420 with CNW – Moosehead Teams up With Sproutly Canada to Produce Cannabis Beverages

Moosehead Breweries Ltd, one of the largest breweries in Canada, has announced that it plans to form a joint venture with Sproutly Canada, Inc. in order to make cannabis-infused drinks. The drinks will be introduced on the Canadian market by the end of this year.

Andrew Oland, the CEO of Moosehead Breweries Ltd, said that the company wants to enter the cannabis beverages space as soon as the federal government in Canada releases rules to regulate cannabis edibles in the country.

As a leader in the beer industry, Moosehead is convinced that the company is well placed to be a major player in the cannabis drinks sector.

Once the joint venture is finalized, Mathew Oland will be its head. Mathew Oland is a former Vice President of Moosehead Breweries and in that role, he superintended the supply chain infrastructure of the brewery. While at the joint venture, Mathew Oland will oversee Research and Development (R&D), procurement and distribution as well as the operations of the new entity. A name for the joint venture hasn’t yet been agreed upon. The financial aspects of the joint venture are also yet to be finalized.

Keith Dolo, the CEO of Sproutly Canada, revealed that the joint venture will be given exclusive rights to use Sproutly Canada’s technology for five years, which can be extended for two more years.

Dolo added that working with Moosehead will expedite the process of getting the drinks developed to the market in a sector that is expected to be highly competitive.

To get an idea about how tough the competition is likely to get, consider the fact that Canopy Growth and Constellation Brands are finalizing a bottling line for cannabis beverages. Another cannabis company, Hexo Corp. also teamed up with Molson Coors Brewing Company to make marijuana-infused drinks. Other small players have also expressed their interest in entering the cannabis drinks market.

However, the drinks made using Sproutly Canada’s technology may have an edge in the industry since this technology shortens the time within which a person can feel the effect of the drink he or she has consumed.

Just for comparison purposes, the cannabis drinks available in California take more than an hour to kick in and the effects wear off between 4-8 hours later. In contrast, Sproutly’s technology results in a cannabis drink whose effects are felt within five minutes and those effects wear off in less than two hours. No prizes for guessing which product stands a higher chance of being a hit in the market!

Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) congratulate Sproutly Canada, Inc. and Moosehead Breweries Ltd upon their desire to form a joint venture so that Canadians can have an increased number of options to select from when they want a cannabis beverage.

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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420 with CNW – Maine Releases Recreational Marijuana Draft Rules

Ever since voters in Maine approved a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016, the state had never formulated rules to regulate the commercialization of adult-use cannabis even if residents were allowed to grow a limited number of cannabis plants soon after the midterm vote that paved the way for recreational marijuana. Two years later, the state has released its draft rules indicating how the recreational market will be regulated.

The draft rules indicate that applicants will first have to obtain a conditional license from the state before getting the approval of the town or city where the applicants wish to operate their recreational marijuana businesses. Once the local authority approves, then the state will give the applicant a license that is valid for 12 months.

According to the draft rules, the state will take approximately 90 days before giving applicants the conditional license (the first step of the licensing process). During that time, the state will look into the criminal background of the applicant as well as any other needed checks before the applicant is given the conditional license.

However, the biggest hurdle that applicants may have to navigate is the different conditions that local authorities (towns and cities) will impose before one obtains their approval. Some local jurisdictions have already formulated their own recreational cannabis rules while others are holding out until the state releases their final rules. The local authorities will then analyze those state rules and decide whether recreational marijuana will be allowed within their jurisdictions or not.

The draft rules released by the state indicate that any local authority that doesn’t pass its own recreational marijuana rules will remain cannabis-free since their non-action will be deemed as a lack of interest in having recreational marijuana businesses within their jurisdiction.

It is also worth noting that the draft rules restrict the ownership of recreational cannabis businesses within Maine to residents of the state. Corporate veils to sidestep this requirement are strictly prohibited.

In fact, the rules state that from June 2021, only residents who have filed their tax returns in Maine for at least 4 years will be eligible for marijuana business licenses. The ballot measure that legalized recreational marijuana had stated that medical cannabis businesses would be given first priority when issuing recreational cannabis licenses.

However, that provision was changed legislatively so that the emphasis could be placed on being a resident of the state. This change was intended to ensure that Mainers benefited from this industry.

The draft rules go deeper into the specific conditions that one must fulfill in order to obtain a cultivation, product manufacturing and retail license. Rules governing product testing will be released later, and they will not need legislative approval.

The current draft rules are now open to public comment and the state hopes to start receiving applications later this year if the legislators can approve the draft rules before the summer break of the legislature commences.

Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) and Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) hope that the long-awaited draft rules will be processed quickly so that Maine can enjoy the benefits of commercializing recreational cannabis.

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420 with CNW – New Mexico Makes Sweeping Changes to its Medical Cannabis Law

Ever since the Compassionate Use Act was signed into law in 2007, no major changes had been made to it until last week when Gov. Michele Grisham appended her signature to Senate Bill 406. This bill, now a law, makes numerous changes to the medical cannabis law of New Mexico.

One major change that will take effect on June 14 has to do with medical cannabis in schools. Under the updated law, medical cannabis will be administered on school premises under specific circumstances. For this to happen, parents of kids on medical cannabis will present to the school a detailed treatment plan designed by a medical professional.

However, schools will still reserve the right to accept or outlaw medical marijuana if the school district thinks that their federal funding may be at risk.

The new changes to the law will also allow patients who have a license to grow their own medical marijuana to take their produce to a manufacturer for processing into edibles, concentrates or any other form desired by the patient. This will, of course, be at the expense of the patient.

Previously, only Non-Profit producers of medical marijuana could take it to manufacturers for processing.

Medical cannabis users from other states also have a reason to smile after the governor signed this bill. Out-of-state medical cannabis users will now be able to take part in the medical marijuana program of New Mexico. Previously, only residents could benefit from this program.

The validity period of medical cannabis cards issued by New Mexico has also been extended from one year to three years. This will save the time and expenses associated with renewing a card each year.

It has also been hard for patients to find a place outside their homes where they can consume medical cannabis. The new law intends to put an end to this since it contains provisions for the licensing of consumption areas. The only condition here is that those consumption areas have to be approved by the New Mexico Department of Health.

The law has provisions that cement the protections accorded to patients using medical cannabis. For example, a patient will not be fired from a job just because he or she uses medical cannabis. However, this protection doesn’t save you from being fired if you are under the influence while at your job. Similarly, a parent will not be denied visitation or custody rights on account of being a user of medical cannabis.

The entire cannabis industry, including Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) (OTC: FLWPF), welcomes the updates which have been made to the cannabis law in New Mexico in order to bring the law in line with the evolving needs of the patients using medical marijuana.

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420 with CNW – Congressional Committee Approves Marijuana Banking Bill

On Thursday last week (March 28), the House Financial Services Committee voted to pass a bill that will make it easier for cannabis businesses to access banking services. The bill will now be scheduled for consideration by the entire House after it passed at the committee level when 45 legislators voted in favor while 15 voted against the bill.

Marijuana advocates see this committee action as a sign that the Democrats who dominate the House are finally making good on their support for cannabis law reform.

The bill seeks to make it possible for marijuana businesses to get access to banking services without any fear of federal action against them. Some of these businesses are working with some banks, but the majority of the financial services providers are reluctant to accept cannabis businesses as clients for fear of violating federal money laundering or illicit drug laws.

The SAFE Act was passed after being debated for several days in which a number of amendments were considered and either passed or rejected when a vote on them was called.

For example, one amendment sought to compel the federal government to conduct research on inclusion and diversity in the cannabis industry so that the damage caused by the war on drugs on minorities can be corrected.

Another amendment that was included in the bill added insurance companies to the list of entities that would be protected by the SAFE Act. It should be remembered that cannabis businesses have also been finding it hard to access insurance services that are vital for any business. If the bill becomes law, then marijuana companies will be able to access insurance services in the same way that other legitimate businesses can.

Another amendment added will compel the Government Accountability Office to study the reports banks are required to file about the marijuana businesses they have as clients. This examination is intended to find out how effective those reports are in helping the authorities to unearth illegal activity.

Those reporting requirements have previously been mentioned as one of the major reasons why it is very expensive for cannabis businesses to access banking services even when some banks are willing to accept these businesses as clients.

One proposed amendment tabled by a Republican legislator wanted to delay the implementation of the SAFE Act until the federal government rescheduled marijuana. Sensing that the amendment wouldn’t pass, the mover withdrew it before it could be voted on.

Many of the amendments that were rejected were mainly proposed by Republicans who wanted to cleverly water down the impact of the proposed law or even render it unenforceable. But the Democrats used their majority on the committee to sidestep all those traps.

Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) (OTC: FLWPF) are glad that Congress is finally acting to enact laws that bring U.S. cannabis businesses into the fold of all other legitimate businesses across the country.

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420 with CNW – Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Protect Federal Workers Who Use Marijuana

A bipartisan bill introduced in Congress last week (March 12) seeks to shield federal employees from being fired once they test positive for marijuana.

The bill, introduced by Reps. Don Young (R-AK) and Charlie Crist (D-FL), is intended to clarify that federal workers who consume cannabis in states where it is legal cannot be held liable under federal law for testing positive for the substance.

Currently, federal employees can be summarily fired or denied a job if they test positive for THC. This blanket action happens regardless of state law.

Crist explains that the existing policy and law disproportionately impacts veterans because many of them have taken to medical marijuana in order to deal with various issues, such as PTSD and chronic pain. For such veterans, medical cannabis provides an alternative to harmful and addictive opioids.

Crist also notes that one third of the federal workforce is made up of veterans, and the law is unfair to this section of federal employees because they didn’t ask to suffer from the conditions that led them to use medical marijuana.

The bill wants to address the legal conflict that often puts veterans and other employees (or prospective employees) in a difficult position in which they have to choose between using medical cannabis and retaining their employment. No one should be forced to make that choice if medical cannabis is legal in the state where the person lives or works.

However, the bill doesn’t try to stop employers from conducting drugs tests and acting on the results if a person is suspected to have been intoxicated while on the job. Federal employees who require top secret clearance are also exempted from the protections outlined in this bill.

The previous version of this bill didn’t provide protections to individuals who used cannabis in conformity with the policies of Indian tribes. This present version includes such people.

The present bill also used the term “personnel action” when describing the protections offered. The inclusion of the term “personnel action” was intended to clarify that the bill should not be interpreted to mean that federal employees were protected from criminal action resulting from their use of marijuana.

It is hoped that this bill will be enacted so that talented individuals aren’t denied federal employment opportunities. Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) and Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) wish the sponsors of the bill success since their intention of protecting veterans and other federal employees is a good cause.

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Savvy Companies Seizing Opportunities in Growing Cannabis Market

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: As the cannabis industry expands, companies are eyeing strategic opportunities in the sector designed to help them establish a foothold in the promising space.

Cannabis and related products are legal in Canada and an increasing number of states.
Businesses have responded with a growing range of diverse products.
Companies making the smartest investments, including carefully selected mergers and acquisitions, are in the best position to profit.

SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) (SING Profile) has invested in a number of other cannabis companies to grow its portfolio and leverage its position in the market. Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) just signed of letter of intent with Malta Enterprises, the economic development agency of Malta. MedMen Enterprises Inc. (CSE: MMEN) (OTCQX: MMNFF) recently wrapped up its previously announced acquisition of Kannaboost Technology Inc. and CSI Solutions LLC, two vertically integrated Arizona-based operations. Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. (OTCQX: CWBHF) (CSE: CWEB) reported more than 10 times growth in harvested hemp compared to its 2017 grow season. And Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (OTCQX: CURLF) (CSE: CURA) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Eureka Investment Partners LLC.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

A Big Year for Big Investment in Cannabis

In only a few short weeks, this year is shaping up to be an important year in the cannabis market. The legal groundwork for industry changes was laid last year, with milestone legislation being passed in Canada, the United States and elsewhere. With legal regulations in place, new opportunities for the market to grow and for companies to make strategic moves within the sector have become more frequent — and appear to be more profitable.

This upward movement is fueling the ongoing development of two important trends: The first one is product diversification, as cannabis companies and the businesses supporting them develop a wider range of products for an increasingly varied market. The second one is big investment, as both outside businesses and larger cannabis companies move to create a presence in the market. Money is flowing in, making the most of the opportunities that legal and product changes provide.

A Changing Global Context

This year’s promise is rooted in last year’s significant growth and impressive forecast. SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING), a young tech company that has moved into the cannabis sector, saw its revenue hit the $1 million mark. In addition, like many cannabis companies, the company ended the year with even better things on the horizon, including a prediction that revenue should dramatically increase over the next 12 months.

Making such claims in a relatively untried sector may seem bold, but closer scrutiny reveals why such predictions appear to be solid.

To begin with, the changing attitude of lawmakers to cannabis has been crucial to the industry’s forward momentum. The prohibitory model for managing the drug that has dominated for half a century is increasingly recognized as not just ineffective but harmful to public health. As a result, governments are legalizing cannabis for medical use and are even creating regulated markets for recreational cannabis. This is especially true in Canada, where the trade became legal countrywide last October.

For American companies such as SinglePoint, progress has come on a state-by-state basis. Though the majority of Americans favor legalization, the federal government has been slow to follow what appears to be a nationwide attitude. Instead, individual states have created legal markets, with Michigan becoming one of the most recent with cannabis legalization taking place there in December. Two-thirds of U.S. states now allow medical cannabis, and one in five have legalized its recreational use; more are expected to follow suit in the near future. This swing in attitude — and government support — has allowed SinglePoint to begin investing in cannabis without having to consider a national cannabis business.

The end of the year saw a significant step towards wider legalization. Following months of wrangling, the 2018 Farm Bill was passed making industrial hemp legal on the federal level. This nonpsychoactive from of cannabis has provided many companies, including SinglePoint, with an important entry point into the sector, as the chemical cannabidiol (CBD), which can be derived from hemp, can be more widely sold than other forms of cannabis. CBD’s impressive popularity has provided a further boost to the sector, especially to companies entering the industry with CBD offerings.

Undoubtedly, the Farm Bill is set to allow cannabis businesses to grow significantly through hemp and provide a precedent as federal politicians reconsider the wider cannabis industry.

Product Diversification

Now that companies have identified CBD as a promising step into the market, they are doing what they do best — finding new ways to sell their products and services. This has led to a wave of innovation and an increasingly diverse range of cannabis-based products.

Two of the biggest areas for innovation are the creation of confectionaries and beauty products. The former offers a way to consume cannabis without inhaling it. The latter appears to be a natural fit given the suggested well-being benefits of CBD and THC, along with the willingness of customers to try new plant-based beauty products. But innovative companies aren’t stopping there, with options such as Phyto-Bites, a product SinglePoint distributes on its website SingleSeed.com, designed to improve the health and well-being of pets.

Human health and well-being remain a huge driver for innovation in cannabis. Aware of that, SinglePoint has also been adding health and wellness products to its sales lines. Its SingleSeed store recently unveiled a range of TorusMed Hemp CBD products to its offerings. The new products include treatments such as Sport Relief Topical Cream, an ointment designed to provide pain relief for professional and amateur athletes.

Smart Investing in the Cannabis Sector

The growth of the cannabis sector has not occurred without a few bumps along the way. Companies are operating in a space that didn’t even exist 20 years ago, and the sector is evolving quickly, with the last few years triggering a wave of consolidation. In a fast-changing market, challenges are expected, and the ability to meet such challenges successfully is essential to a company’s success.

The secret to smart investing in this new space is the same as for any sector: research, understand the businesses being invested in, identify a plan and execute it. Understanding the specifics of the cannabis market is critical, and the trend within the industry most recently has been mergers and acquisitions, as companies such as SinglePoint have expanded through investment in promising companies that provide products and services that will complement and support its strategy.

SinglePoint’s most recent investment has been in TorusMed, a company developing new ways to optimize CBD output from hemp and, consequently, increase the profitability of this piece of the cannabis sector. With the Farm Bill pointing to hemp creating a new boom in the industry, SinglePoint has used its understanding of the market to invest in a company that appears to offer great potential to make the most of this moment.

Moves such as this can put a company in a strong position heading into what may be the biggest year yet for cannabis. “[This year] will be a banner year for SinglePoint,” said SinglePoint CEO Greg Lambrecht. “We are equipped with the proper funding, partners and opportunities to be firing on all cylinders. We as a team expect to position SingleSeed and SinglePoint as market leads in the CBD market while continuing to enable the founders of the companies we have acquired to grow their businesses. We are well diversified and have large opportunities across many emerging markets that should enable us to be successful into 2019 and beyond.”

New Year, Fresh Growth

The move for Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) to partner with Malta Enterprises is the company’s first step to obtain a Cannabis Production License in the country. The license would allow Supreme to produce and process cannabis for medical use within Malta, one of Europe’s principal commercial entry points, and to export cannabis for medical use to certain international markets.

MedMen Enterprises Inc.’s (CSE: MMEN) (OTCQX: MMNFF) acquisition of Kannaboost Technology and CSI Solutions LLC includes retail locations in Scottsdale and Tempe, as well as 25,000 square feet of cultivation and production capacity in Tempe and Phoenix. The acquisition also includes a 40-percent stake in top-selling brand K.I.N.D. Concentrates, which is currently distributed in more than 90 percent of Arizona dispensaries.

Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. (OTCQX: CWBHF) (CSE: CWEB) claims the No. 1 position in market share in the hemp CBD market, with its products sold in 3,680 retail locations as well as on its website. Charlotte’s Web had 300 acres of hemp planted in 2018 compared with only 70 acres in 2017, resulting in a harvest of 675,000 pounds of hemp last year. The legalization of hemp in the U.S. should open the doors for Charlotte’s Web to expand its retail opportunities with national chains.

Curaleaf Holdings Inc.’s (OTCQX: CURLF) (CSE: CURA) definitive agreement to acquire Eureka Investment Partners will provide access to California’s wholesale market through an existing 110,000-square-foot greenhouse facility in Salinas, California, with the potential to expand up to 270,000 square feet, which could generate more than 50,000 pounds of dry flower per year at full scale. Headquartered in Massachusetts, Curaleaf has a presence in 12 states, owns and operates 42 dispensaries, 12 cultivation sites and 10 processing sites with a focus on highly populated, limited-license states including Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.

Legal changes are encouraging an increasingly diverse cannabis market, in which companies that make smart investments are primed for profit.

For more information on SinglePoint, visit SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING)

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

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Sector ETFs Provide Diversified Entry Point for Fast-Moving Industries

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Individuals hoping to gain exposure to the movement of the markets have two primary options: spend a lot of time and effort researching public companies, or put faith into a fund. A solid investment strategy is key to keeping pace with inflation and reaching your financial goals, but the significant risk and volatility that can come with investing in a small group of companies is a real turn-off for most part-time investors.

Increasingly, novices and seasoned traders alike are turning to mutual funds for their stability and ease of use. According to data from the Investment Company Institute, mutual funds were the most common type of investment company owned in 2018, with 44.8 percent of U.S. households owning shares of mutual funds or similar U.S.-registered investment companies – including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds and unit investment trusts. As Matthew P. Fink notes in The Rise of Mutual Funds: An Insider’s View, “Today U.S. mutual funds are the largest financial industry in the world, with over 88 million shareholders and over $11 trillion in assets.”

Index vs Actively Managed Funds

Deciding on a mutual fund can be tricky. Data from Morningstar, published in 2018, indicates that the number of mutual funds and ETFs now stands at more than 10,000. You can begin to narrow this total down by exploring the differences between index funds and actively managed funds.

Index funds aim to track the performance of a specific market benchmark as closely as possible. The Vanguard 500 Index Fund is a prime example, with its holdings consisting of weighted positions in S&P 500 companies. Although investment firm Vanguard suggest that “only about 16 percent” of investments in domestic mutual funds are in index-based options, these funds have some noteworthy proponents.

In 2007, American business magnate Warren Buffett made a $1 million bet with Protégé Partners claiming that hedge funds wouldn’t outperform an S&P index fund, and he won. As reported by CNBC, Buffett’s choice investment, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund, “returned 7.1 percent compounded annually, while the basket of hedge funds his competitor chose returned an average of only 2.2 percent.”

Unlike index funds, actively managed funds rely on the skill and insight of their managers to not just match the performance of the larger markets, but beat them. History shows these funds to be considerably less consistent than their index-focused counterparts. According to Standard & Poor’s, roughly three-quarters of actively managed domestic stock funds underperformed the S&P 1500 Total Market Index in the decade ended June 30, 2015. Additionally, 40 percent of actively managed equity funds available to investors on June 30, 2005, were no longer in existence just 10 years later.

While exceptions do exist (Fidelity Blue Chip Growth has outperformed the S&P 500 by 2.8 percent over the past decade, for example), the upside and relative stability of index funds make them worthy of consideration for risk-averse investors.

Alternative Indexes

The upside of major indexes like the S&P 500 are apparent, but investing solely in the performance of the larger market can limit your exposure to faster-moving investment opportunities. Consider, for example, the cannabis industry. According to Marijuana Business Daily, legal cannabis sales in the U.S. alone were on pace to grow by nearly 50 percent in 2018 to $9.7 billion, with legal sales expected to rocket past $22 billion by 2022.

The Prime Alternative Harvest Index (“Prime”) gives fund-focused investors an opportunity to cash-in on the expanding repeal of cannabis prohibition without digging through the mountain of fly-by-night entries to the space. The Prime aims to take advantage of both event-driven news and long-term trends in the cannabis industry, as well as the industries likely to be influenced by the medicinal and recreational cannabis legalization initiatives that are taking shape in many forms around the globe. Utilizing a modified market cap weighting scheme, the index features some of the fledgling cannabis industry’s most recognizable names, including GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: GWPH), Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF), alongside a roster of established upstarts and ancillary companies defined by a set prospectus.

The Benefit of Exchange-Traded Funds

When investing in a fund based on a more fluid index like the Prime, the benefits of exchange-traded funds over more traditional mutual funds are particularly noteworthy. While traditional open-end mutual fund shares are only traded once per day, limiting your ability to capitalize on sudden market moves, ETFs are bought and sold during the day just like stocks, opening the door for short selling, futures and options.

ETFMG Alternative Harvest (ARCA: MJ) is an ETF that tracks the Prime in an effort to “measure the performance of companies within the cannabis ecosystem benefitting from global medicinal and recreational legalization initiatives.” To date, it is the first and only U.S. ETF to target the cannabis industry, providing direct exposure to the ongoing “green rush” taking place across North America and around the world.

The Alternative Harvest ETF turned its focus to the cannabis space in late 2017, shifting away from a prior basis of Latin American real estate to invest in both cannabis cultivation firms and a few outside operators that you may not expect to see in a cannabis-centric fund, such as Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) and Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG).

Importantly, the ETF requires that all holdings have a minimum market cap of $200 million, giving investors a degree of insulation from the marijuana penny stocks and upstart companies that continue to flood the sector.

A Closer Look at the Alternative Harvest ETF

Since rebalancing its holdings to focus on the cannabis space, the Alternative Harvest ETF has established a strong position on the radars of investors eying the industry. In early January 2018, The Motley Fool issued a report stating that MJ was bought and sold more than the $145 billion iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, which the publication touted as a testament to “just how big [MJ] has become in marijuana stock circles.” In the year-plus since that report was issued, interest in the cannabis-focused ETF has remained strong, with current average trading volume exceeding 900,000.

Throughout the first two months of 2019, the sustained interest in MJ has been supported by its upward trajectory. Entering the year with a market price of $26.42, the fund’s YTD return clocks in north of 40 percent, with a market price of $37.43 during mid-day trading on March 5 that marked a new high for 2019.

This strong performance lines up nicely with the broader cannabis sector, which is supported by MJ’s current asset holdings. Canadian shares of The Green Organic Dutchman, for example, which currently represent 4.34 percent of MJ’s portfolio, are up more than 60 percent YTD. Similarly, U.S.-listed shares of Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC), which make up 7.16 percent of MJ’s current holdings, are up roughly 63 percent YTD. Canadian shares of OrganiGram Holdings Inc. (TSX.V: OGI) (OTCQX: OGRMF) make up 3.35 percent of MJ’s current holdings, and they’re up more than 60 percent YTD, as well.

The impressive YTD performance of MJ’s smaller holdings, including The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF), Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTC: VVCIF), each of which makes up less than 1 percent of MJ’s current portfolio, continues to highlight the current opportunity presented by the North American cannabis industry. The Canadian shares of each of these companies are up more than 40 percent YTD.

After a turbulent 2018 for the cannabis industry, the first quarter of 2019 has shown incredible promise for established operators throughout the space. In early January, The Motley Fool forecast huge growth for a number of companies currently included on the Prime Alternative Harvest Index and held by MJ, including 407 percent sales growth for Aphria (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA), 440 percent sales growth for The Supreme Cannabis Company, 891 percent sales growth for OrganiGram Holdings and 930 percent sales growth for cannabinoid drug maker GW Pharmaceuticals, whose shares currently represent 9.1 percent of MJ’s total holdings.

A Diversified Entry Point

It’s easy to be drawn to the cannabis sector for its promise of significant growth in the coming years, particularly as legalization measures continue to gain steam in the United States. However, choosing a winner in this nascent market has already proven to be both difficult and risky for investors of all skill levels. A proven way to avoid backing the wrong horse in this great green race is to diversify your investment, focusing more on the overall success of the industry than on that of any individual company or management team.

With more than 86 percent of its current holdings providing exposure to U.S. and Canadian markets and broad industry focuses spanning pharmaceuticals, tobacco and biotechnology, the Alternative Harvest ETF provides an intriguing and diversified entry point for investors seeking a foothold in the continued emergence of the legal cannabis industry.

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420 with CNW – Northern Michigan University Now Offers Marijuana Degree

Northern Michigan University has admitted its first lot of students for its medicinal plant chemistry degree program. The students will have a chance to major in marijuana. So far, 300 students from across the country have enrolled for this pioneer program.

Analysts predict that the legal marijuana industry will create nearly half a million jobs by 2022. Recent research shows that more than 211,000 jobs have already been created, so the half a million jobs projected by 2022 could even be an underestimate.

Northern Michigan University wants to do its part by preparing lab analysts, quality assurance directors, cannabis dispensary operators, cannabis master cultivators, and so many other professional-level jobs.

Many universities across the country, including in states where cannabis is still illegal, have added some form of training in the cannabis industry to their offerings. For example, Ohio State University and Harvard University have started training students in cannabis policy and law.

The program offered by Northern Michigan University is the first to get students a detailed training on cannabis from seed to sale. However, the students will not be working with cannabis directly.

Rather, they will study other plants like hemp and St. John’s wort. They will extract medicinal ingredients from these plants and analyze them in a lab. This training can easily be applied to cannabis.

Additionally, as part of their training, the Northern Michigan University students enrolled on the program will do internships at medical marijuana dispensaries. By the time they graduate at the end of the four-year program, the students will be ready to excel as employees or entrepreneurs in the marijuana industry.

Brandon Canfield, a professor of chemistry at Northern Michigan University, revealed that the idea of the program came to him when he was attending a cannabis event and heard industry players lamenting that they aren’t getting the skilled employees that they need.

That conference led Canfield to propose that the university starts a major in therapeutic plant chemistry, and the course was born. Canfield is convinced that the graduates of the program will have an easy entry into the cannabis industry, with some of them even earning more than $70,000 a year right after graduation.

Grace DeNoya, one of the pioneer students on the program, agrees that the cannabis industry offers opportunities that no other industry may be offering at the moment. Getting in now as the industry is just taking off promises to be an exciting prospect with huge opportunities in the years to come.

Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) and Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) congratulate Northern Michigan University for being proactive and doing what they can to respond to the demand created by the cannabis industry.

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420 with CNW – Iowa Poll Shows Widespread Support for Expanding Medical Cannabis Program

A recent poll sponsored by Mediacom and Des Moines Register has found that more than three-quarters (78 percent) of Iowans want to see the medical cannabis program expanded in order to ease access to this new program.

Iowan adults voiced their support for suggestions that more qualifying conditions should be included in the law that established the medical cannabis program. The proposed expansion would also include increasing the number of shops from which medical marijuana can be bought.

Iowa’s medical cannabis program was launched last year in December with just five dispensaries and one manufacturer allowed to operate within the state. The dispensaries sell cannabis oils, capsules and creams. So far, only 1,200 Iowa patients have received the nod to use medical cannabis in the state.

The Iowa Poll also showed a record level of support for the legalization of recreational cannabis. The poll conducted early this month found that there was an equal proportion of Iowans who wanted to see an end to prohibition and those who opposed it.

The figures stood at 48 percent in favor of legalization while another 48 percent didn’t want recreational cannabis allowed in the state. Four percent of the participants in the poll were not sure whether prohibition should be ended or not.

The Iowa Poll has been tracking the sentiments of Iowans about cannabis legalization since 2010. This year’s poll shows a huge jump in support from the 39 percent who expressed support for legalization last year to the 48 percent expressing the same sentiment this year.

This poll results have come out at a time when Iowa lawmakers are considering proposals to expand the medical cannabis program.

One of the changes that is being considered by the senate committee is a proposal to allow medical professionals to recommend the use of medical cannabis for any condition that they think can be alleviated or treated using marijuana. This would be a major change from the current position where the medical marijuana law provides a list of the conditions for which a patient can apply for a medical marijuana card.

Another change that is being considered is to allow nurse practitioners to certify patients as well. Under the current law, only physicians can certify patients who wish to join the medical cannabis program.

The sole manufacturer (MedPharm) has also been lobbying to have the legislators lift the three percent THC cap on medical cannabis products. This restriction may be harder to change since legislators are wary of “opening the door” to cannabis addiction and abuse if THC levels are allowed to get higher.

Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) (OTC: FLWPF) applaud the legislators in Iowa for being willing to modify the medical cannabis program so soon after its launch.

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420 with CNW – North Dakota Considers Amendments to Improve Access to Medical Marijuana

As North Dakota inches closer to making medical marijuana available to residents, a number of proposals have been brought before the legislature in order to make it easier for patients to access the drug once it becomes available.

One of the most important proposals being considered seeks to include physician assistants among the medical professionals that can certify patients who need medical marijuana cards. The current law only permits advanced practice nurses and physicians to certify patients.

Adding physician assistants to this list would give patients a wider scope of professionals that they can contact for a recommendation.

Another major change that is proposed entails removing the requirement compelling doctors to assert that the patient being recommended will benefit from consuming medical cannabis. This certification requirement has been a major stumbling block in the way of patients who want a recommendation because doctors were uneasy about committing to the efficacy of a drug for a given health condition in the absence of sufficient research backing up the suitability of treating such a condition using medical marijuana.

If the change is adopted, doctors will only be required to state that medical cannabis may help the patient having a qualifying condition. It is hoped that more patients will be able to get recommendations once this change is made.

State statistics show that just about 100 patients had secured medical cannabis cards from October last year when applications started being received. This dismal number was largely due to the reluctance of doctors to certify patients based on the guidelines set in the law passed in 2016.

There is another proposal to include cannabis edibles among the different forms of cannabis that patients can access. This addition is likely to be a welcome one, especially for patients who are uneasy about smoking marijuana. Edibles are more discreet.

While lawmakers are considering proposals to expand the list of qualifying conditions, some advocates are campaigning for a different approach to this matter. They say that it is more sustainable to give the Department of Health the authority to add to the list of qualifying conditions as more research becomes available instead of having to amend the law whenever additional conditions need to be included on that list.

The call of the advocates seems reasonable, because it allows the list of qualifying conditions to grow continuously without the lengthy procedures of the legislative process.

All in all, it is good that the legislature is fine tuning the law so that the beneficiaries (patients) aren’t subjected to any avoidable inconveniences. Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQB: SNNVF) and Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) welcome these changes that will ease access to medical cannabis.

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