420 with CNW — Demand for Cannabis Beverages Seems Poised to Explode

A report released by Headset in March stated that advancements in marijuana infusion technology and the introduction of new brands into the market would boost cannabis beverage sales. The marijuana analytics firm noted that since the start of last year, cannabis beverage purchases had grown rapidly in Canada, making up roughly 4% of overall purchases.

At the moment, the cannabis beverage market is filled with numerous SME craft companies. Many large-scale manufacturers of alcoholic manufacturers are keen to enter the market, with most of them working to develop new products. For instance, Heineken recently introduced to the market Hi-Fi Hops in its beer category, which provides zero-calorie, zero-carb and cannabis-infused drinks.

HEXO also entered into a partnership with Molson-Coors to develop Truss while Canopy Growth, which is the biggest producer of cannabis in Canada, partnered with Constellation Brands. Companies such as Truss Beverage have plans to launch new cannabis-infused beverages in the coming months. A survey carried out last year by the company found that the category’s awareness was high, with more than 85% of potential marijuana consumers. It also discovered that more than 30% of respondents ingested cannabis beverages because these eliminated the need to smoke.

So, what does an increase in marijuana-infused beverages mean for the alcohol sector?

A study conducted by the University of Georgia in 2017 found that since cannabis beverages were legalized in the United States, wine and beer purchase orders had dropped by more than 10% over the past decade. Additionally, product-level retail sales data from last year shows that in Canada, cannabis-infused beverages have recorded significant rates of growth in comparison with other products in the edibles category.

A separate study conducted by Mintel closely examined consumer interest drivers with regard to marijuana edibles. The study noted that the use of cannabis usually had various functions, including allowing people to sleep better, decreasing stress and anxiety, and enhancing relaxation.

In combination with appealing taste, the study explained that these factors created a good opportunity for product differentiation, adding that cannabis-infused beverages that provided the right doses to consumers could be useful to manufacturers. The study concludes that beverages and edibles were generally regarded to be more discreet and convenient as well as healthier and more expensive.

This may soon be remedied, however, with more products set to enter the market. Different products from different companies in the market will likely bring about a decrease in prices, which will in turn boost demand further.

As demand soars, sector players, such as BevCanna Enterprises Inc. (CSE: BEV) (OTCQB: BVNNF) (FSE: 7BC) in the cannabis drinks segment, will likely deliver greater shareholder value while they grow.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to BevCanna Enterprises Inc. (CSE: BEV) (OTCQB: BVNNF) (FSE: 7BC) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/BVNNF

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

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420 with CNW — Nevada Legislature Sends Cannabis Consumption Lounge Bill to Governor

Cannabis reform advocates in Nevada may soon be treated with good news after the state legislature sent a bill that would legalize cannabis consumption lounges to the governor’s desk. Sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Steve Yeager, the legislation would create two new cannabis licensing categories, one for retail cannabis consumption lounges and the other for independent cannabis consumption lounges. The bill advanced through a state assembly committee in early April and was passed by the Nevada Assembly in late May before heading to the Senate for final approval.

Last week, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill in a 17–3 vote before sending it to Governor Steve Sisolak for his signature. Sisolak has been a major supporter of Nevada’s cannabis industry, and he is expected to sign the bill into law. If he does, Nevada will become the eighth state in the country to legalize cannabis consumption lounges. With tourism being an integral part of Nevada’s economy, stakeholders hope providing safe spaces such as these lounges for cannabis consumption will attract cannabis tourists once the coronavirus pandemic dies down and the country fully opens up.

Under the legislation, existing cannabis retailers will be able to apply for the retail cannabis consumption lounge license and sell cannabis products that can be consumed on-site by adults aged 21 and older. On the other hand, independent lounges would not be allowed to sell cannabis on their own. They would have to contract with existing cannabis retailers to deliver ready-to-consume cannabis products, which the independent lounges would then provide to eligible customers on-site.

The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board would be tasked with creating regulations for these consumption lounges and collecting fees from license applicants. According to the legislation, retailers that qualify as social equity applicants would be charged reduced fees, with the bill classifying a social-equity applicant as anyone who was adversely affected by anti-cannabis policies in the past. A further amendment to the bill, which was approved by both the House and the Senate, would allow local governments to adopt more restrictive regulations for cannabis consumption lounges within their jurisdictions if desired.

The Nevada Assembly also passed two separate measures: one stipulated that the amount of THC in a person’s blood could not be used to determine whether or not they were impaired while driving, and a second reducing penalties for minors who consume cannabis. Some advocates argued that the THC limit used to determine the level of impairment was arbitrary and lacked sufficient scientific evidence.

With such a progressive approach to cannabis legislation, it may not be long before Nevada catches the attention of companies such as Red White & Bloom Brands Ltd. (CSE: RWB) (OTCQX: RWBYF) which operate on the super-state operator or multistate operator models.

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420 with CNW — Projections Show Oregon’s Cannabis Market May Grow Stronger

Despite the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on various industries, the cannabis industry in Oregon has persisted, with forecasts showing that cannabis sales will continue to increase. An economic forecast report released by analysts with the Office of Economic Analysis in the state’s Department of Administrative Service stated that while cannabis sales in the winter aligned with forecasts, sales in the recent months had grown.

The report notes that it isn’t clear whether the cannabis sales data shows increased spending power from stimulus checks that were sent out in March or a growth in demand for marijuana products. It does highlight, however, that other states where the plant is legal, such as Illinois, have recorded similar trends in their marijuana sales during this pandemic period.

In the report, the economic analysts stated they were focused on how much the demand for recreational cannabis would increase in the near future. They explained that they were using federal data collected on the proportion of the adult population who use marijuana, noting that in the state, the rate has been about 20%, which may indicate slow sales in the future. However, the analysts added that the information could be biased given that this was a federal survey and cannabis is still illegal at the federal level.

Generally, the analysts noted that they expected cannabis sales in the short term to remain on the higher side because of an economy with options of entertainment that aren’t fully reopened, strong household finances and the ongoing pandemic. They add that as factors related to the pandemic are resolved into the fall, sales will slowly decline.

However, cannabis sales in the long term are expected to grow. The analysts speculate that this may be brought about by an increase in wages as well as a growth in the state’s population, which will boost demand. Prior projections showed relatively minimal growth in the future as the recreational cannabis segment matured. The analysts assert that while this assumption fundamentally remains unchanged, growth may still increase, prompted by underlying gains in the economy.

Recent projections for marijuana tax revenue in the state show that more than $300 million will be generated in the 2019–21 biennium. The analysts note that this figure will continue increasing each biennium, surpassing $450 million in the 2027–29 period. Currently, some of the tax generated is being used to finance the expansion of the state’s substance misuse treatment.

Last year, voters in the state passed a drug decriminalization measure that called for some cannabis tax revenue to support these services.

Those impressive projections might be viewed as a silent acknowledgement of the different sector players, including Chalice Brands Ltd. (CSE: CHAL) (OTCQB: CHALF), that have done a lot to bring to market products that consumers are drawn to.

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420 with CNW — Study Finds That CBD May Improve Overall Wellness

A few months ago, results of a preliminary study on the effect of CBD on the liver were released by Validcare. The company then released a separate report on the use of CBD among Americans, which was carried out in collaboration with Cannabis Business Experts (“CBE”), a marketing research firm.

The results of the preliminary study demonstrated no evidence of liver toxicity among users of cannabidiol, or CBD. Additionally, most of those who participated in the study recorded increased perceptions of overall wellness with the use of cannabidiol in the study with CBE.

More than one thousand users of CBD in the United States took part in the joint study, which included more than 800 users who had participated in the liver study.

The investigators looked at different information about CBD uses, such as CBD usage frequency and amount; user weight, sex and age; and interactions with other drugs, including tobacco, alcohol, nutritional supplements, over-the-counter medicines and prescription drugs.

In the press release to announce the report, CBE asserted that the study helped to better understand how general wellness perceptions changed with the use of CBD. In addition, Ashley Grace, the company’s co-founder, noted that CBD users reported an enhanced perception of their personal wellness.

All the study participants had used CBD prior to the study. This was confirmed by researchers who asserted that the consumers were customers of the CBD companies that sponsored the study.

The researchers discovered that more than 12% of the cannabidiol users made up about 30% of the sales volume in the category. Grace stated that this was surprising as it didn’t align with the rule that 20% of consumers made up 80% of the volume in business.

Grace, who was also HempFusion and Charlotte’s Web’s founding chief marketing officer, noted that individuals who consumed tobacco and/or alcohol used cannabidiol differently in comparison with those who hadn’t used these other substances. She added that it was important to understand that companies operating in the sector would sometimes record variations, which would be brought about by the number of heavy users in their consumers.

The research was sponsored by the following CBD firms: SunMed CBD, Medterra CBD, Kannaway, Infinite CBD, HempFusion, Global Widget, Columbia Care, Charlotte’s Web, CBD American Shaman, CBDistillery, Care by Design, Boulder Botanical and Bioscience Labs and Asterra Labs.

Other companies, including XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: XPHY) (OTCQB: XPHYF) (FSE: 4XT), are conducting more rigorous clinical studies aimed at ascertaining the efficacy of formulations containing various cannabis compounds. If the trials are a success, regulatory approval is likely to follow, and patients would benefit from those products.

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420 with CNW — Four Predictions for Niche Cannabis Products in 2021

The state-legal cannabis industry has had a fantastic run over the past decade. More than 30 states have passed either recreational or medical cannabis legislation so far, and the sector has created thousands of new jobs and brought in billions of dollars in revenue. As several states consider passing cannabis legislation this year and lawmakers mull over federally decriminalizing cannabis, the industry is poised to grow even more.

Niche cannabis products especially are a space that is going to explode as the industry becomes older and more mature. The following are four trends that may gain more steam as the year progresses:

Terpenes will gain more visibility. Everyone knows about THC, the main psychoactive component in cannabis, and CBD, a cannabinoid with great medical potential. Alongside flavonoids and esters, terpenes are responsible for the cannabis’ strong aromas, and they work together with cannabinoids for a more wholesome effect. However, although most brands do not contain or display terpene levels, this will soon change as people become more aware of their presence and significance.

As the science evolves and catches up, we will soon see sellers employ labs to test for terpenes, flavonoids and esters, and display this information on their packaging. Companies that do this will differentiate themselves from their competition and attract customers who are looking for products with a more wholesome terpene profile.

Market differentiation will also become a reality as the industry matures. Right now, most consumers have trouble identifying a single brand, especially based on their products. But as the industry opens up, we will see the entrance of more sellers with niche, identifiable products. Consumers will soon be able to distinguish between mass-market cannabis and craft cannabis from smaller niche companies.

Consumers’ knowledge and expectations are bound to increase as the industry ages. With some states such as California having launched legal recreational markets years ago, their consumers are more educated and more demanding than they were when adult-use cannabis was newly legal. They will want to know where the cannabis they are purchasing was grown, what exactly is in it and whether it is organic. Consequently, we can expect the introduction of organic equivalent certification, especially for craft and niche cannabis producers, as in the wine industry.

Finally, the low-THC market will see major growth. Anyone who consumed cannabis 10 to 20 years ago knows that cannabis has become a lot more potent these days. But not everyone is a fan of cannabis with 20% THC, and sellers are soon going to target this growing market segment. These consumers tend to be older individuals with more disposable income, so the market is sure to see exponential growth as breeders and growers provide more low-THC options for them.

These predictions aren’t far-fetched when you think about them, especially when you see that companies such as Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) have made significant strides in growing their niche brands.

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420 with CNW — Federal Report Says Youth Cannabis Use Stable Despite State-Level Legalization

Most opponents of cannabis reform had one argument against pro-cannabis legislation: passing state-level recreational cannabis bills would inevitably lead to increased use among the youth. They argued that marijuana was a gateway drug and that by making the controversial plant more accessible, states would see their youth use marijuana and other “hard drugs” at much higher rates. However, most studies have found the situation on the ground to be entirely different, with rates of youth use in states with recreational cannabis markets remaining the same and, in some cases, even going down.

A recent federal report from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (“NCES”) corroborates what previous studies have concluded. Marijuana legalization at the state level has not led to increased cannabis use among the country’s youth. To arrive at this conclusion, NCES analyzed youth surveys of high school students that were conducted from 2009, long before any state had launched recreational cannabis sales, to 2019. The report found that among the percentage of teenagers in grades 9-12 who reported using cannabis at least once in the past 30 days, there was no measurable difference from 2009 to 2019.

The data, which was sourced from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, showed that although 16 states have legalized recreational cannabis within the past decade, youth access to the drug remained stable. There have been no major changes in the percentage of teenagers who admit that they have been sold, gifted or offered illicit drugs on school grounds in the preceding 30 days. When the data is compared to the timeline of legalization, things get even more interesting.

Back in 2009 when there were no adult-use markets in the country, 21% of high school students reported having consumed cannabis within the past 30 days. A decade later, when the United States had nearly a dozen state-level recreational cannabis markets, 22% of high schoolers admitted to recently consuming cannabis. The highest reported rate of cannabis use among the youth was in 2011, and at that point, no state had legalized recreational cannabis. Consequently, the NCES concluded, there was no “measurable difference: in the percentage of students who said they had access to illicit drugs on school grounds between 2009 and 2019.

With most states that allow recreational cannabis placing age limits (usually 21 years) and requiring customers to provide IDs before purchasing cannabis, youth may have even reduced access to cannabis than they did before adult-use cannabis was legal. A lot of misinformation has been circulating about marijuana, and such federal reports help industry players such as Hero Technologies Inc. (OTC: HENC) to have one less myth to debunk.

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420 with CNW — Legislation to Federally Legalize Cannabis Reintroduced in the House

Last week, a legislation to promote social equity in the cannabis industry and federally legalize cannabis was tabled in the House. The bill was filed with some amendments and was sponsored by Jerrold Nadler, chair of the Judiciary Committee.

The legislation would establish a federal tax on cannabis with revenue generated being allocated to support various programs and community reinvestment, allow individuals with marijuana convictions to have their records expunged, and remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.

The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement Act (“MORE”), which didn’t advance in the Senate during the last legislative term, was approved in the House. Despite this, cannabis advocates are hopeful that the change in policy can be enacted now that Democrats run the White House and both chambers, and as more states are legalizing the plant.

Nadler stated that since he introduced the MORE Act, various states in the country, including New York, have legalized cannabis. He added that he was proud to introduce the act to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, invest in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the drug war and remove the burden of cannabis convictions on the country’s citizens.

Some of the new initiative’s language was amended to extend to job training, financial literacy programs and loans under the SBA Aid (Small Business Administration) to assist individuals who have been affected by the drug war to pursue business opportunities in every industry, including the marijuana industry.

Apart from this, major provisions in the initiative remain unchanged, including preventing federal agencies from refusing to provide security clearance and public benefits to immigrants, protecting immigrants from being denied citizenship over marijuana and establishing a pathway for resentencing for individuals who’ve been incarcerated for cannabis offenses.

DPA Office of National Affairs director Maritza Perez stated that it was clear that the House understood the urgency of this social justice and racial issue. She added that the communities that had been the most affected by cannabis prohibition had waited a long time for justice.

Concurrently, Senate leadership is making preparations to introduce another reform initiative that will have similar goals. Sen. Cory Booker, chair of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have been working on the measure for some time now. Wyden recently revealed that it would be introduced soon.

Earlier in March, Schumer noted that their proposal would seek to limit the ability of large tobacco and alcohol companies from overtaking the industry, while also prioritizing small businesses and in particular, those owned by individuals from communities that have been affected the most by marijuana prohibition.

If this effort to get cannabis federally legalized succeeds, the creation of nearly uniform cannabis laws across the country would be a great help to all sector players, including Sonoma Biologics Corp., as the market they can serve increases.

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420 with CNW — Smokable Medical Cannabis Bill Enacted into Law in Minnesota

Although more than 30 states have passed legislation allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes, the language in each of these medical cannabis bills varies widely. But one provision that several of these states share is a ban against smokable medical marijuana, forcing qualified patients to use other forms of consumption such as oils and tinctures. In Minnesota, however, patients will soon be able to access smokable medical cannabis after the governor signed a large-scale bill that expanded the state’s medical marijuana program.

Among other things, this bill includes provisions that grant medical marijuana patients access to smokable products. The legislation was sponsored by Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and was approved by legislators less than a fortnight ago.

The broader medical cannabis bill was approved by a bicameral conference committee as part of an omnibus health bill, with the House and Senate passing it in a 77 to 57 and 67 to 1 vote, respectively. Now that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed the bill into law, it must take effect by March 1, 2022.

Once it does, adults 21 years and older will be granted access to smokable cannabis flowers. Aside from allowing smokable cannabis, the legislation will also allow medical marijuana dispensaries to provide curbside pickup services. Additionally, it increases the number of registered patients designated caregivers can serve at once from just one to six. Winkler, who has been a major proponent of cannabis reform, predicted that the push for broader cannabis reform in the conservative state, especially adult-use cannabis, would inevitably lead to compromise legislation such as the expanded medical cannabis bill that is now state law.

Aside from the medical marijuana bill, Winkler is also behind a full legalization bill that advanced through the House but stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. The legislation would allow adults aged 21 and older to buy and possess a maximum of one and a half ounces of marijuana. Additionally, adults would be allowed to grow a maximum of eight cannabis plants at home, with four of them being mature. Calling it the best cannabis legalization bill in the country, Winkler said that it would address the harms of the failed war on drugs by prioritizing social equity, promoting diversity in the licensing process and preventing corporate giants from taking over the adult-use industry once launched.

Just across the state lines, the Louisiana House approved a bill that would allow patients to access smokable cannabis, and that bill is currently awaiting action on the Senate floor. On the other hand, Alabama’s governor recently signed a medical cannabis bill that includes a provision banning smokable medical marijuana.

As many states and countries enact reforms that allow the use of marijuana in some form, the benefits of companies such as Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM) operating are becoming apparent as high-paying jobs and other industries emerge around the marijuana sector.

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420 with CNW — Illinois Cannabis Equity Licensing Bill Passed by House

Last week, a bill to create new cannabis dispensary licenses in the state of Illinois was approved by the House. The bill, HB 1443, was sponsored by Rep. La Shawn Ford and will be used to address the shortcomings of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act of 2019, specifically the license lottery that has been delayed by legal disputes, controversy and the coronavirus pandemic, for more than a year.

The measure would establish a pair of new cannabis dispensary lotteries, providing more than 50 licenses while addressing concerns about the initial 75 licenses cited in the 2019 legislation.

The initiative was approved by the House with bipartisan opposition as well as support. For instance, Carol Ammons, the Democratic Representative of Urbana, asked if the legislation would achieve the social equity spirit of the first cannabis legalization legislation. Ford explained that his measure was the best way to increase the chances of local brown and Black communities in the state gaining access to the burgeoning cannabis industry.

The licenses established by the 2019 legislation were to be granted in May of last year. However, the coronavirus outbreak hindered this. Backlash over how some applicants received their licenses prompted further delay with lawsuits against the state delaying the move for a third time. The finalists of the preliminary lottery had sued the state after Governor JB Pritzker declared that the applications didn’t meet the requirements and would have to be rescored and edited.

Initially, licenses were to be awarded in order of applicant scores, with applicants that received similar scores entering tiebreaker lotteries. However, only 20 or so applicants out of the 900 that applied received perfect scores, making them eligible for the lottery.

Under the new legislation, the 55 licenses would be provided via a Qualifying Applicant Lottery, which would be accessible to applicants that received a score of 85% or higher in the earlier submissions. This would allow companies that either weren’t included in the first lottery or didn’t receive perfect scores an additional chance at receiving dispensary licenses.

The other 55 licenses will be provided via a social equity justice lottery. The eligibility criteria states that to be eligible, one must qualify as a social equity applicant and have a score of 85% or more on their submission. This means that 51% of the company’s ownership must be a member of a family that has been affected by the drug war, have been arrested and/or convicted of a cannabis crime eligible for expungement or be somebody who lived in an area affected by the drug war for a decade.

As applicants vie to win the social equity licenses, additional opportunities are also available in the federally legal niche of cannabis products that don’t contain THC. An example in this regard is the success registered by The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) which manufactures, among other products CBD gummies, drinks and tinctures.

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CannabisNewsBreaks – Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (CSE: PULL) (OTC: PRXTF) (XFRA: A2QJAJ) Announces Production of 1 Gram FSO Vape Cartridges

Pure Extracts Technologies (CSE: PULL) (OTC: PRXTF) (XFRA: A2QJAJ) wholly owned subsidiary, Pure Extract Manufacturing Corp., has developed a proprietary 1 gram, full-spectrum oil (“FSO”) vape cartridge. Pure Extracts, a plant-based extraction company focused on cannabis, hemp, functional mushrooms and the rapidly emerging psychedelic sector, announced that production has begun on the cartridges, which will be distributed and sold in the Canadian retail market. The cartridges will be filled with a variety of PULL’s 30-plus proprietary cannabis FSO formulations, including Super Lemon Haze, Grand Daddy Purple and GSK. Pure Extracts uses 510 vape cartridges that are produced by a global manufacturer and specifically chosen for the quality of their component parts, including their fit, finish and performance characteristics when paired with PULL’s oil concentrates. In the announcement, the company noted a growing consumer preference for larger cartridges, observing that demand for Pure Pulls branded vape carts is strong. “We are proud to be a leading innovator in the cannabis vape sector,” said Pure Extracts CEO Ben Nikolaevsky in the press release. “The combination of a larger form factor with our exceptional cannabis extracts will definitely build on the loyal following Pure Pulls already has in place.”

To view the full press release, visit https://cnw.fm/kd8Ku

About Pure Extracts Technologies Corp.

Pure Extracts features an all-new, state-of-the-art processing facility located just 20 minutes north of world-famous Whistler, British Columbia. The bespoke facility has been constructed to European Union GMP standards aiming towards export sales of products and formulations, including those currently restricted in Canada, into European jurisdictions where they are legally available. On Sept. 25, 2020, Pure Extracts was granted its Standard Processing License by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act. In addition, the company’s stock began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”) on Nov. 5, 2020. For more information about the company, please visit www.PureExtractsCorp.com.

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