Tag: GWPH

CBD Supplements Primed to Explode Ahead of Biopharma as Farm Bill Legalizes Hemp

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: With Canada legalizing cannabis nationwide in October and the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill completely removing hemp from the DEA’s controlled substances list, the stage has been set for an explosion of products ranging from functional foods and supplements to CBD-based (cannabidiol) biopharma indications.

  • U.S. farm bill legalizing hemp could make CBD an open-pit gold mine.
  • List of demonstrable CBD health benefits growing daily.
  • CBD growth may outpace entire cannabis market combined.

Even before the landmark inclusion of the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 in this year’s Farm Bill, plant-based nutrition experts at leading omni-direct lifestyle company Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) (YGYI Profile) had begun marching the team towards the development of a full line of proprietary hemp-derived CBD oil products. And while the identified health benefits of CBD ranging from reducing inflammation to managing pain and anxiety haven’t entirely been proven yet, one need look no further for foundational evidence of such benefits than the success of GW Pharmaceuticals Plc’s (NASDAQ: GWPH) FDA-approved oral solution EPIDIOLEX, which is used to treat severe seizures associated with extreme forms of epilepsy. Pharma-grade medical cannabis producer Aphria, Inc. (OTC: APHQF) (TSX: APH) already has a wide selection of carefully engineered medical cannabis and CBD oil products made from 100 percent greenhouse grown strains. Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CARA) is another company that stands to benefit from easing regulations in North America. And as a principal investment firm dedicated to cultivating medical marijuana companies, Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) surely understands the potential of the space.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Cannabis Market Booming Amid Deregulation

Canada moving to fully legalize recreational marijuana across the country is a watershed event for the cannabis industry. This event will help to normalize the presence of cannabis-based medicines in the broader market, paving the way for even more widespread research into the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD. With more than 37 million people in North America already consuming cannabis in one form or another, even the lofty projections by Amadee & Company of a market worth over $95 billion by 2026 may be entirely possible.

After more than eight decades of prohibition, cannabis is rapidly heading towards decriminalization across the global marketplace. The latest projections from established cannabis sector analysts at Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics indicate that the North American cannabis market will go from just $9.2 billion last year to $47.3 billion within a decade (17.79 percent CAGR), even as the global market surpasses a whopping $57 billion.

The hemp-CBD segment is set to grow at an even faster pace according to Brightfield Group, hitting upwards of $22 billion by 2022, outpacing the rest of the cannabis market combined. Hemp Business Journal estimates for the underlying hemp market, which grew 16 percent last year in the United States alone to around $820 million, are similarly encouraging, projecting the market to grow around 700 percent by 2020.

And when it comes to regulating the human body’s complex endocannabinoid receptor systems, the upper limits of the pharmaceutical value of CBD — and other phytocannabinoids such as THC — may have not yet been fully validated by clinical studies. Such studies have been and are being done.

Consumers definitely seem to have got the message about CBD and are already enjoying access to this organic compound in an increasing variety of formats. According to Cannabis Trades Association UK official data, cannabis oil users across the UK doubled last year. Given stats like that, it is little wonder that the latest numbers out of Technavio on the global CBD space project a 39.19 percent CAGR through 2021.

Established Supplement Purveyor with Scale, Presence and Reach

To many investors, the burgeoning CBD market is a natural play for a company such as Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI), a multivertical lifestyle brand that provides a wide variety of consumer goods to people all over the world via direct selling, e-commerce and social selling. In many circles, the name Youngevity is synonymous with plant-based nutrition, and as Youngevity CEO Steve Wallach recently put it during the launch of YGYI’s new proprietary HempFX™ line of hemp-derived CBD oil products, “CBD oil perfectly complements” Youngevity’s product development philosophy.

Already known to consumers around the globe for its broad array of nutritional and healthy lifestyle products formulated using ingredients of the highest quality in state-of-the-art laboratories, ​Youngevity has garnered increasing prominence with the success of its wholly owned subsidiary CLR Roasters’ various gourmet boutique coffee blends. CLR Roasters is produced by a vertically integrated “farm-to-cup” pipeline stretching from the company’s fully licensed fields in Nicaragua, through a state-of-the-art roasting facility in Miami and ending up in consumer’s coffee cups all over the world. YGYI completes the last mile via direct selling, as well as extensive distribution in the cruise line industry and through a variety of private labels that the company produces for major national chains.

As Goes Coffee, So Goes Cannabis

Just to showcase the kind of scale and sophistication of the company’s closed-loop approach to delivering premium organic coffees, it is worth noting how the company recently secured a five-year contract to sell and process more than 41 million pounds per year. This was a huge deal for the full-sized coffee roaster, executed with a purchaser that has more than seven decades in the business and is a major coffee importer and exporter for some of the biggest brands in the industry today.

It is this same kind of full-spectrum approach to cultivation, production and distribution (emphasizing tight quality control as the main objective) that the company is now bringing to the hemp-based CBD business with its “field-to-finish” strategy. The HempFX line of three initial products was described as “just the beginning” when it comes to Youngevity’s move into CBD, during a recent interview with Wallach and Youngevity president and CFO Dave Briskie.

HempFX products currently include a topical muscle restoration and relief product packed with antioxidant rich botanicals called Soothe™, a mood and cognitive performance enhancement product with St. John’s Wort called Uplift™, and a sleep aid called Relax™ that contains melatonin and other relaxing herbs including chamomile and valerian root. Youngevity anticipates emergent revenue opportunities across the vertical as it implements a model similar to what the company has done in coffee. Wallach was keen to point out during the HempFX launch that this process would offer “tremendous advantage” to the company’s many distributors around the world.

Youngevity’s management anticipates that hemp-based CBD will become one of the fastest growing and largest supplemental ingredients moving forward, and the company is not alone in recognizing just how far the CBD market has yet to go.

CBD Market Solid Move for Future Success

GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) has been posting solid price performance since the company’s announcement in late June that the FDA approved its CBD-based oral indication Epidiolex for two forms of severe childhood epilepsy. According to the latest quarterly report, GWPH and its U.S. subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences are primed for commercial success, with a fully recruited sales organization and active engagement via clinical presentations to plans which cover more than 80 percent of the U.S. market.

Aphria, Inc. (OTC: APHQF) (TSX: APH) is gearing up for Canadian legalization big time, signing supply agreements with official distributors throughout all ten provinces and one territory this month to provide high-quality, branded cannabis for the adult-use market. Aphria also recently announced a key MOU with Canadian biotech Rapid Dose Therapeutics, the developer of the oral, fast-dissolving drug delivery system QuickStrip.

Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CARA) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing new chemical entities designed to fundamentally change the way acute pain, chronic pain and pruritus (severe itching) are managed. Cara does this by developing new products that selectively target the body’s peripheral kappa opioid receptors. In the cannabis space, Cara has a cannabinoid receptor agonist, CR701, in preclinical development.

Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON) recently announced commencement of a joint medical cannabis study alongside Aleafia Health Inc., which will utilize Aleafia’s Canabo Medical Clinic network to investigate insomnia and daytime sleepiness. The primary goal of the study is to help develop nonaddicting and natural sleep aids that many consumers have been longing for, especially given more recently identified risks associated with prescription sleeping aids, such as worsening mental health and an increased prevalence of dementia. CBD and THC may become powerful tools in the fight against insomnia.

The End of Prohibition, Unprecedented Market Dynamics

It seems that consumers may have put legs under the market as the historic prohibition of the humble cannabis plant nears an end. A plant that turns out to be packed with phytocannabinoids and that may help naturally regulate a vast cell receptor network throughout numerous tissue systems in the human body seems poised to fuel an industry with untold possibilities.

For more information on Marijuana Company of America, 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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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.

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CBD Contributes to Continued Growth for Nutraceutical, Pharmaceutical and Cannabis Key Players

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Cannabis companies are seeing substantial growth, with the popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) playing a significant part in their positive outlook.

  • CBD is an active ingredient in cannabis.
  • It can provide health benefits without the psychotropic effects of other cannabis chemicals.
  • This has led to a growth in companies selling CBD treatments, sometimes alongside more conventional wellness products.

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) (YGYI Profile) is one of these companies, having recently expanded its range of products to include CBD therapies for muscle pain, sleeplessness and mood improvement. GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) has created a CBD treatment for child-onset epilepsy and received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its sale as a medicinal product. Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) has also developed a cannabis-derived epilepsy treatment, even as it makes deals to expand its distribution network in Canada. Aphria, Inc. (OTC: APHQF) (TSX: APH) has seen a steady rise in profits based on its cannabis work and is now working with branding specialists to capitalize on its opportunities. Isodiol International, Inc. (OTC: ISOLF) (CSE: ISOL) is providing not only a range of CBD products but also a platform for patients to connect with doctors to help manage cannabis-based medical treatment.

Cannabis Growth Continues

The past few years have seen substantial growth in the cannabis industry. As the plant’s legalization spreads, an increasingly diverse range of businesses have appeared to fill the needs of a growing wellness market. From hydroponic supply companies to seed providers, the industry is expanding at a rapid pace, and at its heart are the cannabis companies themselves, several of which have seen their stocks soar.

One of the reasons for recent growth is the development of a market in cannabidiol (CBD) drugs and wellness products. One of the active ingredients in cannabis, CBD is being used in a wide range of treatments to help with everything from epilepsy to mental alertness. A growing body of research and increasing range of uses have seen CBD oil become a significant part of the cannabis market, distinct from recreational marijuana. For companies invested in CBD, this trend is providing a fresh surge of growth.

The Power of Cannabidiol

A growing number of companies are producing and supplying CBD products — not just specialist firms, but other suppliers such as lifestyle company Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI). So what’s the fuss about?

CBD is one of the most prominent active ingredients in cannabis plants. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not cause users to get high, but it can have other effects on the body and mind. Those beneficial effects have led to CBD’s rising popularity for use in a variety of medicines and wellness products as researchers have learned more about it.

The distinction between CBD and THC is an important one. In some jurisdictions, industrial hemp, a type of cannabis plant that includes CBD but non-noteworthy amounts of THC, can be grown in circumstances where marijuana can’t. The legality of CBD products is different from that of cannabis cultivation itself in some places. Even in places where cannabis is legal for both medical and recreational uses, CBD is preferable to many health-conscious consumers who want its health effects without getting high.

It’s this potential that has drawn companies such as Youngevity to CBD. This market is expected to see tremendous growth based on forecasts for a range of uses beyond oils, such as CBD’s inclusion in food, drink, cosmetics and emerging health products. That’s a pretty impressive reason for companies to take an interest in CBD, whether they’re experienced cannabis insiders or newcomers such as Youngevity.

Wider Market Growth

Medical cannabis is now legal in more than half of North America. Legal recreational use has been enacted within nine states and the District of Columbia in the United States, and it will premiere nationwide in Canada in October. The cannabis plant’s ardent fan base is increasing public awareness and a growing acceptance of the potential benefits of products derived from it. Companies are moving to make the most of the opportunity as a previously frowned-on and illegal industry shifts into the mainstream.

This means that Youngevity’s cannabis-derived products will benefit from a wave of public awareness, publicity and market growth. The global value of this market was estimated at $7.7 billion in 2017, and it’s been predicted to reach $34.1 billion by 2021.

That growing market means that there’s now space for CBD products both on the shelves of high street stores and in the inventory of companies such as Youngevity.

Youngevity’s first entry into this market is the HempFX™ product line, introduced at the company’s 2018 convention in San Diego, Calif. A set of three distinct hemp-derived CBD oil products under the HempFX banner use organically grown products in proprietary formulas to help users through their day. The products include Soothe™, a blend of botanicals designed to relieve muscles by calming aches and pains; Uplift™, which combines CBD with St. John’s Wort to improve cognitive performance and mood; and Relax™, which combines CBD with a variety of herbs and melatonin to bring relaxation and a better night’s sleep.

This diverse range of uses shows why CBD is becoming so popular. By applying it to a variety of wellness issues, companies are able to market their products to a broad range of consumers, increasing sales and awareness.

Youngevity CEO Steve Wallach highlighted the strong potential link between CBD and broader trends in healthy living. “We firmly believe in plant-based nutrition, and hemp-derived (CBD) oil perfectly complements our product development philosophy. Entering this market, which is growing almost exponentially, also should offer a tremendous advantage to our many distributors around the world,” he stated in the company’s news release announcing the HempFX line.

The Power of Existing Pipelines

Wallach’s reference to distributors highlights why a company such as Youngevity is so well-positioned to benefit from the surge in CBD. New companies set up to cater to the CBD market have to build their sales pipelines from scratch, whereas established operators already have those pipelines in place. Youngevity’s massive network of direct sellers means that it has an immediate way of getting new products into the hands of consumers. Experience derived from 21 years of development has provided the company with the tools it needs to carve out its place in the market.

Being on-brand is important to such a move. Not just any company can jump into CBD and expect customers and distributors to come along with it. But according to Wallach, this isn’t a problem for Youngevity.

“Hemp-derived cannabidiol aligns with what we do very well,” he stated. “We’ve taken what we know about essential nutrients, along with decades of knowledge specializing in natural, plant-based nutrition and their most beneficial nutrients, and put that knowledge to work to develop high-end cannabidiol products.”

More Companies Take Up CBD

While CBD is often used in over-the-counter medicines and wellness products, it is also finding use in prescription medicines. GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) has created a CBD-based medicine to tackle child-onset epilepsy, a condition that can make a normal life almost unmanageable for the children it affects. This treatment has been approved by the FDA, making it the first cannabis plant-based prescription medicine to be legalized by the U.S. federal government (once the Drug Enforcement Administration reclassifies CBD, as expected this month in response to the FDA’s decision).

A global leader in the medical cannabis market, Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) works in research, cultivation, processing and distribution, providing cannabis extracts and flowers to patients, researchers and medical professionals on five continents. As Canada prepares for growth in the cannabis market following legalization, the company has made deals with Canadian partners to sell its products into that market. It has also developed a CBD and THC oil that has shown promising results in tackling drug-resistant epilepsy.

One of the more successful companies in the cannabis sector, Aphria, Inc. (OTC: APHQF) (TSX: APH) saw its profits and revenues rise steadily through 2016 and 2017. Aphria recently signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture with Perennial, Inc., in which the companies will collaborate on developing products for the Canadian cannabis market. Perennial’s expertise in strategic brand development will help Aphria reach more customers with its leading cannabis-based products, expanding its presence in one of the world’s most important cannabis markets.

Isodiol International, Inc. (OTC: ISOLF) (CSE: ISOL) is focused on CBD product development, with a range of offerings that includes skin cream, pain management and help with sleeping. It has recently expanded beyond its core products into support for those using cannabis-derived medicines through the creation of ISOCare. This secure platform will help to connect patients, their family doctors and physicians working with cannabis to ensure that patients receive the best possible longitudinal care.

The health benefits of cannabis and its derivatives are increasingly widely recognized. With huge potential for growth over the next few years, CBD and cannabis are drawing customers and companies like never before.

For more information on Marijuana Company of America, 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

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CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
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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 Solid Bedrock as US Heads Back to Industrial Hemp Roots

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: With the announcement in April of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2018, the industry could be looking at a federal redefinition of hemp. Industrial hemp is a great source for CBD (cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with numerous medical applications ranging (http://cnw.fm/7tqIy). U.S. market projections for hemp range from $1.9 to $2.1 billion within the next two years and could hit $3 billion by 2021, according to one industry analyst (http://cnw.fm/MLA5w). This is great news for well-positioned sector players such as Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile), which recently executed a sizeable hemp-cultivation JV agreement. Other similarly positioned companies, such as Vancouver’s Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (ACB.TO) (OTCQX: ACBFF), UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH), Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) and Rocky Mountain High Brands, Inc. (OTCQB: RMHB), are also in position to exploit the burgeoning CBD market.

If passed alongside companion House Bill 5485, the Hemp Farming Act would effectively remove hemp from regulation as a controlled Schedule 1 substance, restoring the plant’s historic status as an important U.S. agricultural commodity. With Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow Democrat Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado signing on to the Hemp Farming Act with Republican Senator Cory Gardner from Colorado, the bill now looks to have strong bipartisan support. A recent report from Brightfield Group issued prior to the announcement of the Hemp Farming Act estimated that the hemp-derived CBD products component of the hemp market alone could hit $1 billion by 2020 (http://cnw.fm/Z9l9K). Industrial hemp has a storied history in America, having been cultivated from Colonial times through World War II and being essential to war efforts throughout that period. Given that the plant is a robust source for strong natural fiber and oils used to make everything from canvas and rope to building materials and fuel, it seems likely that the nation will indeed see the plant returned to its historical status as a core agricultural commodity.

Cultivation and Legal CBD Enable Agile Positioning

In an industry run by pioneering industry veterans who have lived through the legislative ups and downs that have ebbed and flowed since the earliest days of the cannabis market, the looming passage of the Cannabis Act in Canada and the potential of legislation such as the Marijuana Justice Act in the United States are encouraging signs that the industry has rounded the corner into the home stretch on legalization. CEO of Marijuana Company of America (MCOA Profile) Don Steinberg actually founded the first publicly traded U.S. marijuana company, Medical Marijuana Incorporated. MCOA already has a strong hand in the rapidly emerging market for industrial hemp-based CBD products, as well as its strategic cultivation-focused JV with B.C.-based Global Hemp Group that began in New Brunswick Canada last year and which has now expanded to 125 acres of commercial production.

The tip of the spear for MCOA in CBD is wholly owned subsidiary hempSMART™, whose affiliate marketing program and shrewdly engineered networking architecture, as well as upcoming major marketing campaigns that include a sixty second are designed to not only capture maximum market share but bolster customer retention as well. An offering such as hempSMART’s patent-pending “hempSMART Brain” product, which is designed to support healthy brain function, is an arguably compelling exploitation of CBD’s increasingly apparent antioxidant and neuroprotective functions (http://cnw.fm/Vh8bo).

Capacity Is Key Moving Forward

The recent JV agreement between MCOA and Global Hemp Group (which also has base operations in Montreal and Los Angeles) focused on cultivation of legal, high-yielding CBD from industrial hemp at a newly acquired 109-acre farm in Scio, Oregon. This move should significantly enhance the company’s market presence (http://cnw.fm/Owe9r). With the purchase of 20,000 high-yield CBD clones along with onsite clone production to meet an early June planting schedule target, assessment of key greenhouse technologies needed to maximize floor space and enable the JV’s perpetual harvest model, as well as the purchase of an additional 12,096 square feet of greenhouses for an intial total of nearly 20,000 square feet of production space, the JV is well on its way to having a superb high-yield CBD project in one of the country’s most cannabis-friendly states.

Additionally, the company recently announced completion of an initial 10,000 square foot greenhouse just south of the Canadian border in Washington State, developed via JV with agricultural services company Bougainville Ventures (http://cnw.fm/m8GaT). This first leg of a planned 30,000-square-foot facility is a major step towards realizing a sizeable production facility in a key jurisdiction that will become the home of several licensed tenants that will be looking for just such an ideal turnkey solution to satisfy their growing needs.

Sector Outlook Grounded in CBD and Biopharma

A strong footing in the already legal CBD market with the infrastructure to also potentially supply the growing medical and recreational markets throughout North America has put MCOA on the radar of many sector analysts. Savvy investors will want to compare the company’s rapidly expanding footprint with that of other sector players that also stand to benefit from pending legislative reform.

Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (ACB.TO) (OTCQX: ACBFF), a licensed Canadian producer of medical cannabis, recently estimated that it will surpass 90,000 kg of output by the end of this year and see revenues of around $70 million. With an 800,000-square-foot flagship facility at the Edmonton International Airport (estimated to be able to produce 100,000 kg of cannabis a year at full capacity), a 55,200-square-foot facility in Alberta, and another 40,000-square foot facility in Quebec, Aurora is uniquely positioned to become a major supplier that may even surpass rival Canopy Growth (WEED.TO) (OTC: TWMJF), which recently moved to list its shares on the NYSE. Moreover, Aurora’s plan to buy all common shares of MedReleaf (LEAF.TO) (OTC: MEDEFF), if approved, would create a true industry juggernaut, one estimated by financial services firm Canaccord Genuity to have the potential to eventually produce a whopping 570,000 kg of cannabis per year.

GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) is one of the most well-established cannabis biopharmaceutical companies in the space today, boasting a proprietary cannabinoid product platform that has given rise to such highly publicized indications as the anti-seizure CBD-based drug Epidiolex®. Along with its U.S. subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences, the company recently announced publication in The New England Journal of Medicine of Phase 3 study results of its oral CBD drug in a form of rare childhood-onset epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Many sector analysts argue that the NDA for GWPH’s oral CBD solution in Lennox-Gastaut and (similar) Dravet syndromes is likely to be approved by the FDA. Such an approval would mean the drug could become available by prescription in the the United States in the second half of 2018.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) portfolio companies Hempmeds®, Kannaway and Kannalife™ Sciences have been receiving more and more coverage of its internationalized distribution of products such as Real Scientific Hemp Oil™. The company’s CEO, Dr. Stuart Titus, was recently featured as part of a Buzzfeed article on CBD that reached a massive audience, even as the company’s portfolio company, HempMeds Brasil, was in the news for sponsoring the upcoming medical marijuana-focused “A Look into the Future” International Medicinal Seminar. That announcement came just days after the news that HempMeds has partnered with Northshore Pharmacy in Bermuda to sell the company’s flagship CBD oil products.

Rocky Mountain High Brands, Inc. (OTCQB: RMHB) recently announced that hemp products in its new and cutting-edge CBD-infused product line, known as HEMPd, are available for purchase on both Amazon and eBay. The company’s popular and naturally flavored energy drinks, Rocky Mountain High Hemp Infused Beverages, have been doing solid business in Canada since the initial one million can order shipped back in 2016. Rocky Mountain High is looking forward to potentially enjoying some serious momentum as Canada moves towards legalization, with one of the most widely recognized brands today in functional hemp food and drink. A roughly $3.6 million deal executed late last year with a major food and beverage distributor in Mexico, where marijuana is soon to be legalized, means RMHB looks to be well on its way to becoming one of the leading hemp-infused food and beverage purveyors on earth.

Sector Sentiment Appears Positive to Many Analysts

While there were major concerns for the cannabis sector last year and earlier this year, companies poised to exploit CBD and broader cannabis demand are eyeing the softening tone in the United States, as well as forthcoming Canadian legalization of all cannabis, as major boons to the industry. For a company such as MCOA, which has good access to the North American market and an established presence in CBD, the best may be yet to come.

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

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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.

Infusion of Biotechnology Into Cannabis Market Leads to Booming Growth

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The tremendous growth of the licensed cannabis market has naturally led to an increase in research in this area. A number of specialist biotech companies have emerged, creating innovative cannabinoid applications. Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) (LXRP Profile) has developed technology to improve the palatability and speed of absorption of cannabinoid therapeutics, leading to a range of licensed products and related patents. Plant biotechnology company 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE American: XXII) is altering the level of active ingredients in both cannabis and tobacco, allowing new strains to be grown for medical and other purposes. GW Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) has developed extensive expertise in research, regulatory allowances and manufacturing, creating a pipeline of products for illnesses including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. INSYS Therapeutics, Inc.  (NASDAQ: INSY) is creating drugs for previously unmet patient needs, researching novel systems to deliver active ingredients as effectively as possible. Even rare illnesses are being addressed by this research boom, with Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZYNE) focusing on neurological disorders, including fragile X syndrome and Tourette’s syndrome.

The Importance of Cannabis Biotech

As the cannabis market grows, biotechnology is taking an increasingly important place in that market.

From a position of almost global illegality 20 years ago, cannabis is evolving into a multibillion-dollar legal industry. Shifting social attitudes have led to the legalization of licensed medical cannabis in more than half of the United States and in many other countries around the world. A handful of countries are also now moving to legalize the recreational use of cannabis, accelerating the growth of the industry. Because of these changes, much of the public’s attention has been on social and legal developments.

This focus ignores the groundbreaking work emerging from cannabis research and design departments. Biotechnology has become a crucial part of the cannabis market as researchers explore new applications for the plant’s active ingredients and new ways of delivering drugs derived from them. This has led to exciting efforts in tackling opioid addiction, helping brains age more healthily and managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, just to name a few. The medical application of cannabis is becoming more sophisticated, and the cannabis biotech sector is growing in both power and profitability.

Business-to-Business Biotech

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) has taken an important place in this part of the market.

Lexaria is a research-driven company whose work focuses on improved drug delivery systems. This expertise started with DehydraTECH™, a technology that has been proven both in the laboratory and the market to improve the consumption of beneficial compounds.

Many of these compounds are lipophilic, meaning they are fat soluble. They taste and smell unpleasant, are poorly absorbed by the body, and are vulnerable to being broken down by the stomach and metabolized away by the liver. This leads to poor bioavailability, or how much of the compound the body can use. Smoking, vaping and added chemicals have all been used to try to alleviate this, but DehydraTECH offers a different solution. The lipophilic compound is combined with fatty acids in a process that makes it nearly odorless and tasteless while protecting it from hostile stomach conditions to increase both its speed of delivery to appropriate biological systems and rate of absorption.

This technology can also be applied to vitamins, supplements, nicotine and pharmaceuticals. And it is particularly applicable for both cannabis and tobacco-derived drugs because it allows patients to benefit from the active ingredients without having to smoke, thereby reducing harmful side effects from smoking. By increasing the efficacy of drugs, the technology also reduces quantities needed, cutting costs and minimizing drug-related side effects.

Lexaria has focused on licensing out its technology utilizing a business model similar to that used by software companies. Through licensing agreements with companies in Canada, the United States and beyond, Lexaria’s technology could benefit patients around the world. Meanwhile, the company itself can stay focused on biotechnology research without the burden of expensive commercial operations.

Piling Up the Patents

The result is a company that has developed a significant volume of intellectual property in its short history — and that volume continues to grow. Currently Lexaria has 15 patent applications filed in the United States and over 30 pending in more than 40 countries, plus two patents granted for cannabinoid delivery in the United States and one granted in Australia. With researchers continuing to refine the DehydraTECH system, the patents keep piling up.

In March the company received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office relating to substances that improve the taste and absorption of cannabinoids  (http://cnw.fm/A14bT). This is expected to lead to the granting of yet another U.S. patent soon to add more protected commercial values for Lexaria’s partnered companies.

The company is also exploring the use of DehydraTECH in the absorption of drugs through the skin. Lexaria has recently filed a new patent to improve the speed and quantity of absorption for transdermal applications (http://cnw.fm/4sYzF). A recent breakthrough in testing discovered that DehydraTECH can double the transdermal absorption of cannabidiol  compared with leading commercial alternatives. This will allow the company to newly license its technology to create improved patches, creams, cosmetics and more.

In addition, the company’s work has been enhanced through an R&D agreement with the Canadian government’s National Research Council. This agreement is expected to result in a better understanding of how Lexaria’s technology works, leading to more agreements with other businesses.

It is ironic that this technology was developed for the cannabis industry but has already received patent protection for many other commonly used drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins and nicotine could all be deployed using Lexaria’s disruptive technology. Supplements, pain relief and smoking-cessation or smoking-alternative nicotine products are all possible as a result of Lexaria’s research. To this end, the company recently commenced a study into nicotine absorption (http://cnw.fm/DLo69). Who would have thought that cannabis research might lead to broader biotechnology applications that could benefit non-cannabis consumers?

Immediate Benefits

Cannabis is a fast-growing sector; moving quickly to develop and deploy new technology is important. Every year sees new areas of the world opening up to licensed cannabis use, as well as new products being commercialized to make the most of this market. Companies are rushing to develop the products that will fill this developing market.

The sooner these products can be patented, the sooner they can be brought to market, and Lexaria may again have a distinct first-mover advantage in this area. With patents filed and backdated to 2014 for a range of related technologies in dozens of different jurisdictions, the company may soon be able to commercialize its systems around the globe. Lexaria’s IP is steadily increasing, covering more effective bio-delivery of medical cannabis, recreational cannabis and over-the-counter pain remedies such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Through licensing to partner companies, Lexaria may soon be using this technology to drive value and prove the advantage of its systems worldwide.

The Broader Picture of Cannabis Biotech

Of course, Lexaria isn’t the only company applying biotechnology to cannabis in a search for new products. A wide range of research is leading to a diverse range of innovations set to disrupt this exciting sector.

Plant biotech company 22nd Century Group (NYSE American: XXII) is focused on changing the chemical composition of plant strains. Initially working on tobacco, the company has developed plants that have both very low and very high levels of nicotine. This broad range can be used to help smokers quit or reduce harm to those still smoking. Through its Botanical Genetics subsidiary, 22nd Century Group is turning its attention to controlling the level of active ingredients in cannabis. This has potential not only to create more effective medicines but also to support industrial hemp growth by removing active ingredients so that the plant can more easily be farmed for fibers and food.

Based in the United States and the United Kingdom, GW Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) is a developer of cannabinoid-based medicines. Twenty years of work have given the company extensive expertise in research, regulations and manufacturing, allowing it to manage the whole pipeline, from research inspiration to a complete product. Its medicines are used in tackling the symptoms of epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, with more in the research pipeline.

Like Lexaria, INSYS Therapeutics (NASDAQ: INSY) is focused on producing new cannabinoid medicines and delivery systems to make better use of the drugs. The company is also studying how to use the newly unleashed potential of cannabis to create drugs for previously unmet patient needs. New drugs developed by the company’s researchers may help medical professionals support patients who previously lacked effective treatment. Drugs in the pipeline include an oral treatment for treating spasms in children.

Zynerba Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ZYNE) is developing cannabis-based treatments for rare and near-rare neurological disorders. The company is working on transdermal drugs to help patients suffering from fragile X syndrome, certain forms of epilepsy and Tourette’s syndrome.

Cannabis biotech efforts are unleashing a range of new treatments. As more is discovered about the cannabis plant’s potential, treatments for a range of previously hard-to-manage conditions are being found along with better options for widespread illnesses. In providing innovative solutions and new products, the sector is growing in sophistication and strength.

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

 About CannabisNewsWire

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

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

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.