420 with CNW – State Statistics Reveal Less than 50 Percent of Ohio Patients Have Purchased Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana was legalized in Ohio in 2016 and sales only started this year. Figures coming in from the state show that only 15,339 of the patients who hold medical marijuana cards have so far visited a dispensary and purchased medicinal marijuana products. Several factors can explain why just 49 percent of the cardholders have bought medical marijuana.

First, very few medical marijuana dispensaries have opened their doors to patients. Out of 56 dispensary licenses which were issued, just a paltry 15 establishments have started operating. These few dispensaries aren’t evenly distributed across the state, and this may explain why few patients have visited them and bought products.

Secondly, the price of the available products is still too high for many patients. The high prices may be resulting from the limited competition between the few dispensaries which have opened. Additionally, not many growers and processors are currently operating in the state. Prices are expected to reduce as more growers and processors come on board to supply the dispensaries in the state.

The state agencies involved in regulating the medical marijuana program also released other statistics related to the program.

For example, out of the 31,075 patients registered on the medical marijuana program, 171 have a diagnosis for a terminal illness, such as cancer. This could suggest that these people are taking medical marijuana to deal with pain.

The medical marijuana register also has 2,109 people registered as caregivers. Caregivers buy and administer medical cannabis to minors or people whose illness is so severe that they cannot buy and administer the medical marijuana by themselves.

In terms of sales, $5.8 million has been recorded as the revenue earned by medical marijuana businesses in the first four months of 2019. This is way below the potential of the industry since Ohio is ranked 7^th in the country in terms of its population and GDP.

In total, 750 pounds of marijuana plant material were sold by the medical cannabis dispensaries in the past four months. 3,610 units of manufactured cannabis products, such as oils and tinctures, were also sold.

Larger volumes of products are expected to be sold as medical marijuana becomes more readily available and as more people qualify for medical cannabis cards after more qualifying conditions were added to the initial list of 21 qualifying conditions.

TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) and Therma Bright Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) encourage all the entities that have received medical cannabis licenses to start operations quickly so that they can contribute to the growth of the medical marijuana industry in Ohio.

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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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Full-Spectrum Seed-to-Sale Model, Quality Branding Key to Cannabis Success

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Last year was a year of maturation for the cannabis market.

California’s growing pains are a recipe for success for handful of savvy operators
Brands, consistency and scalability likely deciding factors for many companies
Projected global market size an open-and-shut case for scaling up NA sector

The market growth resulted from retailers in nine legal adult-use states being pushed beyond the sector’s historically core demographics, targeting fast-growing new segments such as women, with an emphasis on elements such as wellness and clearly labeled/low-dose alternatives. That trend was reinforced with CBD breaking out into the mainstream, as industrial hemp became legal throughout the United States, and cannabis companies looked for ways to stand out from the crowd. Some companies were more successful at this than others, with TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (XETR: TH8) (TCAN Profile) making huge strides recently to expand the upper-end procurement part of the business, as well as flesh-out its footprint of branded offerings. Other moves have been made by comparable sector players such as Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), DionyMed Brands Inc. (OTCQB: DYMEF) (CSE: DYME), Cresco Labs Inc. (OTCQX: CRLBF) (CSE: CL) and CannaRoyalty Corp. (OTCQX: ORHOF) (CSE: OH), which are pursuing similarly comprehensive approaches to the sector that run the gamut from raw inputs to changing branding, marketing and distribution methods.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Diverse Markets Hold Big Potential

California’s administrative and tax regime may have cost the state half a billion dollars or more in potential cannabis market tax revenues through over regulation, with the state being the first market in the world since transitioning in 2016 from medical to recreational that has actually witnessed a subsequent decline in the size of the legal retail market. This is in stark contrast to Massachusetts and Nevada, which both dramatically outperformed expectations. And while the California legal retail market may have come in around half a billion shy of projected targets, the illicit market is doing just fine, with an estimated value of $3.7 billion last year, accounting for as much as 80% of all sales. This is a clear indicator that the potential exists to have hit analyst-projected targets for the legal market, had California regulators not handicapped a growing industry just as things were really getting started.

In fact, with thousands of cultivation and manufacturing licenses set to expire in the next few months and only Senate Bill 67 on the horizon to address the problem, some analysts are predicting that California may see supply shortages in the near future. At any rate, the national and international markets are shaping up quite nicely, with the most recent worldwide consumer spending estimates from Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics showing a 39.1% year-over-year jump to $17 billion in 2019 and beyond. This is a market which is on track to run at an estimated 26% CAGR through 2022, hitting upwards of $31.6 billion, making it an extremely lucrative export market for sophisticated North American cannabis brands.

Self-Contained Ecosystem and Closed-Loop Brands

Founded in 2017 with the goal of genuine seed-to-sale capability and rapidly acquiring a bevy of premium cannabis brands, Vancouver-based TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (XETR: TH8) is pursuing a true “self-contained ecosystem” approach to the sector via its California-based, wholly owned subsidiaries. TransCanna is intent on ensuring maximum brand consistency by handling every aspect of the production process — from procurement and branding and design through to distribution, transportation, marketing and sales.

The company’s latest acquisition announcement will see TransCanna picking up such well-performing Goodfellas Group LLC brands as Daily Cannabis Goods, which saw more than 2,100 units shipped during its first month in August of last year before breaking the 10,000 mark just four months later. TransCanna anticipates adding at least three more items to the Daily Cannabis Goods product mix and also managed to pick up the proprietary, in‐house Simple brand of user-friendly Simple Kit™ products in the Goodfellas Group deal, which are specially crafted to give new users a positive first cannabis experience.

Forged in the Crucible of a Nascent Industry

The company cut its teeth amid the growing pains of California’s burgeoning — but still very young — recreational market. Today TransCanna appears well poised to successfully deliver on a closed-loop cannabis model that can cost effectively bring goods to market while still dealing with prevailing regulations.

CEO TransCanna Jim Pakulis spoke in mid-April of the company’s tremendous efforts to complete the acquisition of what is arguably the largest vertically-integrated cannabis focused facility in California. The $15 million acquisition consists of a 196,000-square-foot, turnkey manufacturing facility on a 5.5-acre piece of land in Modesto, estimated to be able to support expansion of the site with an additional 400,000 to 600,000 square feet of facilities for cultivation.

Total revenues from the acquisition, including manufacturing, extraction, distribution and cannabis sales, are currently projected to be from $220 million to $363 million a year. A recent independent third‐party business valuation firm’s conclusion put the enterprise value of the proposed business, at around $50 to $75 million. That estimate includes things such as the value of the recently renovated manufacturing facility’s institutional-grade packaging and extraction equipment. This appears to be a sweetheart deal, placing the company in a solid position to take advantage of a potential supply shortfall in California. Similarly, the move sets up TransCanna for success on the rapidly developing national and international stages.

Growth Financing Gone Well

In addition, the company originally announced a CD$10 million broker-syndicated private placement but within short order was oversubscribed to CD$16 million. The funds were used to assist in the aforementioned acquisition and has already executed a sublease agreement for an additional 10,000 square feet of multipurpose floorspace in Adelanto, California.

This satellite facility is the first of five anticipated satellite distribution network facilities that will be strategically located throughout the state to support TransCanna’s goal of quickly having 15 reliable, consistent, branded products on offer at the scale necessary to keep the business growing alongside demand. The completely fenced Adelanto complex is reportedly of superior quality and already has existing round-the-clock armed security, making it a solid deal at a negotiated price of $2 per square foot per month for four years, which is roughly 30% below current market rates.

Furthermore, TransCanna recently applied for a permanent manufacturing, distribution and transportation license for Adelanto, proving that the company’s immediate focus is on ensuring city and state licenses are in hand as soon as possible. The company anticipates applying for licenses with the local regulatory body in Modesto by the first of June. The company anticipates being able to prepare and package the Daily Cannabis Brand half gram pre-rolls at the facility, then transport them straight to dispensaries without the need to involve a third party or incur any additional expenses.

Cannabis Companies Making Big Moves

Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), one of the largest players in the space, has made big moves lately to expand its footprint in both North American and Europe. In April, Canopy announced a definitive agreement to acquire leading multistate operator Acreage Holdings Inc. outright in a deal valued at around $3.4 billion. This massive deal could make Canopy a real juggernaut, with a leading position in every major international market for legal cannabis. The move will give the company a sizeable presence in the United States as Canopy rolls out its U.S. hemp operations in parallel, which will span cultivation, extraction, processing, and packaging.

DionyMed Brands Inc. (OTCQB: DYMEF) (CSE: DYME), while still a relatively small company compared to others in this area, has nevertheless put together a compelling model. The company’s approach spans multistate cannabis brands as well as a distribution and direct-to-consumer delivery platform. The company recently managed to secure a roughly $7.34 million agreement with a syndicate of agents co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and leading Canadian independent investment dealer Cormark Securities.

Cresco Labs Inc. (OTCQX: CRLBF) (CSE: CL) has also been making big moves in the sector, recently prequalifying for a cultivation and processing license in Michigan and signing a letter to acquire VidaCann, one of the biggest and most advanced medical cannabis providers in Florida. The VidaCann deal would put Cresco in operation in six of the country’s most populous states, granting access to some 140 million potential customers (roughly 65 percent of the total addressable U.S. cannabis market).

Cresco also signed a definitive agreement in April to acquire California-based CannaRoyalty Corp. (OTCQX: ORHOF) (CSE: OH), which does business under the well-known Origin House moniker as a leading cannabis products distributor, as well as a provider of brand support services. CannaRoyalty has built a serious operation with more than 50 brands under the Origin House name. The Cresco Labs acquisition would harness the branded product development and distribution expertise of two of the industry’s top players.

TransCanna is banking on the future of intelligently executed cannabis brand offerings, not just in California and North America but around the world as well. With longer-term projections of $57 billion by 2027 for the global market, the company could be setting the cornerstones today of a self-contained ecosystem weed empire that may one day see its premium brands in dispensaries all over the globe. Investors may want to keep tabs on TransCanna as the company’s growing brand portfolio and physical presence in California begin to bear fruits.

For more information on TransCanna Holdings, visit TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (XETR: TH8)

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420 with CNW – New Hampshire Senate Okays Medical Marijuana Home Cultivation

House Bill 364, a proposed law that seeks to allow patients taking medical cannabis to grow marijuana at home, has been approved by the senate in New Hampshire. The vote was close, but the bill sailed through 14-10.

Under the proposed legislation, patients who have been enrolled on the medical marijuana program of the state can have 12 medical marijuana seedlings, 3 young plants and 3 mature plants for their own use.

Currently, New Hampshire has 7,000 registered patients in the medical cannabis program. These patients have been compelled to get all their medical marijuana from just four Alternative Treatment Centers operating in the state.

The small number of retail outlets has resulted in high medical cannabis product prices, and many patients who cannot afford those products have resorted to using prescription opioids and other potentially harmful alternatives since medical marijuana isn’t covered by most insurance companies.

Activists have welcomed the bill saying that it will give patients a viable alternative to the expensive medical marijuana available at Alternative Treatment Centers.

There was resistance to the bill in the senate, and several changes were made in order to accommodate the concerns of the dissenting voices. For example, the bill initially had a provision which would allow a medical cannabis patient to gift marijuana to another patient who is registered to use medical cannabis in the state.

This provision was removed because there were concerns that such gifting would open the way to medical marijuana getting to the wrong people, such as criminal gangs selling marijuana on the black market.

Despite the changes, some senators, such as Sen. James Gray, are still adamant that legalizing home grows isn’t a good move. He said that the state has a rigorous system in place to make sure that the licensed cultivators only supply their products to the state-approved retailers. Allowing home grows creates a regulatory nightmare because it will be hard to monitor the plants grown by each patient who chooses to grow medical marijuana, Gray added.

Now that the bill has received senate approval, it now heads back to the House of Representatives where it had initially been approved and sent to the senate. The bill is coming back to the House so that the lawmakers there can consider the changes made by senate.

If the lawmakers in the House of Representatives pass the bill in its current form, then it will be sent to the desk of Gov. Sununu for a final decision on whether it becomes law.

TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) and Therma Bright Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) sympathize with the patients and call upon the authorities to pass the bill quickly so that those who cannot afford the medical cannabis in Alternative Treatment Centers can grow their own.

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420 with CNW – Epileptic Dogs Get Fewer Seizures When Given CBD Oil, Study Finds

A new study whose results were published in the journal Pet Behavior Science indicates that dogs with epilepsy have less frequent seizures if treated using CBD oil.

The study was small because it only followed three dogs over a period of two months while those dogs were treated with CBD oil. The research suggests that dogs respond to cannabis treatment in the same way that humans do.

The age and breed of the dogs studied varied. For example, one dog was a Labrador Retriever aged 3. This dog used to suffer an average of one epileptic seizure every month. A Papillion (aged 11) was also in the study. This particular dog suffered seizures every 2 or 3 months. The third dog was a Chihuahua aged 10. It usually suffered about two seizures every year.

During the study, the dogs were given CBD oil on an empty stomach twice each day. The findings released were based on the reports provided by the dog owners during the study period.

Two of those dog owners reported that their dogs improved during the time when they were given CBD oil. However, the owner of the Papillion reported that the dog didn’t exhibit any changes in its condition.

More specifically, the Labrador Retriever’s owner said that the dog barked less during the day and slept longer at night. The dog was also less excited when compared to other dogs that didn’t receive the CBD oil treatment. Overall, the owner was convinced that the dog improved after taking the CBD oil.

Similarly, the owner of the Chihuahua reported that the dog was less aggressive towards familiar people (the owner’s kids, for example) during the time when it was receiving CBD oil. The seizure-like behavior also reduced slightly during treatment.

The researchers revealed that it wasn’t clear whether CBD oil works in the same way to treat epilepsy in dogs as it does in humans. They opined that it is possible that by alleviating anxiety, CBD oil could reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures in both humans and dogs.

They called for more research to understand the neurobiological mechanisms through which CBD oil treatments triggered therapeutic effects.

There is a growing body of research showing that dogs can be treated effectively for various conditions using CBD oil. For example, one study last year found that CBD oil can trigger improvements in the symptoms of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Therma Bright, Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) and TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) urge all dog owners to use these research findings as a basis to talk to vets about alternative treatments for their dogs instead of being restricted to the conventional treatments alone.

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420 with CNW – Cumbersome UK Medical Cannabis Program Forces Parents to Resort to Smuggling

Legally, patients who qualify can access medical cannabis across the UK ever since an enabling law paved the way for this treatment to be available from November 1, 2018. However, the reality is another thing altogether as patients are made to jump endless hoops in order to access medical marijuana through the National Health Service (NHS).

The cumbersome bureaucratic system has compelled many desperate parents of kids who badly need medical marijuana to resort to smuggling the medicine from other countries.

Emma Appleby is one of those parents, and her story is heart-wrenching. She says her daughter, aged nine, suffers from severe epilepsy that causes the child to have more than 300 seizures every single day.

Appleby tried to follow the official channels in order to get her daughter on the medical cannabis that has been documented to help patients like her child. However, she got one flat “no” after another as she presented her case before various medical officials who had to approve her application before her daughter could get medical cannabis.

This rejection pushed Appleby to the edge and last week, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She travelled to the Netherlands and bought medical cannabis oil worth nearly $6,000. This was sufficient to treat her daughter for three months.

However, customs authorities seized the medicine as soon as she landed back home. She is angry that her daughter continues to suffer while the medical professionals and the NHS keep arguing about what sort of evidence is required for one to access medical marijuana.

Emma Appleby has vowed to fight until the seized medication is returned so that her child can be treated. Hers isn’t a farfetched dream, since there is a precedent on this issue.

Earlier this year, another parent, Charlotte Caldwell, also tried to smuggle medical cannabis into the UK but it was intercepted by customs. However, the medicine was quickly returned to her (in less than a week) after her sick son’s health deteriorated and he was admitted. Cannabis had been keeping the boy stable, so when he went without it as the authorities prevented his mother from treating him with the smuggled medicine then his health went downhill rapidly.

Such cases have led medical cannabis supporters in the British parliament to rise up in arms against the implementers of the medical cannabis law who have made it hard for the intended beneficiaries of that law to access badly needed treatment.

The program is so hard to navigate that only 12 patients have got licenses to receive medical cannabis since November 1 last year when the law came into effect. TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) sympathize with the parents who have been forced to try and circumnavigate the law in order to access medical cannabis. The authorities should do whatever is possible to make it easier for patients to get the treatment they need.

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420 with CNW – Cuomo Insists Recreational Weed Will Be Legal By June

When the $17 billion state budget was adopted without marijuana policy reflected in it, cannabis advocates were crestfallen because they realized that their dream of seeing marijuana legal for adult-use had just taken a major hit. However, Governor Andrew Cuomo has vowed that he will do everything possible to pass the law by June when the legislative session ends.

The Governor said that the problem wasn’t the lack of political will to pass the law. Rather, there were differing opinions regarding the way in which legalization would be implemented in the state.

Because of those differing views on implementation, it wasn’t possible to reach an agreement on the matter while getting a budget ready for adoption. Now that the budget is out of the way, Cuomo feels that his full attention can now be devoted to hammering out the details of how recreational cannabis will be taxed, regulated and social justice attained.

Many lawmakers aren’t as optimistic as the Governor regarding the chances of the bill now that it isn’t included in the budget. For example, State Sen. Diane Savino points to what happened in neighboring New Jersey where marijuana advocates thought they had a done deal but voting on the legalization bill was cancelled due to fears that not enough “yes” votes had been secured in the State Senate.

That sobering example from New Jersey shows how tough things could get in New York State now that marijuana policy wasn’t included in the state budget.

It should also be remembered that out of the 10 states and Washington, D.C. that have legalized recreational pot, only one did so by legislative means. All the other states relied on ballot measures or referenda to legalize recreational cannabis.

This statistic shows that the general populace is always ahead of the lawmakers who have the responsibility to make decisions on behalf of the people that they represent.

It is therefore going to be a great deal harder for a majority of the lawmakers in New York State to pass a standalone marijuana legalization bill.

Already, there was intense opposition even while there was a chance that marijuana legalization would be included in the state budget. For example, the leaders in two of the New York suburbs with the largest population have already indicated that the sale of recreational cannabis will not be allowed in those jurisdictions.

TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) and Vivo Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) hope that the lawmakers can put aside their political differences and put the interests of New Yorkers first when discussing the way forward on marijuana legalization.

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420 with CNW – Pennsylvania Senators Seek Cosponsors for Cannabis Legalization Bill

Two senators in Pennsylvania have drafted a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, and they are now seeking cosponsors for their initiative.

State Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) and Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) have drafted the bill that reads like a dream come true for any marijuana advocate.

The bill intends to allow adults who are 21 or older to grow a maximum of six mature cannabis plants at home for their own use.

Home delivery of marijuana and its products will also be legal if the bill is enacted.

While it would be illegal to consume cannabis in public, the legislators included provisions that would permit the opening of marijuana consumption lounges where adults can go and indulge.

SB 350 goes further to suggest that not only will minor marijuana convictions and arrests be expunged from people’s criminal records, all individuals on similar charges who are serving time in Pennsylvania jails will be released as well. This goes far beyond what other states have done after legalizing recreational weed.

The bill also touches on where the tax revenue from recreational marijuana will be spent. Sens. Sharif and Leach propose that most of the taxes collected from the industry should go to revamping the public schools in the state.

The taxes generated may be considerable if the projected $600 million in sales for the first year materializes and increases in the subsequent years.

Some of the states that have legalized recreational marijuana have failed to invest cannabis taxes in social services because the funds went to meeting the costs of regulation and law enforcement.

The Pennsylvania Senators want to change that trend by including provisions on tax expenditure in the cannabis law so that there will be no risk of diverting the tax revenue to other expenditure areas.

Senator Sharif Street explains that the legalization of marijuana would help to address the opioid crisis in the state. He cites research data from other states showing that opioid use has reduced by about 33 percent after the legalization of medical marijuana.

While Gov. Tom Wolf is cautiously supportive of cannabis legalization, not everyone is ecstatic about the possibility.

For example, Jake Corman, the Republican Majority Leader in the Senate, says legalizing marijuana is “reckless and irresponsible.” He has gone further to vow that he will do whatever he can to stop any legalization bill from passing.

Cannabis advocates therefore have their work cut out for them if they want to see the bill become law. Therma Bright, Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) and TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) look forward to hearing vibrant debates about the issues related to cannabis legalization before a decision is made for the good of all Pennsylvanians.

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420 with CNW – Medical Cannabis Bill Passed by Key Kentucky Committee

The House Judiciary Committee in Kentucky voted on Wednesday (March 6) to pass a bill that would legalize medical cannabis in the state. The bill will now be sent to the Rules Committee of the Assembly.

House Bill 136 was co-sponsored by 43 members out of the 100 members in the entire lawmaking chamber. This bill intends to create a Department for Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control. This agency will then design a medical cannabis program for the state.

The agency will also be responsible for giving medical marijuana licences to patients who meet the criteria for such a licence. Healthcare providers, processors, cultivators and dispensaries will also be regulated by this agency.

16 legislators on the House Judiciary Committee voted in favor of the bill while one lawmaker voted against it.

Opinion polls in the state show that 80 percent of all adults think that it is okay to allow patients to have the option of using medical cannabis if their doctors recommend it. Governor Matt Bevin has also expressed his support for medical marijuana.

Despite that support from the public and the Governor, attempts to legalize medical marijuana in the state still have major hurdles to overcome.

For example, Robert Stivers, the Senate President, has been vocal in opposing medical cannabis. He even went as far as comparing it to alcohol, saying that anyone who wanted to feel better or relax can take a glass or bourbon instead of consuming medical marijuana.

The Kentucky Medical Association is also adamant that it will only support medical cannabis legislation once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the use of medical marijuana.

The sponsors of this legalization bill are aware of this strong opposition and made a number of modifications to the bill in order to build some consensus around it.

For example, the original bill had provisions that would allow patients enrolled on the medical marijuana program to grow a maximum of six mature plants for their own use. This was dropped from the bill.

Another change that was made regarded the qualifying conditions for which a patient could use medical marijuana. Originally, the framers of the bill had wanted doctors to use their discretion to decide which patient would benefit from medical cannabis. The bill was amended to create a specific list of conditions for which patients could be treated using medical marijuana.

It is now up to the Rules Committee to decide whether House Bill 136 can now be put before the entire House for a vote. A decision must be made quickly, since this legislative session only has five more days before it ends.

Therma Bright, Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) and TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) hope that the legislators make the best decision within the limited time left so that patients don’t have to wait longer for a treatment option that is already available in other states.

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420 with CNW – Edmonton Considers “Notwithstanding Clause” to Allow Cannabis Retail Shops in Malls

Barely four months after recreational cannabis was legalized in Canada, the city of Edmonton has made a proposal to include a “notwithstanding clause” in the law that stipulates the distance between cannabis retail shops and other public facilities, such as libraries and schools.

The current separation distances stipulated in the city’s bylaws state that there should be at least 200 meters between cannabis retail stores and schools or libraries. The law also stipulates that there should be at least 100 meters between a cannabis retail shop and provincial healthcare sites, parks and other public recreation facilities.

While the approach included in the existing laws is important in keeping minors from accessing cannabis, it is woefully inadequate when one considers large shopping malls and undeveloped land that hasn’t been subdivided as yet.

For example, the existing laws would prevent a cannabis retail facility from being opened in a large mall if that mall was close to a library. The exception clause being advocated for could address such unique situations.

There is no intention to change the rule stating that the distance between one cannabis retail shop and the next one should be at least 200 meters, but the “notwithstanding clause” will clarify how that separation distance is arrived at for different situations.

Such calls for amendments are to be expected when something new like recreational cannabis is first legalized. It is not possible for the framers of the original law to anticipate every possible situation, so the proposed amendments provide an avenue to iron out any kinks that may have been overlooked earlier.

As these calls for city bylaw amendments make their way through the system, the shortages of cannabis throughout the country are still ongoing. However, there is hope that the supply shortages will diminish over the coming months as the different licensed producers begin harvesting from the additional cultivation facilities that they rushed to commission as soon as retailers run out of cannabis a day after recreational cannabis was legalized.

In the meantime, the federal government is beginning to consider draft proposals for the regulation of cannabis edibles in the country. This segment of the industry was left out and there was a promise that an appropriate regulatory framework would be in place one year after recreational cannabis hit the shelves.

TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN), VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) and the entire cannabis industry look forward to the outcome of the amendments proposed in Edmonton since those changes may make it easier for residents to have a retail facility close by.

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420 with CNW – Green Growth Brands Set to Open CBD Shops across the US

Green Growth Brands, a cannabis company headquartered in Ohio, has partnered with Simon Property Group to open at least 100 CBD shops in malls across the U.S. Simon Property Group is the biggest owner of malls in the U.S.

John Rulli, the President of Simon Malls, revealed in a press statement that the shopping experience provided by Green Growth Brands was exactly what they are constantly on the lookout for, and that was why they were adding GGB shops in the malls owned by Simon Property Group.

The two entities intend to work together to open a minimum of 108 CBD shops in 2019, and then further expansion will take place in the coming years.

Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis will have the honor of hosting the first Green Growth Brands CBD shop in March this year with other shops following closely in the coming months.

Green Growth Brands is also having discussions with several other property developers so that a total of 300 CBD shops can be opened during this year. This number includes the 108 shops that will be opened in the malls owned by Simon Property Group.

This partnership between Simon Property Group and Green Growth Brands offers each side unique benefits. For example, Green Growth Brands will have a chance to popularize its CBD wellness products by taking advantage of some of the prominent malls owned by the property group. Such prominent shelf-space will deepen awareness about CBD.

As for Simon Property Group, they will benefit by having a large company as a tenant across the U.S. This is a huge benefit because mall owners have been facing the nightmare of having large clients closing shop or scaling back the number of locations where they operate. A clear example is Sears that went bankrupt.

It is worth noting that the signing into law of the Farm Bill 2018 legalized hemp and the different products that can be got from it, such as cannabidiol (CBD).

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still prohibits the addition of CBD to foods and drinks. This may make it hard for restaurants and other businesses to legally sell CBD-infused cocktails and other drinks.

The CBD shops set up by Green Growth Brands can be a way to provide high-quality CBD products so that buyers can make their own CBD drinks if they cannot access them at coffee shops or restaurants.

Therma Bright, Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) and TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) congratulate Green Growth Brands upon this landmark deal it has finalized with Simon Property Group.

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