Trial will take place at major U.S. centers and examine the cardioprotective properties of CardiolRx(TM) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have a prior history of, or risk factors for, cardiovascular disease (CVD)

Oakville, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – September 25, 2020) – Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL) (OTCQX: CRTPF) (“Cardiol” or the “Company“), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for inflammatory heart disease, is pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application to commence a Phase II/III, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx, a pharmaceutically produced extra strength cannabidiol formulation, in 422 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a prior history of, or risk factors for, cardiovascular disease (CVD). The trial will take place at major centers in the United States, where the prevalence of COVID-19 remains high.

Patients with COVID-19 primarily present with respiratory symptoms which can progress to bilateral pneumonia and serious pulmonary complications. It is now recognized that the impact of COVID-19 is not limited to the pulmonary system. Individuals with pre-existing CVD or who have risk factors for CVD (such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, abnormal serum lipids, or age greater than 64) are at significantly greater risk of developing serious disease from COVID-19 and experience greater morbidity. Moreover, such COVID-19 patients are at significant risk of developing cardiovascular complications (such as acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, myocarditis, stroke, and heart failure) during the course of their illness, and which are frequently fatal, with an estimated 30 – 40% of patients who die from COVID-19 doing so from cardiovascular complications. A strategy to prevent or limit the number or severity of these cardiovascular complications is likely to considerably improve outcomes from this disease.

Cardiol’s Phase II/III trial has been designed to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of CardiolRx in preventing cardiovascular complications in hospitalized patients, with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 within the previous 24 hours, and who have pre-existing CVD and/or significant risk factors for CVD. The composite primary efficacy endpoint will be the difference between the active and placebo groups in the percentage of patients who develop, during the first twenty-eight days following randomization and first dose of study medication, a composite endpoint consisting of one or more of several common outcomes in this patient population, including all-cause mortality, requirement for ICU admission and/or ventilatory support, as well as cardiovascular complications, including the development of heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis, stroke, or new sustained or symptomatic arrhythmia.

The study was designed and will be overseen by an independent Steering Committee, consisting of international thought leaders in inflammatory heart disease: Dr. Dennis McNamara (Chair), Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Leslie Cooper (Co-Chair), Chair of the Mayo Clinic Enterprise Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic; Dr. Arvind Bhimaraj, Medical Director, Advanced Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support and Heart Transplant Programs, Houston Methodist Hospital; Dr. Barry Trachtenberg, Director, Cardio-Oncology and Cardiac Amyloid Programs, Associate Director, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program, Houston Methodist Hospital; Dr. Wilson Tang, Director of the Center for Clinical Genomics, Research Director, and staff cardiologist in the Section of Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation Medicine, Cleveland Clinic; Dr. Peter Liu, Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research, University of Ottawa Heart Institute; Dr. Carsten Tschöpe, Vice Director of the Dept. of Cardiology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany; and Dr. Matthias Friedrich, Professor of Medicine and Chief, Cardiovascular Imaging, McGill University Health Centre.

Dr. Dennis McNamara, Chair of the Steering Committee for the trial commented: “As a Steering Committee, we are excited about the potential for this study to contribute valuable new information about the role of anti-inflammatory agents in the management of COVID-19. Now that approval from the FDA has been granted, we are anxious to get underway so that we can investigate the impact of CardiolRx in this very important disease process.”

“Receiving approval from the FDA for our IND application to initiate a clinical program in COVID-19 patients represents a major milestone for Cardiol Therapeutics and provides the opportunity to significantly accelerate the commercial development of CardiolRx,” said David Elsley, President and CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics. “The COVID-19 pandemic is providing our Company with a unique opportunity to rapidly study the cardioprotective properties of CardiolRx in patients who have a prior history of, or risk factors for, cardiovascular disease and are most vulnerable to the virus. Subject to study outcomes, our discussions with the FDA indicated that the design and scope of our Phase II/III trial may be used as a registration study in support of a New Drug Application.”

The rationale for using cannabidiol to treat patients with COVID-19 is based on extensive pre-clinical investigations by Cardiol and others in models of cardiovascular inflammation which have demonstrated that CBD has impressive anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activity, as well as anti-ischemic, and anti-arrhythmic action, and that it improves myocardial function in models of heart failure. In pre-clinical models of cardiac injury, cannabidiol was shown to be cardio-protective by reducing cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and the production of certain re-modelling markers, such as cardiac B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), which is typically elevated in patients with heart failure. These data were accepted for presentation at the American College of Cardiology’s 69^th Annual Scientific Session held virtually on March 28 – 30, 2020.

About Cardiol Therapeutics

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL) (OTCQX: CRTPF) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for inflammatory heart disease. The Company recently received approval from the U.S. FDA for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to commence a Phase II/III, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of its lead product, CardiolRx, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a prior history of, or risk factors for, cardiovascular disease (CVD). CardiolRx is an ultra-pure, high concentration cannabidiol oral formulation that is pharmaceutically produced, manufactured under cGMP, and THC free (<5 ppm).

Cardiol is also planning a Phase II international trial of CardiolRx in acute myocarditis, a condition caused by inflammation in heart tissue, which remains the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age, and developing proprietary cannabidiol formulations for the treatment of chronic heart failure. Chronic heart failure is the leading cause of death and hospitalization in North America, with associated annual healthcare costs in the U.S. alone exceeding $30 billion. For further information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.

For further information, please contact:

David Elsley, President & CEO +1-289-910-0850
[email protected]

Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855
[email protected]

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:

This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (“Cardiol” or the “Company”) believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could or might occur in the future are “forward- looking information”. Forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to that, subject to study outcomes, our Phase II/III study may be used as a registration study in support of a New Drug Application, the opportunity to significantly accelerate the commercial development of CardiolRx, the Company’s plans for a Phase II international trial of CardiolRx in acute myocarditis, its development of a proprietary cannabidiol formulation for the treatment of chronic heart failure, the potential for this study to contribute valuable new information about the role of anti-inflammatory agents in the management of COVID-19, and the likely improvement of outcomes from COVID-19 resulting from a strategy to prevent or limit the number or severity of cardiovascular complications. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2020, including the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies, and uncertainties in predicting treatment outcomes. These risks, uncertainties and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Cardiol believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks, and uncertainties and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. It is important that each person reviewing this news release understands the significant risks attendant to the operations of Cardiol.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64626

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.

In the burgeoning cannabis industry, testing companies are often considered the gatekeepers to success. Between consumer demand and regulatory obligations, marijuana producers are compelled to provide a full analysis of what they’re putting on the market and accurate results are crucial. FluroTech (TSX-V: TEST) (OTCQB: FLURF) is a Canadian-based provider of cannabis and hemp testing technology that at its core is dedicated to offering solutions designed to increase safety, awareness, and education. Their patented CompleteTest system utilizes advanced fluorescence spectroscopy technology to provide results in minutes for manufacturers right at their facilities.

Danny Dalla-Longa, President and CEO of FluroTech

CFN Media spoke with FluroTech President and CEO Danny Dalla-Longa at the recent MJ Micro conference in Beverly Hills to learn more about some big news recently announced and how the firm’s technology could possibly prevent the next VapeGate.

CFN:  You were recently awarded a research license in Canada. What does this mean for the company?

Danny Dalla-Longa:  It allows us to acquire and freely test commercial amounts of cannabis and hemp. It was a bigger problem in the hemp market since existing regulations do not allow for the purchase of hemp for testing. We had to go to the hemp growers’ facilities to conduct tests. The University of Lethbridge, for example, is developing 40 different strains of hemp and they have them all analyzed, so that allows us to obtain samples from them to develop our analytical testing protocols.

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The license also allows us to accelerate our efforts for a GMP certification application which is planned for submission by the end of Q1, 2020.  

CFN:  How could firms like FluroTech help prevent issues such as the so-called vape crisis happening right now in America?

DD:   Our biotracking technology, which introduces an approved biomarker into the plant, tracks the plant through the entire process enabling the end-product to be analyzed with our CompleTest device to determine whether it’s legal or illicit, and which LP legally produced it.  We expect that to be a major breakthrough. It’s the same concept as seed to sale, but instead of tracking a package, we’re tracking the plant right through to the end consumer.

We expect regulators won’t require much convincing as to the positives of biotracking. If you grow cannabis or hemp, there’s a need to identify the origin, which may help suppress the black market which can only enhance safety and tax revenue. 

CFN:  What does the company have on deck for 2020?

DD:  Well, we’re looking forward to penetrating the U.S. market, and further adoption in the Canadian market. In Canada, with approximately 200 licensed producers of cannabis and hemp, we plan to cover the market in the next 12 to 18 months. In the US, we’re in discussions with potential joint venture (“JV”) partners to effectively distribute our technology.

Additional offerings are also in development. We do have a cadmium test, which will be commercially available within about a month.  Further development of the remaining heavy metals test for Lead, Mercury and Arsenic are next, followed by pesticides and mold. FluroTech is open for further JV discussions to accelerate our development pipeline.

CFN:  What else should the readers know about FluroTech?

DD:  We currently remain focused on the hemp market especially in the US, our patented biotracking technology and development of further testing protocols which will enhance revenue.  Our first sales were just realized near the end of our Q3 in September and anticipate sustained quarterly revenue growth. 

We’re also fielding inquiries from companies based in other countries so I can see discussions in the near future regarding sales and JV’s in other parts of the world where cannabis and hemp are legal.

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To learn more about FluroTech click here to visit the website

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Disclaimer

CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on https://www.cannabisfn.com  (the ‘Site’) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies.  We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news.

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Rachelle Gordon

Rachelle Gordon is a Minneapolis-based writer. Find her online at www.rachellegordon.net.

RYAH Finds Top Priority is Treating Mental Health, Over 28,000 Women Surveyed

New York, NY, October 30, 2019 – RYAH Medtech, Inc. (“RYAH” or the “Company”), a big data and technology company focused on valuable predictive analysis in the global medical plant intake industry, has released a data analytics report on women and their medical use of cannabis. Surveying feedback from 28,211 women, the report found that the average female patient prefers strains that are high in CBD, THC, and well-balanced strains to help treat mental health conditions.

“The female patient demographic has not received enough industry attention or study up to this point. Making up more than 45% of the patient pool, it’s our responsibility to better understand what this demographic looks like, which medical issues they are seeking treatment for and what treatments are providing successful outcomes. Women are turning to medical cannabis to treat their mental health concerns and it’s a valuable insight for care providers that we have learned strains high in CBD are helping them gain relief,” said Gregory Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of RYAH.

The data, taken from RYAH’s propriety data pool, and related insights, examine female medical cannabis patient demographics and how women utilize different strains of medical cannabis. The report found that women are a growing segment of the medical cannabis market, comprising 45.1% of the patient population currently using RYAH’s Data Platform. The average female patient prefers strains that are high in CBD, THC and well-balanced strains. They also prefer Indica and Sativa strains equally. Mirroring the common ailments most treated by men, women are seeking medical cannabis for anxiety, depression, stress and pain relief.

In comparing the current data with data in two other reports on women and cannabis, RYAH’s data mirrored and confirmed that women are more likely than men to use cannabis for the specific treatment of fibromyalgia, nausea, anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome and migraines. These reports also indicated that women started to use medical cannabis later in life than men, typically after 30 years of age.

The report also went into some of the specific strains that women prefer for their treatment. Women prefer Cannatonic (7-15% THC, 12% CBD Indica-dominant), Harlequin, Super Lemon Haze (>22% THC, <1% CBD, Sativa-dominant), and Purple Candy for the treatment of anxiety. They preferred AD/CA (>1% THC, 20% CBD, Indica-dominant), Gorilla Glue, Harlequin, and Purple Candy for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

“Medical cannabis has the ability to change lives for the better and we are hopeful the insights from our data pool and related analysis can improve patient outcomes and inspire further study,” added Wagner.

The full report and related insights are available online at: https://us.ryah.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/RYAH-OCTOBER-REPORT-.pdf

About RYAH Medtech, Inc.
RYAH is a big data and technology company focused on valuable predictive analysis in the global medical plant intake industry. Its robust artificial intelligence platform aggregates and correlates HIPAA-compliant medical data, which is intended to help doctors and patients personalize plant-based treatments to better predict treatment outcomes. The data collection is also relevant for growers, dispensaries and Licensed Processors (LPs) to monitor and manage plant strain effects on patients. With a strong IP portfolio, RYAH gathers deep and insightful data on the complete medical plant lifecycle, from seed to consumption.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute “forward-looking information” as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation and United States rules and regulation. The words “may”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “potential”, “will”, “seek”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and similar expressions as they relate to the Company; execution of additional distribution agreements; and the results users may receive from using RYAH are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company’s current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include, without limitation: the general business and economic conditions in the regions in which the Company operates; the ability of the Company to execute on key priorities, including the successful completion of acquisitions, business retention, and strategic plans and to attract, develop and retain key executives; difficulty integrating newly acquired businesses; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; disruptions in or attacks (including cyber-attacks) on the Company’s information technology, internet, network access or other voice or data communications systems or services; the evolution of various types of fraud or other criminal behavior to which the Company is exposed; the failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to the Company or its affiliates; the impact of new and changes to, or application of, current laws and regulations; a novel business model; granting of permits and licenses in a highly regulated business; the overall difficult litigation environment, including in the United States; increased competition; changes in foreign currency rates; increased funding costs and market volatility due to market illiquidity and competition for funding; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; critical accounting estimates and changes to accounting standards, policies, and methods used by the Company; the occurrence of natural and unnatural catastrophic events and claims resulting from such events; and the risk associated with a business in the cannabis industry. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.

If a company wants to generate substantial revenue from a tobacco product, it better get into convenience stores. According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) 2019 State of the Industry Report, conventional cigarette sales are declining, but sales of “other tobacco products” (OTP) are on the rise. In 2018, OTP dollar sales jumped 23.6%, increasing the category’s percentage of overall in-store sales to 6.7%. Margins are widening for OTP, as judged by a gross product percentage of 30% ranking OTP as the third most lucrative category in c-stores in 2018.

Overall, in-store sales (which excludes fuel) at c-stores continue to rise, hitting a record $242.2 billion last year. And that was with the number of c-stores actually edging down 1.1% to 153,237.

In a nation with about 330 million people, half – or 165 million Americans – frequent a c-store every day. Indeed, that is the place to be with “grab-and-go” products.

Luckily for SinglePoint (OTCQB: SING), they have a CEO in Greg Lambrecht that knows the c-store industry very well. In the 1990s, Lambrecht and Colin Jones built Premium Cigars International with c-stores as a main point of expansion, ultimately placing cigars in tens of thousands of locations and bringing the company public on the Nasdaq exchange.

Click here to see the company corporate presentation

NACS Event

The premier global event for the c-store industry is the annual NACS Show, which this year is October 1-4 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. More than 1,200 companies, including Fortune 500 brands, exhibit their goods and over 23,500 visitors attend, networking and striking deals to get products into convenience stores.

SinglePoint will be exhibiting its new Pure American Hemp cigarettes for the first time at the convention (Booth #5653).

Lambrecht attended the convention over 10 times, dating back to when Premium Cigars International was first launching products. “Buyers would be lined up at our booth to place orders,” Lambrecht told CFN Media in a phone conversation.

The hemp industry is at the front of a seminal moment with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which made hemp federally legal and opened up interstate commerce of products. Coupled with the legalization of cannabis and growing awareness of the therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol (CBD), interest and activity in new products is reaching fever pitch.

CBD, which is trumpeted as a treatment for everything from dry skin to epileptic seizures, is a compound found in hemp and cannabis that has insignificant amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the component of marijuana responsible for the psychoactive “high.” By definition, hemp is essentially THC-free (<0.3% THC).

Looking forward to NACS, Lambrecht believes there will be plenty of buyers looking specifically for hemp cigarettes.  And SinglePoint will be ready, evidenced by him commenting in a recent press release, “It’s the right product at the right time in the right place. We are set up and ready to take orders at the show.”

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Pure American Hemp Cigarettes

Reaping benefits of CBD can be tricky insomuch that it doesn’t seem to have the same effect on everyone depending on how it is delivered and the person ingesting it. CBD can be found in a broad range of products, like creams, pet products and supplements, many of which SinglePoint sells on its e-commerce site, SingleSeed.com. When it comes to smoking, though, the quality of CBD to lower anxiety seems to be universally effective on people.

SinglePoint makes its Pure American Hemp cigarettes in four different varieties. All have the common thread of being nicotine-free, tobacco-free and grown organically, without pesticides and other contaminants, which should allow SinglePoint to command premium pricing.

The premium model is somewhat akin to British American Tobacco’s American Spirit brand, in that consumers tend to be open to paying more for products that have fewer additives and are more natural (even though American Spirit had to remove the word “natural” from its packaging in 2017).

Most experts agree that hemp is not addictive. To that point, hemp cigarettes can be viewed as an alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes or vaping to help kick the nicotine habit.

Ahead of the Show, Sales Already Coming In

Lambrecht says that they’ve got their order book ready for NACS, but the fact is that it won’t be the first sales of Pure American Hemp cigarettes. Ahead of the show, the company engaged High Performance DM to lead a campaign marketing the new hemp product. More than 5,000 direct mailers and 40,000 emails have been sent to verified NACS attendees responsible for making buying decisions.

Some couldn’t even wait until the convention, with orders already having been received and some distribution deals now in place.

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Given estimates by the cannabis market analysts at BDS Analytics and partner Arcview Market Research that U.S. CBD sales will top $20 billion by 2024, it’s not a surprise that c-stores are looking to get in front of the movement. SinglePoint is building its footprint across the industry and just may be setting Lambrecht up for his second success in the smoking space given that sales of smokable hemp are, no pun intended, on fire. Brightfield Group identified dried and smokable hemp flowers as one of the fastest growing segments in the CBD market.

From 2017-2018, the smokable hemp market exploded with 250% growth and that was before the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp throughout the U.S. Look for more of the same going forward and for word from SinglePoint about successes at the convention and consumer uptake as the marketing initiatives move on.

Disclaimer

CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on https://www.cannabisfn.com(the ‘Site’) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies.  We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news.

About Ash Stringer

Some cannabis companies choose to employ a shotgun approach to building their brands, launching a wide variety of products in the hopes that some are successful. The team at Plus Products (CSE: PLUS, OTCQB: PLPRF) has taken a more focused approach, guided by an understanding that the most successful companies began by perfecting one thing and creating an iconic product. The company chose to focus on California, the world’s largest single adult use market, with the goal of “Doing Edibles Better” and establishing the state’s premier edibles brand.

Plus started by building an R&D team led by a Michelin Star Sous Chef, as well as a 12,000 sq.ft. food manufacturing facility, to create a gummies offering that at 5mg of THC per piece was approachable to all levels of cannabis consumers.

That laser focus and commitment to quality has certainly paid off, as Plus is now the state’s top-ranked gummies brand, boasting both the top-selling cannabis products and the best-selling CBD-inclusive product in California according to BDS Analytics. Its Uplift Sour Watermelon Sativa and Restore Blackberry & Lemon Indica Gummies remained the #1 and #2 best-selling products, while its pineapple & coconut flavored CBD Relief was the #5 best-selling SKU and the top CBD-only product in the state.

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Having established itself as the premier edibles brand in California, Plus is wasting no time in building on that success and is busy bringing its winning formula to new products, markets, and consumers.

Rebranding Provides Clarity

In July, Plus embarked on an ambitious rebranding process, designed to simplify the decision-making process for consumers, using a mood-based system with three easy to understand banners – Uplift, Balance, and Unwind.

The process was guided by market structure research from Henry J. Rak Associates and designed by the Partners & Spade Agency, which has worked alongside distinctive brands such as Peloton and online eyewear retailer Warby Parker.

The company’s new packaging and product system uses a distinct pastel colour on a white background, and goes beyond the traditional use of Sativa, Hybrid and Indica, to focus on the science behind unique combinations of THC and CBD designed to create the right mix of cannabinoids paired with a targeted flavor profile to give the consumer a desirable experience.

Plus CEO and co-founder Jake Heimark explained, “Cannabis can be confusing. We hope our new system will help reduce some of that confusion. We worked with experienced market researchers to find out why people use cannabis, then translated those findings into an easy-to-use system of cannabis. We are excited to help our customers Uplift their experiences, bring Balance to their everyday, and Unwind without getting unwound. We believe this system will make PLUS even more accessible to new consumers, and we hope our investments in consistency and quality will keep them coming back.”

CBD Line Launched in Partnership with John Legend, Casper Sleep

On September 24, Plus announced the nationwide launch of its 100% hemp-derived CBD line, supported by a brand partnership with American superstar-philanthropist John Legend, who will advocate on behalf of the new product offering.

The CBD line includes three distinct products, labeled in accordance with the new strategy.  Each BALANCE Blueberry gummy is infused with 50mg of CBD, while UPLIFT Grapefruit gummies are infused with 50mg of CBD augmented by vitamin B, and SLEEP Blackberry Tea gummies contain 25mg of CBD as well as melatonin to help consumers power down.

Commenting on the partnership, Legend said, “I have been a believer in the benefits of CBD for some time. I was drawn to the Plus team because they’re an innovative, family-run company, and they use science to deliver a consistent, high-quality product. I appreciate that they’re committed to setting a high standard within an industry that has to date been fairly unregulated.

Click here to see the company investor presentation

Heimark added, “We established our reputation in edibles by offering customers a consistent and precisely-dosed gummy using high-quality extracts. Our CBD line will build off that expertise, and the earned trust we’ve established, while offering a new experience for consumers designed to help them find their just right.”

The SLEEP line is also being supported through a partnership award-winning global sleep company Casper Sleep Inc..

Neil Parikh, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Casper said, “We’re always exploring new ways to improve sleep across the entire sleep arc — from sunset to sunrise. Like PLUS, we believe sleep is a key part of the wellness equation. Partnering with their team of experts to introduce CBD sleep gummies brings a new way to relax and rest to those who need it.”

The CBD line allows Plus an immediate nation-wide expansion, as Heimark noted.

“Giving the world a simple way to achieve balance has always been our mission, and the Plus CBD line allows us to expand from California to nearly all fifty states overnight. We are thrilled that John Legend and Casper have partnered with our team to support this exciting new initiative.”

The line is also supported by a new FAQ “Learning” page (https://plusproducts.com/pages/faq) to address the questions and concerns of consumers new to CBD, and all three products are currently available for purchase through the company’s newly launched e-commerce platform at www.plusproducts.com.

THC Line Further Expanding

Earlier in the week, Plus also debuted a new line of its best-selling gummies at the Hall of Flowers cannabis trade show in Santa Rosa, California, rolling out three new flavors under its new branding system.

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 Balance Cucumber Lime gummies contain 3.5mg THC and 1.5mg CBD each, while Uplift Tangerine gummies are infused with 5mg THC and <0.1mg CBD; and Unwind Concord Grape gummies have 4.5mg THC and 0.5mg CBD per piece.

Heimark concluded, “The demand from many of our retail partners and consumers to launch a second line of our gummies has been significant and we are excited to expand our product portfolio to meet those demands. We have high expectations given the success of our original line of gummies, which include the #1 & #2 best-selling cannabis products in California.”

Plus’ first advertising campaign is currently underway across California, encouraging customers to ‘Find Your Just Right’, and will now include these three new products, which are expected to be available across Plus’ network of over 360 retail and delivery partners.

Further Expansions, New Products Imminent

Plus is currently working on a line of infused chocolates, expected in Q1 2020, and plans to follow up its recent move into Nevada with distribution of its THC and CBD-infused products into the Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York markets. Plus is also considering an expansion into Canada, which is expected to legalize the sale of derivative products by December, in order to begin the process of taking its brand global.

Click here to see the company investor presentation

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Disclaimer

CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on https://www.cannabisfn.com(the ‘Site’) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies.  We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news.

About Tony Deyes

The negative stigmas attached to cannabis continue to fade away like a puff of smoke in the wind. Most people are now well aware of the therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant and its cousin hemp. Investors are certainly aware of the massive industry unfolding.

Against this backdrop, cannabis operations have moved from the back alley to the boardroom and innovation is thriving. The perfect storm of booming demand for product and operational efficiency has led to a proliferation of automated technology throughout the supply chain.

For JackSam Corp. (OTCQB: JKSM), which does business under the moniker Convectium, this is the perfect environment to continue roll-out of its disruptive automated solution suite that fills, caps and packages THC and CBD concentrates 60-times faster than antiquated manual methods that still dominate the market.

Click here to see the company investor presentation

For SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING), a diversified holding firm with portfolio companies in cannabis, hemp, digital payments and solar, taking a piece of Convectium in 2017 was an investment that keeps on giving.  In March 2017, SinglePoint made an $800,000 cash-and-stock investment for 10% of then-privately held Convectium.

Click here to see the company corporate presentation

SinglePoint still holds 6.0% of JKSM outstanding stock.

The Biggest Thing Since the Dotcom Boom

Vilified for decades, cannabis is now being trumpeted as a serious medical breakthrough.

Cannabis cannabinoids can be found in more than 1,000 products, ranging from edibles to beverages to pet products to skin creams. These cannabinoids generally consist of CBD (cannabidiol), a non-intoxicating component of cannabis and hemp, and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the part of cannabis responsible for the psychoactive “high” often associated with marijuana.

The world is recognizing the medical benefits (and lack of side effects) of CBD. Hemp, which became legal across the U.S. at the start of 2019 through the passage of the Farm Bill, is defined as cannabis sativa containing less than 0.3% THC. In January 2018, the World Doping Agency removed CBD from its banned substance list, further validating its efficacy and safety.

33 U.S. states have legalized cannabis for medical uses, while 10 states and Washington, D.C. allow recreational uses. Last October, Canada legalized marijuana for all adults but products have been limited. Modified legislation will open the Canadian markets to a variety of new cannabis products, including extracts. That means that about 260 million people in North America has access to cannabis in one form or another.

To that end, it’s no surprise that the industry experts at Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics are calling for the legal cannabis market in the U.S. alone to reach $22.2 billion in 2022.

Leading the growth is concentrates, which, according to the BDS’s GreenEdge have experienced 22.1% compound annual growth across 2014-2018 to now make up one-third of the total cannabis market. A deeper dive shows the cannabis oil market segment is surging, forecast to grow at a stunning 46.9% CAGR from 2019-2025 to reach $2.16 billion.

Running Circles Around Competition

Convectium is the inventor of the world’s first cannabis oil filling system and proprietary packaging systems. This is a major advancement at a time when about 80% of all concentrate products (vapes and pods) are filled manually.  By hand, oil cartridge fills are completed at a paltry 75 per hour.  Convectium’s 710 Shark system can exceed that in less than a minute on its way to produce between 6,000-12,000 in an hour.

As the image shows, none of the limited amount of competition even comes close to the speed or diversity of the 710 Shark.  When the 710 Captain and 710 Seal are added to the assembly line, the processes of “rack, fill, cap and pack” that all concentrates go through are completed by Convectium products with dramatically improve speed, while reducing waste by as much as 42%.

“Where else can one person do 6,000 cartridges, including filling and putting into blister packs, in one hour?  The answer is ‘nowhere’,” commented SinglePoint CEO Greg Lambrecht in a phone conversation with CFN Media.  “We were confident in the investment in Convectium 2-1/2 years ago and are greatly looking forward to the coming years under their new business model,” he added.

Lambrecht was referring to Convectium recently switching from a “closed system” to an “open source” business model. This is a savvy move by Convectium to make its vape, pod and cartridge trays and equipment compatible with components produced by the majority of leading global manufacturers. For the first time, cannabis brands and co-packers can add the 710 line to existing filling operations, greatly improving efficiency and the bottom line.

Built in the U.S.A. with UL certification, Convectium is prepping for extracts becoming legal in Canada early in 2020 by making the machines CUL certified as well.

Charged with spearheading a sales push under the new strategy, cannabis industry veteran David Hall was brought on as Executive VP of Sales at Convectium.

Strength in Numbers

With over 100 customers using Convectium products, the brand has built a market presence.  As the industry gets ready to experience exponential growth, Convectium leadership is taking a more aggressive approach at an opportune time. Late in July, the company penned a distribution agreement with MainStem, a leading marketplace for ancillary cannabis products and centralized purchasing. Mainstem’s online platform offers over 10,000 products and cutting-edge e-procurement functionality as it re-shapes the industry standard for how business-to-business purchasing is done in the cannabis industry.

Click here to see the company investor presentation

Further, SinglePoint is much more than just a leading shareholder in Convectium.  SinglePoint’s family of companies all have synergies with each other. To that end, SinglePoint is building its own footprint in the private label market and will use Convectium products for its clients, as well as making referrals to drive more business to Convectium. It also owns SingleSeed, an e-commerce portal selling hemp-derived CBD products.

Click here to see the company corporate presentation

“[We] recently received sample vape pens from the company and have already received lots of interest, and an order” commented SinglePoint President Wil Ralston, succinctly adding, “The cutting-edge technology allows us to provide superior products to clients.”

A Prescient Decision

A couple years ago, Wall Street was bearish on legal cannabis, shaken by uncertainty about where the market was heading against the backdrop of prohibition at the federal level. SinglePoint got ahead of the curve, seeing Convectium’s vision for automation as the future of industry. Turns out they were both right, seizing the opportunity as technology now has spread throughout the entire cannabis value chain from growing to distribution. Still, no one does it as fast or as efficiently as Convectium.

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Disclaimer

CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on https://www.cannabisfn.com(the ‘Site’) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies.  We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news.

About Ash Stringer

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the main non-psychotropic active ingredient in cannabis and hemp. In the United States, passage of the 2018 Farm Bill led the federal government to declassify hemp as a dangerous drug, opening the doors for states to implement regulatory programs overseeing legal hemp production and processing. As a result, the CBD-in-everything-you-can-imagine trend has launched into the stratosphere, with products ranging from beverages to beauty aids to edibles to tinctures either on the market or about to be introduced. CBD has gone mainstream, with celebrities and athletes extolling its benefits.

One company very active in the space is SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING). The technology holdings and investment company operates in a variety of business verticals, including solar power and mobile payment solutions. Over the past couple of years SinglePoint has been aggressively growing its presence in the cannabis industry overall, and specifically in the hemp/CBD market.

Click here to see the company corporate presentation

Flagship CBD Portal, and Much More

Launched in 2017, SinglePoint’s e-commerce site SingleSeed.com offers a wide variety of both in-house and third-party products ranging from topical creams to enhanced water to dog treats to vape cartridges. SinglePoint is actively growing the selection through its own product development efforts as well as through distribution partnerships with other brands.

To complement these efforts, the company operates a manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California. The licensed factory provides formulation and production services for multiple brands, developing products both for its own SingleSeed brand as well as for partners on a white-label basis. Strategically located between Los Angeles and San Diego, the facility serves the world’s largest legal cannabis market (California) as well as the broader and recently-legalized national CBD market.

Expansion into the facility came as a result of SinglePoint’s 2017 acquisition of DIGS, an online, retail, and cannabis consulting company based in California. Carey Haas, DIGS CEO, recently stated that “Developing and manufacturing finished goods for clients of all sizes has been our key to success. With low minimum quantity orders, we are able to work with small clients and scale with them as they grow. Offering hemp topicals, lotions and vape pods and much more we are able to fulfill a vast array of services for clients. In just the last 60 days, we have moved into a larger facility, taken over $50,000 in orders, and acquired clients looking to increase production and reorder additional products.”

SinglePoint recently ensured consistent supply of high quality hemp for CBD processing through an agreement with hemp and CBD-isolate supplier JMSJ Holdings. The company also announced a deal to be the master distributor for a line of hemp CBD ‘cigarettes’ called Pure Hemp. SinglePoint aims to leverage its extensive distribution relationships as well as CEO Greg Lambrecht’s history with Premium Cigars International, an online and direct marketer of fine tobacco products he led to an IPO.

Click here to see the company corporate presentation

Complementary Initiatives

Early in SinglePoint’s history, the company launched payment processing services into the burgeoning legal cannabis industry. That initial effort showed a lot of promise but ran into too many regulatory roadblocks to make it practical at such an early stage of the industry’s development. The company sees more opportunity now and is refocusing its payments and merchant services offerings in the cannabis and hemp spaces, alongside a variety of other retail business verticals. Developing these accounts could complement SinglePoint’s product distribution efforts by establishing trusted relationships with retailers in the space.

SinglePoint is also investigating the introduction of its highly successful Direct Solar model into the cannabis cultivation space. With high electricity costs among the biggest concerns for cannabis producers, the company sees a natural fit with small-scale solar operations. Direct Solar also has financing capabilities, making it as easy as possible for commercial customers to make the leap into solar.

Covering the Bases

SinglePoint is an investment company with disparate holdings, but there are definitely connectors amongst its businesses as they relate to the cannabis and hemp industries. The company offers equipment and consulting to growers, formulation and production of hemp-derived products, distribution through its online portal as well as through brick and mortar sites, its own retail product lines, and merchant services to retailers. That sort of comprehensive, vertically-integrated presence in the hemp CBD and cannabis world has been SinglePoint’s goal for some time. Through a flurry of recent developments, it is becoming clear the company is executing on all fronts in the high growth world of legal hemp and cannabis products. Stay tuned for further developments…

Disclaimer

CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on https://www.cannabisfn.com(the ‘Site’) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies.  We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news.

About Robin Lefferts