CBDNewsBreaks – The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) Announces Entry into Mexican Bottled Water Market

The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) has announced that its Alkaline88(R) line of bottled water will soon be available in Mexico through Tiendas Sindicales, a superstore grocery chain based in Mexico; Tiendas Sindicales is also a food service and vending service provider. WTER partnered with Tiendas Sindicales to enter Mexico, which is one of the largest bottled water markets in the world; the country reported a per capita consumption of 73.7 gallons in 2019, with eight out of 10 Mexican citizens regularly consuming bottled water. The market is ideal for The Alkaline Water Company Inc., a producer of premium bottled alkaline water along with flavor-infused waters and CBD-infused products sold under the brand names Alkaline88, A88 Infused(TM) and A88CBD(TM), respectively. Tiendas Sindicales provides consumer products through grocery stores, cafeterias and vending machines in all of the Maquiladora factories in the Mexican Free Trade Zone, a potential target audience of six million people every month. “We believe this is a significant opportunity for us to ‘test the waters’ in a major international market and that this expansion marks the beginning of our international brand presence,” said The Alkaline Water Company Inc. president and CEO Richard Wright in the press release. “This is our first step into Mexico and expect this will lead to additional opportunities in North America and other foreign jurisdictions. We continue to dominate the U.S. supermarkets and expect similar results in the Mexican and other international markets. As with all our current customers, we expect to exceed Tiendas’ forecast as our friends in Mexico enjoy the smooth clean taste of Alkaline88.”

To view the full press release, visit https://cnw.fm/4YYT5

About The Alkaline Water Company

Founded in 2012, The Alkaline Water Company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its flagship product, Alkaline88(R), is a leading premier alkaline water brand available in bulk and single-serve sizes along with eco-friendly aluminum packaging options. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, Alkaline88(R) delivers perfect 8.8 pH balanced alkaline drinking water with trace minerals and electrolytes and boasts its trademarked label Clean Beverage. Quickly being recognized as a growing lifestyle brand, Alkaline88(R) launched A88 Infused(TM) in 2019 to meet consumer demand for flavor-infused products. A88 Infused(TM) flavored water is available in seven unique all-natural flavors, with new flavors coming soon. Additionally, in 2020, the company launched A88 Infused Beverage Division Inc., which includes the company’s CBD water and flavor-infused water. For the company’s topical and ingestible offerings, A88 Infused Products includes both the company’s lab-tested, full-spectrum hemp salves, balms, lotions, essential oils and bath salts, along with broad-spectrum hemp beverage shots, powder packs, oil tinctures, capsules and gummies. To learn more about the company, please visit www.A88CBD.com and www.TheAlkalineWaterCo.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to WTER are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

About CBDWire

CBDWire (CBDW) is a specialized information provider focused on (1) reporting CBD-related news and updates, (2) releasing CBDNewsBreaks crafted to keep investors abreast of the latest and greatest in the CBD market, (3) refining and enhancing corporate press releases, (4) delivering end-to-end distribution and social media services to client-partners and (5) constructing effective corporate communication solutions based on the unique requirements of CBD companies. CBDW is exclusively positioned in the burgeoning CBD sector with a proven team of journalists and researchers working to deliver high quality content to an expansive target audience of investors, consumers and industry news outlets. Our dissemination network of over 5,000 downstream distribution points allows us to deliver unparalleled reach, visibility and recognition to companies operating in both cannabidiol and the wider cannabis space. CBDWire (CBDW) is where CBD news, content and information converge.

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420 with CNW — Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Legalize Cannabis in Pennsylvania

The wave of cannabis legislation reform sweeping across the United States has reached Pennsylvania, and the Commonwealth may very well be the next state to legalize cannabis. A new bipartisan bill introduced to the Pennsylvania legislature last week by state Senators Dan Laughlin and Sharif Street seeks to legalize marijuana, allowing individuals aged 21 and over to purchase and consume marijuana. The new bipartisan bill would also expunge the records of people with previous cannabis-related, nonviolent offenses.

Unlike the state’s medical cannabis market, which has just a few growers due to limited licenses, licenses for recreational cannabis growers would be widely available. Additionally, medical dispensaries that are currently selling medical cannabis would be allowed to sell marijuana for adult use. Although there have been attempts to pass cannabis legislation in the past, they have been unsuccessful in the Republican-controlled legislature. However, this new bill has a greater chance of success compared to past efforts because this is the first time legislation is being backed by a Republican.

Senator Laughlin notes that while he and Senator Street belong to different political parties, they have joined hands to ensure the state has a cannabis market that is based on safety as well as social equity. Speaking on Twitter, he said the new bipartisan bill would ensure legalization in Pennsylvania is done right. Street has been a vocal supporter of cannabis legalization in the state, going as far as helping people to register for medical marijuana cards.

In 2019, he co-sponsored a cannabis legalization bill with Senator Daylin Leach that would have legalized recreational cannabis, expunged prior nonviolent, cannabis-related convictions automatically and allowed home delivery. Unfortunately, the legislation didn’t make it past the committee stage. He later appeared in a news conference in September 2020 with Governor Tom Wolf who said the state needed to legalize recreational cannabis to help the thousands of Pennsylvanians in the criminal justice system as well as to raise revenue at a time when state coffers are running dry.

In a statement, Street said that he and Laughlin in collaboration with stakeholders and key community groups had developed a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania. On Twitter, he noted that Blacks and Latinos are four to five times more likely to be impacted by marijuana use, and they were committed to social justice reform. On top of changing the lives of thousands of Pennsylvanians with prior cannabis convictions for the better, legalization would also earn the state more than $400 million in revenue annually.

As discussions continue on the legalization of cannabis in different jurisdictions, many companies are recording success in the market for nonintoxicating cannabis products. For instance, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) has distinguished itself as a supplier of various CBD-infused products (salves and lotions, for example) by adopting a model that ensures that a parking house or warehouse is within 600 miles from nearly the entire population of the United States.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

About CNW420

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 — What Five Major Studies Say About Cannabis and Your Sex Life

Marijuana has been used for many centuries as an aphrodisiac, with early recordings showing its use in India in the seventh century. Presently, many consumers of marijuana claim that the substance improves one’s sex life. At the same time, others claim that marijuana can also affect sex negatively in different ways. However, science has shown that cannabis can improve an individual’s sex life in various ways. We look at them below.

Marijuana users engage in more sex

Research conducted in 2017 examined survey data collected from roughly 50,000 women and men to see if using marijuana had any influence on how often individuals had sex. They found that people who used marijuana had intercourse more frequently that people who did not. This statement remained unchanged for both women and men in every demographic group. Additionally, the study discovered that the use of marijuana did not diminish sexual function.

Women who use marijuana have more satisfying orgasms

Research carried out in 2019 found a connection between orgasms in women and marijuana. Researchers in the study surveyed 373 female patients at a gynecological and obstetrics practice and discovered that 127 of them consumed marijuana before engaging in intercourse, which increased their chances of having a satisfactory orgasm compared to women who did not use marijuana. Furthermore, those who consumed marijuana more frequently had higher chances of achieving a satisfying orgasm than those who consumed marijuana on occasion.

Marijuana connected to better women’s sexual health

A study conducted last year assessed a group of women who consumed marijuana as well as the survey that examined the link between their sexual health and marijuana use. The survey was made up of questions on pain, desire, satisfaction, orgasms, lubrication and arousal; these are factors most commonly used to assess sexual health in females.

The researchers found that women who consumed marijuana often usually scored higher on various sexual health measures, in particular satisfaction, sexual desire, orgasms and arousal. This was in comparison to women who consumed marijuana less frequently.

This remained unchanged regardless of how the weed was consumed or the type of marijuana consumed.

Marijuana may better men’s erectile function

A 2011 study that reviewed literature on the link between male sexual function and marijuana found inconclusive results with some studies demonstrating negative effects on male sexual health and others finding positive effects, with study authors going as far as concluding that marijuana could possibly boost erectile function. However, more research is needed on this topic.

Women who use marijuana experience less pain and have a higher sexual urges.

A study carried out in 2017 surveyed 289 women and found that the majority of them admitted to the medicinal plant boosting their interest in sex. An estimated 77% also reported that marijuana use decreased their pain during sex.

Meanwhile, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) has relied on innovation as well as expansion to grow from making alkaline water to adding a product line of CBD-infused capsules, drinks, tinctures and gummies.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

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CBDNewsBreaks – The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) Partner with Yesway to Carry A88CBD(TM) Products in Midwest C Stores

The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) has finalized an agreement with Yesway/Allsup convenience stores to A88CBD(TM)ingestibles in an estimated 365 C stores in the Midwest. The Alkaline Water Company is a producer of premium bottled alkaline water, flavor-infused waters, and CBD infused products sold under the brand names Alkaline88(R), A88 Infused(TM), and A88CBD, respectively. Yesway is No. 17 on Convenience Store Products (“CSP”) 2020 top-200 stores, calculated by number of retail outlets. Yesway is working to grow its portfolio to more than 500 convenience stores. “We are excited to announce that our A88CBD lemon-lime flavored water and four flavors of our gummies will be carried by one of the fastest-growing convenience stores chains in the U.S.,” said The Alkaline Water Company president and CEO Ricky Wright in the press release. “Yesway merged with Allsup stores in November of 2019 to create a leading c-store operator with almost 402 retail locations and growing. This is a meaningful win for our A88CBD brand and came in coordination with our CBD-focused DSD partner, BettermentRS. They will also assist with fulfillment efforts to all Yesway stores. Our recent engagement with BettermentRS is off to a great start. This will be the first of many wins with BettermentRS, and we are excited to be working with a great partner.”

To view the full press release, visit https://cnw.fm/gQzCr

About The Alkaline Water Company

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to WTER are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

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420 with CNW — Utah Introduces New Bills to Improve Medical Marijuana Program

Two bills in Utah’s state legislature may bring change to the state’s medical marijuana program. Since the state’s voters passed a bill approving medical marijuana in 2018, the medical program has slowly started progressing. However, it has faced various challenges, which legislators have tried addressing through legislations.

One of the legislations follows 2019 research conducted by FOX 13, which discovered that patients who qualify to use medical cannabis find it hard to find doctors who will prescribe it. This has caused many individuals frustration and also allowed the development of specialized medical marijuana clinics, which charge unreasonably high prices because they are permitted to issue cards.

Senate Minority Whip Luz Escamilla, who’s sponsoring the SB 170 bill, stated that there’s a limited number of dispensaries in the state, adding that some physicians in those dispensaries had been charging $600 for an appointment, which became a concern because it would limit the number of people who could access this service.

Rep. Ray Ward and Escamilla have introduced a legislation that would permit more health-care providers to recommend marijuana for up to 15 qualifying patients. After this, the providers would have to go through licensing and specialized training through the state. Ward had recently told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that the bill had been formulated to get physicians to be more comfortable with recommending marijuana.

Utah Patients Coalition’s executive director Desiree Hennessy stated that she had spoken to primary care physicians who admitted to not wanting to recommend marijuana because they only had a small number of patients who were interested in medical marijuana. The coalition is a medical marijuana advocacy group.

At the start of the year, the state’s law on medical marijuana changed, which eliminated the use of affirmative defense letters that allowed patients to avoid a cannabis possession charge while they waited to be issued with a state medical marijuana card. The new law states that all patients must go through the state’s Department of Health in order to be issued with a card. This, together with the issue of doctors not wanting to go through training to recommend marijuana, led to the creation of a new issue.

Many hope that the SB 170 bill will fix this issue.

At the moment, the state of Utah has permitted 14 dispensaries to operate but only seven are up and running. Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers stated that these dispensaries, including the ones in Cedar City and St. George, had been given a June 1, 2021, ultimatum that would require them to be running by that time.

In other news, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) has been causing a stir with its line of A88CBD(TM) products, which makes it easy for consumers to add high-quality CBD products into their wellness routines.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

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420 with CNW — Highlights from Arizona’s 2020 End-of-Year Marijuana Report

The State of Arizona Department of Health Services recently released its 2020 end-of-year report. It came as no surprise that, for the eighth year in a row, medical cannabis sales rose significantly.

According to the report, Arizonans bought 106 tons of marijuana products from dispensaries this year. Many predict that this number this will only increase in 2021, largely due to the fact that it is now legal for adults to purchase recreational marijuana in the state. This legislative change went into effect on Jan. 22, 2021.

Between recreational marijuana and medical marijuana, dispensary firms in the state plan on expanding almost three times as much cannabis this year.

Arizona Dispensaries Association executive director Sam Richard stated that while the growth in recreational cannabis in Arizona remains to be seen, some of the increase in revenue will be as a result of higher prices in the first months of recreational cannabis sales.

Regardless of the reason, the state’s medical marijuana program is stronger than that of other states that have transitioned to recreational marijuana. Richard stated that he expects many medical marijuana consumers to hold onto their cards, which will help them avoid the 16% excise tax imposed on recreational marijuana products.

Last year, the state’s medical marijuana program was extremely popular, with the population of card-holding patients growing to 295,295 as the year came to a close. This is a 34% increment over 2019’s figures. However, those numbers are only slightly higher when compared to the 25% increase between 2018–2019.

The report also shows that despite the coronavirus pandemic pushing many people in the country to consume more cannabis, alcohol and other drugs, legal cannabis sales did not grow significantly. This can be seen when the growth rate of 2019 over 2018 is 25% when compared to the 2020 growth rate of 29%. However, since 2013, the growth in dispensary sales in the state of Arizona has surpassed 4140%.

The report also showed that last year, the sale of edibles decreased, with dispensaries in the state selling edibles weighing 2.5 tons, which was a 16% reduction when compared to 2019 edible sales, which measured 2.99 tons.

The state recorded a growth in the sales of “other products,” which include vape-pen cartridges and concentrates such as shatter. In comparison with 2019 sales of “other products,” which totaled 4.6 tons, 2020 records show that 8.8 tons were sold, which more than made up for the reduction in edible sales. However, the number of caregivers who were permitted to cultivate cannabis decreased significantly, dropping from 273 to a mere seven authorized caregivers.

Away from the successes registered by the cannabis sector in Arizona, lots of companies are also thriving in this industry. For example, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) recently entered the CBD market by unveiling several products, including salves, tinctures, gummies and capsules, under its A88CBD line.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

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420 with CNW — Schumer Says Cannabis Legalization Will Be Senate Priority

Late last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a historic bill that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and expunge nonviolent, cannabis-related convictions. Although the legislation was applauded by drug reform activists, it was almost certainly doomed in the then Republican-controlled Senate, with GOP leaders dubbing cannabis legalization a superficial distraction from COVID relief. However, now that the Democrats control both the Senate and the House, cannabis legalization may be a reality.

In a recent interview with former NBA player Al Harrington who owns cannabis company Viola Brands, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer discussed his support for ending federal marijuana prohibition. Lawmakers are currently in the process of merging various cannabis legalization bills, including the marijuana rescheduling bill he filed in 2018, he says. The New York Democrat, who has historically embraced punitive drug policies, has been a proponent of cannabis legalization in recent years, stating in 2019 that the time to decriminalize marijuana has come.

The legislation filed by Schumer, along with the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, would reschedule marijuana at the federal level, reinvest tax revenue into communities that were disproportionately affected by the war on drugs, and expunge prior cannabis-related offenses from offenders’ records. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Act, which was passed by the House last year but failed to advance under the Republican-controlled Senate, may also be incorporated by lawmakers, although that hasn’t been confirmed.

For Schumer, who is reportedly working with both Democratic senators and some Republicans, the goal of legalizing cannabis is social equity. The new federal cannabis legalization bill he is putting together would allow states to “do whatever they’d like” and direct cannabis tax revenues to minority communities that felt most of the brunt of the drug war. On top of social justice, the funds will also be used to ensure large corporations don’t take over the industry.

Schumer also wants to keep the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) from imposing excess regulations on existing marijuana businesses once legalization is implemented. To help detect and prevent impaired driving, he would allocate funds to develop a cannabis breathalyzer. Schumer, who calls himself a fighter for racial justice, says the country’s marijuana laws are a big example of racial injustice and changing them makes sense. His new federal decriminalization bill will champion racial justice, individual freedom and states’ rights.

St. Louis-based investment banking firm Stifel says the Democrats controlling the House, Senate and White House could “foreshadow the most important catalyst in the history of the U.S. cannabis industry.”

In the states where enabling laws have been enacted, the cannabis industry has created an opportunity for entrepreneurs and entities to sprout. The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) is one such company. Its two major brands, A88 Infused and Alkaline88, are well known for the flavored water and alkaline water produced by this firm. A recent addition of CBD-infused products has expanded the reach of the company within the market.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

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420 with CNW — French Cannabis Legalization Consultation Gathers More Than 200,000 Responses

A survey on marijuana legalization that was launched on Jan. 13, 2021, has already amassed 200,354 responses. The numbers from the survey will be used to validate the content of a marijuana adult-use report that the French Parliament is currently developing before introducing various legalization measures.

Augur Associates CEO Benjamin-Alexandre Jeanroy stated that President Macron’s Party was leading the survey, which would make it easy for it to be included in the 2022 presidential program.

The questionnaire was set in motion by 33 members of parliament. One of the members of the National Assembly and Macron’s political party, Caroline Janvier stated in an interview that they were confident about the survey’s success, adding that their primary objective regarding marijuana was to succeed in changing the debate’s terms. She then mentioned that many politicians did not think of it as a big issue.

Janvier explained that the survey would help confirm the party’s intuition: that the expectations of the general public on regulating and legalizing recreational marijuana went further than the expectations of politicians.

The questionnaire has various questions, with the main one asking respondents whether they are of the opinion that the system that is currently in place is effective in its fight against the illicit use of marijuana and its trafficking.

Other questions focus on legalization models and decriminalization. In addition to these, there were also questions on risk perception included in the questionnaire. Here, respondents are asked to compare the risks of tobacco and alcohol with those of marijuana. The consultation will be open until Feb. 28.

Additionally, Janvier revealed that France spent roughly 600 million euros annually on the fight against marijuana trafficking, adding that according to a confidential police report, marijuana trafficking had risen by 300% since the year 2000.

Furthermore, the number of marijuana consumers had grown, with about half of the country’s population having tried to smoke marijuana at least once in their lives. She noted that marijuana was broadly consumed across the country, which had the largest number of consumers in the European Union.

Janvier observed that marijuana legalization could add roughly 2 billion euros to the country’s coffers.

A survey conducted recently by Le Parisien questioned a few dozen French mayors in the Paris region, which is the most densely populated of the 18 regions in France. The survey found that while only 22% of the population opposed marijuana legalization, half of the mayors in the region surveyed were in favor of the herb being legalized.

Closer to home, in the United States, the booming cannabis industry has created room for massive levels of innovations to be introduced. For instance, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) has registered record-breaking growth in sales year-on-year, partly driven by its CBD-infused edible and topical products.

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420 with CNW — Illinois Spends $31.5 Million from Marijuana Taxes to Fund Communities Impacted by Drug War

For most of the states that have legalized cannabis sales, cashing in on cannabis’ burgeoning demand wasn’t the only objective. Aside from beefing up their coffers with cannabis tax revenue, states were looking to repair the harms done by the decade’s long war on drugs. In several states, social equity was a primary objective, with policymakers pledging to direct a large chunk of cannabis tax revenue towards communities that were disproportionately affected by the drug war.

The state of Illinois, which enjoyed increased cannabis sales in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic, has announced that it is distributing $31.5 million in grants to communities that suffered the brunt of the misguided war on drugs. Funded by cannabis tax revenue, the funds are part of Illinois’ Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program. The program was established under the state’s recreational cannabis legalization law, and it requires that 25% of marijuana tax dollars be used to provide people who qualify for social equity with services such as legal aid, community reentry, youth development and financial support.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (“ICJIA”) reportedly received 398 completed applications for the grant, ultimately settling on 80 organizations that offer the aforementioned services to eligible communities. Board chair Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton, who has repeatedly emphasized the need to pair legalization with social equity, says the state practiced due diligence when reviewing the applications. She says that the R3 program will address “chronic” problems that have been left unaddressed for far too long in the state’s “underserved neighborhoods.”

More than $28 million of the funds will go to service delivery while the remaining $3.1 million will be directed towards assessment and planning initiatives. With Illinois’ cannabis industry reporting more than $1 billion in sales for both medical and recreational marijuana, the state has a beefy enough tax revenue base to work with. To choose the most suitable organizations for the grants, the ICJIA analyzed local data on topics such as gun violence, unemployment, poverty and incarceration rates coupled with information provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The organizations that were eventually chosen got the opportunity because they had the knowledge and resources to enact change in communities that suffered the most from the effects of the drug war. Communities United, for instance, will use the grant to provide low-income people with legal aid, especially concerning housing rights. The Chicago Torture Justice Center, another institution given a grant, will help formerly incarcerated people as well as those who have experienced police violence re-enter the community.

The rapidly growing cannabis industry has also created space for companies making nonhallucinogenic cannabis products. For instance, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER), based in Arizona, started out making alkaline drinking water that addressed the needs of consumers who were interested in the alkaline diet. The company has now evolved to include CBD-infused products to its offerings.

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420 with CNW — Amsterdam Plans to Exclude Tourists from Cannabis Shops

For the longest time, Amsterdam has been known for its liberal attitudes towards drugs. Before the coronavirus pandemic broke out, the city attracted more than 1 million visitors a month, close to 200,000 more than its permanent population. Thanks to the introduction of cheaper flights, a lot of these people were young “budget tourists” whose sole intention was indulging in the marijuana sold in Amsterdam’s coffee shops.

If Mayor Femke Halsema has her way, however, tourists will no longer be able to buy cannabis from the city’s numerous coffee shops. Halsema, who is Amsterdam’s first woman mayor, has proposed a plan that, if passed, would restrict the sale of marijuana products to residents of the Netherlands and Dutch nationals. She intends to stop the influx of young budget tourists coming into the city just to smoke marijuana and to undermine the criminal organizations that are behind the drug trade.

The plan has the support of the public prosecutor, the police and the business community in the city center. It is similar to policies enacted by cities in the south of the Netherlands, such as Den Bosch and Maastricht, which saw tons of tourists from Belgium, France and Germany and have since banned them from visiting their coffee shops. According to the Halsema, the cannabis trade has become “too big and overheated”; Halsema added that she wants the city to be known for its numerous first-class attractions not just cannabis.

According to research commissioned by the government, 57% of foreign visitors say visiting a coffee shop is a “very important” reason for coming to Amsterdam. The city has 166 coffee shops, and said Halsema, most of them, especially at the city center, deal mainly with cannabis tourists. She wants to shrink the large cannabis market and make it more “manageable.” Of the 166 coffee shops, 66 would be able to support demand from locals, the research found.

There are simply too many cannabis tourists streaming into the city every month, Halsema says, and these tourists have caused a massive increase in the demand for cannabis. Although the Netherlands allows the possession of less than 0.18 ounces of marijuana for personal consumption, the actual production and supply of cannabis are outlawed. Since it is illegal to produce, store or distribute cannabis, large quantities of marijuana for resale tend to originate from criminal enterprises.

The funds from these illegal trades have helped to lay the foundations for a flourishing underground drug economy, the “New York Times” reports. By reducing the demand for marijuana and confining sales to just residents, Halsema hopes to undermine the criminal organizations operating behind the scenes.

Back on American soil, numerous legal entities are thriving in the cannabis space. For instance, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) is enjoying massive success with its recently launched A88CBD brand, which contains several topical and edible products infused with CBD.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER

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