420 with CNW – U.S. Customs Now Says Canadian Cannabis Industry Workers Can Enter the U.S.

The cloud of uncertainty in the minds of Canadians working in the legal marijuana industry may have lifted a little after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Administration (CBP) put up an update on its website stating that cannabis industry workers may be “generally” admissible into the U.S. in case their travel isn’t connected to their work.

This clarification comes several weeks after CBP issued a press release in which it suggested that anyone involved in the cannabis industry would not be allowed to cross into the U.S. That statement left marijuana industry workers contemplating an end to simple things like fulfilling the dreams of their kids by visiting Disneyland or even escaping the harsh Canadian winter by seeking out warmer locations across the border to the south.

The new statement clarified that any person involved in the Canadian cannabis industry may be denied entry in case such a person is coming to the U.S. on matters that are related to their work in the cannabis industry. Legalization in Canada doesn’t alter the prohibition of marijuana by U.S. federal law, the statement added.

However, the CBP statement is silent on what the fate of people who admit that they consume cannabis will be at entry points.

What the statement mentions directly is that those who have been convicted for violating U.S. or other countries’ drugs laws will not be allowed into the U.S.

Legal experts agree that the recent statement by CBP provides a more reasonable approach to handling the matter of Canadian cannabis industry workers who wish to travel to the U.S. However, those experts also point out that several grey areas still exist.

For instance, it wasn’t clear how the border authorities will determine which activities are connected to the industry and those that aren’t. Is traveling to attend a marijuana conference in the U.S. outlawed?

Lawyers who specialize in cross-border matters also think that Customs and Border Protection worded their statement cleverly in order to give their agents wiggle room when determining whether to allow someone into the country or not.

It is expected that the position of the U.S. border authorities will keep evolving in the coming weeks and months as the kinks in their current policy get ironed out. In the meantime, Canadians are advised to be mindful about the existing U.S. laws in order to avoid being found in breach of those laws while traveling to or while in the U.S.

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) and Choom Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CHOO) (OTCQB: CHOOF) must be equally concerned about the grey areas or contradictions in the cannabis laws at different jurisdictional levels.

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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 – Washington State Marijuana Tracking System Flawed, Says Report

An assessment report released by Gartner Consulting recently has found that Washington State rushed to implement a seed-to-sale marijuana tracking system even though the regulator and the system provider knew that the tracking system was flawed.

That rushed implementation cost retailers revenue since many dispensaries were unwilling to buy marijuana from those retailers whose systems hadn’t been integrated with Leaf Date Systems (the tracking platform created by MJ Freeway).

Gartner Consulting is an independent technology and research firm based in Connecticut. Washington State LCB (Liquor and Cannabis Board) contracted Gartner Consulting to assess the tracking system over a period of eight weeks.

The consulting firm noted that the tracking system was unstable and crashed several times during the assessment period.

Gartner Consulting placed the blame for these technical glitches on both LCB and MJ Freeway.

LCB is blamed for making a decision to go live with a system that was flawed and could not pass numerous basic tests for such platforms. The regulator should never have allowed an immature system to be commissioned since that put the entire marijuana value chain tracking system at the risk of a total collapse when so much was at stake.

The consultant also pointed out several issues which put LCB and the developer on the spot. For example, the deployment schedule followed was labeled “impossible” by Gartner Consulting since such projects usually take at least a year to develop and deploy. MJ Freeway should have known better and demanded a reasonable timeframe within which to design a defect-free platform.

The assessment also concluded that the platform designer and the regulator underestimated what would be required to customize the platform for Washington State.

A more stinging criticism for MJ Freeway was that the methods upon which the entire system was developed and implemented didn’t adhere to industry best practices. Consequently, the system raises persistent security concerns.

Gartner Consulting went on to propose ten steps through which the tracking system can be salvaged and improved. For example, the consultant recommends that Washington State hires an experienced firm to provide software integration so that the system can work seamlessly with the software used by other marijuana industry players.

Alternatively, the state could take the radical decision to cancel the project and implement a new one.

Jessica Billingsley, the CEO of MJ Freeway, admitted that though they deployed the system in record time, it had some technical issues which are being addressed to improve it. The company has been taking steps to address all the concerns raised in the Gartner report. TransCanna and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) must be hoping that they never be at the receiving end of such harsh criticism of their products and services.

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Hemp and CBD Set to Eclipse the THC Marijuana Market

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: As the cannabis market continues to grow, hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) are occupying an increasingly large share of the escalating industry.

  • Hemp, the form of cannabis without psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is an important part of the cannabis market.
  • Hemp is common in many health and wellness products.
  • Total sales of hemp-derived products are expected to exceed $1 billion this year.
  • Some industry experts expect hemp products to soon exceed marijuana for their share of the cannabis industry.

Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) (SGMD Profile) is taking advantage of this shift by making a heavy investment in hemp production. Medical marijuana company Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) bridges the gap between product types through its production of CBD oils. One of the largest cannabis growers in Canada, Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) provides plants used in a wide range of products. GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) has created the first cannabis-derived prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Meanwhile, public acceptance and more positive perception of the cannabis sector are shifting, thanks at least in part to publicity efforts by shifted by cannabis companies such as Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF) (TSX: ACB).

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

The Two Sides of the Cannabis Market

It’s all too easy to view the cannabis sector as a single market providing variations on the same product. In reality, it’s an increasingly complex and varied industry. Its primary plants and products can be divided into two groups: marijuana (and THC) in one category, and hemp (and CBD) in the other.

The marijuana piece of the cannabis market is the one more traditionally recognized. In this space, plants grown, cultivated and used contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient that gets drug users high. THC is the reason for cannabis’ ongoing popularity as a recreational drug worth hundreds of millions of dollars in both legal and illegal markets.

The other side of the market is centered around hemp. Hemp does not contain THC; rather it contains CBD, an active ingredient found in other cannabis plants. CBD has fueled the development of medical marijuana applications, but alternative products that utilize the substance are increasingly popular in the health and wellness markets, where they can be bought more widely than medical marijuana. As a result, some industry experts note that hemp may soon make up the larger part of the cannabis industry.

The Growth of the CBD Market

Though less well-known outside of specialist markets, CBD is becoming a more accessible way to benefit from cannabis. This has led to investment from companies across the cannabis sector, including Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD).

Sales of hemp-based products in the United States reached $820 million last year, of which $190 million, or 23 percent of sales, consisted of CBD-derived products, according to Hemp Business Journal. That total for hemp is expected to pass a billion dollars this year.

Predictions for the future are even more promising. The same Hemp Business Journal article estimates that the hemp market will reach $1.9 billion in the United State by 2022, with $646 million of that coming from CBD and its derivatives. The Brightfield Group is even more optimistic in its assessment. The group’s industry specialists believe that CBD could outstrip the rest of the cannabis sector in size in the next few years.

For companies such as Sugarmade, whose business is closely tied to CBD, these developments create opportunities for expansion and innovation.

CBD Enters the Mainstream

A wide variety of end-use product potential is helping hemp gain mainstream use and acceptance. This market includes supplements, personal care products, textiles, and food and industrial applications, as well as CBD and the support services provided Sugarmade and other similar companies.

The hemp market has grown 15 percent per year over the past few years. Unlike marijuana sales, this growth isn’t driven by the medical and recreational sectors. Instead, body products and supplements have been key factors. Much of the hemp for these products has been imported from Canada and China, with imports totaling $78.2 million in 2015, not counting textiles, paper products or construction materials.

The hemp market is expected to be strengthened by the2018 Farm Bill currently making its way through the U.S. Senate. Legislation included in the act, supported by the Senate majority leader, would remove industrial hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, making it easier for farmers to grow hemp for CBD and other agricultural purposes. Since the last farm bill was passed four years ago, some farmers have been able to legally set up test production of hemp for CBD, but widespread cultivation has not been permitted.

The extent of the change permitted by the expected agricultural law remains uncertain. Other issues unrelated to cannabis are currently holding up the Farm Bill, despite widespread bipartisan support for the hemp provisions. Once the bill passes, the impact for CBD will also depend upon decisions made by state authorities and the FDA. But the bill will certainly ease the way for potential hemp growers in states that support the CBD industry. Until now, national law only allowed the growing of hemp and harvest of CBD in state pilot programs and for academic research; in the 2018 Farm Bill, those limitations are eliminated.

Clearly, The legalization of hemp and CBD on the federal level will only benefit companies such as Sugarmade. Previously, access to financial and support services could be difficult for companies working in the cannabis sector. Marijuana retailers had to resort to cash payments or newly developed electronic systems because banks feared doing business with companies defying federal law. Making hemp legal will allow a wide variety of support systems to evolve.

Innovating with CBD

The success of companies such as Sugarmade that are working in the CBD space comes in large part through innovation. These companies recognize the need to research, offer, and implement new products, services and investments to drive growth.

New products will take CBD into new commercial categories. Hemp-derived beverages and pet foods are both on the horizon. Medicines are being tested. Paper, cloth and construction are also industries that stand to benefit from additional hemp offerings.

Sugarmade’s success comes through expansion in hydroponics, the company’s entry into the cannabis space. Hydroponic equipment is key to cultivating cannabis and, as a result, hydroponic companies have seen substantial growth over the past few years. Sugarmade is building upon its existing growth by acquiring two other hydroponics companies, a move that turned the company into one of the leading players in hydroponics. This move is also expected to raise Sugarmade’s revenues next year from $30 million to $75 million as the market for hemp and its support services grows.

Sugarmade has also reinforced its position in the market through more direct investment in CBD. The company recently committed to investing a million dollars in Hempistry, Inc. The investment is targeted to support Hempistry’s work on an ultra-high CBD-content hemp strain being grown in Kentucky. It also positions Sugarmade to profit directly from the staggering growth in CBD.

The impact of the hemp industry extends beyond the United States. Sugarmade has made moves into Europe as well, selling hydroponics in the United Kingdom. While the current hemp market in Europe is small, savvy companies are evaluating opportunities to get in now. Where America leads, Europe is likely to follow, which means the road towards legalized cannabis and a thriving CBD market may be imminent.

Cannabis Competitors

A number of companies are competing for a share of the CBD market.

For medical marijuana company Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY), CBD is a natural extension of its other work. The company has developed CBD oil for medical use and is one of the first to sell such a product into the United Kingdom after top politicians intervened to make CBD available for treating rare childhood forms of epilepsy. A strong program of research and development has led to growth for the company, which is now making initial public offerings in the United States and Canada to finance further work.

Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) is one of the largest cannabis companies in Canada, a leading market for cannabis and CBD. With 5.6 million square feet of growing space spread across its facilities and subsidiaries, three-quarters of it licensed by Canadian authorities to grow cannabis, Canopy Growth has become a powerhouse within the industry and is breaking new ground for cannabis companies, having completed the first legal transfer of cannabis from Canada to the United States using a DEA-issued permit. This transfer, for medical research purposes, seems to reflect a softening of DEA attitudes as the agency adjusts to the changing status quo.

Medical cannabis research is also important to GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH). The company created the first cannabis-based prescription medicine to gain FDA approval and continues to innovate through its research and product divisions. Like Tilray, the company is committed to growth, having recently announced new shares to raise $300 million of finance.

Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF) (TSX: ACB) isn’t just selling its own CBD-rich health and wellness products — it’s also working to raise the public profile of the cannabis industry. It has partnered with Elevate, the annual citywide Toronto festival, to create tracks discussing cannabis and health issues. These events will encourage discussion about the health potential of CBD and marijuana, as both sides of the industry continue to gain in size and public recognition.

The cannabis industry has seen huge growth over the past decade, and now it’s going through big changes. Commercial CBD and hemp, until recently existing in the shadow of medical cannabis and recreational marijuana, could soon be the leading products in a growing global market.

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

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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 – Facebook Lifts Ban on Marijuana Searches Ahead of Canadian Cannabis Legalization

While the U.S. customs authorities may be unsure about how to respond once recreational marijuana becomes legal in Canada, social media giant Facebook has taken the step to stop preventing search results from showing in case a user is looking for cannabis pages, articles and organizations, among other kinds of related content.

Facebook has been filtering out any search results connected to cannabis for more than a year. This action was in line with the platform’s rules that barred illegal products and substances from being traded or trafficked using the platform.

That is now bound to change as Facebook users from around the globe will now be able to access marijuana-related content using the search feature of the platform.

However, there will be a condition to accessing cannabis information. Only verified pages, personalities and organizations will be listed in the search results.

Facebook currently has two signs of verification, a blue and grey verification mark. The blue mark is reserved for brands, media companies and public figures. Other verified cannabis accounts or pages will have the grey verification mark.

The verification process starts with the marijuana business giving Facebook a phone number which is listed publicly. The social media platform then makes an automated call to that number and the receiver is expected to enter a 4-digit code once he or she is prompted to do so during the phone call.

Previously, government marijuana dispensaries, advocacy agencies and other organizations could not be found on Facebook due to the restrictions designed into the search algorithm of the social media platform.

The changes in the laws of different countries and states has motivated the change of heart at Facebook in order to enable Facebook users to access marijuana content without any undue limitations.

It is worth remembering at this point that marijuana video content could be accessed even when the restrictions on cannabis were in force. The algorithm changes being rolled out will have no effect on access to such video content.

The move by Facebook has been welcomed by cannabis advocacy groups, such as Marijuana Policy Project, who said that it was long overdue for the social media platform to change how it regards marijuana.

Many polls show that the public wants marijuana to be decriminalized, and many jurisdictions have passed laws permitting marijuana use for either medical or recreational purposes. Facebook and other platforms should therefore start looking at marijuana favorably since it is now legal in many countries or jurisdictions. Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) must be pleased by the change made by Facebook.

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420 with CNW – Walmart Canada Considers Selling Cannabis-Based Products

The Canadian branch of Walmart Inc. has revealed that it is thinking about including cannabis-based products on its shelves.

This announcement makes Walmart the first major retailer to express interest in participating in the cannabis industry. Other major companies from the U.S. to show interest in the Canadian cannabis industry were from the beverage and alcohol industry (Coca Cola and Constellation Brands).

Just how free are these companies when it comes to making decisions about getting involved in the cannabis industry? Market sentiment may be forcing their hand as was seen when Pepsi Cola shares dipped on the stock exchange when the company announced that it had no interest in venturing into the cannabis industry. Other mega brands, fearful of suffering a similar fate, may be sending out feelers to identify at what point they can get on the marijuana wave sweeping everything in its wake.

Marijuana or its derivatives has been linked to several medicinal functions, such as helping people deal with chronic pain. Cancer, pediatric epilepsy, PTSD and other conditions are all said to be improved by cannabis ingredients.

Diana Medeiros, the spokeswoman for Walmart confirmed that the company had conducted some preliminary research but they hadn’t made any decision yet to have CBD products in their stores.

The move by Walmart comes just days before the adult-use of marijuana becomes legal in Canada. Canada is the first country with a large economy to decriminalize recreational marijuana. The retail sales of marijuana in Canada are expected to reach C$10.4 billion by 2025.

Canada’s decision and process is likely to be copied in other developed nations since many are already watching the developments in Canada closely. Canada has started exporting medical cannabis products to different countries, and many developed nations will not want to be left out on the revenues that can accrue from this industry that is enjoying wide popularity across all sections of the population.

The interest shown by large corporations is giving the marijuana industry positive publicity, something that is likely to fuel the push for further legalization in jurisdictions where marijuana is still prohibited.

It is that same interest in revenue that is driving decriminalization in several U.S. states. For example, New Hampshire is already calculating the potential tax revenues from the cannabis industry ahead of legalization. Such forces are likely to play a major part in any decision made regarding the legalization of marijuana.

Whether Walmart sells CBD products or not, cannabis industry players like Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE: VIDA) (OTCQX: PHVAF) and SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) welcome the buzz that their interest has created around the cannabis industry.

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420 with CNW – Canada May Not Have Enough Cannabis to Meet Demand Upon Legalization

It is just a matter of hours before recreational marijuana is legalized in Canada but researchers are suggesting that the country may not have enough marijuana on the shelves to meet the demand for it.

Researchers based at the University of Waterloo and their counterparts at C.D. Howe Institute warned that many people who may want to celebrate legalization with a joint may be unable to do so due to the limited capacity of cannabis suppliers to meet the expected demand.

The researchers revealed that the current suppliers may only be in position to meet between 30 percent and 60 percent of the demand for recreational cannabis come legalization day (October 17).

According to the researchers, the supply of cannabis from the licensed sources could be approximately 210 tons. This is a small amount when compared to the existing demand estimated to be in excess of 610 tons.

Part of the reason for this supply gap falls squarely on the government since it has been “unnecessarily” slow in vetting and licensing applicants who want to grow and supply cannabis to the retail outlets.

It should be remembered that Canada is just the second country to decriminalize adult use of marijuana after Uruguay. The “slow” rate at which producers are being licensed may be a result of the precautionary approach being used to avoid making needless mistakes so early in the development of the industry.

Government statistics show that approximately 16 percent (4.6 million) of all Canadians have used marijuana at least once this year. The number of people using cannabis is unlikely to rise according to the statistics of the federal government.

However, the insufficient supply of marijuana once adult use becomes legal is likely to hurt at different levels beyond the disappointment of Canadians who may miss out when the retail shelves run out of cannabis. The government will lose tax revenue amounting to about $774 million until the supply gaps are filled.

Legalization at the federal level in Canada also doesn’t mean that citizens will be free to use marijuana as they wish. Reports are already emerging that schools, apartment buildings and other public places may prohibit smoking marijuana within their spaces.

Such prohibitions may be modeled upon the restrictions on smoking tobacco cigarettes in order to protect non-smokers from the hazards associated with secondhand smoking. Pot enthusiasts may therefore have to be careful where they choose to indulge.

All the same, Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and American Premium Water Corp. (OTC: HIPH) would relish the chance to operate in a market where the demand for products far exceeds the supply available.

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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 – Poll Shows 62 Percent of Americans Favor Marijuana Decriminalization

A recent poll conducted by Pew Research Center shows that 62 percent of all Americans want cannabis to be legalized. The findings are in line with previous polls which have been showing an increase in the number of citizens who favor marijuana legalization.

A total of 1,754 adults were interviewed by phone and their responses showed the highest support for decriminalization since Pew Research Center started conducting yearly polls about the sentiments of citizens regarding marijuana.

This increased support may have been fueled by the legalization of pot in several states as well as D.C.

However, the rate at which support for cannabis legalization is growing seems to have hit a plateau since the recent polls show modest increases in support. Last year, the figure stood at 61 percent, meaning that support has grown since then by one percentage point in 2018.

Political affiliation seems to play a role in people’s attitudes towards marijuana legalization. The poll discovered that Democrats are more likely to favor decriminalization when compared to Republicans. Roughly 69 percent of the Democrats polled in the study supported legalization, while only 45 percent of the Republicans expressed a similar sentiment.

It isn’t therefore surprising that Trump’s Republican government set up a secret committee to collect negative information about marijuana in order to portray it has a danger to the nation.

However, the tide is also turning among Republicans as well. For example, Republicans in Texas expressed their support for the removal of custodial sentences for adults found in possession of small amounts of marijuana. The nearly five in 10 Republicans who supported marijuana legalization in this study are an increase from the 39 percent who were in favor of legalization in 2015.

The study also revealed that age may be a factor when matters of marijuana legalization arise. For example, nearly three-quarters of all Millennials polled supported legalization while just over half of the Baby Boomers supported decriminalization. Not surprisingly, those aged 76-93 had the least support for marijuana legalization with only 39 percent saying it was time to get cannabis off the list of contraband substances. The older one is, the less likely that person may be to support marijuana legalization.

If these statistics are anything to go by, the federal government is likely to have its hand forced once most states make it legal to use cannabis either for medical or recreational purposes. The process is already underway in several states, so 2019 is likely to see a higher number of states where marijuana is legal. The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) and The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) must be waiting for that day when the entire U.S. market will be opened to them.

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420 with CNW – Medical Marijuana Users in Illinois Increase by 80 Percent

A report released by the Illinois Department of Public Health shows that the users of medical marijuana in that state have increased by 80 percent so far when compared with the statistics for 2017.

The report shows that most patients using medical cannabis wanted to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than 4,000 people out of the 46,000 who have used medical marijuana this year used cannabis to treat PTSD.

PTSD was followed by fibromyalgia at 3,400 patients while cancer was close behind at 2,500 patients seeking medical cannabis.

It is also noteworthy that about 75 percent of all patients on medical marijuana were at least 40-years old. This statistic may be correlated to the qualifying conditions for which one can get a recommendation for medical marijuana.

It is predicted that the number of people seeking medical marijuana will rise further for two key reasons.

First, there has been an increase in the number of doctors who get certified to recommend medical marijuana. The number now stands at 3,000 compared to the 2,100 who were available in 2017. Each doctor recommended approximately 25 patients while a few handled about 100 patients each.

This increase means that patients will find it easier to access a doctor who can recommend medical cannabis for their conditions.

Secondly, some regulatory changes will make it easier for people to access medical cannabis. For example, a law was signed by the Governor to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for chronic pain instead of asking patients to take opioid painkillers as was the case before. Additionally, it will be easier to process patient applications since fingerprinting and performing criminal background checks will no longer be part of the process through which medical marijuana applicants are screened.

However, some medical experts are warning that the use of medical marijuana may create cases of substance abuse. This fear arises because some of the medical cannabis dispensaries have products which are about 90 percent THC. THC is the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana responsible for the high experienced by users.

The addiction experts are also concerned about the quantities that patients can buy. In their view, the current limit is high and can permit a patient to consume the cannabis product on a daily basis. Addiction can easily arise when that happens.

You can be certain that companies like NUGL Inc. (OTC: NUGL) and Pacific Software, Inc. (OTC: PFSF) are crunching the numbers coming from Illinois in order to see what direction the medical marijuana industry will take in the coming years.

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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 – Opioid Alternative Launched in California by Cannabis Company

C3 International recently launched a ground-breaking painkiller derived from cannabis as an alternative to the conventional prescription opioids that have been linked to so many issues, such as the possibility of addiction, constipation, incoherence, loss of appetite and other side effects.

The pill made by C3 International is unique because it is a standardized product that can be trusted to deliver the same results at a given dosage for those who use it.

The company says that its product doesn’t have any psychoactive ingredients since only CBD was extracted and added to a formulation of other ingredients calculated to provide different doses of cannabis based on the needs of a patient.

The tablet provides an easy way for doctors to prescribe and ensure that a patient is consuming the required quantity of the therapeutic product within the stipulated intervals.

This is different from what has been happening with the existing edible or smoking marijuana products whose medicinal content often varied from one batch purchased to the next. It is also common for the ingredients to vary from one plant to another. This makes it hard to be certain that the patient is receiving the exact quantity of curative ingredients to produce the desired results without triggering any unwanted effects.

The ingredients used to make the new pill are extracted from cloned plants which yield a uniform amount and quality of the desired ingredients. One can therefore be sure that each pill will contain exactly the same amount of ingredients as any other pill made by the same manufacturer.

Unfortunately, this product is only available within the state of California, so patients elsewhere may have to wait. Federal laws prohibit marijuana or any products derived from it to cross state lines, so the new pill cannot be provided outside California.

Those who are within California may also be pleased to learn that several insurance providers will cover the cost of getting these novel pills. One simply has to contact their insurer and confirm that the company can be billed for the cannabis pills.

The pill launched by C3 International is likely to be one of many new products which will hit the market in the states where marijuana has been decriminalized in some form. If one could only take a sneak peek into Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) and Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQX: SNNVF) to learn what they intend to introduce on the rapidly evolving marijuana market!

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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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CBD Exploding into Mainstream Wellness Products

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Bolstered by millennia of anecdotal evidence and ever-mounting scientific validation, cannabidiol (CBD) is rapidly being integrated into myriad mainstream consumer wellness products around the globe.

  • Global cannabis market expected to quadruple to over $63 billion by 2024
  • CBD oil market to grow at CAGR of 39.19 percent through 2021
  • CBD products exploding into a wide variety of product lines
  • Diversified, sales-driven companies expected to outpace standard growth curve

Humans have used hemp, a variety of Cannabis sativa and a primary source of CBD, for more than 10,000 years in food, textiles and medicine. The world is again recognizing the therapeutic benefits of hemp extracts, and consumers are embracing cannabis-based products at a breakneck pace. Consumer demand has triggered an explosion of product innovations that range from oils and edibles to pet products and infused beverages. Intent on staying at the vanguard of the upsurge in CBD-based wellness products, sales and marketing powerhouse Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) (YGYI Profile) recently expanded its HempFX™ line with the launch of two new hemp-derived cannabidiol products. Others are entering the sector as well. Beer and spirits conglomerate Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ) just made the largest investment to date in the cannabis industry. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) was one of the first companies to enter the pharmaceutical cannabis space with Marinol, which is almost chemically identical to THC, the main component in marijuana. Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP) offers DehydraTECH, a drug delivery platform that could be a game changer for several industries, including the recreational and medical cannabis markets. And Neptune Wellness Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEPT) recently received a Confirmation of Readiness letter from Health Canada, a key milestone in its quest to become a licensed producer of cannabis oil in Canada.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

The CBD Boom

Cannabidiol is understandably generating worldwide interest from both the scientific and investment communities. It’s hard to ignore a market sector projected to nearly quadruple from about $16 billion last year to more than $63 billion worldwide by 2024. In just the United States alone, the marijuana industry could create an economic tsunami estimated to surge past $75 billion annually by 2022.

Explosive demand projections are attributed to increased public awareness about wide-ranging potential health benefits, natural pain mitigation and anti-inflammatory properties, advancements in cultivation and processing, plus the convenience and reach of online and direct retailing — all of which contribute to a global CBD oil market expected to grow at an eye-popping CAGR of 39.19 percent through 2021. The upward trend is indisputable, and corporations are jockeying for position, racing to produce a variety of CBD products, staking out distribution channels and opening a realm of possibilities in previously unimagined markets. All the projections and activity send clear signals of what’s to come.

The Mission Matters

With deep roots in health and nutrition spanning over 20 years, omni-direct lifestyle company Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) is still dedicated to the core mission of its founder: learning how to live younger, longer. Expanding on the pioneering biomedical research of Dr. Joel D. Wallach, Youngevity is aggressively and ethically growing its business through a unique admixture of direct selling, traditional marketing, mergers and acquisitions, and stellar organic growth. The direct sales model and international roll-out strategies of Youngevity provide synergistic leverage to capitalize on the immense potential in high-growth emerging markets, exactly what’s occurring in the CBD arena.

Youngevity’s recent announcement about the launch of two new hemp-derived cannabidiol products in its HempFX line intermeshes with the company’s explosive sales growth and its mission to provide nutritional and lifestyle solutions to achieve optimum health and wellness goals. “Plant-based nutrition is fundamental to our product development philosophy,” stated Youngevity CEO Steve Wallach.

The new HempFX products expand YGYI’s CBD line and join a vast stable of more than one thousand products and services the company already offers. The new tablet-based CBD products are designed to work in conjunction with Youngevity’s Y-DR8+ proprietary water bottle system. The company’s exclusive Y-DR8 filter utilizes activated carbon cloth designed to reduce chemicals and deliver CBD in great tasting water. The portable Y-DR8 filter holds cannabidiol tablets above the water line, and YGYI’s CBD formulations are infused into the water as it flows over the tablets.

“This bottle system is intended to provide people with a revolutionary point-of-use water system for great tasting water and enables consumers to customize tap water based upon their health and wellness needs. It is a beverage technology that we expect will have broad consumer appeal and we are extremely excited to combine this technology with the benefits of hemp-based CBD,” stated Vice President of Innovation and Emerging Markets Rick Anson.

Using patent-pending extraction and bioavailability processes, YGYI’s HempFX products contain only U.S. organically grown non-GMO hemp. The full-spectrum phytocannabinoids are third-party tested to ensure only the highest quality allergen-, gluten- and THC-free hemp oils are produced and sold to the public in compliance with good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards.

HempFX Hydration™ – Sleep is formulated to improve sleep patterns and deliver the health benefits of CBD. YGYI’s high-quality cannabidiol formulation contains melatonin and is administered using the company’s proprietary beverage enhancement tablet. HempFX Hydration – Pure contains 25 mg of organic, full-spectrum, hemp-derived cannabidiol oil per tablet and quickly dissolves in water as it is consumed.

“Plant-based nutrition is fundamental to our product development philosophy,” Wallach stated. “That’s why we’re especially excited to enter this rapidly growing market with two new products.”

HempFX Hydration – Sleep and HempFX Hydration – Pure are expected to be available next month, and sales may well outperform YGYI’s three other hemp-based products, which sold out of preproduction quantities during the company’s August sales convention.

Sales and Marketing Powerhouse

Recognized as one of the Top 100 Global Direct Selling Companies, Youngevity is a sales powerhouse that more than doubled revenues from $75 million in 2012 to $166 million in 2017. The company shows no signs of slowing down, posting an 8.7 percent revenue increase in Q2 YTD 2018 over Q2 YTD 2017 and a 9.6 percent increase in gross profits over the same period.

The NASDAQ-listed company, added to the Russell Index in June, operates in large, scalable global market segments driving significant revenue growth in skin care, anti-aging, weight loss, brain health and coffee. The expansion into CBD products appears likely to boost revenues even further, potentially placing the company at the forefront of the CBD boom. Making quality products is only one aspect of carving out space in this new sector; sell-through is the more important criteria to measure success during the upswing.

Youngevity’s unique marketing hybrid buttressing the direct-selling business model with powerful e-commerce and social selling initiatives has created a global panoply of products and services under one corporate umbrella that supports healthy, empowered lifestyles. Youngevity now offers more than one thousand high-quality nutritional and lifestyle products and services through a wide range of channels in fast-growing retail categories:

  • Health and Nutrition
  • Home and Family
  • Food and Beverage
  • Spa and Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Essential Oils
  • Photo and Scrapbooking
  • Services for Home and Business

“One thing that makes Youngevity so unique is our broad product offering,” President and CFO Dave Briskie stated during the company’s 2018 convention. “It allows us to reach many markets and gives our customers a wide range of high-quality lifestyle products. We will continue to do our best to align our products to the needs of our market.”

The Epiphany

There’s little doubt about the trajectory of the global CBD market. Some have likened the impending surge of industry players to the dot.com era — some will become Amazon.com while others will disappear faster than Pets.com. Investors looking to capitalize on the immense opportunity ahead are likely best served by strategic positions in diversified companies driven by sales and galvanized by a mission to excel.

Others in the Arena

Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ) just made the largest investment to date in the cannabis space. The company is already a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits. With its $4 billion investment in Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC), Constellation looks to accelerate its market position and expand its portfolio in emerging cannabis markets around the globe.

Primarily a pharmaceutical company, AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) offers a synthetic cannabis-based drug on the market. Marinol is an FDA-approved, prescription drug used to alleviate nausea or vomiting for chemotherapy patients; it may also help AIDS patients who have lost their desire to eat.

Lexaria Bioscience Corp.’s (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP) DehydraTECH drug delivery platform features a patented, cost-effective delivery mechanism that improves the taste and smell — as well as the bio-absorption — of ingestible substances. Cannabinoid-infused edibles and concentrates represent the fastest-growing segments of the cannabis industry, and DehydraTECH may position Lexaria as a prime partner for offerings in these spaces.

Working to develop unique extracts and formulations in the legal cannabis wellness field, Neptune Wellness Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEPT) is well on its way to obtaining official approval to move forward. The Confirmation of Readiness letter “brings us to the threshold of becoming a Licensed Producer of cannabis oil in Canada, and is a very exciting moment,” said Neptune president and CEO Jim Hamilton. “Our entry into the legal cannabis industry leverages our established expertise in the development of innovative Omega3 oil products, navigating global regulatory frameworks, worldwide commercialization of wellness solutions, and production of high-quality extracts.”

For more information on Youngevity, visit Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI)

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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