Category: CannabisNewsWire Release

420 with CNW – New App Keeps Cannabis Purchases Off Your Credit Card History

We reported earlier that Canadians who buy marijuana using their credit cards risk being denied U.S. entry for life. This is because U.S. border agents can invoke their right to look into the purchasing history of an alien who wishes to enter the country before letting that person through. The appearance of marijuana purchases on your credit card statement can therefore give those agents an excuse to declare you inadmissible for life. However, an app has been developed which can get rid of that risk.

The GreenGreen app allows users to purchase cannabis without using their credit cards. The app works like an online-based credit card system, so buyers simply clear their cannabis bills at the end of each month in the same way that they would make payments to settle their credit card debts.

This innovation gives Canadians a chance to consume legal marijuana in their country without fearing that they will be victimized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents when they need to travel across the border.

The GreenGreen app also enables cannabis consumers to avoid the inconvenience of withdrawing cash from an ATM each time they want to buy marijuana. Remember that the marijuana industry is still largely cash-based since major banks are reluctant to do business with an industry which is still illegal in other markets, especially the U.S. market, where those banks have major operations.

Furthermore, the app reduces the risks associated with carrying cash. For example, one will no longer fear being mugged by opportunistic criminals who want to lay their hands on the cash you are carrying to buy cannabis.

However, customers in Ontario may wait a little longer before they can benefit from the GreenGreen app. This is because the app cannot be used to make online purchases and yet the province enacted laws permitting the sale of recreational cannabis by online stores only.

Nonetheless, marijuana buyers in the U.S. can register and start using the app to buy marijuana in the states where it is legal. Countless marijuana businesses in the U.S. have had to grapple with the risks associated with operating a strictly cash-based business. The app offers a way for cashless payments to be made to and by marijuana businesses.

Cannabis-related companies like Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) welcome every innovation that makes it easier for the cannabis industry to serve its clients with as few hassles as possible.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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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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

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

Booming Cannabis Consumables Space Continues to see Product Innovations

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The North American Marijuana Index of leading cannabis stocks continues to hold onto the 250 range that it meteorically climbed into at the start of the year.

  • Growing acceptance of cannabis is setting the stage for a consumable cannabis boom.
  • Major companies have begun to throw their hats into the ring.
  • North America is steadily headed towards broad legalization.

Canada is legalizing cannabis across the board, Mexico is fast-tracking legalization, and industrial hemp appears to be headed for legalization in the United States thanks to landslide approval in the Senate (86 to 11) of its version of the new hemp-friendly Farm Bill. Prospects of a shift in the reluctant attitude of the House as Democrats prepare to take majority there have also had a positive impact. The global cannabis market is on track to hit $146.4 billion by the end of 2025, and the industry hasn’t even seen the first real breakout commercial product in the fastest-growing CBD (cannabidiol) and beverages/edibles markets. Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) (LXRP Profile) is a contender for that recognition with bio-absorption-enhancing technology and a growing line of hemp oil CBD products. GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) continues to be the leading name in cannabinoid prescription medicines with its FDA-approved, oral CBD anti-seizure solution, Epidiolex. WeedMD Inc. (OTCQX: WDDMF) (TSX.V: WMD) ranks as one of the top licensed Canadian producers, with a multichanneled distribution strategy and 70,000 square feet of production space already online. HEXO Corp. (OTC: HYYDF) (TSX: HEXO) is another Canadian producer with a track record for low-cost production that currently has around 310,000 square feet of space with plans to tack on a whopping 1 million square feet by the end of the year. Los Angeles-based MedMen Enterprises, Inc. (OTCQX: MMNFF) (CSE: MMEN) is a rapidly expanding U.S. cannabis company with 19 licensed facilities in four key states representing both cultivation and dispensaries.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Cannabis-Infused Consumables Primed to Explode

Cannabis-infused beverages saw 88 percent growth in sales from 2016 to 2017, according to analyst Flowhub, and that benchmark is likely to be met or surpassed this year. CBD and the widely known psychoactive cannabinoid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are finding their way into alcoholic beverages as decades-old cannabis prohibition slowly retreats ahead of growing consumer confidence about the safety of medical cannabis and recreational marijuana use.

With huge new markets opening up across North America, the potential for cultivators appears to be almost unlimited. Even in places where recreational-use legalization may be a long shot, typically some form of medical access already exists. With baseline metrics such as these, it is little wonder that the North American cannabis market alone was recently projected to hit $41 billion this year, before climbing to $95 billion in 2026.

Bioavailability Tech Could Be Game-Changer

Because of the way the body metabolizes ingested cannabinoids, edibles traditionally are understood to act slowly, taking one to two hours to kick in. Comparatively poorer absorption by the gastrointestinal tract prompts many consumers to pursue more dangerous methods of consumption, such as smoking, in order to achieve the desired effectiveness more rapidly. Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) has developed a proprietary lipophilic enhancement technology to bypass this problem, achieving bio-absorption rate increases 10 times greater than other products while slashing the effect onset time from hours to under 20 minutes.

Lexaria’s proprietary technology is patent protected for CBD and other nonpsychoactive cannabinoids and has patents pending for THC, other psychoactive cannabinoids, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), nicotine and other molecules. Essentially a B2B, Lexaria is in an enviable position amid the rise of cannabis edibles ranging from recreational drinks to CBD-based nutraceuticals, with a key piece of technology that the company can out-license to third-party partners. Moreover, the company’s proprietary technology may mask undesirable tastes, eliminating the need for sugar-filled edibles, and may actually allow cannabinoids to bypass being broken down by the liver if desired.

Established Presence, Superior Tech—A One-Two Knockout Punch

Lexaria also already has a considerable, established presence in the edibles space, with brands such as the company’s ViPova line of CBD-infused coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The company has seen success since 2014 with beverages such as its original Yunnan Black Tea, which contains 50 mg of Multi Scandinavian full-spectrum hemp oil per serving. These beverages lack the typical oily residue found in most CBD-infused drinks and have virtually no cannabis odor or flavor.

At the low cost of only 2 cents per milligram ($1.25 per serving), the company’s delicious ViPova teas, which come in a variety of flavors including Earl Grey and Herbal Masala Chai, are a testament to Lexaria’s ability to deliver high-value beverages to the cannabis market. The increased bioavailability of the CBD in these beverages, thanks to the company’s proprietary technology, combined with the low per-unit price, represents an incredible value that consumers are noticing. Also, Lexaria’s product mix currently includes the company’s branded Lexaria Energy Foods as well as TurboCBD supplements.

Bottles and Cans Giving Way to Packets of Powder

Capitalizing on its bioavailability-enhancing technology and established presence as a CBD-infused product developer, Lexaria has now moved to tackle the U.S. soft drinks market, which is expected to be worth $388 billion-plus by 2025, introducing a discreet, single-serving foil packet cannabinoid drink powder named ChrgD+. Lexaria is confident that a small two-gram foil packet that can be discreetly carried in a shirt pocket or purse for incorporation into a beverage will be a big hit. After all, consumers can’t show up at their kid’s soccer game with a can of soda whose branding announces “cannabis” to everyone in view.

The multi-spectrum cannabinoid portable drink powder ChrgD+ can turn any drink into a CBD-infused beverage, including wine or cocktails. While currently only available in a CBD-from-hemp version, Lexaria is in talks with cannabis companies to realize its objective of deploying a THC version of the powder.

Powdered single-serving packets of consumers’ favorite drinks have exploded in popularity during recent years as an increasing number of beverage makers are opting to give consumers the convenience of mixing their own drinks from flavor packets containing the rich, distinct flavor profiles of brands they have come to know and love. The same thing is now happening in CBD drinks, and Lexaria may possess some distinct advantages over the competition.

All Kinds of Consumables

CBD and THC appear to be rapidly making their way into all kinds of consumables. The industry’s reputation continues to be improved in the eyes of consumers due to advancing breakthroughs in cannabinoid medicines used to treat everything from epileptic seizures to inflammatory bowel disease.

GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) broke the blockade in cannabinoid medicines with the highly purified, plant-derived CBD indication Epidiolex, which is available in the United States as of November 2018 for the treatment of seizures associated with severe forms of epilepsy. This one company has arguably done more than any other to improve public perception of the cannabis sector, specifically medical cannabis. The company is not resting on its laurels either, following up the availability of Epidiolex via physician prescription with a patient support program designed to help Epidiolex users obtain access to therapy.

WeedMD Inc. (OTCQX: WDDMF) (TSX.V: WMD) moved recently to exploit its position as a leading federally licensed Canadian producer and distributor by executing a pivotal, exclusive development agreement with Montreal-based pharmaceuticals, natural health products and cosmetics developer Smart Medicines GMP. The partnership maps out a comprehensive five-year development plan, including ramping up the operational capabilities of Smart Medicines’ 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Montreal laboratory. WeedMD also recently signed a multiyear retail sales distribution agreement with Lifford Cannabis Solutions, which specializes in helping cannabis companies advance their products through control boards to retail.

HEXO Corp. (OTC: HYYDF) (TSX: HEXO), which produces cannabis through its Hydropothecary brand, issued a major announcement in August that it will develop nonalcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages with Molson Coors Canada. This joint venture with one of the world’s biggest beer makers is a serious play by HEXO to establish itself in the burgeoning cannabis-infused drinks market. This announcement was followed up by word that HEXO has closed on the acquisition of its first major facility outside of Quebec, taking a big step toward realizing the company’s hub-and-spoke business expansion strategy.

MedMen Enterprises, Inc. (OTCQX: MMNFF) (CSE: MMEN) recently signed a definitive $33 million agreement to acquire control of Level Up (Kannaboost Technology and CSI Solutions), which has a 25,000-square-foot production facility as well as retail locations in Scottsdale and Tempe, Ariz. Furthermore, MedMen will obtain a 40 percent stake in the top-selling K.I.N.D. Concentrates brand via the acquisition. MedMen also recently acquired the retail operations and license for a key location in Santa Ana, California, from Captor Capital Corp. in an all-stock transaction, adding to the company’s growing strategic footprint in one of the most affluent areas of Southern California.

With several of the world’s largest beverage makers on the fence about entrance into the CBD-infused beverages market, the stage is set for smaller players, as well as majors from parallel sectors without a significant ground game in nonalcoholic drinks. But beverages are just one aspect of a rapidly evolving industry that spans the gamut from edibles and concentrates to grow-ops and biopharma development.

For more information on Lexaria Bioscience Corp., visit Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP)

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

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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.

Political Change and E-commerce Drive Ongoing Growth for Cannabis Industry

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Years of steady growth in the cannabis industry are expected to continue.

  • Cannabis industry forecasts anticipate revenues of $146 billion by 2025.
  • Individual U.S. states are already seeing cannabis sales exceed $1 billion in a year.
  • The departure of Jeff Sessions and expected passage of the Farm Bill will bolster these profits.
  • E-commerce is helping cannabidiol (CBD) products reach a growing market.

SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) (SING Profile) is showing how much technology can boost the industry, with support software and an online store. Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC) is also profiting from supporting producers, through the sale of hydroponic equipment. American Premium Water Corp. (OTC: HIPH) (HIPH Profile) is providing innovative cannabis-based products in the form of its CBD-infused water. The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (TSX.V: WTER) (OTCQB: WTER) has announced the formation of a beverage division that will offer a hemp-derived, CBD-infused product, while Level Brands, Inc. (NYSE American: LEVB) is partnering with a pharmaceutical and wellness company to provide CBD cream, spray, and edible products.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Keeping Up the Cannabis Momentum

Turbulent times in the United States are creating uncertainty for a number of industries. But for the cannabis industry, the past few years have been ones of constant growth. The spread of recreational and medical marijuana legalization across the United States and Canada has given the industry a huge boost, both financially and in its public profile, as has the increasing popularity of CBD products.

That growth is expected to continue, in large part thanks to the momentum from political change. The departure of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions offers the possibility that the White House may finally commit to President Donald Trump’s electoral promise of cannabis policy reform at the federal level. Meanwhile, the Democratic majority in the House, together with the hemp clauses in this year’s Farm Bill renewal, set the stage to make life easier for those looking to support the American hemp industry.

The Growth of Cannabis

The past few years have been good for cannabis and technology holding company SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING). Like so many other companies working with cannabis, SinglePoint has benefited from a huge growth in business as a once-obscure sector of the economy turns into a growing powerhouse and major employer.

There’s an irony to the fact that, for most of the companies working in the cannabis space, being based in North America is what makes their business possible. Thirty years ago, this was the headquarters of the war on drugs — the U.S. government’s attempt to wipe out the cannabis industry alongside those producing and distributing other drugs. Now the United States and Canada are the world’s biggest markets for legal cannabis as reformers work to take pot profits away from criminal gangs and to bolster public health through a legal, well-regulated industry.

As of this year, cannabis is legal for medical consumption in two-thirds of U.S. states and for recreational use in a fifth of them. Recreational use became legal in Canada a month ago — the first G8 country to make such a move. This step forward has created a huge market for companies such as SinglePoint to tap into, with Colorado alone expecting to see a billion dollars of cannabis sales by the end of 2018.

This growth isn’t limited to cultivators and retailers, the obvious face of the cannabis industry. Those businesses need support services and infrastructure to do their work. SinglePoint provides a wide range of tech solutions tailored to the sector, including software to measure cultivation, track deliveries and make payments. Other businesses provide nutrients, hydroponic equipment and advisory services to the burgeoning cannabis sector.

This also means a growing number of jobs. These are diverse opportunities as well, with many of them involving specialist skills and training from bud tending to compliance, not to mention the coders crafting SinglePoint’s software. During a reporting period between January 2017 and July 2018, the number of job listings in the industry rose by a staggering 690 percent. And the global market is expected to exceed $146 billion in revenues by the end of 2025, driven in large part by events in North America.

Maintaining Marijuana’s Momentum

One of the most significant events of the past few weeks for the cannabis industry’s prospects has been the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

An outspoken opponent of cannabis reform, Sessions tried to roll back the President Barack Obama-era policy in which the federal government, though still treating cannabis as illegal, accepted the decisions of individual states to legalize it. The federal-level illegality of cannabis is an ongoing problem for the industry for several reasons, including that it makes banks and payment providers wary of providing services to cannabis businesses. Companies such as SinglePoint offer alternative payment solutions, but federal laws still limit the options. Sessions’ departure may create a real potential for change.

“This could present a major opportunity for SinglePoint to offer services we have been able to provide to other businesses for years,” said SinglePoint president Wil Ralston. “The biggest winner here could be the ancillary service provides and the potential access to banking.”

During his election campaign, President Trump promised reform on cannabis. But after two years of a Trump White House, there’s been nothing more substantial than vague rumors. With Sessions gone, now may be the time to act as more states move to legalize cannabis. And even without federal reform, changes on the state level are still positive for the industry. As SinglePoint CEO Greg Lambrecht said in an interview with MoneyTV, “as more states come on, it’s just better for us.”

CBD: A Cannabis Surprise Hit

The other big political reform about to hit the industry is the 2018 Farm Bill. Delayed by political conflict over food stamps and immigration, the bill’s passage is now expected to speed up as Republicans push through a version they can live with before losing control of the House. This bill is set to legalize the hemp industry in the United States, allowing the cultivation of a nonpsychoactive form of cannabis.

Hemp promises to be a big cash crop. CBD oil extracted from hemp is used in a wide range of health and wellness products, such as the CBD water and tinctures recently released through SinglePoint’s SingleSeed site. The CBD side of the industry reaches markets that raw cannabis can’t and, as a result, has seen huge growth, spreading into health stores and international markets.

But it’s through e-commerce that CBD has really taken off. More than $4 million of CBD products were sold through Amazon just in July this year. For companies, such as SinglePoint, that are using their own e-commerce stores, there’s even greater potential for profit than through Amazon. By providing both the product and the marketplace, they create a complete funnel to customers, benefitting from all the profits and building a loyal client base.

Beyond Weed

As SinglePoint’s software and the growth of the CBD market show, the cannabis industry is about far more than just selling weed.

For Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC), the focus is on supplying equipment. A producer of cultivation equipment such as hydroponics and moving tables, Terra Tech provides cannabis growers with the tools they need to grow rich, profitable crops. The growth of the industry has increased sales for hydroponics companies, a trend that’s expected to continue. Terra Tech is investing heavily in a hydroponics provider to reduce its costs and improve its ability to ensure supplies to growers.

The growing popularity of CBD has drawn in companies from outside the cannabis industry as well. American Premium Water Corp. (OTC: HIPH) is a diversified luxury consumer product company that uses biotech as the basis for health and beauty merchandise. It has produced a CBD-infused drink — Lalpina CBD water — that makes it one of the first to turn CBD into a widely available edible product.

Alkaline Water Company, Inc. (OTCQB: WTER) (TSX.V: WTER) announced the formation of its A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc. The company currently offers products trademarked Alkaline88 that are available in more than 40,000 retail locations across the United States, including 39 of the top 50 grocers in the country. The new division — A88 — will focus on brand extension and product innovations in the healthful water category, with plans to offer a hemp-derived, CBD-infused Alkaline88 water product.

Level Brands, Inc. (NYSE American: LEVB) has launched a new line of CBD products developed jointly with Isodiol International, Inc. The products include CBD oral sprays marketed under kathy ireland® Health & Wellness; CBD edibles marketed under Chef Andre Carthen Edibles; and a CBD pain-relieving cream available under Ireland Men One, a men’s lifestyle brand focused on millennials.

The cannabis industry is already seeing huge growth, creating jobs and wealth. With legal reform in the United States and the momentum provided by e-commerce, this growth appears set to continue for a long time to come.

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

About CannabisNewsWire

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

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)
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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 – Cannabis PTSD Study Finally Secures Target Number of Participants

A team of researchers interested in finding out whether cannabis could treat PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) among veterans finally registered its 76th study participant on Veterans Day.

The Scottsdale Research Institute located in Phoenix, AZ got permission from the FDA to conduct the research in 2010. The researchers then started recruiting study participants in 2016 but hit several speed bumps in their efforts to get the required minimum number of participants (76 veterans).

First, the researchers were denied access to the veterans’ hospital just 20-miles away from the facility where the research is being conducted. The Veterans Affairs department refused to grant access because federal laws regarded cannabis as a substance that didn’t have any medicinal value.

Public hospitals and universities in Arizona also refused to cooperate with the researchers as they recruited study participants citing federal laws as restricting them from being part of a study on an illegal substance.

These challenges nearly made the researchers widen the scope of the research so that non-veterans could also be allowed to enroll.

However, such a move would have defeated the purpose of the study since the researchers were specifically interested in investigating whether cannabis could treat PTSD in military veterans. The search for participants therefore dragged on as thousands were screened and rejected for not meeting the strict requirements of the study.

Gradually, the number of eligible participants started growing until the climax was reached almost two years after the recruitment exercise for participants started.

The researchers now have the 76 participants that they need to proceed with their randomized, controlled study of how marijuana can help veterans with chronic forms of PTSD.

Each day, the study participants will be given 1.8 grams of marijuana. This cannabis will vary in potency and the participants will keep a journal of how they feel or anything else noteworthy during the study period. The participants will also be free to decide how much of that daily ration to smoke.

The study subjects will visit the research institute 17 times during the 12-week duration of the study. The participants will then be followed up for six months after the initial 12-weeks of treatment with cannabis.

The researchers hope to publish their findings in 2019 after getting a definitive answer of whether cannabis can treat PTSD in veterans, and whether it has any adverse effects on those former servicemen and women.

This research comes at a time when efforts are being made to pass House Bills aimed at regulating and granting access to medical cannabis by veterans. The scientific community and cannabis industry players, such as Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) await the results of this Phoenix study.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
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www.CannabisNewsWire.com
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420 with CNW – Could Franchising Be the Future of the Cannabis Industry?

As the Marijuana Business Conference came to an end in Las Vegas last week, a new business structure was mooted for the cannabis industry. Franchising. Some industry players are considering starting cannabis dispensary chains that would be the McDonalds and Starbucks of the cannabis industry.

The idea of franchise businesses in the cannabis industry is appealing at several levels.

First, consumers in America have been trained to consume products from trusted brands. That is why McDonalds and Starbucks get more clients than independent burger or coffee shops. Franchises in the cannabis industry would tap into the brand loyalty already instilled in buyers.

Secondly, a cannabis franchiser would save many cannabis investors from making the expensive mistakes that the pioneers in the cannabis industry have made. The cannabis industry is quite young, so the collective pool of experience in running cannabis enterprises is relatively shallow.

Creating cannabis franchises would help those who have created tried and tested cannabis industry systems to share (for a fee) their experiences and roadmap to success. The franchisees would benefit by starting off with a business model that has a proven track record of success.

However, some hurdles may still stand in the way of franchising as a business model for the cannabis industry in the U.S.

First, the cannabis industry is fragmented. Each state has its own rules regulating the cannabis market. It may therefore be hard for one business model to succeed in different jurisdictions whose laws differ widely. Maybe this could explain why the franchise would be very expensive to acquire. Extensive work needs to be done to tweak the model so that it fits within the state and local regulations governing the cannabis industry in different areas.

Secondly, many jurisdictions restrict the number of cannabis dispensaries or retail outlets that can be opened within a given area. Some local regulations even put a cap on the number of cannabis business licenses that can be granted to a single entity. Such requirements are intended to foster competition and prevent one business from controlling the cannabis market. How would cannabis franchisers navigate such regulations?

Thirdly, federal laws currently restrict cannabis from crossing state lines. This can present a major operational challenge to a franchiser since he or she would need to set up a vertically integrated business (cultivation, manufacture and sale/distribution) in each state where it intends to acquire franchisees. What is the minimum number of franchise outlets that would be needed to justify the expense of setting up that integrated infrastructure?

The problems above can certainly be thought through and solutions found, but it isn’t something that can be fixed in a short time. However, the franchise idea is a good one and shows that the cannabis industry is here to stay.

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and American Premium Water Corp. (OTC: HIPH) look forward to the passing of enabling cannabis laws at the federal level since that would be one of the factors that makes it easier for cannabis entrepreneurs to create nationwide franchises.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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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Departure of US AG and Democratic House Control Improve Prospects for Hemp Industry

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Recent changes in Washington, D.C., are good news for the U.S. hemp industry.

  • The recent departure of Jeff Sessions from the Attorney General’s Office may make it easier for states to enforce their own laws in relation to cannabis and hemp legalization.
  • The Democratic majority in the House may ease the passage of the delayed Farm Bill.
  • These changes could improve the prospects for hemp and cannabis producers.

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) is a pioneer in the hemp industry, with trial cultivation operations under way in Washington and a range of hemp-derived products on the market. Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: CWBHF) (CSE: CWEB) is also focused on hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products and recently raised its profile through TV coverage. Even before the prospect of reform, CV Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: CVSI) was seeing record profits this year and increased its profile by becoming a sponsor for the Hemp Industry Association’s 25th anniversary conference. Isodiol International, Inc. (CSE: ISOL) (OTCQB: ISOLF) is benefiting from changes not just in the United States but in Mexico, where new regulations will support its sale of diverse CBD products. The first publicly traded U.S. cannabis company, Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) is also seeing growth, with record sales and a continuing high profile.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

A United Group within a Divided Nation

This November’s Congressional elections have been some of the most divisive in U.S. history. Bitterly fought campaigns have culminated in knife-edge results, featuring recounts to settle tiny vote margins amid loud accusations of cheating from both sides.

While the election results and their aftermath have been mixed for both Democrats and Republicans, they have been overwhelmingly positive for one group — hemp producers. A Democratic majority in the House of Representatives may finally bring an end to months of bickering over this year’s Farm Bill renewal, leading to the expected federal legalization of hemp farming in the process. And the forced resignation of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, which President Donald Trump pushed once the elections were over, has removed one of the biggest stumbling blocks the industry faced.

How Sessions’ Departure Affects Hemp

The resignation of Jeff Sessions was welcomed with relief by companies in the hemp sector, including Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA), just as his arrival was greeted with disappointment two years before.

During his election campaign, Trump had supported medical cannabis and states’ rights to legalize their own industries. This was good news for hemp companies, which expected to function as the primary producers of medical cannabis.

Hemp, which does not get users high and is useful for a variety of purposes, was banned by the sweeping laws of drug prohibition decades ago. Recent state-level reforms have allowed the establishment of projects such as MCOA’s hemp project in Scio, Ore, in conjunction with their joint venture partner Global Hemp Group Inc. But tension has existed for years between state-level legalization and the continuing federal prohibition on all forms of cannabis. Trump’s offer of reform appeared to be a solution.

Then Sessions came into office. As the government’s top law enforcement officer, he had the power to clamp down on all things cannabis related. And as a vociferous opponent of cannabis, that was exactly what he promised to do.

Though Sessions was not able to launch a new escalation of the war on drugs, his stance on the subject frustrated cannabis proponents. Even as brands such as MCOA’s hempSMART brought a state-legalized flood of hemp-derived products to the health and wellness markets, Sessions’ presence threatened to stifle the fast-growing industry.

However, the cannabis trade and surrounding industries continued to grow despite Sessions’ presence. MCOA is a shining example of an industry-savvy company that has recognized opportunities for growth and development in an industry that reached an estimated value of $9 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach over $47 billion by 2027. The company developed a distinct hemp derived CBD brand — hempSMART™ — and established high yielding hemp cultivation farming projects in the United States and Canada while also investing in Moneytrac Technology, a business providing financial and support services for the cannabis industry.

However, federal restrictions have created uncertainty for companies. By this fall, the White House was hinting at taking a more liberal stance. While this could be seen as a political ploy to balance Sessions’ presence in the minds of cynical cannabis-conscious voters, it also hinted at divisions within the government. It’s hardly surprising with a populist president like Trump. With 64 percent of Americans supporting legalization of cannabis and 74 percent supporting states’ rights to legalize, Sessions was up against the popular view on a widely discussed issue. Though both his appointment and his departure were driven by other factors, his absence opens the way for cannabis reform. And in fact, cannabis companies’ stocks initially rose when the news was announced.

But Sessions’ departure wasn’t the biggest issue for hemp companies such as MCOA. These companies are also closely watching what is happening in the House.

Passing the Farm Bill

The 2018 Farm Bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation the hemp industry has ever seen. A wide-ranging bill covering U.S. agricultural and food policy, it includes provisions that would legalize the large-scale cultivation of industrial hemp.

Under the previous Farm Bill of 2014, such cultivation became legal on a limited scale for purposes of research and trial crops. This led to hemp crop development, such as the cultivation harvested by MCOA this fall at its Oregon site, but not wide-scale production.

The hemp provisions in the 2018 bill are set to change that. Given their potential to offer a profitable new crop for struggling farmers in Republican-held districts, the provisions have gained cross-party support and ensured a place in the bill.

Unfortunately, other provisions have been more controversial. Arguments over how to allocate federal food assistance and how to deal with illegal immigration stalled the bill earlier in the year, and arguments over who will benefit most from the funds have prevented compromise in the months that followed. The future of hemp companies such as MCOA has been in limbo thanks to issues that have nothing to do with hemp.

With the Democrats about to gain control of the House, that appears likely to  change. The biggest hurdle to passing the bill is House Republicans’ desire to set tougher controls for allocating food stamps. But neither Democrats nor Senate Republicans favor these strict rules, so a Democratic majority in the House and the Republican-majority Senate could break the impasse and pass a bill. This has also given Republicans more incentive to pass the bill while they still have power to shape its outcome in the House.

Greater Opportunities for Cannabis Companies

This change is great news for MCOA. As an industrial hemp company, its operations have so far been limited by the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill and legalization in specific states. The legalization of hemp will allow it to expand its existing cultivation, set up new operations and more easily sell its products into markets across the country.

Plenty of hemp and cannabis companies across the United States will be seizing opportunities created if federal prohibition ends. Many of these companies, such as Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: CWBHF) (CSE: CWEB), are focused on products using CBD. Its widespread use in health and wellness products has propelled these companies into the limelight, with Charlotte’s Web CEO Hess Moallem appearing on CNBC to talk about the growth of CBD and cannabis businesses in the country.

Politicians’ willingness to change their stance on hemp is unsurprising given the growing momentum behind the industry. The Hemp Industry Association is throwing its 25th anniversary convention this year. The milestone event, sponsored by CV Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: CVSI), marks two-and-a-half decades of revival for a once-powerful industry. The sponsorship opportunity has been hugely beneficial for CV Sciences, which saw record sales and gross profits in the third quarter of 2018.

Isodiol International, Inc. (CSE: ISOL) (OTCQB: ISOLF) is another company focusing on CBD. Its products cover a wide spectrum of uses, including sleep aid, pain management and skin needs. While the political changes in the United States appear positive for Isodiol, the company has also been closely following events in Mexico, where it has distribution agreements with several companies specializing in pharmaceuticals. At the end of October, Mexican authorities published new regulations covering CBD products. These allow hemp to be used in cosmetics, food supplements and herbal products, as well as in medicines. Based on these changes and its established agreements, Isodiol expects to start sales in Mexico in early 2019.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA), the first publicly traded cannabis company in the United States, continues to go from strength to strength. Its subsidiaries have been exhibiting at events across America this year as it continues to develop its profile. Like CV Sciences, it has recently seen record sales as the cannabis and CBD markets grow across North America and beyond.

The hemp industry is growing around the world but, with change in the cards in Washington, America appears set to stay at the forefront of the industry.

For more information on Marijuana Company of America, visit Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA)

About CannabisNewsWire

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

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

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

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

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

Why Companies Are Buying Up Assets in the American Cannabis Market

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Canada became the first country in the G8 to legalize recreational cannabis. With all the buzz surrounding Canada’s cannabis boom, savvy investors have begun to assess the U.S. market, focusing on companies such as Chemistree Technology, Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) (CHMJF Profile), which in July 2018 purchased a suite of physical assets, currently under lease to Sugarleaf Farm LLC, a I-502 Tier 3 licensee located in Sedro Woolley, Washington. This moved was fueled by movement north in Canada, including large Canadian cannabis companies such as Origin House (CSE: OH) (OTCQX: ORHOF) and Namaste Technologies (TSX.V: N) (OTCQB: NXTTF), which  are already seeing major success as their products continue to sell well across the country. While newer entrants in the cannabis industry such as CannTrust Holdings (TSX: TRST) (OTC: CNTTF) and iAnthus Capital (CSE: IAN) (OTCQX: ITHUF) are creating their own product lines and playing catch up with major brands that consumers are already familiar with.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Establishing Brands Early

Large-scale cannabis legislation has never existed to the extent that it now does in Canada. With major Canadian companies creating brands that resonate with cannabis consumers.

The legal U.S cannabis market is worth an estimated $8.5 billion, claiming 90 percent of the entire $9.5 billion global market. Of that, sales of legal marijuana in Washington State have climbed up to $1.3 billion in the fiscal year 2017, up from $786 million in fiscal 2016, and $259 million the year before. The Canadian market was worth only 6 percent of that $9.5 billion total in 2017. In Canada, competition is heating up as the larger cannabis companies battle for their share of the market. They are relying on their brands and name recognition to help them achieve success.

However, the U.S. cannabis market is shaping up differently. Due to cannabis being federally illegal in the United States, cannabis companies are unable to ship their products across state lines. The unique state-by-state approach to legalization has provided Chemistree Technology, Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) with an ideal environment to build its brands through the production and sale of premium cannabis in California and Washington. It has also shielded American companies from an influx of foreign product.

Chemistree is another company that is focused on establishing quality brands. The company originally acquired Sugarleaf’s assets in Washington in order to augment its product line with a desirable premium brand. Sugarleaf is already featured in over 50 dispensaries within the state, with estimates suggesting that it will penetrate over 100 stores by 2018 and as many as 200 stores by 2019.

Sugarleaf’s signature White 99 strain has a THC level that registers between 28–32 percent. This is incredibly high even when compared to some of the premium cannabis strains that are being grown in Canada. Sugarleaf’s master grower, Jason Flynn, is one of the many reasons Chemistree chose to acquire the brand. Flynn and his team have won two consecutive cannabis cup competitions for their strains, including the 2014 People’s Choice (Presidential Kush) and 2015 People’s Choice (White 99).

Chemistree also managed to purchase property in the middle of California’s cannabis-friendly Desert Hot Springs for a reasonable $1.23 million. The site is large enough to support up to 205,000 square feet of greenhouses spread out across three facilities. Once fully operational, the company could produce nearly 50,000 pounds of cannabis per year. Desert Hot Springs is a popular cannabis region where there are 3.78 dispensaries for every one thousand people, which is the second highest pot shop density in the state.

Premium Cannabis Is the Real Asset

The demand for premium products exists as cannabis enthusiasts desire THC-rich strains in order to achieve a vivid sensory experience. Growing high-quality cannabis at scale is a challenge that many large producers struggle with as it costs more to produce, and the margin of error is higher.

Health Canada predicts that nearly 2.2 million pounds of cannabis will be consumed within Canada in 2018 alone. The majority of that cannabis will be low- and mid-grade quality, which wholesales for a lot less. Premium cannabis, while more difficult to grow, does provide companies that can grow it with higher profit margins. According to Deloitte, high-quality cannabis could sell for up to 12 percent more than lower quality flower.

The majority of the provinces have supply agreements in place with various licensed producers in the industry. These supply agreements were established in order to provide additional premium cannabis to those provinces.

Demand Will Only Increase

The U.S. cannabis sector is currently in its formative stages. Established companies within the industry that are preemptively laying the framework before the federal government legalizes recreational cannabis should have the ability to build brand recognition and scale them as the floodgates open.

Grand View Research predicts that the global cannabis market could be worth $146.4 billion by 2025. Companies such as Chemistree may be ideally positioned to take advantage of a larger global market because of its focus on building long-term brands that appeal to cannabis users.

Major Players in North American Cannabis

Origin House (CSE: OH) (OTCQX: ORHOF) is focused on creating global brands. It currently holds more than 50 brands including Bhang, Soul Sugar Soul Kitchen and Green Rock Botanicals, among others. The company has a distribution network of 4500plus dispensaries across the United States. With a suite of established brands across key markets in North America, Origin is actively developing infrastructure to support the proliferation of its brands internationally, initially through its acquisition of Canadian retailer 180 Smoke.

CannTrust Holdings (TSX: TRST) (OTC: CNTTF) is a relatively new Canadian cannabis company specializing in medical cannabis products including CBD- and THC-infused capsules and oils. CannTrust recently partnered with Breakthru Beverage Group’s subsidiary company Kindred to secure distribution through the Canadian adult consumer market.

Namaste Technologies (TSX.V: N) (OTCQB: NXTTF) operates the largest global cannabis e-commerce platform with more than 30 websites in 20 countries under various brands. The company product offering through its subsidiaries — such as CannMart Inc., VapeBR, VaporSeller, etc. — includes vaporizers, glassware, accessories, CBD (cannabidiol) products and medical cannabis in the Canadian market.

iAnthus Capital (CSE: IAN) (OTCQX: ITHUF) is a U.S.-based licensed producer and cannabis retail company. iAnthus currently owns a 200,000-square-foot facility in Lake Wales, Florida, and a 4,500-square-foot dispensary in Palm Beach County, Florida. It is also planning to scale to more than 30 locations throughout the state in the coming years.

For more information on Chemistree, visit Chemistree Technology, Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF)

Please also read and review the article ‘With Cannabis Now Legal in Canada, Investors Are Turning South to the Largest Emerging Cannabis Market in the World’

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

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www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
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DISCLAIMER: CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by CNW are solely those of CNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable CNW for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. CNW is a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and is NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.

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

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

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

Cannabis Boom Fuels Mergers and Acquisitions in Hydroponics and Beyond

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The rapid growth of the cannabis sector is pushing companies to innovate expansion strategies.

  • Among the companies affected are hydroponics suppliers, which sell vital equipment to cultivators.
  • Hydroponics companies, like others in cannabis, are using mergers and acquisitions to benefit from a bullish market.
  • A recent trade show in Las Vegas saw companies on the hunt for future acquisitions.
  • Other companies are seeking outside investment or partnerships to increase their presence.

Hydroponics supplier Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) (SGMD Profile) has leaned into the current trend for mergers, with a big acquisition and open plans for future growth. Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is focusing on research and design, using public offerings to finance this work. Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) has gained $4 billion in investment from a beverage company, an investment some believe will lead to a takeover. Both Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) and Aphria (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA) are relying on diverse strategies, including external partnerships, as they look to grow and succeed in the cannabis sector.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

The Industry Behind the Industry

The cannabis industry is experiencing a period of staggering growth, with commentators predicting that it will reach a global value of over $146 billion by the end of 2025. With so much of the industry based on indoor cultivation, hydroponics companies that provide the equipment and nutrients needed to cultivate cannabis have also seen significant growth. As cannabis cultivation increases, so does demand for hydroponics products, so that the fates of the two industries are increasingly tied together.

Given their close relationship, it’s not surprising to see patterns in the broader cannabis sector reflected in the hydroponics industry. A recent surge of mergers and acquisitions among cannabis companies includes a number of moves involving hydroponics companies as players within the industry seek growth while outsiders look for a way in. With a big cannabis trade show coming up in Las Vegas, executives from hydroponics companies will be eyeing up the competition and contemplating who they might buy next.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Hydroponics

Hydroponics companies such as Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) are essential to the cannabis industry.

While cannabis can be grown outdoors, almost everything about the current industry drives producers away from this method. Indoor facilities are more secure, an important factor when producing a high-value, high-demand crop prized by criminals. Indoor cultivation also provides far greater control over the conditions in which the cannabis grows, as well as over the quality of the plants grown. Lighting, water, nutrients and temperature all affect the final outcome of the plants, including the quantity of active ingredients in them. High-quality hydroponic equipment, like that supplied by Sugarmade, gives growers control over the forces affecting their cannabis crop.

This control is becoming increasingly important as the cannabis market grows. Customers may be more forgiving of varying quality when companies are small or their product is hard to obtain. But as companies grow and supplies become more consistent, people expect consistency and quality — things that are harder to provide without hydroponics.

The growing number of companies in the sector also means that competition for customers is growing. Companies are racing to create crops with higher dosages of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), the most significant active ingredients in cannabis. The more powerful the plant, the more customers will return, creating a strong brand loyalty. Again, hydroponics can be an essential piece of this success.

Demand for hydroponics has led to swift growth for Sugarmade, which expects 500 percent growth in revenue for the fiscal year ending in 2019. One of the ways in which Sugarmade is meeting growing demand and achieving these impressive results is through acquisitions.

Mergers and acquisitions are an obvious route to growth for companies in a maturing sector, and in the past year, that’s what many cannabis companies have chosen to do. The first half of 2018 saw 145 mergers and acquisitions in the sector, compared with 79 for the same period the previous year. Some of the pioneers who created cannabis startups in the early days of the industry are cashing out, making way for a field of larger, established companies.

Now caught up in the wider patterns of the cannabis market, hydroponics is heading down the same path. With its latest acquisition of Sky Unlimited LLC, Sugarmade has been one of the leaders in this trend. The cash and shares deal, worth $40 million, will give Sugarmade control of AthenaUnited.com, an online outlet providing a range of hydroponic equipment.

“This acquisition will further boost our already very rapid growth rate and is expected to be high accretive to common shareholder value,” said Sugarmade CEO Jimmy Chan. “Sky Unlimited and Athena are complementary to our existing business operations, allowing us to not only increase our emphasis on brands but also to diversify our revenue streams to now include the larger commercial cultivation operations.”

Cannabis Goes to Vegas

Sugarmade was on the hunt for more acquisitions as its team headed to Las Vegas for MJBizCon.

One of the cannabis industry’s largest trade shows, MJBizCon took place November 14–16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Investors, entrepreneurs and professionals from across the sector headed to Vegas for three days of talks, meetings and the sort of networking that dominates any trade show.

This year’s show had a record number of attendees and exhibitors, reflecting the huge growth that the industry has seen. Some 25,000 attendees met up and discussed topics such as the latest industry trends and how to navigate the difficult waters of regulatory compliance.

One  prominent item on the agenda was the move by bigger players into the cannabis market. Beverage and tobacco companies are eyeing cannabis as an alternative revenue stream, with some striking early partnerships with cannabis businesses. To survive in the face of these big money competitors, businesses will have to grow — one of the motivations behind Sugarmade’s acquisition strategy. There’s still space for small fish in the cannabis pond right now, but that space is shrinking.

MJBizCon provides fertile territory to lay the groundwork for acquisitions. There, companies can make contacts, seek investments and demonstrate their value. It’s a perfect venue to attract acquisition targets and start negotiations.

So it was a full-press court for Sugarmade at the event, as the company set out to continue its successful growth strategy. Though this year’s moves have already given it a competitive edge, Sugarmade is always looking to strengthen its foothold and further establish its position as an industry presence.

“Over the past year, we have significantly enhanced our operational staff and our internal systems preparing for our rapid growth,” Chan said in a recent statement. “With these changes, we believe we are optimally sized, but we want to ensure we are able to manage our aggressively planned growth rate.”

Big Moves for Big Profits

Other companies are also making bold moves to profit from the growth of the cannabis sector.

While expansion is critical to surviving in this fast-changing environment, mergers and acquisitions aren’t the only answer. Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is instead focusing on its well-developed research and design program to place it ahead of competitors. A leading medical marijuana company, Tilray has established a prominent position in the North American healthcare market. But it’s also looking beyond the United States and Canada as the cannabis industry goes increasingly global. With customers on five continents, Tilray has become an international cannabis business, and one still set on expansion. The company is using its public offerings in the United States and Canada to gain additional finance that will fund ongoing growth.

Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), one of the biggest cannabis companies in Canada, is financing its expansion through a connection outside the industry. The company struck a deal with Constellation Brands, the major U.S. beverage company behind brands such as Corona. The deal has seen Constellation acquire more than a third of the shares in Canopy Growth in return for $4 billion in investment. It’s the biggest move so far by outside businesses into the cannabis sector and likely an omen of things to come. Many are predicting that this will lead to Canopy Growth’s eventual absorption under the Constellation umbrella, once cannabis becomes a big enough market to deserve more of the beverage giant’s attention.

Growth in the industry has been good for Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON), whose revenues were up 186 percent in its third-quarter reporting this year. Increased cultivation, a partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks on cultured cannabinoids and a move into Latin America are all part of the company’s announced plans to continue its expansion. By following a diverse range of growth tactics, Cronos is solidifying its position as a significant international player.

Collaboration with other companies is also part of the strategy for Aphria (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA). The company has formed a joint venture with Perennial, Inc., to develop products for the Canadian cannabis market, currently one of the most significant cannabis markets in the world. Such collaborations are allowing companies to achieve more together than they could alone and perhaps survive in the face of larger competitors.

With the cannabis industry growing at a dramatic rate, both cultivators and the companies that supply them will have to find ways to increase their impact if they want to beat the competition.

For more information on Sugarmade, visit Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD)

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420 with CNW – Marijuana Has No Effect on Kidney Transplant Outcomes, Research Finds

In the U.S., people who admit using or test positive for cannabis are routinely denied kidney transplants or turned away when they offer to donate their kidneys. This practice has gone unchallenged until a recent study proved that marijuana doesn’t affect the outcomes of kidney transplant surgery.

The research to find out how marijuana affects recipients of kidneys during and after the transplant surgery was partly inspired by the story of a man in Maine who was denied a kidney and even removed from the waitlist because he was a user of medical cannabis.

A group of researchers reviewed the transplant records at one kidney transplant facility from 2000 to 2016. The data on the donors and kidney recipients was grouped based on whether those people consumed cannabis or not.

31 of the donors reviewed were found to have used cannabis while 27 of the kidney recipients were also consumers of marijuana.

The comparison revealed that no difference existed between the recipients who got kidneys from consumers of cannabis and those whose donors didn’t consume cannabis.

The researchers concluded that facilities should start accepting donors who consume cannabis since the substance doesn’t have any discernible effect on the performance of the kidneys after the transplant surgery.

Such a shift would increase the pool of possible donors in order to reduce the long waitlists for matches between donors and potential recipients. Finding a match is already hard enough as it is, so there is no justification to prevent potential donors from participating just because those donors have a history of consuming cannabis.

The researchers hope that their findings trigger a discussion in the scientific community and the medical centers involved in conducting kidney transplants.

The walls and stereotypes surrounding marijuana seem to be collapsing one by one. It is refreshing to realize that debunking the myths and misconceptions on cannabis is being spearheaded by the scientific community. Their findings cannot be accused of fueling propaganda either for or against marijuana. They are simply putting the facts straight.

Hopefully, those scientific studies will trigger a mindset change in the collective consciousness of communities that have for decades been brainwashed into thinking that the cannabis plant was evil and was connected to many of the social ills plaguing different communities.

Cannabis companies like TransCanna and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) welcome the findings of the researchers studying the relationship between cannabis consumption and kidney transplant outcomes. Such findings validate some of the things that cannabis companies have been saying all along.

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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 – Association of Local Authorities Calls for US Federal Cannabis Decriminalization

The U.S. National League of Cities (NLC) sat early this month and passed a number of resolutions appealing to the federal government to review its policy and laws on marijuana. The NLC represents more than 19,000 cities, towns as well as villages across the U.S.

The organization was founded back in 1924 and it aims at empowering local governments around the country. Their conference early this month passed two important resolutions on the issue of cannabis policy reform.

First, the conference passed a resolution calling on the federal government to end the ambiguity between federal and state laws on the issue of access to financial services by cannabis businesses.

Those ambiguities have restricted the cannabis industry to conducting business on cash-basis, a system that creates a number of risks including the rise in robberies and tax evasion since the authorities find it hard to track the volume and value of the transactions conducted by legal cannabis businesses.

The second resolution passed by the NLC was connected to the scheduling of cannabis by the U.S. federal government. The members called on the federal government to reschedule cannabis so that federal and state authorities have greater control over the industry.

Rescheduling cannabis would also enable federal authorities like the FDA and DEA to regulate the industry across the country so that cannabis consumers are protected from consuming cannabis which has mold, pesticides, fungus or other dangerous substances.

Currently, the regulation of cannabis is fragmented since each state that has legalized adult-use or medical cannabis has to pass its own laws and regulations to regulate cannabis within its borders.

Federal rescheduling would bring unity to the entire industry and everyone, including the federal and state governments as well as the consumers, would benefit.

The recent resolutions passed by the NLC show how the association has been evolving on the issue of marijuana. In the past, they would only pass resolutions that were general in nature. This year marked the first time that the association referred to specific marijuana laws which need to be reformed.

That boldness may be arising from the growing support for cannabis among people from all walks of life, including Republicans who have been historically opposed to cannabis legalization.

The National League of Cities now joins other groups, such as the Conference of Mayors and the National Conference of State Legislatures which have voiced their calls to have clarifications made at the federal level on issues of marijuana.

Pressure seems to be mounting on the federal government from the grassroots to reform the laws on marijuana. It remains to be seen for how long the feds will ignore those growing voices. The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR), The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) and other Canadian cannabis companies would wish their American counterparts a uniform legal regime that reduces the complications encountered when crossing state lines.

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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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