Tag: WMD

Booming Cannabis Consumables Space Continues to see Product Innovations

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The North American Marijuana Index of leading cannabis stocks continues to hold onto the 250 range that it meteorically climbed into at the start of the year.

  • Growing acceptance of cannabis is setting the stage for a consumable cannabis boom.
  • Major companies have begun to throw their hats into the ring.
  • North America is steadily headed towards broad legalization.

Canada is legalizing cannabis across the board, Mexico is fast-tracking legalization, and industrial hemp appears to be headed for legalization in the United States thanks to landslide approval in the Senate (86 to 11) of its version of the new hemp-friendly Farm Bill. Prospects of a shift in the reluctant attitude of the House as Democrats prepare to take majority there have also had a positive impact. The global cannabis market is on track to hit $146.4 billion by the end of 2025, and the industry hasn’t even seen the first real breakout commercial product in the fastest-growing CBD (cannabidiol) and beverages/edibles markets. Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) (LXRP Profile) is a contender for that recognition with bio-absorption-enhancing technology and a growing line of hemp oil CBD products. GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) continues to be the leading name in cannabinoid prescription medicines with its FDA-approved, oral CBD anti-seizure solution, Epidiolex. WeedMD Inc. (OTCQX: WDDMF) (TSX.V: WMD) ranks as one of the top licensed Canadian producers, with a multichanneled distribution strategy and 70,000 square feet of production space already online. HEXO Corp. (OTC: HYYDF) (TSX: HEXO) is another Canadian producer with a track record for low-cost production that currently has around 310,000 square feet of space with plans to tack on a whopping 1 million square feet by the end of the year. Los Angeles-based MedMen Enterprises, Inc. (OTCQX: MMNFF) (CSE: MMEN) is a rapidly expanding U.S. cannabis company with 19 licensed facilities in four key states representing both cultivation and dispensaries.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Cannabis-Infused Consumables Primed to Explode

Cannabis-infused beverages saw 88 percent growth in sales from 2016 to 2017, according to analyst Flowhub, and that benchmark is likely to be met or surpassed this year. CBD and the widely known psychoactive cannabinoid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are finding their way into alcoholic beverages as decades-old cannabis prohibition slowly retreats ahead of growing consumer confidence about the safety of medical cannabis and recreational marijuana use.

With huge new markets opening up across North America, the potential for cultivators appears to be almost unlimited. Even in places where recreational-use legalization may be a long shot, typically some form of medical access already exists. With baseline metrics such as these, it is little wonder that the North American cannabis market alone was recently projected to hit $41 billion this year, before climbing to $95 billion in 2026.

Bioavailability Tech Could Be Game-Changer

Because of the way the body metabolizes ingested cannabinoids, edibles traditionally are understood to act slowly, taking one to two hours to kick in. Comparatively poorer absorption by the gastrointestinal tract prompts many consumers to pursue more dangerous methods of consumption, such as smoking, in order to achieve the desired effectiveness more rapidly. Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) has developed a proprietary lipophilic enhancement technology to bypass this problem, achieving bio-absorption rate increases 10 times greater than other products while slashing the effect onset time from hours to under 20 minutes.

Lexaria’s proprietary technology is patent protected for CBD and other nonpsychoactive cannabinoids and has patents pending for THC, other psychoactive cannabinoids, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), nicotine and other molecules. Essentially a B2B, Lexaria is in an enviable position amid the rise of cannabis edibles ranging from recreational drinks to CBD-based nutraceuticals, with a key piece of technology that the company can out-license to third-party partners. Moreover, the company’s proprietary technology may mask undesirable tastes, eliminating the need for sugar-filled edibles, and may actually allow cannabinoids to bypass being broken down by the liver if desired.

Established Presence, Superior Tech—A One-Two Knockout Punch

Lexaria also already has a considerable, established presence in the edibles space, with brands such as the company’s ViPova line of CBD-infused coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The company has seen success since 2014 with beverages such as its original Yunnan Black Tea, which contains 50 mg of Multi Scandinavian full-spectrum hemp oil per serving. These beverages lack the typical oily residue found in most CBD-infused drinks and have virtually no cannabis odor or flavor.

At the low cost of only 2 cents per milligram ($1.25 per serving), the company’s delicious ViPova teas, which come in a variety of flavors including Earl Grey and Herbal Masala Chai, are a testament to Lexaria’s ability to deliver high-value beverages to the cannabis market. The increased bioavailability of the CBD in these beverages, thanks to the company’s proprietary technology, combined with the low per-unit price, represents an incredible value that consumers are noticing. Also, Lexaria’s product mix currently includes the company’s branded Lexaria Energy Foods as well as TurboCBD supplements.

Bottles and Cans Giving Way to Packets of Powder

Capitalizing on its bioavailability-enhancing technology and established presence as a CBD-infused product developer, Lexaria has now moved to tackle the U.S. soft drinks market, which is expected to be worth $388 billion-plus by 2025, introducing a discreet, single-serving foil packet cannabinoid drink powder named ChrgD+. Lexaria is confident that a small two-gram foil packet that can be discreetly carried in a shirt pocket or purse for incorporation into a beverage will be a big hit. After all, consumers can’t show up at their kid’s soccer game with a can of soda whose branding announces “cannabis” to everyone in view.

The multi-spectrum cannabinoid portable drink powder ChrgD+ can turn any drink into a CBD-infused beverage, including wine or cocktails. While currently only available in a CBD-from-hemp version, Lexaria is in talks with cannabis companies to realize its objective of deploying a THC version of the powder.

Powdered single-serving packets of consumers’ favorite drinks have exploded in popularity during recent years as an increasing number of beverage makers are opting to give consumers the convenience of mixing their own drinks from flavor packets containing the rich, distinct flavor profiles of brands they have come to know and love. The same thing is now happening in CBD drinks, and Lexaria may possess some distinct advantages over the competition.

All Kinds of Consumables

CBD and THC appear to be rapidly making their way into all kinds of consumables. The industry’s reputation continues to be improved in the eyes of consumers due to advancing breakthroughs in cannabinoid medicines used to treat everything from epileptic seizures to inflammatory bowel disease.

GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) broke the blockade in cannabinoid medicines with the highly purified, plant-derived CBD indication Epidiolex, which is available in the United States as of November 2018 for the treatment of seizures associated with severe forms of epilepsy. This one company has arguably done more than any other to improve public perception of the cannabis sector, specifically medical cannabis. The company is not resting on its laurels either, following up the availability of Epidiolex via physician prescription with a patient support program designed to help Epidiolex users obtain access to therapy.

WeedMD Inc. (OTCQX: WDDMF) (TSX.V: WMD) moved recently to exploit its position as a leading federally licensed Canadian producer and distributor by executing a pivotal, exclusive development agreement with Montreal-based pharmaceuticals, natural health products and cosmetics developer Smart Medicines GMP. The partnership maps out a comprehensive five-year development plan, including ramping up the operational capabilities of Smart Medicines’ 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Montreal laboratory. WeedMD also recently signed a multiyear retail sales distribution agreement with Lifford Cannabis Solutions, which specializes in helping cannabis companies advance their products through control boards to retail.

HEXO Corp. (OTC: HYYDF) (TSX: HEXO), which produces cannabis through its Hydropothecary brand, issued a major announcement in August that it will develop nonalcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages with Molson Coors Canada. This joint venture with one of the world’s biggest beer makers is a serious play by HEXO to establish itself in the burgeoning cannabis-infused drinks market. This announcement was followed up by word that HEXO has closed on the acquisition of its first major facility outside of Quebec, taking a big step toward realizing the company’s hub-and-spoke business expansion strategy.

MedMen Enterprises, Inc. (OTCQX: MMNFF) (CSE: MMEN) recently signed a definitive $33 million agreement to acquire control of Level Up (Kannaboost Technology and CSI Solutions), which has a 25,000-square-foot production facility as well as retail locations in Scottsdale and Tempe, Ariz. Furthermore, MedMen will obtain a 40 percent stake in the top-selling K.I.N.D. Concentrates brand via the acquisition. MedMen also recently acquired the retail operations and license for a key location in Santa Ana, California, from Captor Capital Corp. in an all-stock transaction, adding to the company’s growing strategic footprint in one of the most affluent areas of Southern California.

With several of the world’s largest beverage makers on the fence about entrance into the CBD-infused beverages market, the stage is set for smaller players, as well as majors from parallel sectors without a significant ground game in nonalcoholic drinks. But beverages are just one aspect of a rapidly evolving industry that spans the gamut from edibles and concentrates to grow-ops and biopharma development.

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

About CannabisNewsWire

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

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

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, CNW, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment.

CNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and CNW undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

Cannabis Continues to Provide Progress in Medical Sector

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: The emergence of a legal recreational cannabis sector has drawn attention away from the medical cannabis market. However, many companies continue to move forward in this strong sector, benefiting from extensive research and development work. PreveCeutical Medical, Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H) is developing new cannabis-based medicines and delivery systems through partnership with researchers in Australia. Invictus MD Strategies Corporation (TSX-V: GENE) (OTC: IVITF) has created a network of profitable growing facilities that allowed the company to pay out a million-dollar dividend in 2016, the first dividend payout by a Canadian cannabis company, and Radient Technologies, Inc. (TSX-V: RTI) is partnering with cannabis companies to produce medical cannabis extracts. Already the owner of a large growing facility, WeedMD, Inc. (TSX-V: WMD) is in the process of creating 610,000 square feet of greenhouse space that will increase its cannabis production from 1,500kg to 33,000kg over two phases of expansion. Wildflower Marijuana, Inc. (SUN: CNX) sells a range of cannabis-based products, including vaporizers and soap, and is set to expand in the lucrative California market through new licenses in Los Angeles.

Recreational Cannabis’s Big Brother

A lot of attention in the cannabis industry is currently focused on the recreational market. A few nations and states, most notably Canada and California, have legalized recreational cannabis or are on the road to legalization. It’s a huge deal commercially, as companies prepare to exploit new markets. But in the background, the medical sector continues to make leaps forward in cannabis use.

Despite tight restrictions limiting research, a number of different medical benefits from cannabis have already been found. Best known are its use in managing chronic pain and alleviating the nausea and vomiting that follow chemotherapy. Some evidence indicates it might also be effective in dealing with neurological problems, including multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Scientists are also exploring the use of cannabis in treating HIV and AIDS patients, as well as those suffering posttraumatic stress disorder and a range of other ailments. With so much potential, it’s little wonder that medical cannabis companies are examining every opportunity to leverage their presence in the market.

Prevention, Not Just Cure

PreveCeutical Medical, Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H) is among the companies committed to researching and developing new cannabis-based treatments.

Founded in 2015, PreveCeutical is the creation of Stephen and Kimberly Van Deventer. Entrepreneurs with extensive experience in venture capital and business development, they have been working together since 2009. As the minds behind Cornerstone Global Partners, they supported the emergence of other companies with significant presence in the medical cannabis sector.

The Van Deventers’ involvement in this sector peaked their interest in health and wellness. They started looking into how they could use their business skills in offering new treatments to health-conscious consumers. Their aim was to combine scientific research with the benefits of natural remedies in order to provide the best of both worlds. PreveCeutical was founded to support this objective, with a focus on preventive medicine, as reflected in its name.

PreveCeutical has shown a strong commitment to working with researchers, teaming up with research centers to develop new and improved options for treatment. The company’s early work has focused on acute problems such as cancer, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, pain management and neurological disorders. That initial focus has naturally led to work with cannabis because of the drug’s use in tackling many of these ongoing ailments.

With its organic and nature identical products, PreveCeutical is well oriented to appeal to consumers looking for ethically sourced and effective treatments for diseases that other drugs are struggling to treat.

Research into Cannabinoids

This week marks an important moment in PreveCeutical’s efforts to improve healthcare through cannabis.

In fulfillment of an agreement announced earlier this year, the first in a series of cannabis shipments has been shipped to the Pharmacy Australia Centre for Excellence (PACE) at the University of Queensland. The cannabis flowers and oils have been provided by Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (TSX: ACB) (OTCQX: ACBFF) as part of a deal with PreveCeutical. Grown within Canada’s carefully licensed and increasingly sophisticated cannabis industry, the flowers and oils will be used by PreveCeutical’s Australian researchers to create and improve cannabis treatments.

Such international work is made complicated by the legal status of cannabis, which varies significantly from one country to another, and is tightly controlled even in territories where it can be legally sold. For this one project, the companies have had to obtain licenses for the export of cannabis from Canada and for that cannabis to be brought into Australia for research purposes. Strict standards have to be met for any sort of work on these products.

PreveCeutical’s partnership with Aurora is an important one in that it has the potential to bring considerable benefit for both companies. As part of the deal, Aurora has received rights including the option to either license resulting technology for Canada and Australia or to opt for a royalty arrangement on product sales (http://cnw.fm/8iRlH). This agreement shows faith in PreveCeutical’s ability to provide effective, profitable treatments based on its research.

“We see an important market for cannabis-based products that are more narrowly targeted at specific therapeutic areas but that are higher value add and being involved with initiatives such as PreveCeutical’s is part of our strategy to gain access to these types of products,” said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora.

Expanding into Australia

To further support its research efforts in Australia, PreveCeutical recently incorporated a new subsidiary in the country (http://cnw.fm/3kcN2).

Led by its director of International Operations, Dr. Maher Khaled, PreveCeutical (Australia) Pty Ltd will work closely with the company’s chief research officer, Dr. Harry Parekh, to advance the company’s goal of providing new health care options based on rigorous research.

This expansion into Australia has been shaped by the country’s strong academic and clinical research, as well as support from government programs. The Australian government supports scientific innovation through a range of programs and incentives, including a research and development tax break. This provides a 43.5 percent tax offset for eligible R&D activities, from which PreveCeutical’s new subsidiary will benefit.

The company’s Australian research program is centered around the Sol-gel system (http://cnw.fm/on3FQ). An innovative drug delivery system, Sol-gel consists of medicine in liquid form that patients administer via the nasal cavity. There, it forms a gel that stays in place, slowly and steadily releasing active ingredients into the bloodstream.

Sol-gel is ideally suited to deliver drugs targeting the brain. When delivered by traditional methods such as pills and injections, medications have to travel through complex bodily systems, slowing down their arrival and resulting in the filtering out of much of the medicine, thereby limiting the effectiveness of a given dose. Sol-gel uses hydrogels and delivery close to the brain to bypass many of these barriers.

Given cannabis’s potential in tackling pain and neurological symptoms, many cannabis-based medicines are likely to target the brain. With Sol-gel, PreveCeutical may be in a strong position to provide one of the most effective delivery systems for a growing class of drugs.

Using Cannabis as a Cure

Many companies are now involved in providing cannabis-based medical treatments.

Invictus MD Strategies (TSX-V: GENE) (OTC: IVITF) has a foothold in the Canadian cannabis market and with an eye to future growth. Founded in 2014, the company has a number of licensed growing facilities and over 250 acres of property ready to be turned into cultivation space. The one-million-dollar dividend it paid out in 2016 was the first dividend payout by a Canadian cannabis company. With a platform that includes ancillary products such as fertilizers and nutrients, the company benefits from all elements of cannabis production.

Radient (TSX-V: RTI) specializes in the extraction of compounds from biological materials through microwave-assisted processing. This patented technology platform lets the company extract the beneficial elements from all manner of plants for use in food, pharmaceuticals, personal care and other products. This includes working with cannabis growers to produce cannabis extracts for medical use.

WeedMD (TSX-V: WMD) is a medical cannabis company with a 26,0000-square-foot growing space in Ontario. A producer of consistently high-quality cannabis, the company is expanding as the Canadian cannabis market grows. The first phase of an ambitious project to expand its growing facilities is currently underway, with the aim of creating 610,000 square feet of greenhouse space. This will increase the company’s cannabis production from 1,500kg to 21,000kg per year, with a goal of reaching 33,000kg with phase two of the expansion program.

Wildflower Marijuana (SUN: CNX) is focused on providing cannabis health and wellness products for the U.S. market. The company sells a range of products using cannabinoids, including vaporizers, capsules and soap. Its recent acquisition of retail and cultivation licenses in Los Angeles may allow the company to expand in the increasingly lucrative California market.

With so many companies providing a diverse range of products and services, the medical cannabis market continues to go strong, even as recreational cannabis draws the headlines.

For more information on PreveCeutical, visit PreveCeutical Medical Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H).

About CannabisNewsWire

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

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

For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com and or https://CannabisNewsWire.News

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
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www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.net

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

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, CNW, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment.

CNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and CNW undertakes no obligation to update such statements.