Tag: ABBV

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Strengthens Board of Directors to Boost Efforts toward Regulatory Approval of Potential Treatment for Hypertension

  • Lexaria Bioscience is a global innovator in drug delivery platforms whose lead technology, DehydraTECH, has been shown to increase the bioavailability of APIs
  • The company recently announced that Catherine Turkel, PharmD, Ph.D., has joined its board of directors
  • Dr. Turkel, who brings over 20 years’ experience, has previously formulated Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) registration and commercial strategic plans, as well as led global development programs for pharmaceutical and biologic treatments
  • Dr. Turkel will lend her drug registration experience and regulatory expertise to Lexaria at a time when the company is journeying toward regulatory approval for DehydraTECH-CBD, its drug candidate for the treatment of hypertension
  • Lexaria recently had a pre-IND meeting with the FDA, where it received positive feedback

Companies should bring on board members with strategic growth experience who have “been there, done that,” a June 2022 article in Forbes advises (https://cnw.fm/MUABF). Strategic growth, the article observes, “is one of the most important areas of governance for boards. The more experience on a board, the more efficient you are at developing tried and tested growth strategies… Members with experience down certain paths can guide a company to anticipate and avoid known obstacles, helping to accomplish goals faster.”

As Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, charts the long path toward regulatory approval for DehydraTECH(TM)-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”), a prospective treatment for hypertension, the importance of bringing on board members with prior drug registration experience as well as regulatory expertise is not lost on the company. Lexaria recently announced that Catherine Turkel, PharmD, Ph.D., has joined its board of directors (https://cnw.fm/VoiEe).

With more than 20 years’ experience, Dr. Turkel has worked as an executive in start-up and mid-size pharma/biotech companies. She founded and was the CEO of Nezee Therapeutics, served as the President and R&D head at Novus Therapeutics – which has been renamed Eledon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ELDN) – and currently serves as an independent Board Director at private company Object Pharma and non-profit Prostate Cancer Research. She is also a Dean Advisor at Chapman University School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Turkel has formulated Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) registration and commercial strategic plans and spearheaded global development programs for pharmaceutical and biologic treatments from Phase 1 through Phase 4 across such therapeutic areas as otology, urology, aesthetics, ophthalmology, rare diseases, psychiatry, cardiovascular, neurosciences, and pain. At a previous stint working with Allergan – now a part of AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) – Dr. Turkel designed and led the pharmaceutical company’s BOTOX(R) Chronic Migraine registration program, leading to revenue of over a billion dollars.

“Lexaria is delighted to welcome Dr. Turkel as we continue to position the company for advancement following our recent successful pre-IND (pre-investigational new drug) meeting with the FDA,” commented Lexaria Chair and CEO Chris Bunka. “Catherine’s practical development and regulatory expertise will be of increasing value to Lexaria, and we look forward to working with her.”

The onboarding of Dr. Turkel comes on the heels of a Pre-IND meeting regarding Lexaria’s DehydraTECH-CBD for the treatment of hypertension. Reporting that the meeting had yielded positive feedback from the FDA, the company’s August 10 announcement noted that the FDA had seconded its proposal to pursue an abbreviated regulatory pathway that would enable a faster route to commercial approval (https://cnw.fm/ilZ4B). In addition, the FDA favorably received the company’s proposed Phase 1b clinical trial protocol that will involve ~100 patients with hypertension with the intention of opening the IND application to allow Lexaria to work toward full registration of its potential treatment.

“As a result of the favorable FDA response, Lexaria expects to remain on track to file its full IND application with the FDA by late 2022/ early 2023, as previously announced. This is up to 6-9 months sooner than if the FDA had required modifications in Lexaria’s current IND-enabling work plan, such as performance of additional non-clinical study work,” the August 10 news release reads.

Lexaria has shown, through human testing, that DehydraTECH-processed CBD delivers promising results with no serious adverse effects. In 2018, the company administered the substance to 12 participants in a human clinical study (“HCS”) that evidenced 317% more CBD delivered to the blood at 30 minutes than controls. Moreover, three HCSs conducted in 2021, HYPER-H21-1, HYPER-H21-2, and HYPER-H21-3, evidenced rapid and sustained drop in blood pressure, a 23% average drop in overnight blood pressure and reduced arterial stiffness, and attenuated pulmonary artery systolic pressure, respectively (https://cnw.fm/MHOCj).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

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

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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CannabisNewsBreaks – Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Appoints New Board Member

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug-delivery platforms, has announced an addition to its board of directors; the company named industry veteran Catherine Turkel, PharmD, PhD, as the newest member of its board. Turkel brings more than two decades of experience as an executive-level leader in both start-up and mid-size pharma/biotech companies. As founder and CEO of Nezee Therapeutics, she gained critical expertise and insight in the space; she also served as president and head of research and development Novus Therapeutics, which was later renamed Eledon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ELDN). Currently she serves as an independent board director at Object Pharma and advisory committee member at nonprofit Prostate Cancer Research; she is also a dean advisor at Chapman University School of Pharmacy. In her various roles, Turkey has led and executed FDA registration and commercial strategic plans as well as global development programs; she has invaluable experience in a range of sectors, including neurosciences, pain, cardiovascular, psychiatry, rare diseases, ophthalmology, aesthetics, urology and otology therapeutic areas. In addition, Turkel designed and led an innovative BOTOX(R) chronic migraine registration program for Allergan, now AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV), which generated more than a billion dollars. “Lexaria is delighted to welcome Dr. Turkel as we continue to position the company for advancement following our recent successful pre-IND meeting with the Food and Drug Administration,” said Lexaria board chair Chris Bunka in the press release. “Catherine’s practical development and regulatory expertise will be of increasing value to Lexaria, and we look forward to working with her.”

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

About Lexaria Bioscience Corp.

Lexaria Bioscience’s patented drug-delivery technology, DehydraTECH(TM), improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) enter the bloodstream by promoting more effective oral delivery. Since 2016, DehydraTECH has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to increase bio-absorption with cannabinoids, antiviral drugs, PDE5 inhibitors and more. DehydraTECH has also evidenced an ability to deliver some drugs more effectively across the blood brain barrier. Lexaria operates a licensed in-house research laboratory and holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 27 patents granted and roughly 50 patents pending worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit www.LexariaBioscience.com. 

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

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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Flow of Finance Funds Acquisitions and Investment Across the Cannabis Sector

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: A growing market is supporting a wave of acquisitions and cross-company investments in the cannabis industry.

  • Significant growth in the cannabis industry is supporting a range of multimillion-dollar investments.
  • Some of these have taken the form of acquisitions, as innovators evolve into established companies.
  • Others are cross-company investments, some within the sector and some from outside.
  • Profits are coming not just from cannabis itself but from support services, with companies profiting from pick-and-shovel plays.

One of the companies making a pick-and-shovel play is Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) (SGMD Profile), which is expanding its position in cultivation supplies through acquisitions and marketing agreements. GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) recently carried out a public offering to fund further growth, raising $345 million to expand its cannabis-oriented pharmaceuticals work. AbbVie, Inc. (NYSE: ABBV), on the other hand, has retained only a limited connection to cannabis, moving instead into other treatments. Specialist consulting company MariMed, Inc. (OTCQB: MRMD) provides advice for those looking to expand in the sector, covering the development and management of cultivation facilities, and recently investing in a related software company. For Medmen Enterprises, Inc. (OTCQX: MMNFF) (CSE: MMEN), expansion means a vertically integrated supply chain across four US states as it expands a carefully developed brand.

Cannabis Acquisitions Continue as Companies Seek Liquidity

With the completion of cannabis legalization in Canada, investors are watching closely to see what effect this will have on the market. Over less than 20 years, cannabis has evolved from nothing into a multimillion-dollar industry, with companies ranging from cultivators and retailers to payment specialists and equipment suppliers. As it continues to expand at a rapid rate in both Canada and the US, the market is seeing growth for players both big and small.

To fuel this development, many companies are looking for fresh finance. Liquidity is needed to fund research, development, and expansion, from building larger cultivation facilities to setting up new retail outlets. This is both driven by and driving a wave of new finance deals and acquisitions, as the sector matures and consolidates its resources.

Acquiring the Fundamentals

The appeal of acquisitions is driving the strategy of companies such as hydroponics supplier Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD). Hydroponic equipment is essential to the indoor cultivation of cannabis, so the growth of the sector promises a boom in demand for hydroponics. Sugarmade is using this boom to attract additional finance and undertake a raft of acquisitions, with an end goal of becoming a major player not just in hydroponics but in the cannabis space itself.

Such acquisitions have taken off in a big way over the past year. The first half of 2018 saw 145 mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis sector, nearly double the number for the same period in 2017. Some of these represent consolidation by existing cannabis players, as they mature from innovative startups into established businesses in a widely accepted field. But money is also coming in from the outside, for example through Constellation Brands’ acquisition of a large portion of Canopy Growth.

A pattern is emerging of cannabis-adjacent companies moving directly into the sector. For a company such as Constellation, the move is a sideways one from investment in alcohol to one in cannabis, protecting its place in the recreational consumables market. It’s the same play that other alcohol and tobacco companies are eyeing. For Sugarmade, acquisitions represent expansion within its existing business, ensuring a firm hold on hydroponics, as well as a move up and down the supply chain to better profit from the businesses it is already tied to.

A Pick-and-Shovel Strategy

Earlier this year, Sugarmade announced that it was moving to acquire two other suppliers of cultivation equipment. Now details of those deals are emerging, with the signing of a binding Letter of Intent (“LOI”) to acquire Sky Unlimited, LLC. This could allow Sugarmade to expand its distribution channels, thanks to the different models followed by the two companies. While Sugarmade’s sales to the cannabis sector primarily come through online buyers, Sky Unlimited specializes in selling to wholesalers and large commercial cultivators. Combining the two may create manufacturing, logistical, and marketing efficiencies across an expanded customer base.

“The trend in cannabis cultivation is toward the larger commercial cultivation operations, and Sky Unlimited is in the thick of that dynamic marketplace,” said Jimmy Chan, CEO of Sugarmade. “This year, Sky Unlimited and its associated operations are expected to produce in excess of $40 million in revenues with profitability and positive cash flow. This new revenue stream combined with our recently upwardly guided revenue forecast of $30 million for next year will make Sugarmade one of the largest publicly traded suppliers to the booming cannabis cultivation marketplace, with a combined revenue forecast for next year in excess of $70 million.”

The types of company being targeted by Sugarmade reveal a pick-and-shovel strategy. Rather than making a direct jump into cannabis, the company is investing in the underlying products and services cannabis suppliers need. It’s a more conservative move than investing directly in cannabis, one that will buffer Sugarmade against the immediate effects of a fast-changing and still controversial sector, while letting it profit from the sector’s growth.

Following a previous Master Marketing Agreement with BizRight, this latest move makes Sugarmade one of the largest publicly traded cannabis supply companies. The company shows no sign of stopping there, having announced its intention to continue with an expansion strategy. The next likely move may well be brand acquisition, providing a higher price-to-earnings ratio for investors. Having already made an acquisition proposal for a Washington state retailer with $5 million in annual revenues, Sugarmade is on its way to becoming a more public fixture in the cannabis market.

Financing Growth in Cannabis

As in any sector, the success of expansion strategies will depend upon their liquidity. Fortunately, the state of the cannabis market appears to currently ensure a steady stream of finance. The US cannabis market alone is expected to be worth $10 billion in 2018, 50 percent more than it was only two years ago. Canada’s market is also expected to be worth billions, as legalization transfers the recreational consumer base from illegal dealers to legitimate businesses.

Cannabis companies are using this opportunity to channel finance into growth. Some are striking deals for bank loans in newly legalized regions, while others are using public offerings to raise fresh finance through sales of shares.

Sugarmade is taking a different approach, using expansion to fund further expansion. Following the BizRight and Sky Unlimited deals, the company has upgraded its projections for revenue in 2019 from $6 million to $70 million. Its previous deals will now provide the liquidity for future acquisitions, allowing a rolling strategy of expansion across the sector.

The pick-and-shovel plays look to pay off.

Cannabis Companies Making Big Moves

As the market keeps growing, so do many of the companies working in cannabis.

GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) is a world leader in the development of cannabis-related medicines, thanks to its strong research program and manufacturing expertise. Already a major player in the sector, the company has recently sought funds for expansion through a public offering. The result was an extra $345 million in funds, reflecting investors’ faith in the cannabis sector and in the future of companies such as GW. These funding will allow the company to keep growing its research and production work, with that research work expanding its portfolio of cannabis-related intellectual property.

While some companies invest more heavily in cannabis, others are diversifying. Pharmaceuticals manufacturer AbbVie, Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) is the company behind Marinol, a drug used to tackle appetite loss due to AIDS and cancer treatments. But while Marinol’s active ingredient is chemically identical to THC, the best-known active ingredient in cannabis, the company has filed only a handful of patents relating to cannabis and shows no sign of expansion into the sector. It’s a move that may help AbbVie in marketing to cannabis’s opponents, but one that leaves the space open for competitors.

The expansion of cannabis companies has supported the emergence of specialist support services, such as those provided by MariMed, Inc. (OTCQB: MRMD). A cannabis consulting firm, MariMed provides professional guidance on the development, funding, and operation of cultivation facilities. This can help other firms navigate the complicated issues surrounding the industry, covering everything from real estate to regulatory compliance. The company recently invested in Sprout, a software company supporting cannabis brands and dispensaries, allowing it to bundle software with its other business solutions.

Medmen Enterprises, Inc. (OTCQX: MMNFF) (CSE: MMEN),  has used expansion to develop a vertically integrated supply chain. The company works in both cultivation and retail, meaning that it handles the product all the way from planting first seedlings to placing packaged cannabis into customers’ hands. Its recent acquisition of dispensary and cultivation facilities from Treadwell Simpson Partnership means that it is spreading its carefully managed brand from existing bases in California, Nevada, and New York into Florida.

The growth of the cannabis market is providing a flow of finance, leading to acquisitions and cross-company investments across the sector.

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

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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Direct Selling Returns as Functional Cannabis Foods Fare Well Amid Landmark Legalization

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: All eyes are on Canada and the burgeoning North American cannabis market as the flood gates open and nationwide recreational legalization north of the U.S. border throws the recent $47.3 billion by 2027 forecast from Arcview Market Research into clear relief.

  • Historic end of cannabis prohibition creates unprecedented market forces
  • CBD could outpace broader market
  • Direct selling in the digital age more relevant than ever
  • Overlapping cultural vectors among core wellness and cannabis consumers
  • Biopharma potential immense, nutritional potential immediately accessible commercially

Already running hot at $9.2 billion last year, the North American cannabis market appears to be just getting started. Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) (YGYI Profile) is a particularly interesting player in this space that deserves further examination considering the company’s strong logistical footprint in direct selling, the success of a shrewd and comprehensive growth model in ground coffee retail, and an established presence as one of the most trusted names in nutritional supplements. INSYS Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: INSY) has a leading position in the development of pharmaceutical cannabinoids. Developers of MARINOL, the first synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oral solution, AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) has been ranked in the top five on Science magazine’s annual list of Top Science Employers. Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZYNE) is known for transdermal cannabinoid therapies and recently reported the initiation of a first-of-its-kind clinical study using a novel pharmaceutically produced CBD targeting epilepsy and Fragile X syndrome. Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CARA) is at the forefront of preclinical work in selective cannabinoid receptor-modulating formulas that avoid interacting with receptors in the central nervous system.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Functional Cannabis Consumables

CBD from sources such as industrial hemp, which would be legal to cultivate in the United States under the new Farm Bill currently being considered, could post growth that eclipses that of the broader cannabis space. A strong driver here is the mounting laundry list of proven health benefits of CBD.

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) recently announced the launch of two new organic hemp-derived cannabidiol products designed to be used with the company’s proprietary portable water-filtering bottle system. HempFX™ Hydration™ — Sleep has added melatonin and promotes healthy sleep patterns naturally, while HempFX Hydration™ — Pure is designed to deliver 25 mg of full-spectrum CBD directly to the digestive system.

These beverages are now available online and join a growing portfolio of organic CBD-based products from YGYI, including HempFX Soothe™ for achy joints and muscles; HempFX Uplift™, which is designed to naturally elevate mood and promote overall health; and HempFX Relax™, which is packed with a wide variety of sleep-supporting botanicals.

The meteoric rise in YGYI’s share price in recent weeks to a high of $16.25, nearly triple the preceding trend of several years, was pared somewhat due to broader market declines, leading to an $11.47 close the week ending Oct 19. However, the market mini-correction in the latest FOMC meeting, where a steady and largely anticipated diet of gradual rate hikes was indicated, appears to have blown off most of its steam according to many analysts, including those at J.P. Morgan who see a reversal on the horizon as earnings season begins. The current situation could present a nice buying opportunity, should the recent upward trend again find traction.

Huge Direct Selling Network, Increasingly Global Footprint

Q2 2018 saw a 6.6 percent increase in revenues for YGYI to $44.3 million, led by a 23.7 percent jump in coffee sales. With 83 percent of total revenues coming from direct selling (up 3.7 percent) and the remainder coming from coffee, news that the company is boldly entering the CBD market has set some analysts’ mouths watering. The company’s coffee-roasting segment, run by wholly owned subsidiary CLR Roasters, has seen tremendous success with its high-energy, fat-burning JavaFit line of gourmet coffees as well as the increasingly popular Café La Rica and Josie’s Java House brands.

The same kind of combined marketing, distribution, sourcing and branded product expertise YGYI has demonstrated in mastery of the coffee game could put investors in the pole position as the company goes cannabis, especially amid a political environment where antiquated regulations are hastily going up in smoke.

In a deal further cementing YGYI’s foothold in the hospitality market, the company recently signed a massive new deal with a major operator in the cruise line industry that will put YGYI’s coffees in the bellies of the entire crew of a 60-ship fleet, as well as those of passengers on three luxury cruise ships. Youngevity has quickly built out a comprehensive coffee revenue pipeline encompassing green coffee distribution, private-label roasting and sales of owned brands, significantly enabled by an existing direct sales matrix of high-value relationships. This direct sales network is backed by an increasingly sophisticated web platform, which is helping YGYI’s expansion into global markets proceed apace of expectations.

Following Field-to-Cup Coffee Model

Youngevity’s unique field-to-cup approach to the coffee market, including sourcing its coffees from an expanding footprint in the high-mountain region of Nicaragua known for producing exceptional beans, is something the company is dedicated to emulating as it enters the cannabis market.

From the CLR Roasters plantations in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, to the company’s state-of-the-art 40,000-square-foot roasting, grinding, packaging facility and headquarters in Miami, Youngevity has mapped out a field-to-cup coffee bean road show that has met unparalleled success. With an abundance of cultural overlap among the company’s highest priority consumer segments and a solid reputation with nutraceutical and healthy lifestyle consumers, YGYI is leveraging both its assets and experience as it migrates into functional cannabis foods. Looking at its overall nutritional product assortment, the company seems to understand the importance of high-quality raw materials as it relates to developing brand loyalty among these highly sought-after demos.

Direct Selling Prowess Key to Future

Youngevity has established an enviable presence in the North American direct selling market, with a sizeable chunk of a growing $37.8 billion empire that is staffed by an army of some 18.6 million direct selling representatives. Innovations such as the company’s YoungevityGo2 app, which empowers distributors with a considerable promotional and management engine that fits in their pockets, has helped the company secure a formidable legion of dedicated direct sellers.

With such a robust direct selling model that spills over into e-commerce and social selling, it should come as no surprise that Youngevity’s CEO Steve Wallach was recently appointed to the board of directors at the 200-plus member Direct Selling Association. The merger of direct selling and cannabis could be a showstopper, and many investors are looking to YGYI to be where the rubber meets the road.

Cannabinoids Potential

The nutraceutical and cosmeceutical potential of cannabinoids is reinforced by the rapidly developing clinical and preclinical pipelines of a wide variety of companies that are looking to commercialize indications targeting everything from sleeplessness and anxiety to epilepsy and cancer.

INSYS Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: INSY) is currently working on testing the company’s oral CBD solution in the treatment of neurocognition and neuroimmune response, as well as eating behavior and other symptoms. Such work in early psychosis adds considerable weight to the studies announced earlier this year, which are using CBD to treat the symptoms of severe childhood autism. INSYS is also continuing to support ongoing efforts to study CBD as a treatment for cocaine dependency.

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) will always have the record of being first out of the gate with an FDA-approved, cannabis-based drug targeting nausea and lack of appetite among chemotherapy and AIDS patients. The company continues to be a contender in the space, due to the abundance of in-house expertise and facilities, where the company is forging a new path to the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZYNE) made a strong case at the 16th annual International Fragile X Conference for the use of transdermal CBD gel. Its compelling and statistically significant data could be a winner for the company and could come to represent a frontline approach for alleviating the common observable behaviors Fragile X syndrome presents among children and adolescents.

Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CARA) has evaluated CR701 in animal model studies where it showed a significant reversal of enhanced pain response (hyperalgesia) and the kind of predisposition to increased pain sensitization and neuronal response to pain (allodynia) experienced among fibromyalgia patients. CARA has a considerable depth of knowledge in kappa opioid receptor science when it comes to treating chronic and acute pain, as well as disease-related itching, with indications like CR845/difelikefalin and KORSUVA, now both in Phase 3 clinical trials.

Until now, recreational consumer markets such as nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals have always been realities perceived only by the cannabis industry’s over-the-horizon radar. But the potential for broad-spectrum biopharma indications that could help combat many incurable or underserved maladies could be an even greater development than the seemingly inevitable rise of every day cannabis-infused foods and beverages.

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.

Receive Text Alerts from CannabisNewsWire: Text “Cannabis” to 21000

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

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

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

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

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.

Receive Text Alerts from CannabisNewsWire: Text “Cannabis” to 21000

For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com and or https://CannabisNewsWire.News

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
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www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

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

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

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

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

Diversity Leads to Growth in Flourishing Cannabinoid Industries

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The cannabis industry is about more than medicine and recreational drugs. Whether selling hemp-derived textile and construction products or providing resources to support cannabis growers, companies are now accessing the market in a variety of ways. Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) is developing hemp-based wellness products and cultivating industrial hemp on a large scale in Canada and the United States. Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) is selling hydroponic equipment to legal cannabis growers and has recently made a significant acquisition in this area. Cronos Group, Inc. (TSX: CRON) (NASDAQ: CRON) has used its success to become the first pure play cannabis company traded on Wall Street and in Canada was uplisted to reach the Toronto Stock Exchange. PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC: POTN) has fostered a range of subsidiaries whose diverse products include cannabinoid wellness products. In addition, companies such as AbbVie, Inc. (NYSE: ABBV), which already has a cannabis-based drug on the market, may be ahead of the game as the industry expands and evolves moving forward.

A Diverse Industry

A lot of attention is currently on the medical and recreational potential of the cannabis industry. The huge sums of money already spent on the life-changing promise of medical marijuana have pushed these areas to center stage. But while they are undoubtedly an important part of the sector, they do not illustrate the whole picture involving industrial hemp’s nationwide come back.

Much of the growth in the hemp industry is in subsidiary services and other uses for the plant’s products. Hemp – a variety of cannabis that does not contain its siblings’ intoxicating potential – is being grown for use in food, fibers and even building materials, all without getting anyone high. Landlords, compost manufacturers and engineering companies are finding ways to support and profit from the changing market. Even research into active ingredients involving cannabinoids is shifting away from THC, the chemical that gets marijuana users high, and toward the potential uses of non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD), which can be obtained from hemp.

The result is a varied industry in which companies can flourish through variety instead of focusing on one sphere.

Careful Cultivation

Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA) is making the most of this opportunity. Founded by two veterans of the cannabis industry, MCOA is building a portfolio of partnered companies working across the sector.

One of the company’s important assets is hempSMART™, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCOA. The hempSMART brand is focused on producing and marketing wellness products including CBD derived from hemp. The hempSMART team makes use of the cannabinoid chemicals to provide a range of products that are useful and appealing to consumers.

Hemp products were worth at least $688 million in 2016 and are expected to be worth $1.8 billion by 2020. Ownership of hempSMART gives MCOA a place in this significant part of the sector, meaning that it is not dependent on federally illegal THC-laden cannabis products to grow and sustain its revenue streams.

As a newly emerging industry, cannabis faces a great deal of uncertainty over sales and income potential. This uncertainty creates investor opportunities as companies outperform expectations. But it also creates risks due to fluctuations in income. A cultivation project in Washington State is providing MCOA with a buffer against these risks.

Created as part of a joint venture with Bougainville Ventures Inc., the cannabis cultivation and processing facility at Oroville, Wash., covers 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art growing space, which will eventually be expanded to 30,000 square feet. Rather than using the site to grow its own products, MCOA is renting out the facility to a growing company, which is expected to begin work there this month. The rent from the facility ensures a stable source of income for MCOA — derived from cannabis cultivation but not prone to its uncertainties. By providing this facility, the company is also supporting the growth of the cannabis sector, creating a market for such properties and for its own related products.

Preparing for the Canadian Market

Making the most of the possibilities offered by cannabis isn’t just about diverse products, it’s also about diverse markets. For any company working in North America, Canada is one of the most important markets currently and MCOA is preparing to enter that market.

Canada is already a significant market for industrial hemp-derived products and medicinal cannabinoids. Legislation due to come into force later this year will legalize the extraction of cannabinoids for all potential uses which will make Canada one of the largest markets for legal cannabinoids in the world.

To make the most of this expected market growth, MCOA recently entered into a joint venture with Global Hemp Group, a Canadian company, to develop high-yield CBD hemp. Working on a 109-acre agricultural property in Scio, Oregon, the companies will use a dual-cultivation strategy with traditional outdoor cultivation alongside the year-round harvesting made possible by greenhouses. Cultivation of plants has already begun, and work has started to construct five new greenhouses to ensure substantial year-round growing capacity.

The project team will be using data collection and analysis to check the performance of growing techniques and to develop hemp rich in CBD. This will help to ensure supplies of high-grade hemp for both companies’ products.

“Our evolving project in Scio, Ore., highlights the quality of the team in place as they continue to lean on their many years of experience cultivating hemp,” said Donald Steinberg, the CEO of Marijuana Company of America. “Activities such as these will help to secure the raw oil that we will need for our hempSMART brand of CBD infused products.”

Meeting Growing Demand

The Oregon facility is coming into play at a perfect time for MCOA. Demand for CBD is high due to the increasing number of manufacturers and products on the market. This is creating a shortage of high-quality CBD.

MCOA’s new farm will provide an ample source of hemp-derived CBD. With its tie-in to the Canadian industry, the company looks to be in a strong position to profit from the shortage in both the American and Canadian markets. MCOA seems to have placed itself as the right business at the right time to make the most of a shifting market.

With its range of facilities and partnerships, MCOA has already developed a broad hemp-related portfolio. By incorporating elements that are protected from market uncertainties alongside ones better positioned to make the most of change, the company may be on track to make the most of changes in the sector.

More Companies Target Cannabis

Plenty of other companies are also building their hopes of tapping into the same markets as MCOA.

A growing interest in growing things means cannabis is creating opportunities for companies already established in the agriculture and gardening sectors. Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) has agreed to acquire Sunlight Supply, the United States’ leading distributor of hydroponics products, for $450 million in cash and stocks. The company’s largest-ever transaction will double its sales to cannabis growers, turning the lawn and gardening company into an important supplier to the medical and recreational drug sectors. Though hydroponics are used for other specialist plant-growing purposes, legalized cannabis is a critical new part of the market.

The increasing importance of the cannabis industry was heralded when Cronos Group, Inc. (TSX: CRON) (NASDAQ: CRON) became the first pure-play cannabis company traded on Wall Street. A major grower and seller of cannabis products, the Canadian company is set to profit from the growth of the industry in its native country. In a further sign of its healthy prospects, its shares in Canada were recently upgraded from the Toronto Venture Exchange to the Toronto Stock Exchange. Like MCOA, it is working across North America thanks to a cross-border venture with Los Angeles-based MedMen.

Others are using a similar model to MCOA, investing in a range of cannabis companies. PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC: POTN) has developed a range of subsidiaries that contribute to an increasingly diverse industry. Its Diamond CBD, Inc. subsidiary is reaching into the $110 billion global pet care industry by creating CBD-based wellness products for pets.

Finally, traditional pharma AbbVie, Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) seems to be positioning itself in the industry so it can take advantage of potential future growth and opportunities. The company already has a cannabis-based drug on the U.S. market. FDA-approved Marinol helps alleviate nausea or vomiting for chemotherapy patients, as well as helping AIDS patients who have lost their desire to eat.

From hydroponics to pet health and beyond, hemp-based cannabinoids are reaching into all corners of the economy and returning corporate profits.

For more information about Marijuana Company of America, please visit Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA).

About CannabisNewsWire

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

Receive Text Alerts from CannabisNewsWire: Text “Cannabis” to 21000

For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com and or https://CannabisNewsWire.News

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

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

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

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

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

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

CBD Market Set for Huge Growth

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: In a fragile economic world, industries with significant growth forecast are certain to catch the eye of savvy investors looking for just the right place to be. Recent reports indicate that the cannabidiol (CBD) market is estimated to grow by 700 percent by 2020, and a report by market intelligence firm Hemp Business Journal projects that the CBD market will grow to $2.1 billion by 2020 (http://cnw.fm/7iczS), an astronomical jump in value compared to last year’s CBD market of $202 million. This news bodes well for hemp-focused companies such as Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile), whose hempSMART™ brand will be among the first CBD products to be marketed on a mass national TV commercial. Growth in hemp-based products is only a piece of the cannabis industry puzzle. The entire legal cannabis industry is expected to hit $57 billion by 2027, with recreational marijuana use making up 67 percent of that and medical marijuana use taking up the remaining 33 percent. Other companies positioning themselves to take advantage of this incredible growth include AbbVie, Inc. (NYSE: ABBV), CV Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: CVSI), KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB), and Aurora Cannabis, Inc (OTCQX: ACBFF).

Capitalizing on the Power of CBD

Studies show that cannabidiol (CBD) possesses an array of therapeutic benefits, including antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. One of more than 85 cannabinoids identified in marijuana and hemp, CBD is typically used for health reasons and, unlike the more widely recognized compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is not psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t cause a high. CBD products can be derived from industrial hemp plants or marijuana plants.

Marijuana Company of America (MCOA Profile), an industrial hemp company, has capitalized on the power of CBD through its product research and development of legal hemp-based consumer products under the hempSMART brand, which targets general health and well-being. The products, which include drops and creams, are formulated to produce the finest botanical supplements on the market, derived from industrial hemp containing CBD compounds that help support the bodies endocannabinoid system.

A National Market Strategy and TV Commercial

 Earlier this month, MCOA announced (http://cnw.fm/WxIg1) that it had engaged Kim Castle of Verve Integrative to create a market strategy and manage a direct response television ad campaign to promote its hempSMART product line. Initially, hempSMART will be working with Verve Integrative to develop a market strategy and television commercial for its hempSMART Full Spectrum Pet Drops, which will air on cable networks this summer. The commercial spot will have featured placement on the official ecommerce site of a popular direct-response TV company and will be broadly promoted on integrated social media outlets.

“We are very pleased to partner with hempSMART on their journey to bring such thoughtful and well-developed products to the people who need natural relief and enhanced health solutions. I wish hempSMART™ Pet Drops were available to support my cherished dog when we were going through a health challenge together,” said Castle, who, along with her team, bring more than 25 years of experience in many variations of media strategy, development and production. Their clients include Disney, GM, ABC, Paramount, and Grey Group.

The team specializes in multipoint story experiences designed to educate, entertain and endorse while mirroring the human mind’s process of solving a problem, thereby supporting consumers in making emotional and logical product conclusions. Castle’s experience provides an invaluable edge to the hempSMART marketing campaign. Castle has also been an outspoken advocate of CBD as an alternative to traditional products currently on the market.

MCOA CEO Donald Steinberg noted that “Kim’s experience gives us an excellent opportunity to greatly expand the marketing strategy for the hempSMART brand and product line. We are honored that the hempSMART product line will be managed by her and the Verve Integrative team. We look forward to the new television commercial airing this summer.”

Pet Supplement Market Expanding

MCOA just launched its hempSMART Full Spectrum Pet Drops in February. The new specially formulated product contains naturally occurring CBD derived from hemp seed oil, full spectrum hemp extract, and fractionated coconut oil, along with a rich bacon flavor.

Sales of natural pet supplement sales nearly doubled between 2008 and 2011, and with an increasing focus on pet health, the market for pet supplements is projected to show significant and continuing expansion (http://cnw.fm/66NhV). Estimates show that U.S. retail sales of pet supplements and nutraceutical treats will grow 3 to 5 percent annually, bringing the market to almost $1.6 billion. Globally, the pet supplement market is also expected to experience tremendous growth.

Steinberg said, “Our new hempSMART product is a natural option for pet owners who care about supporting their animals’ healthy energy levels as well as optimizing their health. Our hempSMART product line will continue to expand to other popular areas of consumer interest to give our affiliates what they need to succeed.”

Wellness Environment Shifting toward CBD

The wellness industry is growing rapidly, generating an estimated $3.72 trillion annually (http://cnw.fm/d3Zs5). In addition, the attitude in the wellness environment is shifting regarding premium quality cannabinoid products. MCOA is one of the prominent companies working to give consumers access to technological innovations and the highest quality hemp-derived products.

Specifically designed to support normal bodily functions such as energy, flexibility, and overall wellness, hempSMART products are only the beginning for MCOA and its hempSMART division. MCOA is committed to find, test, and deliver the finest natural ingredients focused on wellness and personal care combined with the added benefits of hemp-based cannabinoids.

In addition to dedicating itself to the development of CBD-based nutritional products, MCOA is focused on educating and empowering consumers to learn about and become part of the hemp movement, thus allowing its customers to benefit from some of the world’s most innovative hemp products. The company is also dedicated to supporting the resurgence of green sustainable hemp-based products and technologies that have a positive effect on the environment.

Others Positioning in the Market

MCOA isn’t the only company deeply committed to making its presence felt in the burgeoning hemp and cannabis industries.

AbbVie (NASDAQ: ABBV) is a global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the world’s most complex and critical conditions. The company’s mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to markedly improve treatments across four primary therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. With a cannabis-based drug already available on the market, pharmaceutical company AbbVie, is ahead of the pack in this industry. Its FDA-approved Marinol is approved for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and anorexia, and the drug may also help AIDS patients who have lost their desire to eat.

CV Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: CVSI) operates two distinct business segments: a drug development division focused on developing and commercializing novel therapeutics utilizing synthetic CBD, and a consumer product division in manufacturing, marketing and selling plant-based CBD products to a range of market sectors. The company’s PlusCBD Oil™ has achieved immense success since the launch of its brand of dietary supplements. The brand is currently being sold in approximately 1,300 health food stores and continues to grow its shelf presence in various retail outlets across the country. “It’s evident that hemp-derived CBD products are doing better and growing faster than almost every other category in the supplement industry, and it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a supplement trend truly demonstrate demand in such an immense fashion,” said Stuart Tomc, vice president of human nutrition and spokesperson for CV Sciences. “There are no barriers to acceptance as the idea of hemp-derived CBD is finally ripe. Consumers are embracing hemp-derived CBD.”

The premier packaging company in the rapidly growing legal, regulated marijuana industry, KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB) is a dynamic sales and distribution platform that provides packaging, supplies, vaporizer products, hydrocarbons, accessories, and branding services to cannabis manufacturers, processors and retailers. Founded in 2010, Kush Bottles now has 12 facilities throughout the United States, a sales presence in every major cannabis market, and strives to be the go-to supplier and thought leader for businesses in the cannabis industry. KushCo recently announced that it had partnered with MainStem, a technology-based ancillary product distribution company for the regulated cannabis industry, to be the inaugural partner for MainStem’s Vendor Program (MVP).

An industry leading producer of medical cannabis, Aurora Cannabis, Inc (OTCQX: ACBFF) operates a 55,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art production facility in Mountain View County, Alberta, and a second 40,000-square-foot, high-technology production facility in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. In January 2018, Aurora’s 800,000 square-foot-flagship cultivation facility located at the Edmonton International Airport was licensed. When at full capacity, this facility is expected to produce over 100,000 kg per annum of cannabis. Aurora is also completing a facility in Lachute. In addition, the company just announced its intention to acquire MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF). This proposed transaction will bring together two of Canada’s premier cannabis companies with fully aligned strategic visions and production philosophies, as well as complementary assets, distribution networks, products, and capabilities. The combined company will meet what Aurora and MedReleaf management teams consider to be the critical success factors in the industry, creating a powerful platform for accelerated growth on a global scale.

For more information about Marijuana Company of America, please visit Marijuana Company of America (MCOA).

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