Farm Bill Legislation May Springboard Federal Hemp Acceptance

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The United States House passed the 2018 Farm Bill, which will redefine subsidies to farmers, nutritional welfare recipients, conservationists and others. Tucked into this bill of more than 1,000 pages is hemp legalization legislation supported by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Demand – and thus farming revenue – for tobacco is waning, and McConnell says hemp farming could help bolster farming communities in his home state of Kentucky and across the country. Currently listed as a controlled substance under federal law, the new bill will declassify hemp as a schedule 1 drug and label it as a viable agricultural commodity. Through its hempSMART™ subsidiary, Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) is one example of a few companies currently providing consumers hemp plant-based products under the rubric of existing laws, and the company has undertaken broad-based legal hemp cultivation programs. Other companies that could feel the ripples of change in the space are Isodiol International, Inc. (CSE: ISOL) (OTC: ISOLF) (FSE: LB6A.F), CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI), Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA), and Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP) (LXRP Profile).

Hemp’s History

Archaeological evidence reveals that for over 10,000 years hemp has been used by humans for pottery, shoes, ropes, clothing, food, medicine, and a wide array of other applications. Since early populations ingested hemp seeds, it stands to reason they also discovered the medicinal properties found in the plant. Ancient Asia, Egypt, India, Greece and the Islamic world all have rich histories relating to medicinal cannabis. In the 19th century, cannabinoids gained popularity for therapeutic use in Western medicine, but regulatory efforts imposed strictures during the 20^th Century, eventually leading to a ban on its use in the U.S. under federal drug controls because of hemp’s relation to its more drug-user-friendly cannabis counterpart, marijuana. But, in recent years, society has turned to modern science to substantiate anecdotal claims about the therapeutic efficacy of non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) found in the hemp plant.

“I know there are farming communities all over the country who are interested in this,” McConnell told the Senate Agriculture Committee amid debate over his bill. “Mine are particularly interested in it, and the reason for that is — as all of you know — our No. 1 cash crop used to be something that’s really not good for you: tobacco. And that has declined significantly, as it should, given the public health concerns.”

The federal government has exhibited schizophrenic regulatory tendencies toward hemp since the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 that quashed hemp production with exorbitant excise taxes. Reversing course during WWII, the government urged farmers to grow hemp for fiber and also waived taxes, and over 400,000 acres of hemp were cultivated between 1942 and 1945. After the war, hemp again had persona non grata status. Congress then passed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, prohibiting the use of all cannabis for any purpose whatsoever and effectively terminating all industrial hemp production. Hemp extracts, however, are considered legal because they contain less than 0.3 percent THC, but the cultivation of hemp remains federally verboten. Now, the advancement of the Farm Bill signals a revived federal interest in the industrial hemp industry.

Hemp Pioneers

Led by hemp industry pioneers, Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) has spearheaded efforts and staked claims on multiple legal hemp cultivation projects. The company’s innovative strategy is to vertically integrate hemp production and sales – from seed to shelf. Cultivation of quality hemp will feed MCOA’s innovative CBD-based formulations, which use the highest-quality hemp to produce what could be the finest-quality botanical supplements on the market. The hempSMART™ product line contains tested levels of clinically researched ingredients to meet consumer needs that support the body’s natural endocannabinoid system.

From seed to shelf, MCOA has built its business model around industrial hemp-based CBD products. Hemp has a myriad of uses beyond CBD therapeutics – as a food, a natural fiber, and even as a commodity in the building materials sectors. No part of the plant goes unused, and MCOA’s overarching strategy is to capitalize at each profit point – from farm to finished products. MCOA appears to be establishing a commanding presence at multiple inflection points across the entire hemp value chain.

hempSMART™, Inc.

Expanding on ancestral wisdom, MCOA has combined the most effective ingredients in wellness technologies with pure plant-derived industrial hemp-based cannabinoids to create optimally formulated wellness products for health-conscious consumers.

hempSMART™ offers a number of different products within a wide range of delivery systems, such as its capsule-based formulations hempSMART™ Brain, a patent-pending nootropic product designed to support natural brain function; and hempSMART™ Pain, which is formulated with a blend of premium full-spectrum CBD and botanical supplements designed for pain associated with physical activity.

The company also offers sublingual CBD tinctures to customers including hempSMART™ Full-Spectrum Drops and their natural pet supplement hempSMART™ Pet Drops with advanced bioavailability.

hempSMART™ has also expanded upon its established line of products by offering topical products such as hempSMART™ Pain Cream, which is designed to provide temporary relief and soothe sore, aching muscles and joints. The company also launched a new cosmetic product, hempSMART™ Face, a CBD facial moisturizer that has been designed to refresh, replenish and restore skin cells on the face.

MCOA’s hempSMART™ CBD consumer products are sold at www.hempsmart.com.

Hemp Cultivation

In what appears to be a vertically integrated business strategy, MCOA entered into a joint venture with Global Hemp Group Inc. (OTC: GBHPF) to launch multiple industrial hemp cultivation projects in the legal marijuana states of the U.S. and in Canada. The first is a 125-acre industrial hemp cultivation project in northeast New Brunswick. The project is well under way with objectives of promoting hemp farming and attendant year-round jobs.

A certified professional agronomist, Joan Parker-Duivenvoorden, has been hired to manage the project. She has over 15 years of experience with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and with the New Brunswick Soil and Crop Improvement Association, which will prove invaluable as the project expands to encompass and employ over 50 farmers.

Planting has been completed on the first 77 acres, and the remaining 48 acres will be seeded soon. Drying equipment is being evaluated to process the hemp after harvest, and management is already in discussions with several potential processing partners for extraction of cannabinoids. Once all the licenses have been acquired for importing and manufacturing finished CBD products, the New Brunswick site could easily serve as a distribution center for MCOA’s hempSMART™ subsidiary.

In another joint venture with Global Hemp Group, MCOA is also developing Covered Bridge Acres, a high-yielding CBD hemp cultivation project in Oregon. Operations at the farm are well under way. The project will utilize both traditional outdoor cultivation and what will be over 19,296 square feet of greenhouses.

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

The Takeaway

With rapidly expanding retail distribution and burgeoning, diversified hemp cultivation programs underway, MCOA is fast approaching the vertical integration that typically impacts bottom lines and drives shareholder value.

Other companies already operating in the CBD space include:

Isodiol International (CSE: ISOL) (OTC: ISOLF) (FSE: LB6A.F) grows and harvests hemp on an industrial scale and then processes it to extract cannabidiol (CBD) for worldwide distribution. The company pioneered the commercialization of 99 percent-plus pure, pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids, micro-encapsulations and nanotechnology for consumable and topical skin care products.

CV Sciences (OTC: CVSI) operates in two business segments. The company’s drug development division develops and commercializes novel therapeutics utilizing synthetic CBD. Its consumer product division manufactures, markets and sells plant-based CBD products to a range of market sectors.

Medical Marijuana (OTC: MJNA) develops, distributes and sells hemp oil that contains naturally occurring cannabinoids, including CBD, and other products containing CBD oil. The company sells its hemp-derived CBD products through its distribution subsidiaries. The company was among the first to bring hemp-based CBD oil products to market in the United States.

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTC: LXRP) out-licenses its patented delivery technology, which lowers dosing of lipophilic active molecules and enhances their effectiveness. The company’s technology increases intestinal absorption rates, speeds delivery to the bloodstream, and masks tastes for orally administered bioactive molecules including cannabinoids, vitamins, NSAIDs, nicotine and other molecules.

Together, MCOA and these companies weave a tapestry of industry, innovation and intuitive concern for the communities they serve with nature-based hemp products that appear to be once again losing the stigma that has come from being marijuana’s staider sibling.

For more information on Marijuana Company of America, visit Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA)

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Dangers Lurking in Synthetic CBD Underscore Value of Quality Product

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Dating back thousands of years, people have found ways to treat pain and other ailments with cannabidiol (CBD) oil which is harvested from the hemp plant. However, the natural healing properties of CBD are being jeopardized by the advent of man-made synthetic CBDs. These chemical analogs are dangerous imitations of plant-derived product, binding to human endocannabinoid receptors at astronomically larger quantities than natural cannabinoids. These designer drugs prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a national health alert warning about synthetic cannabinoids. Shunning synthetics, Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) provides consumers complete transparency and delivering only pure, plant-based 100% hemp-derived products through its hempSMART™ brand. While Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) and PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC: POTN) market hemp-derived CBD products, some companies such as Isodiol International, Inc. (CSE: ISOL) (OTC: ISOLF) (FSE: LB6A.F) and CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) utilize extraction techniques to produce isolated cannabinoid compounds for both commercial and/or research uses.

Surging Demand Creates Copy Cats

Hemp-derived CBD grew from a market category that didn’t exist five years ago to generating $190 million in sales in 2017. The U.S. industry is poised to reach $1 billion dollars in 2018, led by hemp-derived CBD, food, personal care and industrial products. Hemp Business Journal estimates the U.S. hemp industry will grow to a $2.6 billion market by 2022 with an estimated five-year CAGR of 25%.

In a recent article, “Fighting fakes: Hemp leaders on the dangers of synthetic CBD,” public health investigators issued warnings when 50 people were sickened after consuming synthetic CBD. What the epidemiologists found was that the products, while labeled CBD, did not contain CBD compounds. Instead, the products contained a synthetically produced cannabinoid.

CBD products are often mislabeled, both in how much CBD the products contain and where the CBD comes from. A study published in JAMA revealed that nearly 70% of online CBD marijuana extracts are mislabeled, some had extra CBD, some less, and some contained hidden CBDs. Blind testing found that only about 31% of the extracts tested contained the amount of CBD listed on the label.

Differentiated from Others

The company’s commitment to quality may differentiate Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC:MCOA) from all others in the sector. MCOA uses the highest-quality sourced raw materials to produce the finest quality botanical supplements and topicals on the market. To ensure quality and transparency, the company’s hempSMART™ product line has been rigorously tested to validate its purity. Products developed by hempSMART are derived and formulated from industrial hemp containing naturally occurring CBD compounds that help support the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. All hempSMART™ products contain tested levels and clinically researched ingredients designed to meet and exceed consumers expectations.

The company is led by cannabis industry pioneer Donald Steinberg, MCOA’s CEO and an experienced veteran of the cannabis and industrial hemp industries. Steinberg founded the first marijuana company ever to trade on a U.S. stock market, and his extensive background and knowledge of the industry may give the company unparalleled insights into the global industrial hemp and cannabis markets.

Celebrated Family of Products

Derived from industrial hemp containing CBD compounds, MCOA’s hempSMART™ product line is among the finest quality of botanical supplements on the market. Scientifically driven, each of MCOA’s hempSMART™ products are created to ensure only the highest quality products reach discerning consumers. MCOA’s hempSMART™ CBD consumer products are researched, developed and sold at www.hempsmart.com.

The company recently re-launched its patent-pending wellness nootropic product hempSMART™ Brain, a “first of its kind” researched formulation for optimal brain function support, with 300mg of full spectrum CBD per bottle. HempSMART products also include full spectrum bioavailable CBD drops in form of a tincture containing a high concentration and potency of CBD, hempSMART ™ Pain capsules with a blend of premium CBD and botanical supplements, and hempSMART ™ Pain Cream with a synergistic combination of natural botanicals and full spectrum hemp extract to treat aching muscles and joints. In addition, the company now provides hempSMART™ Full Spectrum Pet Drops, exclusively designed for fur-bearing family members.

To virally expand sales, MCOA created its own unique hempSMART affiliate network marketing program. The affiliate marketing program provides a generous compensation plan to promote and sell hempSMART’s CBD consumer products in the United States. Advocates of hempSMART’s CBD products make the best ambassadors and the sales model lends itself to rapid global expansion.

Diversified Opportunity

In addition to the research and development of hemp-based consumer products, MCOA is strategically expanding its footprint across multiple facets of the hemp industry, building a portfolio of diversified investments and joint ventures to grow the company and potentially drive shareholder value.

The company recently provided updates on its 125-acre industrial hemp cultivation project in northeast New Brunswick with joint-venture partner Global Hemp Group Inc. (OTC: GBHPF). Planting on the first 77 acres is complete and the remaining 48 acres will be seeded soon. Drying equipment is being evaluated to process the biomass after harvest and management is in discussions with several potential processing partners for the material.

To target impulse buys in high traffic convenience stores, MCOA secured a 25% equity stake in Convenient Hemp Mart, LLC’s BeniHemp branded products. BeniHemp products will include topicals, tinctures, and edibles packaged in one-day, two-day, and 30-day supplies distributed to convenience stores, smoke shops, gas stations and similar small retail businesses.

Each owning 42.5%, MCOA and Global Hemp Group formed a joint venture, Covered Bridge Acres LTD., to develop a high yielding CBD hemp cultivation project in Oregon and committed to jointly invest a total of US$1.2 million into the project. A cornerstone of the project is the acquisition of a 109-acre agricultural property in Scio, Oregon. The property, located 70 miles south of Portland, is situated in the fertile Willamette Valley and has a history of hemp cultivation over the past two years. The farm is ideal for cultivating hemp as it contains a high level of organic matter in the soil and has an established irrigation infrastructure with sufficient water rights.

MCOA successfully raised $1 million in funding for Bougainville Ventures to construct and manage a turnkey state of the art cannabis cultivation and processing facility. The joint venture has completed the setup of 10,000 sq. ft. of greenhouse space and waiting for completion of inspection, the final step before commencing cultivation.

Active Companies Vying for Market Position

CV Sciences (OTCQB: CVSI) operates two business segments: a drug development division focused on developing and commercializing novel therapeutics utilizing naturally occurring CBD; and, a consumer product division focused on manufacturing, marketing and selling plant-based CBD products to a range of market sectors. The company recently announced the June 7, 2018, publication of the toxicology and safety results of an extract from the base raw materials used in its PlusCBD Oil™ consumer products. The study, designed to investigate the safety of oral consumption of the company’s hemp CBD oil and to support a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Independent Conclusion, concluded that the test article was non-mutagenic, non-clastogenic and non-genotoxic.

Isodiol International (CSE: ISOL) (OTC: ISOLF) (FSE: LB6A.F) is focused on pharmaceutical grade phytochemical compounds and is among industry leaders in the manufacture and development of consumer products. The company pioneered the commercialization of 99%+ pure, pharmaceutical grade cannabinoids, micro-encapsulations, and nanotechnology for consumable and topical skin care products. Isodiol earlier this month entered into a binding agreement to acquire 51% of Round Mountain Technologies, LLC (“RMT”), a cultivator of organic hemp with operations in Nevada.

Medical Marijuana (OTC: MJNA), the first publicly traded cannabis company in the United States (founded by current CEO of Marijuana Company of America Don Steinberg), develops, distribute and sells hemp oil that contains naturally occurring cannabinoids, including CBD and other products containing CBD oil. In recent news, MJNA announced its favor on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) recent statement on the legality of CBD — which further clarifies that some CBD products, such as hemp-derived CBD products, are legal to distribute throughout the United States and do not fall under the regulations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Additionally, the company’s HempMeds® subsidiary reported the historic authorization of its Real Scientific Hemp Oil-X™ (RSHO-X™) CBD hemp oil product for import into Argentina.

PotNetwork Holding (OTC: POTN) is a holding company for its subsidiaries, First Capital Venture Co. that owns Diamond CBD, Inc., the maker of Diamond CBD oils. Diamond CBD researches, develops and markets hemp extracts that contain a broad range of cannabinoids and hemp derivatives. The company recently announced that Diamond CBD’s online sales increased 639% higher than the year prior. PotNetwork is in currently preparing to file with the SEC to become a fully reporting company.

With an estimated 25% compound annual growth rate, there’s little doubt the about the trajectory of the CBD market. As the market continues its rapid expansion and more people become aware of the dangers lurking in synthetic CBD, it seems reasonable that evermore consumers will gravitate toward high-quality natural CBD product. Companies like MCOA aim to answer that call.