Something for Everyone: Baby Boomers Signify Shift in the Cannabis Market

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Since they came onto the scene after World War II, baby boomers have heavily impacted the world around them, and their influence is being felt now in the emerging cannabis market.

A recent survey has shown a significant increase in cannabinoid-derived product consumption in the United States, most notably among baby boomers.
With a combination of disposable income, health issues and liberal attitudes towards drugs, baby boomers represent a natural market for cannabis companies.
This trend also signifies wider growth and diversification of products and customers in the industry.

Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) is tapping into this growing market through the production of industrial hemp and the marketing of a wide range of CBD wellness products. Having started out as a medical cannabis company, Organigram Holdings, Inc. (OTC: OGRMF) is adjusting to shifting markets by appealing to recreational consumers while showing loyalty to its existing customer base. A focus on research provides CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) with a growing range of products and the credibility to appeal to health-conscious cannabis consumers. Global innovator and market leader Isodiol International, Inc. (OTC: ISOLF) recently received approval for its cannabidiol (CBD) to be designated as an active pharmaceutical ingredient. And Cannabis Strategic Ventures (OTC: NUGS) just launched a new line of CBD-based luxury skin, hair and body products.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

The Changing Face of Cannabis

It’s hardly surprising to see that baby boomers are an important part of the cannabis and hemp markets. The generation that saw marijuana gain counter-culture popularity in the ‘60s and ‘70s is also a generation with considerable disposable income. As they head into retirement and old age, many baby boomers are looking for ways to enjoy their wealth, as well as ways to manage physical ailments. The growth of both the medical and the recreational cannabis sectors in North America means that this product can cater to both desires.

The growth in cannabinoid consumption by baby boomers is just part of the expansion of the cannabis market. Given the chance to openly research plant and products, manufacturers are vastly increasing the potential of cannabis. Improved strains improve the performance and profitability of the drug, while derivative products and support services turn what was essentially a single product into a whole sector.

Baby Boomers and Cannabis Consumption

For companies such as Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA), baby boomers are an increasingly important market sector. A recent survey of nearly 18,000 adult Americans found that cannabis is becoming increasingly popular among the older generation. The number of cannabis users in the United States has nearly doubled over the past decade, despite it still being illegal in several states and only available for medical use in most. Around 9 percent of those aged 50 to 64 had used cannabis at some point in the year preceding the survey. Among those aged 65 and above, the figure was 3 percent. And while those numbers may not seem impressive, they are steadily growing and represent an increasingly large market for MCOA and its competitors to tap into.

What’s causing this growth in older cannabis users?

Shifting attitudes are clearly a factor. Many baby boomers came of age in the ‘60s and ‘70s, when the hippy movement raised the public profile and popularity of cannabis. They were therefore raised with marijuana as a feature of popular culture, even if they personally didn’t indulge in it. More recently, a shift away from the criminalizing policies of the 1980s towards a more liberal view has started to change attitudes across the generations.

Growing availability is a factor as well. The legalization of medical cannabis in many states has made the drug accessible in ways that it wasn’t before. Given the prevalence of chronic pains and ongoing ailments among those aged 60 and over, it’s relatively easy for seniors in medical cannabis states to get a prescription. And in the states where it’s legal for recreational purposes, the only bar to use is the social attitude of the consumer.

Having grown up during an economic boom and an era with greater government support, baby boomers have emerged with the wealth to enjoy their hobbies in retirement. And for many, cannabis is now one of those hobbies.

Something for Everyone

Baby boomers are just one part of recent growth in the cannabinoid product market. It’s a pattern of growth driven in part by the increasing diversity of cannabis products, sold through separate but interconnected markets.

The first to emerge was the medical cannabis sector. This has grown from a small niche to an important part of the North America market, with cannabis and hemp now legal in parts of the United States and Canada. Millions of people use cannabinoid-based products regularly to help manage chronic pain and treat other ailments, leading to growing recognition that the legal definition of cannabis as having no medical use was both absurd and unscientific.

Medical cannabis has been followed in recent years by the legalization of recreational cannabis. Nine U.S. states and the District of Columbia have taken this step. Canada is following suit on a national level, with legalization coming this October. Strains of cannabis and brands of products aimed at recreational consumers are emerging to cater to a different market from the medical one.

Alongside these products are others related to or derived from other cannabinoids, such as CBD. Industrial hemp, which produces CBD in large quantities, is grown by companies including MCOA, who has the potential to capture a piece of what is projected by The Brightfield Group to be a $22 billion market by 2022. Following trials over the past few years, the cultivation of industrial hemp looks set to become legal across the United States with the upcoming passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.

A wide range of products have been produced using active compounds from hemp. Oils and pills derived from cannabidiol oil (CBD) are increasingly popular in the health and wellness markets, finding their place on the shelves of wholefood shops.

Catering to Varied Needs

One of the reasons for the success of cannabis companies is their ability to manufacture and distribute CBD-related products for vastly different purposes. MCOA’s hempSMART™ product line shows how these companies build up a range of distinct but related products. hempSMART makes use of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive chemical found in cannabis and widely used in health and wellness products.

HempSMART Pain and hempSMART Pain Cream use CBD for one of cannabis’s most widely recognized uses — pain management in relation to minor physical activity. It’s why cannabis had grown so popular and part of why its derivatives are also proving so popular with a variety of different age groups.

HempSMART Brain, on the other hand, is designed to improve clarity, concentration and alertness. HempSMART Face has found a way to use CBD in a moisturizer that moisturizes and replenishes the skin cells on your face. And hempSMART Pet Drops let people share the benefits of CBD with their animal companions. It’s a level of variety that may allow MCOA to get its products into many niches, increasing brand awareness as well as sales.

By creating a wide range of products, cannabis companies are catering to a growing number of markets. By helping with issues such as alertness and pain management, they’re ensuring their relevance to that crucial baby boomer market.

Expanding the Range of Cannabis Products

That sort of varied approach to cannabis is leading to growth for Organigram Holdings, Inc. (OTC: OGRMF). Once a medical cannabis company, Organigram still has a strong focus on that market and is showing its commitment to patients by covering the cost of excise tax on their cannabis. But it’s also expanding into the recreational market, contributing one of its award-winning flowers to the world’s first recreational cannabis variety kit. Creating products such as variety kits and gift sets turns cannabis into more of a luxury consumer product, one to be purchased for special occasions.

CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) is strongly focused on the research side of cannabis, using this as both a source of new products and a way of validating its work to consumers. It’s the sort of work that adds credibility to arguments that cannabis is safe and useful for consumers.

Isodiol International, Inc. (OTC: ISOLF) is a market leader in pharmaceutical-grade pure, natural CBD and an industry leader in the manufacturing and development of CBD consumer products. The company’s line of consumable and topical skin care products features 99 percent-plus pure, natural isolated CBD, micro-encapsulations, and nano-technology for the highest quality products.

Cannabis Strategic Ventures (OTC: NUGS) is marrying cannabis science with an increasing global demand for luxury personal care products in LYXR, its newest product line. LYXR products are developed from a line of hemp-derived phytocannabinoids combined with other natural ingredients that provide high-performing skin, hair and body topical solutions. LYXR’s inaugural product will be a face mask designed to provide hydrating and anti-aging/age prevention benefits. The LYXR product line will eventually include skin, hair and body products.

The cannabis market is seeing huge growth in the variety of both products and customers. With baby boomers increasingly enjoying cannabis into retirement, marijuana appears to be well on its way to entering the mainstream.

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

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

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420 with CNW – Washington D.C. Sees Spike of Synthetic Marijuana Overdoses

It seems the synthetic marijuana overdoses that had the authorities in Washington, D.C worried in July have resurfaced after a lull. In one 24-hour period alone, first responders were called to assist dozens of people who exhibited severe signs of distress from K2 or Spice, a known synthetic form of cannabis.

Even more distressing is the fact that students witnessed some of the victims being helped on the street as the students were strolling about during their break. This was near Mundo Verde Bilingual Public School. The authorities responded by imposing restrictions on how far students could go during their break.

Some of the symptoms exhibited by the people overdosing on K2 are particularly worrying. The known chemicals from which K2 are made don’t usually cause users to bleed in the way that some of the D.C. victims have been seen to bleed.

One possible explanation for that bleeding may have been found after toxicological tests revealed that the synthetic marijuana was laced with the chemical brodifacoum. This is a substance that is used to make rat poison and other pesticides.

The chemical stops vitamin K from doing its work in the blood of the organisms that ingest it. Consequently, vital processes, such as blood clotting, will be affected, and bleeding will result.

The consumers, especially low-income people, don’t seem to be bothered by the risk of K2 and other synthetic forms of marijuana. To them, all that seems matters is that they get a high at an affordable cost.

Authorities say that they have been compelled to play cat and mouse games with the people who make or distribute these synthetic forms of marijuana. This is because the chemicals used are often permitted chemicals, except that the formulas used aren’t approved. Banning one chemical found to be harmful only spurs the makers of the product to switch to another unknown product.

Furthermore, distributors often escape regulatory scrutiny by labeling the synthetic marijuana as “not for human consumption”. The CDC, DEA and other agencies are therefore often chasing a ghost that is hard to pin down.

However, the authorities are now determined to hunt down and stamp out these dangerous products whose overdoses have reached crisis level and are spreading to various parts of the country.

The big question on many people’s minds is that if this is happening in Washington, D.C., where marijuana is legal, can something be done to make the legal product more affordable for those with limited means? You can bet your last dollar that Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) and NUGL Inc. (OTC: NUGL) are praying that these products be wiped out so that the industry doesn’t get a bad reputation at this early stage.

More from CannabisNewsWire

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Canadian Cannabis Legalization Set to Transform the Industrial Hemp Industry

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The legalization of cannabis in Canada is about to bring big changes not just for medical cannabis companies but for hemp growers as well.

The law legalizing recreational cannabis in Canada will come into force on October 17.
This will create new opportunities for hemp growers to produce the plant for CBD extraction.
Hemp growers will now be able to profit from all parts of the plant.
Cannabis companies are experimenting with growing techniques, expanding their businesses, and seeking supply agreements in preparation for the change.

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile), which grows industrial hemp in Canada, will now be able to sell leaves and flowers as well as other parts of its plants, and is preserving this year’s crop in preparation for the change. In the United States, Isodiol International, Inc. (OTC: ISOLF) is raising the profile of the industry through a celebrity partnership and the expansion of its retail chain. Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTC: ACBFF) has been acquiring financing to fund a program of expansions and takeovers, preparing the way to dominate the American market. Organigram Holdings, Inc. (OTC: OGRMF) and Emerald Health Therapeutics (OTC: EMHTF) have both set up a string of supply agreements, giving them quick access to the Canadian recreational market come October.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Transforming Canada’s Cannabis Industry

On October 17, cannabis will become legal in Canada. Under the provisions of the Cannabis Act, Canadians will be able to buy and consume cannabis for recreational as well as medical purposes. Careful licensing, together with clear rules around cultivation and processing, will ensure that a previously illegal industry becomes a well-regulated part of the legal economy. As Prime Minister Trudeau said when the law was passed, “It’s been too easy for our kids to get marijuana — and for criminals to reap the profits. Today, we change that.”

The Cannabis Act promises to be a great boon to the Canadian economy. Since 2014, the Canadian medical cannabis industry has grown to include over 100 licensed companies, many of which will be able to expand their sales and research under the new rules. In a year’s time, further rules will come into force that allow the sale of concentrates and edible cannabis products, creating a cannabis food and drink industry. But one of the biggest changes will take place within the industrial hemp industry.

Cannabis without the High

While the term “cannabis” is most often used to refer to plants with psychoactive effects, it actually covers a broader range of crops. One of the most historically prevalent varieties of cannabis is industrial hemp, a form of cannabis grown by companies such as the Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA).

Industrial hemp is distinct from more controversial forms of cannabis — marijuana — in that it does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient that gets users high, but rather it contains cannabidiol (CBD), which has recently grown in popularity due to its variety of medicinal benefits. Hemp was used for hundreds of years to produce fibers for cloth and rope and was widely grown in North America. But for most of the past century, it has been out of production thanks to broad-ranging anti-cannabis legislation.

The past few years have seen a resurgence for industrial hemp. Legislation created for the cultivation of medical marijuana has created the opportunity for companies such as MCOA to grow hemp in Canada. In the United States, the 2014 Farm Bill created legal space for trial crops of hemp. That bill’s 2018 successor appears set to make it entirely legal in the United States, allowing farmers to grow a highly profitable new crop.

The passing of the Cannabis Act will further improve the potential of hemp in Canada, as it will allow producers to extract cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabidiol is an active ingredient that’s commonly found in high concentrations in certain varieties of industrial hemp. It doesn’t have the psychoactive properties of THC but has been shown to have beneficial effects on health. As a result, it’s used in a growing variety of health and wellness products, including MCOA’s brand hempSMART.

Using the Whole Plant

Up until now, Canadian hemp producers have been limited in what they can do with the plant. The seeds could be extracted and used; fibers could be turned into textiles; and leftover elements known as hurds could be turned into either animal feed or construction materials. The use of leaves and flowers was specifically prohibited.

The Cannabis Act allows for a broader range of uses. Health Canada has proposed the introduction of new industrial hemp licenses to make this a reality. Under the proposed system, industrial hemp producers will be able to sell the whole plant or any of its parts to other licensed operators within the hemp industry. They could even process it themselves, extracting CBD oil as well as seeds, fibers and hurds.

It’s a change that will create a more efficient and profitable industry, as parts of the plant will no longer go to waste. And growing interest in CBD as a wellness ingredient could lead to a significant rise in income for hemp farmers. Companies such as MCOA, whose operations cover the whole industrial chain from hemp production to the sale of CBD products, will be able to build solid, sustainable supply chains that maximize profits at every step.

This is all before taking into account the possibility of agricultural subsidies. There is currently disagreement within Canada over whether cannabis growers will be eligible for subsidies under existing rules, but with the arrival of cannabis-based foods and beverages next year, lines will become increasingly blurry. MCOA and its joint venture partner, Global Hemp Group Inc., have received financial support from Canadian government agencies to research hemp cultivation. As the commercial landscape changes, hemp producers may soon find themselves eligible for even more government help.

Sowing the Seeds for a Growing Industry

MCOA’s growth in the Canadian hemp sector comes through its establishment of a high-yielding CBD hemp cultivation project in New Brunswick (NB). This collaboration with Global Hemp Group has revived hemp cultivation in the region 20 years after a previous effort failed.

The joint venture partners are in process of completion of the first phase of what is known as the Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone, or HAIZ. The aim of the HAIZ is to provide a steady supply of hemp by building a local industrial cluster, guaranteeing a market for farmers and leading to year-round jobs for others in the region. Through trial crops and careful measurement of the results, the project is providing valuable data on important issues such as pests, fertilizers and growth rates.

Recent developments at the site include the installation of drying equipment in preparation for processing. In the short term, this will allow the company to effectively store its current harvest until it can be sold and processed under the rules coming in October. In the longer term, it will increase its options for growing, processing and selling hemp. The joint venture partners are currently in the process of negotiating off-take agreements with extraction companies to sell the biomass produced during the October harvest in New Brunswick.

MCOA and its partners in New Brunswick have been finding ingenious ways to improve techniques impeded by decades outside the law. This year, the team in NB experimented with a modified bean harvester to strip leaves and flowers from the plants without picking up much straw. Based on the results, this technique is being extended to the entire 125-acre project.

Cannabis Cultivation Creates New Industry

In less than two decades, a whole new industry has grown up around the cultivation of hemp and other forms of cannabis. Even with restrictions still tight in much of the world, companies are finding ways to legally profit from these crops.

Isodiol International, Inc. (OTC: ISOLF) has become an important and active voice for the industry, employing former NFL player Marvin Washington as a director and spokesperson. The company has developed a variety of cannabis and CBD-derived products, tapping into the medical and vaping markets. Its KURE Corp subsidiary provides a strong retail front and has recently set its sights on further expansion through new and acquired shops.

A prominent player within the industry, Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTC: ACBFF) is making the most of a young market to rapidly expand its business. A $150 million loan from the Bank of Montreal is giving it a short-term financial boost to get ahead of the long-term game. It’s this sort of long-term thinking that has led the company to acquisitions such as the takeover of MedReleaf, increasing Aurora’s market share. Some commentators have compared this strategy with that of Amazon, focusing on market dominance as the route to profit.

Organigram Holdings, Inc. (OTC: OGRMF), a medical cannabis company, is preparing to expand into Canada’s recreational market in October. The company has established a number of agreements with other companies, most recently the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, to supply its products to stores. These agreements will ensure that the legal recreational market quickly grows from a principle to a reality.

Emerald Health Therapeutics (OTC: EMHTF) is also setting up supplier agreements to give it a place in the recreational starting lineup. Its partners include the Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation and Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation.

The Canadian cannabis industry is set to experience a transformation on October 17, one that will prepare companies to expand as laws change elsewhere in the world. From medical cannabis companies to hemp growers, many business enterprises are likely to profit from this change.

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

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Latest Farm Bill Developments Hold Out Hope for Hemp Farmers

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: After years of wrangling, the U.S. Congress stands on the verge of legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp.

Hemp is a variety of the cannabis sativa plant that doesn’t generate a psychoactive effect.
Traditionally used to produce cloth and rope, hemp can also now be used in wellness products and food.
Competing legislations by the House and Senate are being aligned with an anticipated September 30 deadline.
The legalization of hemp has cross-party support and appears likely to pass.

The expected change in U.S. law will be beneficial for companies such as Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile), which is already invested in industrial hemp and support for hemp growers. Across the border, Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) has established acres of Canadian hemp cultivation and gained financial backing that would support huge growth. Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF) has also received substantial funding in the past few months, which will help its ongoing expansion effort. Hemp cultivation will provide plentiful CBD to be used by companies such as CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) as an ingredient in a wide and growing range of health and wellness products. All this growth is aided by support companies such as Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC), which provides equipment for cannabis cultivators.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Hemp: Caught Between Politics and Business

Industrial hemp is a crop with a strange history in the United States. For centuries, it was used to produce products such as ropes and sails, playing an integral part in the economy. This ended in the twentieth century when hemp was caught up in a broad ban on the cannabis family of plants, despite the fact that hemp itself is not usable as a recreational drug. Now its tentative return depends upon the outcome of a far broader agricultural bill.

Because it doesn’t share the psychoactive properties of marijuana, hemp has potential to be regulated and grown separately. Early tests in restoring this industry have produced significant profits for farmers. If the political will can be found to change its status, it could create great opportunities for businesses and their suppliers.

Hemp Cultivation Project in the United States

Several companies, including Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA), are already growing hemp in the United States with their Scio, Oregon Cultivation Project, in conjunction with their joint venture partner Global Hemp Group Inc. (CSE: GHG) (OTC: GBHPF) (FRANKFURT: GHG).

Under their high-yielding CBD hemp cultivation projects, the two joint venture partners have formed Covered Bridge Acres, LTD. The key to the project was the acquisition of a 109-acre agricultural property in Scio, Oregon, with a history of hemp cultivation over the past few years. In July 2018, 40,000 hemp clones were planted on the property for Cannabidiol (CBD) propagation on approximately 33 acres of the property.

MCOA and GHG are now in the process of evaluating different harvesting, drying, storage and processing strategies in preparation of an early October harvest. The joint venture partners are also in negotiations with guaranteed offtake agreement offers and are considering strategies involved with selling the attained biomass from harvest in bulk.

When Is a Drug Not a Drug?

Hemp is one of a range of different cannabis plants. Unlike the versions smoked by recreational users, it doesn’t contain significant quantities of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that gets smokers high. It does contain the active ingredient cannabidiol (CBD), which has been widely reported to have medicinal value — reports that now have been substantiated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Importantly, hemp also contains fibers that can be used for a wide range of purposes.

In the twentieth century, cannabis plants were banned as the U.S. government and others worldwide cracked down on drug use. Though hemp doesn’t get drug users high, the governments apparently banned the cannabis plant because of the difficulty of distinguishing between the plant varieties. The decision to include hemp in a list of banned drugs was based on political expediency rather than science.

Fast forward to the twenty-first century and the rules surrounding hemp have started to change, allowing the creation of companies such as MCOA. Hemp has a huge number of potential uses, including the manufacture of cloth and paper and the processing of food. Under licenses designed to cater to research and the medical market, farmers have begun growing industrial hemp with expectations of earning up to 150 times as much money per acre of land as they would growing alfalfa.

The Great Agricultural Debate

Farm bills are an important part of how the U.S. government establishes policy around food and agricultural production and how that policy is enshrined in law. Roughly every five years, Congress creates a bill covering a wide range of agricultural topics. With its huge financial implications and many different political angles, passing the bill can be a messy business.

Following a pilot research program for hemp growers created in the 2014 Farm Bill, the current Farm Bill includes the legalization of industrial hemp. There’s a lot at stake for hemp growers as well as those hoping to enter and establish a foothold in the industry. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable has gone so far as to hire attorney Daniel Cameron, an experienced Washington legal counsel, to lead its advocacy on the bill.

The House and Senate have both passed versions of the 2018 Farm Bill that support the legalization of the hemp industry without drug enforcement oversight. On Sept. 5, the first bicameral conference committee on this Farm Bill began meeting in an attempt to resolve competing elements between the two bills, with a deadline to present the president with an agreed-on final version of the bill by the end of the month.

The good news for companies such as MCOA is that the hemp element of the Farm Bill has cross-party support. Hemp’s potential to revive the fortunes of American farmers makes it a potential vote-winner for rural politicians nervously eyeing up the polls. The bad news is that in a bill affecting everything from agricultural subsidies to environmental conservation to food stamps, there’s plenty for politicians to disagree over.

Hemp Products

Sail cloth and rigging were enough to make hemp profitable in the eighteenth century, but the world has changed since then. So what sort of products can the world expect to see from a resurgent hemp market?

Many products will undoubtedly be targeted towards the health and wellness market, using CBD as an active ingredient. A leading example of these types of products is MCOA’s hempSMART line, including hempSMART Brain, which is developed to help with alertness and concentration; hempSMART Pain Capsules and Pain Cream, formulated to be an effective product combination for the temporary relief of minor pain associated with physical activity; hempSMART Full Spectrum Drops; and hempSMART Face, a nourishing facial moisturizer infused with Ayurvedic herbs and botancials.

A Growing Industry

Many companies already engaged in the cannabis market are exploring ways they may be able to benefit from the growing popularity of hemp. Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC), one of Canada’s foremost cannabis companies, has a hemp division with expertise in this area and acres of hemp production already under way. The company also recently received a $4 billion investment from Constellation Brands, a leading beverage company, to help it expand within the fast-growing cannabis market. With such levels of investment, Canopy Growth will be in a strong position to increase production as the market for hemp products grows.

The medical use of CBD is a major area of interest for Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF), which is developing different strains of cannabis to benefit from their different medical properties. Like Canopy Growth, Aurora has an eye to expansion while the market is still young. Its recent takeover of MedReleaf appears to be just one step in a far bigger plan. The company has just taken out a $150 million loan with the Bank of Montreal, betting on the power of a short-term financial boost to make it a market leader, more than capable of repaying the debt when the time comes.

Another company exploring the medical potential of CBD is CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI). CV Sciences has a strong focus on research, with a division devoted to developing new drugs that use CBD as an active ingredient. Its consumer products division works through health care providers, health food shops and online sales to market CBD-based wellness products.

The increasing number of growers is good news for supporting companies such as Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC). Terra Tech produces growing systems — including moving tables and hydroponics — for cannabis farmers. These products are designed to increase the productivity of indoor cannabis cultivation, which is where a lot of CBD and marijuana plants are grown. The company’s environmentally friendly systems can reduce waste and thereby cut costs while also increasing productivity.

The anticipated changes in the U.S. laws governing hemp cultivation signal implications for a large number of companies in the wider cannabis sector as well. If the Farm Bill gets through Congress as expected this month, it could open up a sea change in agricultural production and U.S. wellness industry products.

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

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Canada Leads the Way as North America Embraces a Diverse Cannabis and Hemp Industry

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The pending legalization of recreational cannabis and the extraction of cannabinoids from hemp in Canada is only one in a series of changes bringing expectations of new growth to these industries.

Legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada is set to establish an industry worth billions of dollars every year.
American companies can make the most of this change through cross-border partnerships and Canadian subsidiaries.
Industrial hemp offers another option for companies in this sector, producing and extracting cannabinoids, including CBD and other cannabinoids, from the flowers and leaves will become legal on October 17, 2018.

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) is making the most of these changes, developing CBD products and industrial hemp cultivation processes alongside its Canadian partner, Global Hemp Group Inc. (CSE: GHG) (OTC: GBHPF). Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) has acquired Sunlight Supplies to give it a larger hold in the hydroponic cultivation market. GrowGeneration Corporation (OTC: GRWG) is also specializing in hydroponics, which it expects to become a $4.5 billion industry. Micron Waste Technologies, Inc. (OTC: MICWF) (CSE: MWM) is creating a specialist onsite waste management system for cannabis farmers. And as hemp cultivation appears to be on the cusp of expansion, Future Farm Technologies (OTC: FFRMF) (CSE: FFT) is producing millions of seeds with which to get farmers started.

New Laws and New Crops

The legalization of recreational use cannabinoids in Canada is set to make waves in the market this year. As the first G7 country to legalize recreational cannabis on a national scale, Canada is leading the world in taking this lucrative trade out of the hands of criminal gangs and making it part of the legitimate economy. With the global cannabis market to reach a value of $57 billion by 2027, Canada provides a great opportunity for companies to capture a piece of this rapidly emerging market.

With sales worth close to $6 billion, the Canadian cannabinoid industry has plenty of potential. It’s drawing the attention of big business, with Corona’s parent company investing billions in a cannabis beverage partnership. It is also opening a new market for companies in the related industrial hemp industry. On October 17, 2018, farmers who hold valid hemp cultivation licenses will be allowed to begin to “harvest and store flowering heads, leaves and branches of the industrial hemp plants cultivated during the 2018 growing season.” Companies will now also be able to transport, sell, import and export any part of the industrial hemp plant legally. This allows those involved in the industry to take advantage of an entirely new product market utilizing hemp-derived cannabinoids. For companies already invested in this sector, changes in Canada may open the way for a vast increase in revenues.

The Canadian Cannabis Market

It’s easy to see the appeal of the Canadian hemp and cannabis markets for the companies moving into those markets, such as Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA). Estimates by Statistics Canada indicate that Canadians spent around $5.5 billion on cannabinoids in 2017. As many commentators have pointed out, this places cannabinoid-based product potential in the market on par with alcohol for value to Canadian businesses, and close to the total spent on wine each year.

With around 450,000 people using hemp and cannabis products each day in Canada, this promises to be a stable market with a steady stream of income. It’s one on which businesses can reliably build. And it’s not just about the sale of smokable cannabis. There’s potential for hemp and cannabis-based food and drink, as well as all the paraphernalia used in consumption and the supporting functions needed by the industry and retailers.

Hemp is used in a growing list of products, including dietary supplements and skin products, and even clothing and accessories. Overall, hemp is known to have more than 25,000 possible applications. And Marijuana Business Daily reported that the U.S. market for hemp-derived CBD hit $291 million last year and is projected to explode to $1.65 billion by 2021.

Cross-Border Work

The existence of a government regulatory framework for the medical cannabis industry has made it easier for companies to prepare for full legalization in Canada. Companies, such as MCOA with its joint venture partner Global Hemp Group Inc., are already cultivating industrial hemp and have production in place that can be increased to cater to a growing market.

Though MCOA is an American company, it has gained a solid foothold in Canadian hemp cultivation through a partnership with Global Hemp Group, a Canadian public company. The companies have established two agricultural projects together — one of them in New Brunswick and the other south of the border in Oregon. Both sites are being used to develop better techniques for growing industrial hemp.

At the New Brunswick site, the work is being supported by government research investment to help advance the local hemp industry. Aided by drone technology, the companies are gathering data on the impact of pests on hemp production, ways of correcting soil acidity for better growth, and the impact of nitrogen fertilizers. The resulting crops will provide materials for MCOA’s branded hempSMART™ products as well as a rich harvest of data.

In Oregon, the focus is on growing hemp strains with a high yield of cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is one of the active chemicals in cannabis that does not get users high, unlike marijuana’s tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), though CBD still can be used for a variety of medicinal uses. Using a mixture of seeded and cloned plants, staff at the Oregon facility are growing high-CBD-yielding crops while gathering data on their progress.

The Potential of Hemp

MCOA’s investment in industrial hemp means that the company may be set to benefit from a revival in this long-suppressed superior crop as well as the changing U.S. and Canadian laws. A century ago, hemp fiber was used in the production of rope and cloth. Laws aimed at outlawing marijuana killed the industry, but as the interest in other strains of cannabis has grown in recent years, so too has attention on hemp.

In the United States, the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill is set to strike hemp from the definition of “marijuana” under the Controlled Substance Act. This would mean the revival of an industrial agricultural crop that has been repressed for almost 100 years. Language within the Farm Bill could ease regulations for CBD companies such as MCOA by allowing extracts from the hemp plant to now become legalized.

Hemp’s financial potential now lies in its use as a source of CBD oil and other cannabinoids such as CBC, CBN and CBG. The industrial applications of hemp in areas such as textiles, bio-composites and building materials will become increasingly viable as more biomass is generated in the cultivation of hemp to produce cannabinoids.

CBD has become a hot ingredient in medicine and wellness products in recent years, offering great potential for farmers. Even with the growth of hemp tightly restricted, farmers in the United States have predicted revenues of as much as $90,000 per acre from producing hemp oil. For struggling farmers, that compares favorably with the $600 per acre they can get for alfalfa and other traditional and specialty crops. CBD is the oil that goes into MCOA’s hempSMART products. There are currently less than 300,000 acres of hemp grown worldwide, compared to traditional crops such as wheat and corn, with hundreds of millions of acres of each being grown. With the potential disruptive applications for hemp from industrial to medicinal, it will ultimately compete with traditional crops as it is adopted by many sectors of the economy.

In addition, hemp has the advantage of being good for the environment as well as for business. It uses less water than many other crops, needs little in the way of pesticides and herbicides, sequesters significant carbon dioxide and can be rotated with other crops to improve the fertility of fields. Using hemp fibers for paper may reduce the number of trees chopped down, thereby protecting woodland and maintaining carbon dioxide at healthy levels.

A Growing Industry of Growing Things

The spread of cannabis legalization, alongside the increasingly well-recognized potential of hemp, is spurring growth for a number of companies.

Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) is one of several companies providing the support services that cannabis companies need. It recently expanded by acquiring Sunlight Supply, Inc., the United States’ foremost distributor of hydroponic equipment. Hydroponics is fundamental to growing cannabis in indoor facilities, which are often more effective and secure than outdoor cultivation. The $450 million deal will double the company’s share of the market in cannabis growing equipment.

GrowGeneration Corporation (OTC: GRWG) also provides equipment needed by cannabis growers in the form of hydroponic systems, nutrients and materials for hydroponic cultivation. The growth of the legal cannabis market in North America caused an 80 percent increase in the company’s sales in 2017. GrowGeneration predicts that this continuing market growth will turn hydroponics into a $4.5 billion industry in the United States alone by 2020. To make the most of this growth, GrowGeneration has acquired several smaller companies.

Like most industries, cannabis cultivation produces waste. Micron Waste Technologies, Inc. (OTC: MICWF) (CSE: MWM) is developing specialist technology to deal with this concern. A producer of onsite waste management systems, Micron’s products create clean water out of organic waste. With cannabis cultivation growing, the company is targeting this sector with a purpose-built cannabis waste digester. It even ran a competition with a $2,000 prize for the person who came up with the best name for the waste digester, a move that helped to publicize cannabis cultivation.

Future Farm Technologies (OTC: FFRMF) (CSE: FFT) provides another of the pieces of specialist equipment needed for indoor cultivation: lighting. The company makes indoor lighting and vertical farming setups suitable for cannabis cultivation. Future Farm is also preparing for the expansion of the hemp market in the United States by producing millions of hemp seeds ready to be sold to farmers. If expected changes to the federal law in the United States make it easier for farmers to cultivate hemp, then the company will be in a position to equip new entrants to the market, letting them quickly get in on a valuable cash crop.

Between the revival of hemp and legal changes, the cannabis sector is growing. It’s an increasingly diverse industry, covering medical and recreational cannabis, industrial hemp and CBD food products. Canada now provides an ideal area for companies to build up their presence in the industry, but the potential for growth is international.

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

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As Senate Brings Legal Change, Hemp Offers Hope for American Farmers

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The hemp industry is growing in North America and appears to be set for further expansion thanks to legislation making its way through the U.S. Senate.

Hemp is a cultivar of the cannabis sativa plant that lacks the active drug ingredient that makes marijuana users high.
It can be used to produce medicinal CBD oil as well as fibers for rope, paper and canvas.
Even in difficult growing conditions, hemp can provide higher profits than many other crops.
It has a lower environmental impact thanks to low water consumption and little need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) has hemp already growing at cultivation sites in Canada and the United States, experimenting with improved strains and cultivation techniques. As a provider of hydroponic equipment, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) is benefiting from the growing cannabis industry and will likely see increased sales thanks to a recent acquisition. Another provider of hydroponics, GrowGeneration Corporation (OTC: GRWG), has already seen a dramatic increase in sales thanks to acquisitions and the rise of cannabis. Micron Waste Technologies, Inc. (OTC: MICWF) (CSE: MWM) is launching specialist waste treatment equipment for cannabis growers. And as federal hemp legislation comes closer to passage, Future Farm Technologies (OTC: FFRMF) (CSE: FFT) is producing millions of hemp seeds ready to be planted by farmers in Maine.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Bringing Hemp Back

The past decade has seen a rush to embrace legal cannabis in North America. In the United States, 31 of the 50 states now allow its use for medicinal purposes while another 15 allow products derived from cannabis but with restrictions on their active chemicals. Nine states also allow the sale and use of recreational cannabis.

These changes have largely overlooked an important class of cannabis: hemp. This variety of the cannabis sativa plant does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient that is the basis of marijuana’s recreational appeal. Historically used in making rope and fabric, hemp became illegal alongside other forms of cannabis because there was no way to distinguish between them. But with new ways to provide that differentiation, industrial hemp appears to be on the cusp of returning to widespread agricultural use in the United States.

The Hemp Revival

Changes in legislation have already allowed a number of companies, including Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA), to start growing hemp in the United States and Canada. But as with so much else about cannabis production, this has been somewhat hampered by restrictions at the federal level. Now a change appears to be forthcoming.

In 2014, the Farm Bill allowed farmers to start growing hemp for research purposes. Hemp farming quickly took off, reaching 25,713 acres of harvested land in 2017. And current efforts are afoot to make the crop fully legal.

This isn’t just a publicity-grabbing move from the liberal left. A bill put before Congress by Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky aims to make hemp cultivation legal. It has cross-party support and looks likely to pass despite the partisan divides in Washington. If it does, the bill will allow companies such as MCOA to expand their efforts and may encourage more farmers to grow hemp.

The financial potential of a hemp crop is staggering. The plants can currently be used to produce cannabidiol (CBD) oil, which is used in medicines and wellness products such as those sold by MCOA. Some farmers are expecting revenues of $90,000 per acre for the oil, compared with only $600 per acre for alfalfa, which is currently one of the most popular crops in the United States.

There’s even more profit to be made from a properly developed hemp industry. Given full legalization, a revival of such ancillary industries could allow farmers to profit from both CBD oil and what is currently a waste product once the plant is processed, reviving the hemp fiber industry after nearly a century.

A Better Crop for the Environment

One of the great advantages of hemp is that it’s easier to grow in dry climates than many other crops. Though it needs more water than other crops during the first few weeks of growth, hemp subsequently needs less water and is less vulnerable to drought. This makes it an ideal crop for farmers in arid environments, such as parts of the western United States, as well as those currently facing the impact of climate change.

Reduced water consumption is one of several factors that make hemp an environmentally friendly crop. Growing hemp doesn’t require pesticides and herbicides, meaning that the soil can be left clean and given a chance to recover between other crops. Hemp can also be used instead of trees to produce paper fibers, thus saving trees and reducing the geographical footprint of paper production.

Hemp is a fast-growing plant, capable of growing up to 20 feet in 100 days, allowing farmers to potentially grow a substantial crop in a relatively small area, even in soil conditions where other plants might struggle to survive. With legalization expected with the passing of the Farm Bill, hemp cultivation may grow beyond the small crop levels currently established by companies such as MCOA. An increasing number of farmers are already planting hemp. Once the red tape is eliminated, more will surely jump on board this bandwagon.

Getting Ahead of a Growing Industry

This change is good news for MCOA and its existing hemp cultivation projects. Legal change will give the company credibility as an early adopter in a suddenly expanding field, with the advantages in technique that experience brings.

One of the company’s projects is the continued development of Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone (HAIZ) in New Brunswick, Canada, with its partner Global Hemp Group (CSE: GHG). There, MCOA and GHG have been working with the government to explore different approaches to hemp cultivation and encourage the industry in the region. Supported by a government grant, MCOA and GHG have been conducting experiments that study and evaluate soil conditions and pest problems that could affect hemp crops. Drones allow researchers to accurately assess the success of crops and gain a better understanding of what makes hemp grow best.

More recently, the company has also established a hemp cultivation site in the state of Oregon in another joint venture project with GHG. This 109-acre site features both indoor and outdoor cultivation that allows the company to maintain a steady supply of plants throughout the year.

At the Oregon facility, MCOA and GHG are cultivating hemp varieties with particularly strong yields of CBD. This active ingredient in hemp is being used in a growing variety of medical and wellness products, with applications including increased alertness, the control of epilepsy and pain management. By collecting and analyzing data on hemp strains to augment CBD development, MCOA hopes to establish better profits and wider availability for this important medicine.

Businesses Benefit from Hemp

The ascendance of hemp cultivation and the wider cannabis sector is bringing benefits for companies in supporting services. Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) recently completed the acquisition of Sunlight Supply, Inc., the leading distributor of hydroponics products in the United States. This $450 million deal is the largest transaction Scotts has ever made and will double its sales to cannabis growers, who make extensive use of hydroponic equipment. The lawns and gardens specialist might not be growing cannabis, but as legalization spreads and the sector grows, the company certainly stands to profit from the plant.

Another provider of growing equipment, GrowGeneration Corporation (OTC: GRWG), is also set to benefit from an expanding sector. By selling hydroponic systems, nutrients and materials for hydroponic cultivation, the company has seen a steady increase in its profits. Its sales increased 80 percent in 2017, and it has acquired several smaller companies to ensure its growth. The company expects U.S. hydroponic sales to exceed $4.5 billion by 2020, thanks to exponential growth driven by the cannabis sector.

Micron Waste Technologies, Inc. (OTC: MICWF) (CSE: MWM) also supports cannabis cultivators but in a different way. The company provides onsite waste management systems that turn organic waste into clean water. Micron Waste has targeted marijuana cultivators as one of the markets for its products. To celebrate this growing market, the company recently ran a contest to name its specialist cannabis waste digester.

Another specialist in indoor growing equipment, Future Farm Technologies (OTC: FFRMF) (CSE: FFT) specializes in LED lighting and vertical farming solutions. Not content with providing supplies to the cannabis sector, the company has entered the market itself with a hemp farm in Maine. The farm is soon expected to provide over 15 million hemp seeds to farmers in the region, which will allow the growers to quickly increase hemp cultivation if the current Farm Bill passes into law.

After being banned for decades, industrial hemp is seeing a rapid rise in North America. It offers opportunities for farmers and suppliers of cultivation equipment. And perhaps most importantly, it offers an environmentally friendly crop for difficult growing conditions.

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

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Specific Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD) Validated by FDA

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: In a landmark announcement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a drug derived from pure cannabidiol (CBD), Epidiolex, to treat seizures associated with certain forms of severe epilepsy, setting the stage for huge changes in the world of cannabidiol (CBD).

FDA approval of a cannabis-based drug represents seismic political, legal and economic shifts
Approval likely will lead to more clinical research and further validation of CBD therapeutic efficacy
CBD market projected to explode to more than $2 billion in two years with 39 percent CAGR

What’s most transformative about this drug approval is that this is the first time the FDA — the governmental arbiter of safe and effective medicine in the United States — has approved any substance derived from the cannabis sativa plant and validated certain therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol. The FDA is, to some extent, endorsing what has been anecdotally accepted by the masses for millennia.

CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can be extracted from the industrial hemp plant, is understandably generating worldwide interest from both the scientific and investment communities. A large part of CBD’s mass appeal is that it’s believed to aid with a broad range of wellness concerns. CBD is known to interact with the human endocannabinoid system, which is found throughout the body’s nervous system, organs, connective tissues, glands and immune system. Research indicates CBD may have the potential to treat a wide range of conditions such as anxiety, high blood pressure, skin issues and chronic pain. It’s being researched to treat Alzheimer’s, and one study even suggests CBD might be a useful addition when given with conventional antipsychotic medications in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Continued rigorous clinical research is being conducted to further confirm all the potential therapeutic benefits that may be found in this cannabinoid extract. In the meantime, the mass appeal of CBD remains unabated, and the market for CBD products continues to grow at an astounding rate. Committed to the legal hemp-derived CBD market, Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) provides consumers with pure, hemp plant-based CBD nutritional products through its global hempSMART™ brand and has initiated broad-ranging, innovative cultivation programs for legal, high-quality hemp. Others vying for position in the burgeoning CBD space include Isodiol International, Inc. (CSE: ISOL) (OTC: ISOLF) (FSE: LB6A.F), CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI), PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC: POTN) and Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA).

The Boom Has Just Begun

Three years ago, in 2015, the hemp-derived CBD market racked up $90 million in sales. Last year that number reached $190 million in sales — and the boom has just begun. The Hemp Business Journal projects $2.1 billion in total CBD sales by 2020 and estimates that $450 million of that will come from hemp-based sources. The explosive demand projections are attributed to an increased public awareness of the wide-ranging potential health benefits of hemp CBD oil and advancements in cultivation, plus the convenience and reach of online 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.

Hemp Focus

With an overarching focus on the cultivation, development and distribution of legal industrial hemp-derived products, Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA) aims to capture an outsized share of growing worldwide demand. Pure hemp-based consumer nutritional products are at the core of this demand, and the company has developed a portfolio of ancillary hemp-centric businesses to vertically integrate hemp production and sales. Cultivation of high-quality hemp from portfolio companies feeds MCOA’s proprietary CBD-based formulations, dovetailing to produce the finest quality nutritional supplements on the market.

The unique company vision emanates from Donald Steinberg, MCOA’s CEO. A cannabis industry pioneer, he founded the first cannabinoid-centric company to trade on a U.S. stock market. His vast knowledge and industry experience give MCOA unparalleled insights into the machinations of the CBD markets and the vision to capitalize on industry opportunities in a market projected to exceed $2 billion in the coming years. In keeping with this ambitious strategy, Steinberg and his partner, Charlie Larsen, formed Marijuana Company of America as well its sister company, Canadian-based Global Hemp Group, Inc. (OTC: GBHPF), which is focused on the legal cultivation and processing of industrial hemp. MCOA continues to build an impressive portfolio of synergistic companies across the hemp spectrum. From farm to finished products, MCOA’s socially conscious strategy is to capitalize at each profit point and establish a significant footprint at multiple inflection points across the entire hemp value chain.

Hemp-Based Nutritionals

MCOA has worked to create a recognized and respected hempSMART product line that contains levels of clinically researched ingredients designed to exceed consumer expectations and support the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. To serve health-conscious consumers, hempSMART includes an array of proprietary nutritional products.

hempSMART Brain is a patent-pending formulation designed for optimal brain function support.
hempSMART Drops offer the highest concentration and potency of full-spectrum bioavailable CBD.
hempSMART Pain Capsules contain a blend of premium CBD and botanical supplements.
hempSMART Pain Cream is a proprietary formulation for relief from muscle and joint pain.
hempSMART Full Spectrum Pet Drops is a unique nutritional supplement designed for furry family members.
hempSMART Face is a topical face moisturizer that combines CBD oil with ayurvedic herbs and botanicals.

MCOA’s hempSMART goes through an exacting CO2 extraction process to ensure the highest quality in the company’s natural wellness product line. By combining these pure industrial hemp-based cannabinoids with some of nature’s most effective wellness ingredients, MCOA’s hempSMART products are poised to deliver optimally formulated wellness products to health-conscious consumers.

In a forward-thinking plan to expand retail distribution and capitalize on impulse buys in high-traffic stores, MCOA took a 25 percent equity stake in BeniHemp-branded CBD products. BeniHemp health-focused products include topicals, tinctures and edibles packaged in one-day, two-day and thirty-day supplies widely distributed to convenience stores, smoke shops, gas stations and small retail outlets.

A Growing Portfolio

In addition to the hempSMART and BeniHemp consumer products lines, MCOA continues to strategically assemble synergistic portfolio companies. In a joint venture with sister company Global Hemp Group, MCOA launched a 125-acre industrial hemp cultivation project in northeast New Brunswick, Canada. The project targets the promotion of hemp farming while providing year-round jobs in crop and finished product processing.

Also in conjunction with Global Hemp Group, MCOA is developing Covered Bridge Acres, an innovative high-yielding CBD hemp cultivation project in Oregon. The project utilizes both traditional outdoor cultivation and what will ultimately become more than 19,000 square feet of indoor greenhouses, which are slated to eventually supply the raw oil needed for the hempSMART CBD product line.

MCOA also took a 15 percent equity stake in MoneyTrac Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of Global Payout, Inc. (OTC: GOHE). MCOA made this investment to help establish and market MoneyTrac Technology as an alternative banking solution for the cannabis industry.

Others Vying for Position

Isodiol International, Inc. (CSE: ISOL) (OTC: ISOLF) (FSE: LB6A.F) grows and harvests hemp on an industrial scale then processes it to extract the cannabidiol for distribution. The company commercializes pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids, micro-encapsulations and nanotechnology for consumable and topical skin care products. Isodiol has announced plans to develop additional over-the-counter and pharmaceutical drugs, expand its phytoceutical portfolio and expand into Latin America, Asia and Europe.

CV Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: 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. The company is also developing and pursuing FDA approval for drugs with specific indications utilizing cannabidiol as the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Founded by MCOA CEO Donald Steinberg in 2009, Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) was the first U.S.-traded CBD company. The company develops, distributes and sells hemp oil that contains naturally occurring cannabinoids, including CBD. The company sells its hemp-derived CBD products through a variety of distribution subsidiaries. The company was among the first to bring hemp-based CBD oil products to market in the United States and the first to receive federal government import approvals in Mexico, Paraguay and Brazil.

PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC: POTN) is a publicly traded company that acts as a holding company for its subsidiaries, First Capital Venture Co.; Diamond CBD, Inc.; and Sunrise Auto Mall, Inc. Diamond CBD focuses on the research, development and multinational marketing of hemp extracts that contain a broad range of cannabinoids and natural hemp derivatives. Diamond CBD’s team consists of hemp industry professionals, chemists, doctors and scientists — all working together to produce CBD oils.

Seismic Shift

Modern science has begun to substantiate both the anecdotal history and the therapeutic efficacy of cannabidiol. The FDA’s recent approval of a cannabis-based drug represents a seismic shift and is further indication of the enormous curative potential that may be found in CBD. As more scientific validations ensue, the market for CBD products could easily exceed expectations, and well-positioned companies in the space could outperform the market.

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

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Proposed Legal Changes Offer a Boost for Cannabidiol Companies in the United States

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Recent growth in the market for cannabidiol (CBD) products has been strong and appears poised to continue.

CBD is an active ingredient derived from industrial hemp that does not contain the psychoactive or “high” effect of marijuana.
CBD is used in a wide range of products, from cosmetics to pet supplements.
The recent acceptance of a CBD-based medicine by U.S. authorities creates potential for legal change that could make the sale of CBD easier.
Attention in the mainstream press has created a measure of gravitas for CBD.

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) has produced a diverse range of CBD products to promote well-being. Cannabis company Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) has created a range of CBD oils for its customers while expanding its global reach. Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF) provides pain relief through a range of cannabis strains and is set to expand its R&D potential through a takeover. Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) provides equipment to cultivate cannabis and would benefit from a change in the legal landscape alongside its customers. PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC: POTN) holds several subsidiary companies benefiting from cannabis and CBD products, thanks to the diversity of the sector.

U.S. Authorities Consider Legal Changes

For decades, federal rules have held back cannabinoid-derived medicines in the United States. Though the majority of states now allow medical marijuana and associated cannabinoid-derived products, national legislation is still grounded in the war on drugs. The cannabis and hemp plants are classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning that it is legally seen as both dangerous and without medical benefits. Even treatments using cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient found in hemp and cannabis that is nonpsychoactive, currently fall under this classification.

That may be about to change. Following the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ground-breaking acceptance of prescription drug Epidiolex, the future of CBD products for medicinal use appears to be up in the air. Meanwhile, legislation from both sides of America’s political divide offers the possibility of bigger changes.

Tackling the Law

Progress on the legal status of CBD is being eagerly watched by companies such as Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA). With a focus on industrial hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol products, MCOA doesn’t produce and sell medical or recreational marijuana. But because hemp products are derived from the same family of plants, they fall under the same stigmas associated with the plant.

Increasingly liberal legislation at the state level has allowed companies such as MCOA to thrive in the United States. But that evidence-based liberalization is in conflict with the federal government’s decades-long prohibition, which some within the current conservative government are looking to reinforce rather than relax.

Despite this, the FDA approved CBD-based Epidiolex in June. Epidiolex has been developed to counter the seizures brought on by two rare ailments. Its approval for sale as a prescription medicine doesn’t mean that similar medications will automatically be approved, but it does open the possibility. In light of the approval, repeated calls have been made for the FDA to look again at the scheduling of certain cannabinoids and the broader picture of cannabis-derived medicines.

At the same time, several pieces of legislation that could change CBD’s status are being considered by Congress. Some of those are actually being proposed by Republicans, making it appear less likely that they will be blocked by America’s more conservative party. It looks increasingly likely that rescheduling or other legislative changes may soon make it easier for companies to cultivate industrial hemp as well as produce and market CBD products.

When such change comes, companies with a wide array of products are likely to be the ones that will benefit most. With a range that already runs from pain treatment to therapies for pet care and memory enhancement, MCOA’s line of products is representative of how versatile the use of CBD can be. A loosening of restrictions would make it easier to both broaden this selection and make it available to a wider market.

CBD Goes Mainstream

The growth of companies such as MCOA is helped by increasing mainstream attention on CBD. Forbes has reported on research into the product by the World Health Organization. Esquire has profiled the rise and diverse uses of this ingredient. The Washington Post has explored the growing popularity of CBD among celebrities, consumers and wellness professionals.

Because CBD doesn’t get a user high, it might seem strange that the marijuana derivative is becoming one of the most popular hemp-derived products. But the wellness market is big business in America as consumers clamor for ways to improve their energy levels and reduce the low-key aches and pains of everyday life. CBD’s reputation for improving health is making it popular among people who want the reported medical benefits without having to deal with the high.

The result is a fast-growing market. Consumer sales of CBD amounted to $262.2 million in the United States in 2016, more than double what they had been only two years before. Based on the market’s ongoing growth, analysts have predicted that the market will hit the billion-dollar mark by 2021.

More than half of CBD consumers take the products every day with anxiety, anti-inflammation and joint pain being the top symptoms the products are designed to impact. Successful treatment of these conditions would likely create a large base of long-term consumers.

The Varied Uses of CBD

This large and growing consumer base is looking to CBD for potential impact on a wide range of wellness concerns. The ability of companies such as MCOA to provide a range of products aimed at these symptoms would allow those companies to tap into a broad share of the market. MCOA’s hempSMART™ products are a great example of how many uses a single company can find for CBD.

HempSMART Brain is a patent-pending nootropic product designed to support natural brain function, which fits with what many consumers expect from CBD because the product is focused on the mind. These innovative capsules can be taken to support alertness and concentration.

HempSMART Pain is designed to provide relief from pain associated with physical activity by combining CBD with botanical supplements. Their hempSMART Pain Cream is designed to provide temporary relief from and soothe sore, aching muscles and joints.

The company most recently 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. And perhaps most surprising is the company’s offering of sublingual CBD tinctures, including hempSMART Full-Spectrum Drops and hempSMART Pet Drops, a bacon-flavored supplement formulated to provide cats and dogs with renewed energy as well as a tasty treat.

Such a diverse range of products could help a company such as MCOA attract the attention of CBD consumers. It might also allow consumers to use CBD in more areas of their lives, expanding the CBD market.

Companies Set to Benefit

It’s not just the variety of CBD products that bodes well for the industry — it’s also the range of companies. If the legal status of cannabis and cannabis-derived products changes, an entire sector is set to benefit.

Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC), a leading player in retail cannabis, is using its research in the area to create CBD oils. By balancing the ratio of CBD and THC within its oils, Canopy Growth caters to differing wellness needs. Already a trusted player within the Canadian market, the company has acquired a subsidiary in the Kingdom of Lesotho and established another in Latin America. By looking to the wider world, the company is further expanding the global market for cannabis and CBD products.

One of the leading areas of interest for CBD is in pain relief. Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF), one of the largest cannabis companies in the world, has established a strong position in this sector. The company has developed a large range of different strains of medical cannabis that can be used in developing new products as well as in retail. The Canadian Competition Bureau recently approved a takeover of MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF), a research-oriented company, by Aurora, leaving the company in a stronger position to make the most of the coming changes.

Rescheduling cannabis would benefit not just the companies selling cannabis and CBD products but also those supporting them. Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) is a producer of environmentally friendly growing systems for cannabis growers. Its hydroponic systems use moving tables and recycled waste water to increase yields and reduce costs. As it becomes easier to grow and market cannabis, more growers may turn to Terra Tech for the equipment they need.

The maturity of the CBD and cannabis sector has also led to the emergence of several holding companies, including PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC: POTN). This company’s subsidiaries include Diamond CBD, First Capital Venture and PotNetwork. Through these entities, PotNetwork benefits from growth across different parts of the industry, as well as supporting other companies in their expansion.

The market for CBD and other cannabis-derived products is already strong. With the prospect of legal rescheduling increasingly likely, these companies seem poised to benefit from changing attitudes in the United States and beyond.

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

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Hemp CBD Products Offer a Natural Alternative to Synthetic-Derived Medicines

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The opioid crisis in North America has drawn attention to the urgent need for alternative medicines, and hemp CBD products offer a viable plant-based option.

An active ingredient in industrial hemp, Cannabidiol (CBD) can be extracted to be used in a number of different products such as topicals, tinctures, and capsules.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has found CBD to be nonpsychoactive, nonaddictive, and to have a positive effect on patients’ health.
Scientific studies have shown CBD to be effective in pain relief and, therefore, it may be a healthier alternative to addictive opioids.

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) is actively engaged in producing all-natural products containing CBD, including a recently released pain cream that can be applied topically to relieve discomfort. Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) has recently received a boost in funds and a license to produce cannabis products in Australia, allowing the company to grow its operations. Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC), which produces oils containing CBD, is expanding into Lesotho and Colombia, exploring a global pain-relief market. Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF), which already produces a wide range of medical marijuana strains, is in the process of acquiring an R&D company to strengthen its offerings. And Organigram Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: OGRMF) produces medical strains that include a CBD option for patients and care providers eager to benefit from this ingredient.

The Opioid Epidemic

The United States is facing one of its greatest medical crises in decades — the opioid epidemic. During 2016 alone, 42,249 people died of opioid overdoses, 115 deaths every day. Despite the attention being turned onto this problem, most states are seeing further increases rather than declines in opioid abuse and its consequences. As the problem grows, physicians, emergency rooms and other healthcare providers are feeling pressure to find effective treatments for pain management, one of the largest causes of the growing problem.

Though illegal drugs such as heroin play their part, this crisis is fuelled by prescription drugs. The prescription painkiller problem began in the 1990s, when pharmaceutical companies persuaded healthcare providers that they could prescribe opioid painkillers without risk of addiction. This proved to be untrue, as large numbers of patients began misusing the drugs. Today, an estimated 21–29 percent of patients prescribed opioids misuse them, with 8–12 percent developing a disorder. And while misuse of legal drugs is a huge problem in its own right, it is also the gateway to illegal opioids. However, by the time the problem was recognized, the medical sector had become reliant on opioids. Pain relief is a critical part of modern medicine, which helps patients manage chronic conditions as well as cope with recovery from shorter-term illnesses, accidents and operations. Simply abandoning opioids was not an option.

An Alternative to Opioids

One option gaining increased attention may be the use of all-natural cannabidiol (CBD) products, as a plant-derived option to the use of synthetic prescription painkillers. These products do not contain THC, the ingredient that gets cannabis users high, and so can be used to provide relief without impairing a user’s normal mental activities. Products containing CBD, which have recently been developed by companies such as Marijuana Company of America (MCOA Profile), may offer a viable alternative to synthetic medicines.

CBD applications and uses have benefitted from changes surrounding that industry. Licenses to grow industrial hemp have allowed companies to combine agriculture, R&D and product development with those seeking medical uses for hemp. MCOA’s recently established cultivation in Oregon is a prime example of this work, with researchers developing better growing techniques and improved plant strains that will allow them to extract higher yields of CBD oil.

A Healthier Option?

Scientific research into the effectiveness of CBD supports its potential in pain relief. A review of recent studies found that it was generally effective in helping patients manage their pain. Not only can it provide a viable alternative to opioid painkillers.

The advantage of CBD over opioids appear to be that it may provide a safer, healthier treatment option. CBD appears to be far less physically and mentally addictive than many prescribed pain medications. Patients can use it without experiencing the high risks of addiction that accompany many prescription painkillers.

The World Health Organization released a scientific research report conducted on CBD, which found the compound to be nonpsychoactive and nonaddictive; the report also noted that it has multiple health benefits. CBD oils provide patients with access to the relief that medical marijuana would bring but without many of the side effects.

Applied Medicine

By providing alternatives for relief, companies working with CBD are providing a pathway out of the opioid epidemic. One example of a CBD pain-management product is MCOA’s recently released hempSMART Pain Cream.

HempSMART Pain Cream is a topical treatment developed to reduce discomfort, support joint mobility, and relax muscles. Each bottle contains 300mg of full-spectrum CBD derived from industrial hemp, combined with other natural plant-based extracts. The cream contains the company’s own formulation of Ayurvedic herbs along with menthol, cayenne pepper extract, rosemary oil, aloe gel, white willow bark, arnica, wintergreen extract and tea tree oil. Together, these ingredients appear to provide an immediate cooling and soothing sensation, while the CBD helps to ease discomfort.

“We will continue to expand our health and wellness lines in 2018 to include more products,” said MCOA CEO Donald Steinberg. “Pain Cream has been enthusiastically received by our affiliates and customers.”

Pain Cream is just one of many hempSMART products already developed by MCOA. As more is learned about the potential uses of CBD in wellness products, the company will likely develop new products and treatments. From hempSMART Brain, a brain-enhancing formulation, to hempSMART Face, a CBD-infused cosmetic, the company is finding new ways to deliver the benefits of this chemical compound.

Cannabis Companies Explore Potential of CBD

Meanwhile, patients looking for pain relief have the chance to move away from prescription drugs and into treatments without the same risks of addiction. A number of other companies are also exploring the potential of CBD treatments.

One of the most prominent is Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON), the first Nasdaq-traded company purely focused on cannabis. Though based in North America, the company has recently started branching out, obtaining a manufacturing license to produce products based on medical cannabis in Australia. Boosted by funds raised through a recent public offering, the company is set to become a global player in the field of cannabis-derived treatments, including pain medication.

Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) is also looking to bring cannabis and CBD treatments to a wider market. Having previously acquired a cannabis company in Lesotho, giving it access to the African market, the company is now expanding into Latin America through the acquisition of a Colombian company. Canopy Growth produces oils with varying levels of CBD to meet the varying needs of customers.

One of the world’s largest cannabis companies, Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF) is heavily involved in pain relief through its wide selection of medical cannabis strains. The company recently took a step toward improving its research into cannabis-derived medicine, thanks to the Canadian Competition Bureau’s approval of a proposed takeover of MedReleaf. By acquiring another R&D-driven cannabis company, Aurora hopes to expand its own research into CBD-based medicines.

Medical cannabis company Organigram Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: OGRMF) has produced a range of different strains, including CBD-rich options. It has recently been licensed to expand its production facilities, allowing the company to better meet the needs of a growing market.

With companies developing hemp-derived, CBD-based wellness products, a new alternative to synthetic opioid-based medications is emerging. CBD-based options may also provide access to the benefits of medical cannabis without that product’s mind-altering properties and other worrisome side effects.

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

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Cannabidiol Market Anticipates Growth as Regulatory Change Looms in U.S.

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Restrictions in the United States on cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient in cannabis, appear likely to loosen over the next few months, creating opportunities for CBD production and distribution companies.

CBD is an active ingredient with medical benefits but no “high”, or pyshcoactive effects.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a CBD-based medicine for the first time.
Companies are cultivating hemp to develop high yielding CBD plants.

Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) is cultivating industrial hemp for CBD propagation at sites in the United States and Canada while continuting to develop and manfuacture CBD-based products for its hempSMART™ brand. Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) is expanding its global reach for cannabis products through deals covering the United States, Canada, Australia and Poland, as this sector of the economy goes global. CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) is providing a clean bill of health for its CBD wellness products. Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) is providing advanced hydroponic growing systems that increase crop yields and reduce costs for CBD-oriented companies. Manufacturer Liberty Health Sciences (OTC: LHSIF) produces cannabis in facilities recently certified as meeting high standards for manufacturing.

FDA Leads the Way to Reclassify Cannabidiol

The market for cannabis and hemp products has seen a low-key but potentially huge step forward in recent weeks. For the first time, the FDA has approved a medicine that uses cannabidiol (CBD) as its active ingredient. CBD is a compound that can be found in the hemp and cannabis plants, but unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) it does not get users high.

Repeated studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of cannabinoids. As a result, cannabis products have been approved for medical use in many states, but this is the first time that a cannabinoid-based CBD product has been approved at the federal level. This approval represents a softening of the federal government’s attitude. CBD was previously classified as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency, but this body is now expected to change its stance within the next three months, allowing the possibility to manufacture products that would currently be banned on the national level. This possibility represents a huge moment for the CBD industry.

Better Plants for Better Health

One of the companies likely to benefit from this change is the Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA). The company is focused on the cultivation of industrial hemp and the manufacturing of hemp-derived CBD products, and is expanding its operations to better serve its growing market.

The most recent addition to the company’s operations is an industrial hemp cultivation site in Scio, Oregon. Created in collaboration with Global Hemp Group (GHG), this is a 109-acre site in the Willamette Valley. With its rich soil and pre-existing irrigation infrastructure, the valley provides an ideal location for an agricultural project that has already been home to cannabis cultivation in the past.

The Scio facility uses a mixture of cultivation practices. It has 19,000 square feet of greenhouse growing space under construction alongside fields for outdoor crops. This will allow the company to produce a steady supply of hemp all year, with high-yield plants ensuring a significant volume of output.

One of the main aims of the team working at Scio is to encourage plant strains that have a particularly high yield of CBD. Careful data collection and analysis are being used to assess the quality of plants and the effectiveness of techniques used to grow them. The expected change in the legal status of CBD in the United States will make it easier for MCOA to conduct research and cultivate CBD rich industrial hemp like at the Scio site, and for patients to have access to the products that come from it.

Working with Government to Improve Agriculture

MCOA and GHG are also collaborating on a similar project in New Brunswick, Canada, on a much larger scale. For this project, the two companies are working with the New Brunswick Department of Aquaculture, Agriculture and Fisheries (DAAF) to explore better approaches to growing hemp.

With markets for hemp and CBD reaching greater maturity, the DAAF has shown its faith in the future by awarding a grant of $10,750 to the joint MCOA and GHG venture in the region. These funds will be used on test projects for the current crop season, which will allow the companies to improve their cultivation techniques.

These government-funded tests are focused on three areas, two of which are looking at soil conditions to identify the best levels of nitrogen fertilizer for crops and whether soil acidity can be effectively adjusted using local supplies of slag lime. The third area of study is the European corn borer, a moth that damages crops and that has been a pest to farmers in the region. Damage from borers was found on hemp stalks last year, so the companies will be looking at the impact this damage could have on cultivation.

The latest technology is being used to ensure the success of these tests. A drone company has been employed to provide overviews of growth across hemp fields because the height of the stalks and density of cultivation makes assessment by other means difficult. With agricultural experiments underway in both Canada and the United States, MCOA has multiple opportunities to cultivate better CBD crops.

In New Brunswick, the two companies have created what they refer to as the Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone (HAIZ), where they are carrying out trials of hemp cultivation targeted at developing the industry in the province. By exploring cultivation techniques, ensuring a market for the product and providing consistent jobs for local farm workers, they aim to create a green-industry cluster specializing in hemp.

Creating Wellness

MCOA isn’t just a cultivation company. It is manufacturing its hemp crops into a wide range of products formulated to improve the well-being of customers.

Much of this work is carried out through hempSMART, the company’s most prominent consumer brand. HempSMART creates CBD-based wellness products and provides consumers with education about the potential benefits CBD may provide. Many consumers don’t understand the difference between CBD and THC products. Through hempSMART, MCOA is raising awareness while reaching out to a growing market.

The most recent release from hempSMART is the relaunch of its hempSMART Brain product. This version doubles the dose of CBD from the original, combining CBD oil with a blend of natural plant-based ingredients. Designed to maintain mental clarity, alertness, focus and concentration, as well as promote relaxation, restorative sleep, and the repair and regeneration of brain cells, hempSMART Brain is a flagship product that demonstrates MCOA’s wellness agenda. With the prospect of a change in the CBD compound’s legal status in the United States, companies such as MCOA will have more opportunities to develop and sell these types of products, spreading CBD-based wellness.

Growing Companies Profit from Changing Regulations

A range of companies in the cannabinoid sector will be in a position to profit from this change. Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) is demonstrating the global potential of cannabinoid products. The North American company already has a cross-border deal that allows it to make use of advances in both Canada and the United States. In addition, Cronos was recently granted a manufacturing license to produce cannabis-based products in Australia, and a new Polish distribution agreement will give the company a foothold in the European market.

CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) is firmly focused on the CBD sector. The company has two parts: a drug development division exploring novel CBD-based treatments and a consumer product division that manufactures, markets and sells the resulting products.

Some companies are focused on providing support and equipment for CBD cultivation. Terra Tech Corporation (OTC: TRTC) has created a hydroponic growing system that uses moving tables to increase yields by up to 30 percent while reducing costs by up to half. Its energy efficiency and recycling of waste water means that the company’s systems live up to the expectations of green-minded consumers.

Liberty Health Sciences (OTC: LHSIF) works in the medical cannabis market. As it acquires and operates U.S.-based cannabis companies, its aim is to produce safe, high-quality cannabis for patients. It has recently received Good Manufacturing Practice certification for its high standards of safety, consistency and quality.

Given the growing number of players in the cannabis market, a shift in the classification of CBD on a federal level could have a tremendous impact. For companies already focusing on CBD products, a huge opportunity for growth in the United States may be on the horizon.

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

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