 70 to 75 percent of the cannabis trade is reportedly still in the hands of criminals, while in states with legalization, only about 30 percent of the activity continues to be criminal, according to Grand View Research. The potential to reduce the income of criminals, increase tax revenue and tackle drug abuse through public health measures are all fueling a movement that could drive even more radical growth in the legal cannabis market over the next generation.

The wave of cannabis-friendly legislation has allowed companies such as Cannabis Strategic Ventures to get their businesses started and access a broad legal customer base. Other legislation has maintained a lower profile but is equally important for the industry. In December, the 2018 Farm Bill belatedly passed through Congress after months of negotiations. In the process, it lifted the ban on commercial hemp, making it far easier for cultivators to produce this form of cannabis.

Even in states where the cannabis industry is already legal, legislation is becoming friendlier towards the industry. The California legislature has proposed a temporary reduction in taxes for cannabis businesses to help them make inroads into the illegal industry. For California-based companies such as Cannabis Strategic Ventures, this is great news as it frees up capital for further expansion and provides the incentive to continue operating in a friendly state.

More Cultivation

Under the circumstances, venturing into production was a natural move for Cannabis Strategic Ventures. With the industry growing and the legal landscape looking friendlier than ever, the company is preparing to break ground on a major new cannabis cultivation site.

The six-acre site in Northern California — dubbed the NUGS Farm — will establish the company as a direct producer and position it to make the most of the potential the market has to offer.

“Establishing the NUGS Farm and securing these licenses are significant milestones for Cannabis Strategic Ventures,” said Simon Yu, CEO of Cannabis Strategic Ventures. “As the cannabis industry expands, and as we work to make cannabis legal on a federal level, Cannabis Strategic Ventures will be in position to touch on all areas of cannabis production.”

Though the main purpose of the farm will be to cater to Californian cannabis users, the largest market for the plant in the United States, the move is also a significant step toward wider operations.

“They say that the way California goes, the direction of the country goes,” added Yu. “We are optimistic that federal regulations will become more cannabis friendly in the near future and are excited for the positive impact it can have on our company.”

With more than 20 licenses for the cultivation, manufacturing and distribution of cannabis within California, Cannabis Strategic Ventures appears to be perfectly positioned to leverage opportunities within the state. In addition, these strategic moves may ideally prepare the company for expansion prospects throughout the rest of the country.

The Rise of the Cannabis Companies

The changing cannabis landscape has led to the emergence of several major players in the industry.

Many of the most important companies are based in Canada, where federal-level legalization and a large market for cannabis have made it easier for businesses to develop. Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is one of the industry leaders, a pioneer in the cultivation, production and distribution of cannabis and its derivatives. With affiliates and subsidiaries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and most recently Latin America through Tilray Latin America SpA, the company is developing a global presence. It is also expanding within Canada and has recently announced a pending acquisition of Natura Natural Holdings Inc., a multimillion deal that will give Tilray an extra 662,000 square feet of growing space.

The rise of cannabis companies is proving a boon for the suppliers of cultivation equipment as well, especially those specializing in hydroponics. Among those to profit is GrowGeneration Corp. (OTCQX: GRWG), a seller of hydroponic systems and the associated nutrients. Like Tilray, GrowGeneration has developed enough financial power to use acquisition as a route to growth. It recently obtained all the assets of Denver-based Chlorophyll Inc., increasing its influence across the United States.

Another of the big Canadian companies, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), has also demonstrated the importance of increasing cultivation space. A large part of the rationale behind its recently announced letter of intent to acquire Whistler was the desire to get hold of that company’s two production facilities. These facilities are expected to produce 5,000 kilograms of quality cannabis a year, providing Aurora an avenue to increase its market share.

Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) is looking beyond its immediate market. Though legalization is not as widespread in Europe as in North America, change is also expected there in the long term, and the company is positioning itself to make the most of this. It has established subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Poland to make the most of the very different situations in those two countries. In Poland, the company has passed through a regulatory process that will allow it to import and sell its cannabis in the country for medical use. In the United Kingdom, where the door has only just opened a crack to the use of cannabis derivatives in the most extreme medical cases, the company has formed a joint venture with a local research group, placing Canopy Growth as one of the first cannabis companies operating in the United Kingdom.

The market for cannabis is expanding as attitudes and laws change. This momentum may drive a need for more product and thereby provide promising opportunities for companies with cultivation facilities.

For more information on Cannabis Strategic Ventures, visit Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (NUGS)

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420 with CNW – Chronic Pain Tops Reasons for Medical Cannabis Use in America

A new study has found that most Americans use medical marijuana in order to ease chronic pain. The study was aimed at finding out the exact reasons why people in the U.S. use medical marijuana, and whether those stated reasons have any scientific basis.

Kevin Boehnke, a researcher at Michigan University’s Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, led the team of researchers who started by analyzing a report that was written in 2017 on the use of medical marijuana. This report was written by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

That 2017 report found either conclusive or substantial proof that cannabis eased nausea, muscle spasms, vomiting and chronic pain.

Boehnke and his team also found that in 2016, the number of people who were registered to use medical cannabis was 641,000. This number rose to 814,000 the following year (2017). However, the researchers believe that the actual number of medical cannabis users exceeds the statistics captured in the report they read.

The statistics show that 85.5 percent of medical cannabis card holders were convinced that there was science backing their desire to use medical cannabis for the different qualifying conditions they suffered from. Chronic pain topped the list of qualifying conditions taking up 62 percent of all applications for medical cannabis cards.

The team of researchers wasn’t surprised by their findings regarding chronic pain given that approximately 100 million Americans are estimated to suffer from chronic pain.

Many of those medical cannabis users, such as Brandian Smith from Illinois, say that they resorted to medical cannabis because it worked better than the prescription opiates that they had been using previously.

This anecdotal evidence from actual medical cannabis users, together with the scientific studies that prove that medical marijuana can combat chronic pain, may offer a ray of hope in the fight against the opioid crisis in the U.S.

Currently, 33 states have legalized the use of medical marijuana. 10 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have decriminalized adult-use marijuana. These 33 states can potentially start a wave rolling back the opioid problem if this matter is given more attention.

For now, the federal government remains adamant that marijuana hasn’t been proved to have any medical use, so it remains a Schedule 1 substance. Boehnke and his team of researchers feel strongly that their findings make a case for changing the federal government’s position so that cannabis can be integrated in the medical system of the country. Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE: VIDA) (OTCQX: PHVAF) and Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQB: PLPRF) couldn’t agree more with Kevin Boehnke’s conclusions.

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420 with CNW – Oregon Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Protect Cannabis Users Who Need Organ Transplants

A Portland lawmaker, Rep. Rob Nosse, has introduced House Bill 2687 geared at ensuring that medical cannabis users aren’t removed from the waiting list for organ transplants in the State.

This Bill will prevent medical practitioners from recommending that medical cannabis users be removed from the waiting list for organ transplants managed by different organizations in the State, such as United Network for Organ Sharing.

Approximately 850 people in Oregon are waiting to get a suitable match for an organ transplant, yet just 340 transplant surgeries were performed in the state last year.

Many of those people on the waiting list resort to medical marijuana in order to alleviate their severe symptoms.

In response to the bill introduced by Nosse, many of the transplant centers in Oregon denied that they turn away anyone who tests positive for marijuana.

Piseth Pich, one of Legacy Health’s community relations officials in Portland, revealed that their center assesses patients based on a number of requirements, including drugs tests, as a way to understand that patient’s overall health condition before that person is declared suitable for a transplant.

Pich added that it is hard to put a number on how many people who have been found unsuitable just by looking at only factor since suitability is determined on the basis of multiple factors.

It is common for someone to wait for years before ever finding a suitable organ, and even after the transplant process many people’s bodies reject the donated organ as foreign.

Representatives of the different transplant centers have expressed reservations about Nosse’s bill. For example, they say that the bill wants to make it legal for the transplant centers to disregard a factor that can have a bearing on the likely success of a transplant procedure.

While appearing before the House Committee on Health Care, Nosse presented a woman, Robin Socherman, whose situation can be regarded as a case study of what medical marijuana users go through when they need an organ transplant.

Robin Socherman is interested in donating a kidney to her husband, but he was removed from the waiting list after he tested positive for marijuana. Her husband, Jake Socherman, started using medical marijuana about six years ago to combat back pain. This pain has since been linked to his enlarged kidneys.

The transplant center advised Jake to stop using medical cannabis in order to be eligible for an organ transplant. However, he resumed using marijuana after his symptoms got worse, and the transplant center promptly removed him from the waiting list.

Nosse told the committee that cases like that of Socherman prompted him to introduce the bill so that medical cannabis users aren’t victimized when they need an organ. MustGrow Biologics Corp., Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE) and the entire marijuana industry agree that people like Jake Socherman need to be given all the legal protections that they can get so that their health doesn’t suffer just because they are consuming a legal product.

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420 with CNW – Study Says Dabbing is the Most Efficient Way to Consume Cannabis

Have you ever wondered which delivery method offers the best results when you are consuming cannabis? A recent study has concluded that “dabbing” is superior to the other common ways of getting cannabis into your bloodstream.

Forensic Science International conducted the study whose findings showed that “dabbing” delivered at least 75 percent of the THC in cannabis to your lungs. This is in contrast to smoking which destroys the same percentage (75 percent) of THC before it can reach your lungs.

Dabbing refers to inhaling the vapor from a heated extract of cannabis. The extract is heated to boiling point on a ceramic, titanium or quartz surface.

The experiment involved the use of a machine that was built by Forensic Science International specifically for this research. This machine was able to replicate smoking and dabbing. The researchers collected the smoke which would have made its way into someone’s lungs and they analyzed those samples to know how much CBD and THC they contained. This proportion formed what they called the “recovery rate” of those delivery methods.

The recovery rates stated above (75 percent for dabbing and 25 percent for smoking) were established after analyzing the collected samples.

Previous studies had put the recovery rate for smoking at 27.5-46.3 percent, which is still a far cry from the 75 percent registered for dabbing. Other research also gave vaping a higher recovery rate (51.4-82.7 percent) when compared to smoking. The recovery rates for vaping varied based on the specific vaporizer that one was using.

However, these studies on the recovery rates of the different cannabis delivery methods should be regarded with some caution because the results were clearly dependent on the temperature used during dabbing. Lower temperatures tended to give higher recovery rates, partly because a smaller proportion of the ingredients in cannabis was destroyed by the heat while higher temperatures reduced the recovery rates of dabbing to just over 50 percent.

Another factor that may contribute to the results obtained is the composition of the extracts used during dabbing. For example, heating the “acid form” of THC, called THCA, resulted in higher recovery rates because when that THCA was heated, it produced THC. Conversely, heating THC reduced the recovery rate because once you heat THC, some of it becomes something else, thereby reducing the quantity of THC reaching the lungs.

Similarly, smoking cannabis shouldn’t be dismissed as a wasteful way to consume cannabis. After all, consumers agree they get a range of physiological effects when they smoke. This may be due to some of the new compounds created once THC is heated. Thus, cannabis smokers may derive special experiences that aren’t available to those who use other delivery methods.

The bottom line? Whatever method you use to consume your cannabis will deliver the benefits expected by the industry players, such as Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTCQB: MCOA) and Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions (OTC: REFG). Only the degree of those effects will vary.

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420 with CNW – Cannabis Could Prevent Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Researchers Reveal

Many athletes, such as footballers, commit suicide or die as a result of the brain trauma caused while they engage in contact sports. Chronic traumatic endephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative neurological condition, is one such brain trauma disease that conventional medicine has found so hard to prevent or treat partly because the condition can only be diagnosed posthumously. Now a number of scientists and researchers are suggesting that cannabis may help to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of this disease whose victims are mainly athletes (particularly footballers).

One study conducted in Israel found that the use of cannabis improved blood flow to the brain and prevented brain tissues from dying. While this study was conducted on rats and mice with head trauma, it brings hope for a solution to a problem from which 99 percent of all dead NFL players suffered, researchers say.

Another study conducted in the U.S. concluded that cannabis possesses neuro-protective properties because of the antioxidants it contains. In fact, Kyle Turley, a retired NFL player, uses cannabis to treat the traumatic brain injury he suffers from resulting from his days as a player. Turley was also a friend of another NFL player, Junior Seau, who fatally shot himself in 2012. Brain specialists who examined samples of Seau’s brain found that his suicidal tendency was due to CTE.

Apart from causing people to be suicidal, CTE causes depression, aggression, confusion, dementia and mood swings.

Turley is now an avid advocate for the use of cannabis to treat neurological conditions, especially among athletes.

His mission isn’t farfetched because a number of companies have been developing cannabis-based remedies for different neurological conditions. For example, KannaLife Sciences is developing a synthetic cannabis pill that is intended to prevent CTE in athletes. The company also makes other CBD-based remedies.

Another company, GW Pharmaceuticals, has already obtained FDA approval for Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug that can treat two forms of rare pediatric epilepsy. Epilepsy is a neurological condition, just like CTE. Epidiolex has already proved to be effective for some of the kids with the forms of epilepsy for which it was developed.

It should be noted that treating brain injury isn’t achieved by CBD alone. A study whose findings were published in The American Surgeon showed that patients who suffered brain injuries and tested positive for THC suffered fewer fatalities than those who didn’t test positive for THC.

Such findings provide good news to Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: GRYN) and other players in the cannabis industry like Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) because it offers a possible solution to a problem (CTE) that could be affecting millions of athletes.

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420 with CNW – Florida Judge Rules that Cap on Dispensaries is Unconstitutional

A Circuit Court Judge, Karen Gievers, has ruled that the state and the health department in Florida violated the constitution when they imposed a cap on the number of dispensaries that a licensed business could open within the state.

Trulieve sued the state and asked court to strike down the cap on dispensaries that had been imposed limiting each business to a maximum of 30 outlets. Initially, the cap was at 25 but it was raised to 30.

The plaintiff successfully argued that patients could get better access to medical marijuana treatment centers at an affordable cost if more dispensaries were available instead of forcing patients to incur the cost of vehicle delivery of cannabis to their addresses.

The company had also argued that the ban, which was imposed long after they had opened a number of outlets, affected their business since they wouldn’t have opened dispensaries in some locations had they had prior awareness of that cap. Trulieve therefore asked court to nullify that cap so that their business isn’t unnecessarily hampered.

The judge agreed and wrote in her ruling that the state didn’t have any plausible reason to impose such a restriction on legally licensed businesses. Furthermore, the judge observed that the cap wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the constitutional amendment legalizing medical cannabis.

The state made a vain attempt to justify the cap by saying that the local and state authorities needed time to study how to regulate medical cannabis. Judge Gievers threw out this argument saying that the constitutional amendment didn’t provide for such “study” and that she didn’t get evidence of what needed to be “studied” for three years.

She argued that the state had ample time to study medical cannabis regulation as much as they wanted before the first medical cannabis law was passed years back in 2014.

This same judge lifted the ban on smoking medical cannabis and gave the state a dressing down for the blatant way in which it was disregarding constitutional provisions while implementing the medical marijuana program. The previous Governor, Rick Scott, appealed against that ruling and left office before the appeal was heard.

Recently, Gov. DeSantis threatened to withdraw from pursuing that appeal if the legislature didn’t amend the law to allow patients to smoke medical cannabis. He gave the legislators a few weeks to act or else the courts will be left to change the law by judicial declaration.

Golden Developing Solutions, Inc. (OTC: DVLP), Green Growth Brands, Inc. (CSE: GGB) (OTCQB: GGBXF) and the whole industry welcomes the decision of the court since patients in Florida will now have medical cannabis dispensaries closer to them.

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420 with CNW – Baby Boomers are a Growing Cannabis Market

Statistics have it that baby boomers are a rapidly growing market segment in the cannabis industry, and any firm looking to get a foothold in this industry needs to pay attention to this demographic.

Why This Group Matters

First, baby boomers are no longer taking care of kids, and many are approaching retirement. This means that this group has accumulated some resources and they have disposable income that they can spend on cannabis. Who wouldn’t want a potential client that has money to spend?

Secondly, cannabis isn’t an altogether new substance to these people. Many of them sampled the product or know someone who did during their younger years. It will therefore not be as if you are starting from scratch if you want to get these people to buy your cannabis products.

Thirdly, baby boomers tend to be brand-loyal, so it makes sense to get to them early before a competitor wins their loyalty. Getting them to switch from one brand to another can be a monumental undertaking that you don’t want to attempt.

Crucially, many baby boomers have health conditions for which medical cannabis can be a viable solution. For example, arthritis and chronic pain plague a significant fraction of this demographic. Positioning your products as the products to ease their pains and alleviate other ailments can pay off in a big way.

How to Get Your Foot In

Each demographic has its own unique characteristics that businesses must understand in order to win their patronage. For starters, baby boomers are more likely to pay attention to word of mouth recommendations when compared to other marketing efforts. Crack this method and you will have them buying from you in droves.

Another way to get this demographic is by making it easy for them to access your products. Many among them have mobility challenges while some may be concerned about keeping their cannabis use discreet. Home delivery and shuttle services can address these concerns and boost your sales.

Additionally, this group is what some may call “old fashioned.” Product information should be given to them during face-to-face interactions, especially at the dispensary or retail outlet. Cannabis businesses that are designed to make this possible will get a sizeable share of the clientele in this group.

The cannabis industry, especially Generation Alpha Inc. (OTCQB: GNAL) and Global Payout Inc. (OTC: GOHE) will definitely find ways to meet all the needs of the different age groups, including the baby boomers.

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420 with CNW – Why the US is Unlikely to Legalize Cannabis in 2019

The year of 2018 registered some major wins for marijuana (Canada legalized recreational cannabis, the FDA made history by approving a cannabis-derived drug, more states legalized marijuana, public opinion is at an all-time high in favor of legalization, etc.), and that has led many cannabis advocates to expect 2019 to bring even better news along the lines of the U.S. federal government legalizing marijuana. However, this is unlikely to happen this year for a number of reasons.

The Senate isn’t Warm to Marijuana

While Congress is now dominated by Democrats (and Democrats have a history of being friendly to cannabis law reform), the Senate is still firmly in the hands of Republicans. Even the recent polls that show massive support for cannabis legalization reveal a small majority of Republicans supporting legalization (53 percent, according to the latest Gallup poll) while Democrats (75 percent) support the end of cannabis prohibition. This means that even if Congress passed a bill to legalize marijuana, such a bill is unlikely to make it past the Senate this year.

Marijuana isn’t Yet Divisive Enough to Cost Politicians their Jobs

The elected representatives on Capitol Hill don’t yet feel that their position on marijuana can cost them their jobs. Some opinion polls conducted last year discovered that a large majority of people (82 percent) would still vote for a politician even if that candidate had a different view on marijuana from that of the voter.

What such polls show is that politicians are unlikely to take the public’s views on marijuana seriously if the voters don’t put their representatives on the spot over the issue. Consequently, it is unlikely that marijuana will be legalized federally, unless the subject becomes so polarizing that political offices can be lost or earned based on this one issue alone.

There’s Money Involved

The role of money also rears its head on matters of cannabis legalization. Under the present legal framework, marijuana companies are subjected to very high corporate tax rates (as high as 90 percent). This is because such companies cannot claim corporate tax deductions since they deal in a substance that is federally illegal.

Legalizing cannabis would change the section of the tax code applicable to pot companies, and the federal government may lose approximately $5 billion over five years in corporate taxes from these companies. The federal government may be unable to recoup this money from the federal excise tax on legal marijuana sales since some states already have very high state-level excise taxes on cannabis, hence any increase can effectively be an advert for the cannabis black market. So, 2019 may not be the year for cannabis legalization at the federal level until a solution to this money conundrum is found.

While the issues above appear to be serious individually, the views of the voters can trigger a dramatic shift in the way cannabis is regarded at the federal level. The cannabis industry, including ChineseInvestors.com (OTCQB: CIIX) and Choom Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO) (OTCQB: CHOOF) can only wait for that time when pressure from below forces the federal government to end cannabis prohibition.

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