420 with CNW — Top Mexican Legislator Reveals Senate Will Soon Pass Bill to Legalize Marijuana

Last week, a senator in the Mexican Senate revealed that the upper chamber is preparing to pass a legislation to legalize cannabis as amended by the Chamber of Deputies this March.

Sen. Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar, who is a member of the ruling MORENA Party, explained that it was important to pass laws in the terms presented to the senate given the deadline they had been issued by the Supreme Court to enact changes in policy by April 30. He added that legislators could consider further revisions to marijuana laws after the preliminary bill had been enacted.

During a press conference, Ramírez Aguilar, who also acts as the Senate Board of Directors president, noted that the legislators’ priority was that the bill came into effect, with the only way forward being to approve it. The comments come roughly a fortnight after the Chamber of Deputies approved a landmark legalization measure that had been amended after it was passed by the Senate in 2020.

While the driving force behind the bill being approved is a Supreme Court mandate, many legislators have advocated for reform. Additionally, earlier in 2018, the court had ruled that the prohibition on growing marijuana and on personal possession was unconstitutional and tasked legislators with approving a change in policy.

For the moment, Senate Majority Leader Ricardo Monreal Avila stated that there was an ongoing thorough review by committees in the body that focused on whether the legislation would contribute to a reduction in fatalities as well as a reduction in crime. Under the measure, individuals aged 18 and above would be permitted to buy and possess up to 28 grams of cannabis and grow up to six cannabis plants for personal use. However, deputies have made amendments to the version that had been approved by the Senate. These revisions include licensing policies and rules for the commercial cannabis market, as well as the market’s regulatory structure.

Of these changes, the most significant one is that the revised legislation would not set up a new independent regulatory body whose work would be to oversee the implementation and licensing of the program as had been approved by the Senate. Instead, this authority would be given to an agency that already exists, the National Commission Against Addictions. In addition, the chamber also passed amendments to prevent forest land from being turned into cannabis growing areas and to increase penalties for the unauthorized possession of huge amounts of marijuana.

When Mexico finally establishes a regulated market for marijuana products, the country should expect to see a lot of innovative products introduced on the market in the same way that other jurisdictions have witnessed. A clear example is the patented HourGlass system introduced by Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT). This system makes it possible for cannabinoids such as THC to be efficiently absorbed through the skin.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/GPFT

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW — Medical Cannabis Caregivers in Maine Express Concerns about Proposed Rule Changes

Maine was a pioneer in the medical cannabis space, legalizing marijuana for medical use more than two decades ago. Now, the state is looking to introduce a slew of changes to its medical cannabis program, changes that have been widely opposed by medical cannabis caregivers. Currently, Maine has registered an estimated 3,000 caregivers, and state regulations currently allow caregivers to grow and sell medical cannabis to registered medical marijuana patients.

The 80-page proposal that was introduced by the state would force these caregivers as well as other medical cannabis operators to electronically track their medical marijuana across the supply chain and to install 24-hour surveillance in some areas of their establishments, among other things. The changes would require registered manufacturers, dispensaries and caregivers to install tracking software, which is already used in the state’s recreational industry, onto their products and track them across the supply chain.

Developed by Metrc LLC, a Florida company that signed a six-year contract worth $540,000 with the state last year, the software would cost medical marijuana operators around $40 a month. Those operators would also be required to pay extra fees for equipment and tracking tags.

State officials have defended the requirement for tracking software, stating that a medical cannabis law passed back in 2019 mandates medical cannabis operators use this tracking software on their products. The changes are designed to align Maine’s medical marijuana program with a variety of new medical cannabis laws the state has passed in the last couple of years, say regulators from Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy. Additionally, the changes will bring the medical cannabis space closer to Maine’s recently launched but tightly regulated recreational cannabis industry.

However, public comments and a public hearing held all day Monday last week show that the proposal has very little support, especially from the state’s small medical marijuana caregivers. They say that the rules are too expensive, burdensome, and intrusive in an industry where patients still face plenty of discrimination for using medical cannabis.

The caregivers argue that they have been operating responsibly and safely since the state last updated medical cannabis rules three years ago. The high costs would lock out independent caregivers and the patients they serve as well as patients in rural, less wealthy jurisdictions. Nicoli Botti, a caregiver who testified last week, says that such patients will be forced to go back to the black market, undoing the progress the state has made in undermining the illicit market.

After the first round of public comments, regulators made some changes to the proposal, removing security requirements for caregivers operating out of their own homes and reducing the number of days caregiveres need to store footage from 45 to 30. Catherine Lewis, the board chair for the Medical Marijuana Caregivers for Maine, still isn’t impressed. Although she greatly appreciates the changes, she still finds the remaining proposals quite “disturbing.”

As the regulators in Maine seek to tighten controls on caregivers growing medical cannabis in the state, Canada-based XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: XPHY) (OTCQB: XPHYF) (FSE: 4XT) is taking medical marijuana to a whole new level by conducting several pilot trials for drug formulations, such as a sublingual strip containing a mix of THC and CBD aimed at treating epilepsy, which is unresponsive to existing remedies.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: XPHY) (OTCQB: XPHYF) (FSE: 4XT) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/XPHYF

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW — Why the Alcohol Industry Is Investing in Cannabis

Over the last couple of years, the stance on marijuana in the United States has shifted, which can be observed by the number of states that have decriminalized and/or legalized the medical and recreational use of marijuana. According to BDS Analytics, marijuana sales in the United States are expected to be $16.2 billion this year, with marijuana beverage sales making up $1 billion of that amount.

According to the National Cannabis Industry Association, only three states in the country lack some form of legal marijuana; those states are Nebraska, Kansas and Idaho. During the November 2020 elections, Arizona and New Jersey approved measures for adult recreational use of marijuana, with New York possibly following suit in the months to come.

New Frontier Data survey found that while prior studies couldn’t agree on whether marijuana legalization affected alcohol sales, wellness and health have progressively become consumer priorities, with 81% of marijuana consumers claiming that marijuana is safer when compared to alcohol. This may explain why many alcohol companies have been making considerable investments in marijuana, particularly in the industry’s beverage space, and hedging their bets.

A good example of this would be Constellation Brands, which made a 10% investment into Canopy Growth, a cannabis company based in Canada, a few years ago. This move was followed by other big companies in the alcohol industry getting involved in marijuana. For instance, Great North Distributors, a Southern Glazer subsidiary, started distributing marijuana brand Aphria in 2018 while earlier this year, a CBD-infused sparkling water known as Truss was launched by Molson Coors. Additionally, Pabst and Lagunitas, which are both owned by Heineken, have launched beverages that are infused with THC.

The marijuana beverage market is made up of two primary categories: hemp-derived CBD beverages and THC beverages. With cannabis beverages being seen as healthier alternatives to alcohol and marijuana gaining benefits from the shift towards wellness and health, especially now that millennials are consuming less alcohol, Canopy predicts that the market demand for CBD products derived from hemp will be valued at $10 billion by the year 2023, with hemp-derived CBD beverages making up nearly $1.1 billion of that amount.

However, there are still a few issues these companies have to overcome, both with regard to market challenges and legal hurdles. The first is the fact that CBD and THC are not allowed in alcoholic beverages. With a growing number of players in this burgeoning field, many are excited to see what opportunities this field may offer.

One company that is set to benefit from the interest of the alcohol industry in the cannabis sector is Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (CSE: PULL) (OTC: PRXTF), whose vast experience and dominance of the extracts segment in Canada puts it in pole position to be the ingredient supplier of choice for alcohol companies venturing into making cannabis-based drinks.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (CSE: PULL) (OTC: PRXTF) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/PULL

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW — Illinois City Uses Marijuana Taxes to Offer Reparations

The African American community has been through a great deal over the past few centuries. After being plucked from their homes in Africa, the first enslaved Africans hit America’s shores around 400 years ago, starting a long period of absolute misery for African Americans. Even after slavery was abolished, Blacks had to fight to end institutionalized racism and racial segregation in the country.

Although the Civil Rights Movement achieved a great deal, Blacks soon had to contend with extreme policing and sentencing due to the war on drugs, poverty, gang violence and the crack epidemic through the ’80s and ’90s. Believing that Blacks deserve some sort of restitution for all they’ve been through, especially slavery, an Illinois city has become the first in the country to offer reparations.

In an ironic twist, a 3% tax levied on the sale of recreational marijuana was used to fund these reparations. The Chicago suburb of Evanston had initially pledged to distribute $10 million over the next 10 years to certain communities, and on Monday, the City Council voted 8-1 in favor of the pledge. As such, the city will provide $400,000 in reparations to qualifying Black households in Evanston; $21,340 will be provided by private donors.

Every eligible Black household will receive $25,000 to cover home repairs, down payments for property, and late penalties or interest accrued on property located in Evanston. To qualify, a resident must be either a direct descendant of a Black individual who resided in the city from 1919 to 1969 or they must have lived in Evanston themselves. Descendants of people whose housing was affected due to the city’s past discriminatory policies, ordinances or practices and residents who were victims of Evanston’s discriminatory policies after 1969 also qualify for reparations.

Although the move is certainly a first, hundreds of organizations and communities have been considering the possibility of providing reparations to communities that have been impacted by discriminatory practices. According to Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, the groups pushing reparations have offered free legal assistance in case the reparations program runs into a legal challenge. Simmons, who first proposed the program back in 2019 before its adoption, says it is designed to help the Black community, which has been held back by Evanston’s anti-Black housing policies.

The money is just a start, he says, adding that repairing the harms done to the Black community will be a long road filled with several initiatives, programs, and even more funding.

Legalizing cannabis isn’t only facilitating the repair of the social justice harms done in the past. The industry has also allowed companies such as RYAH Group Inc. to impact how the patients of the future will be treated by tapping the power of data analytics through IoT devices.

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

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW — Cannabis Banking Bill Reintroduced in Senate with 27 Co-Sponsors

legislation that protects banks that service legal cannabis businesses from being penalized by federal regulators has been retabled in the Senate. The bill has 27 co-sponsors and comes just days after the Secure and Fair Enforcement (“SAFE”) Banking Act was filed once again in the House.

The Banking Act was approved with bipartisan support as part of two coronavirus relief bills and also as an independent bill in 2019.

The Senate version of the legislation is being sponsored by Sens. Steve Daines and Jeff Merkley, in addition to twenty-seven other co-sponsors. Over in the House, the bill has more than 100 members who have signed on as co-sponsors.

The SAFE Banking Act would ensure that financial institutions can enlist marijuana businesses as clients, without having federal penalties imposed on them. The fear of sanctions has kept many credit unions and banks from working with the marijuana industry, thus forcing many cannabis companies to operate on a cash basis, which only creates more difficulties for financial regulators and makes them targets of crime.

In a press release, Merkley stated that no individual who works behind a register or in a store should have to worry about going through a traumatic robbery at any moment. He noted that the government would have to stop forcing legal marijuana businesses to operate on a cash basis, as it was a senseless rule that was an open invitation to money laundering and robbery.

Daines stated that businesses in Montana should not have to operate on a cash basis and should instead have a safe way to carry out business. He explained that his bipartisan bill would provide certainty for legal marijuana businesses in Montana, while also giving them the ability to freely use credit unions, banks and other financial institutions without the fear of punishment. This, he continued, would help improve local economies, create employment opportunities, support small businesses in the state of Montana, decrease crime rates and increase public safety.

Many are optimistic that the bill has a real chance of being made into a law this year, especially now that Democrats are in control of both the White House and chambers of Congress.

In addition to the chief sponsors of the legislation, other legislators who have signed on to the new version of the bill include the following: Sens. Cynthia Lummis, Bill Cassidy, Rand Paul, Amy Klobuchar, Patty Murray, Brian Schatz, Bernie Sanders, Gary Peters, Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Dan Sullivan, Kevin Cramer, Jacky Rosen, Jon Tester, Bob Menendez, Michael Bennet, Catherine Cortez Masto, Dick Durbin, Patrick Leahy, Alex Padilla, Ed Markey and Kyrsten Sinema.

Despite the lack of access to banking services, many cannabis companies are surviving as best they can — and thriving while at it. Gage Growth Corp. (d.b.a. Gage Cannabis) is an example of the top vertically integrated cannabis companies in Michigan that are excelling amid the hardships that the industry in general is facing as a result of the conflict between laws at the federal and state levels.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Gage Growth Corp. (d.b.a. Gage Cannabis) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/GAGE

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW — Colorado House Passes Bill Increasing Marijuana Possession Limit

The state of Colorado established an adult-use cannabis market in 2014, becoming the second state to do so. Despite this, the state’s program is still evolving, with its governor recently signing a bill that would establish a social equity fund for the marijuana industry, and the state assembly approving a bill to increase the cannabis possession limit.

Last week, Gov. Jared Polis visited a cannabis dispensary in Denver to sign an initiative that would create a program in the Office of Economic Development and International Trade in the state, whose role would be to support marijuana businesses owned by individuals who met the specifications for social equity licenses, which is mainly individuals who were most affected by the war on drugs.

According to a summary of the initiative, the program would offer loans to business owners for ongoing business expenses and seed capital, in addition to grants to support the creation of jobs and innovation. Additionally, it would make technical assistance available to cannabis business owners.

The initiative was drafted in consultation with a coalition of minority-owned marijuana businesses known as Black Brown and Red Badged. To begin with, the program will be granted a preliminary infusion of $4 million from the cannabis tax fund in the state, which is roughly $1 million less than what Gov. Polis had requested earlier in January.

Before signing the initiative, Polis stated in a press conference that the war on cannabis disproportionately affected people of color, which effectively reduced their access to the cannabis industry that was regulated and fully legal in the state of Colorado. The governor observed that the initiative was particularly important as the federal Small Business Administration hindered federal resources from being used to support and help businesses that operate in the legal cannabis industry, noting that this was why the state was stepping forward to help fill that role.

In 2020, Polis signed another legislation that would establish a statewide definition of marijuana social equity licensees. These businesses will be the primary beneficiaries from the new law.

In a press release, Hashim Coates, the executive director of BBRB, stated that equity in marijuana would focus on new opportunities and possess the ability to take advantage of the said opportunities. However, he added, the efforts had been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, which led the legislature into a hiatus in 2020.

In other news, the House passed legislation last week that would increase the amount of cannabis an individual age 21 or above could possess.

Colorado isn’t the only state where cannabis industry laws are being proposed and passe. California was the first to legalize recreational marijuana, and many companies have set up shop in this state. An example is Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT), which has specialized in bringing highly disruptive products to the medical and recreational marijuana markets.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/GPFT

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW — How Data Analytics Is Proving Invaluable in the Marijuana Industry

After decades of prohibition, marijuana is finally legal in some form in more than 30 states. The industry has made impressive progress, creating thousands of job opportunities and providing states with millions of dollars in much-needed tax revenue. With Democrats now controlling the Senate, House and White House, the country may see lawmakers pass federal cannabis legislation in the next few years, removing most of the roadblocks that have kept the industry from advancing and ensuring its growth.

Aside from access to financial service, one factor that will redefine the industry as it grows and matures is data analytics (“DA”). With the sector still in its infancy, DA presents a great growth opportunity for cannabis companies over the next few years. Industries such as banking, retail and airlines have leveraged data collection to great success, and the state-legal marijuana sector can do the same. But why is data analytics so important, and how can it help cannabis businesses?

Branding is important for any company that wants to carve out a nice market share for itself, and branding is dependent on data collection and analytics. Customers trust and will return to reputable brands, meaning cannabis businesses that want to stand out from the pack and thrive in an oversaturated market will need brand differentiation. DA will allow for trend analysis, helping cannabis businesses to ascertain which products they should produce as well as the market segments they should target, whether it is pre-rolls or high-potency concentrates.

Market segmentation has allowed companies such as Coca-Cola to create different lines of successful products for different markets. Not every product will succeed in every market, and finding the perfect product for each market segment will ensure customers buy your products. By leveraging data analytics, cannabis companies can utilize transactional data, seasonality and trend forecasting coupled with regional and demographic data to find the market segments they are best suited to serve.

Loyalty programs tend to keep consumers loyal to a certain brand, even if the consumers have to pay slightly more. Airlines and the hospitality industry have taken great advantage of this, using a variety of loyalty programs to ensure customer retention and to promote the growth of their brands. To do this, these sectors have invested a great deal in data analytics, and cannabis companies ought to do the same. Especially since the data clearly shows that there are market segments that would love to support a cannabis brand of high quality coupled with a loyalty program.

Thanks to a more liberal government, the cannabis industry is poised for massive growth over the next few years. Cannabis businesses that invest in data analytics from day one will have a greater chance of success.

With five successful brands to its name, Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF) is a true definition of a marijuana company that is leveraging data analytics to its full advantage.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/GLDFF

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW — First On-Site Cannabis Consumption Lounge to Open Soon in Illinois

The state of Illinois’ marijuana market is booming with data showing that last year the state sold more than $1 billion worth of legal marijuana both from recreational and medical marijuana purchases. Projections indicate that those sales figures will only keep growing as the market grows and consumption of marijuana products increases.

Currently, officials in the state are rolling back on the rules and restrictions that were imposed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to help control the virus spread. With vaccines being rolled out, more and more bar and restaurant operators are launching new projects.

One of these projects is the launch of the first on-site consumption bar of cannabis in the state. Located in Sesser, which is nearly 300 miles south of Chicago, owners are making their final preparations to open the Luna Lounge either late next month or in early May.

The venue is a bring-your-own-style bar where consumers are encouraged to buy marijuana from off-site dispensaries. The venue is billed as a safe space where consumers will not have to worry about being thrown out of a bar for rolling up a joint. The venue will also have smoking paraphernalia that can be rented.

Luna Lounge owners reveal that the bar will pave the way for Sesser to become more of a tourist destination, in addition to being the first bar of its kind in the state of Illinois. However, because of the indoor restrictions imposed on smoking in the state, the bar will not be serving alcohol. Customers who wish to buy food can purchase it from food trucks that will be parked outside the venue.

In 2020, the state of Alaska became the first state in the United States to permit on-site cannabis consumption while a site in Springfield became the pioneer to receive an onsite-license in the state of Illinois. Local law enforcement in Sesser then followed suit by approving the plan to launch Luna Lounge in March of the same year.

The first cannabis dispensary in downtown Chicago also began its operations last year. However, there doesn’t seem to be a push demanding for on-site consumption to be allowed in the city. This is despite the fact that on-site consumption of cannabis has the potential to unbridle creative possibilities in the city’s restaurant industry. For instance, underground marijuana dinners have a better chance of becoming popular if regulations were loosened.

While it is important for onsite marijuana consumption lounges to open, not all products made from cannabis are subject to restrictions regarding where they can be consumed. For instance, the CBD-infused powder packs, drinks and gummies made by The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are nonintoxicating and can be legally consumed anywhere.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

About CNW420

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

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420 with CNW — Delaware Legislators Introduce Bill to Legalize Marijuana

States that have legalized cannabis have seen lots of benefits, including the creation of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue. On top of that, most states have also focused on social equity, expunging the records of people with prior nonviolent cannabis-related convictions and giving individuals affected by the failed war on drugs a leg up in their respective cannabis industries. That is what a bill recently introduced by Delaware lawmakers seeks to achieve, despite the fact that the state governor isn’t a fan of recreational marijuana.

The legislation would create a regulated cannabis market in the state, allowing adults 21 years and older to buy and possess up to an ounce of cannabis. However, unlike recreational cannabis legislation passed in other states, it would not provide an option for home cultivation. The bill would also require the appointment of a marijuana commissioner who would issue cannabis regulations and provide licenses to qualifying applicants. Additionally, it would bestow regulatory responsibilities to Homeland Security, the State Department of Safety, and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.

Sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, the bill would also have a provision for the expungement of prior cannabis records, and it would create a business licensing category for communities disproportionately affected by the decades’ long war on drugs. This would include people living in areas that were adversely affected by prohibition, people convicted of a nonviolent cannabis offense, or the child of an individual with a prior cannabis-related conviction.

Social equity applicants would be granted access to a Social Equity Loan Fund, reduced fees, programs for technical assistance, an adjusted points scale, and the physical location requirement will be waived, says a press release from Osienski’s office. The legislation would allow industry regulators to approve up to 30 retail business licenses for the first 16 months, with applicants being scored based on a variety of factors, including whether or not they will pay their employees a living wage, provide health insurance and diversify their workforce.

The bill would also create a 15% sales tax, dubbed a marijuana control enforcement fee, that will be imposed at the point of sale. The tax revenue derived from cannabis sales would first be used to cover administrative costs and the legislature will then be tasked with apportioning additional funds. If the legislation is passed, the state could generate up to $43 million per year in revenue from a 20% excise tax, based on analysis by State Auditor Kathy McGuiness.

Bill sponsor Osienski believes establishing a cannabis industry in Delaware will strike a blow against the cannabis black market, create thousands of jobs for state residents and promote social equity for communities that were negatively affected by cannabis prohibition.

As the legislators in Delaware are discussing cannabis legalization, more established legal markets such as Canada have provides opportunity for companies to thrive. For example, Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) has carved out a name for itself as a company that uses only high-end marijuana strains to manufacture the best products aimed at the medical and recreational markets.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/PACR

About CNW420

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

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CannabisNewsBreaks – The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) Announces 2nd Major DSD Expansion

The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) today announced its latest partnership with Nevada Beverage Company, a Nevada-based direct-store-delivery (“DSD”) distributor. Under the agreement, Nevada Beverage will carry WTER’s full line of smooth-tasting Alkaline88 and A88 Infused flavored waters. “We are pleased to welcome Nevada Beverage Company to our growing DSD network. Nevada Beverage is a leading beverage distributor in Nevada, serving over 2,900 accounts with a territory encompassing 74% of the state population. As a best-in-class DSD provider, the partnership allows our waters to inundate another important market in the Southwest,” said Ricky Wright, president and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company. “This marks our second major DSD market expansion, following our recently announced distribution agreement with the Arizona-based Hensley Beverage Company. With our superior smooth taste profile and increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly options, we believe Alkaline88 and our A88 Infused flavored waters will be very successful and popular with Nevada Beverage’s customers.”

To view the full press release, visit https://cnw.fm/pD9QE

About The Alkaline Water Company

Founded in 2012, The Alkaline Water Company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its flagship product, Alkaline88(R), is a leading premier alkaline water brand available in bulk and single-serve sizes along with eco-friendly aluminum packaging options. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, Alkaline88 delivers perfect 8.8 pH-balanced alkaline drinking water with trace minerals and electrolytes and boasts its trademarked label: Clean Beverage. Quickly being recognized as a growing lifestyle brand, Alkaline88 launched A88 Infused(TM) in 2019 to meet consumer demand for flavor-infused products. A88 Infused flavored water is available in six unique, all-natural flavors with new flavors coming soon. Additionally, in 2020, the company launched A88 Infused Beverage Division Inc., which includes the company’s CBD water and flavor-infused water. For the company’s topical and ingestible offerings, A88 Infused Products Inc. includes both the company’s lab-tested, full-spectrum hemp salves, balms, lotions, essential oils, and bath salts, along with broad-spectrum hemp, powder packs, oil tinctures, capsules, and gummies. To purchase A88CBD(TM) products online, visit www.A88CBD.com. To learn more about the company, visit www.TheAlkalineWaterCo.com.

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

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

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