Thursday, October 17, 2019 marked a milestone moment for the world of legal recreational cannabis with new product forms like concentrates, extracts, vaporizers and edibles becoming legal in Canada. This second phase of legalization comes only one-year after Canada’s federal legalization of recreational adult-use cannabis. 

In the inaugural episode of a new cannabis podcast called “Session Garden” hosted by John Fowler, Chief Advocacy Officer at The Supreme Cannabis Company (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF), an esteemed panel tackles the opportunities and obstacles associated with Cannabis 2.0, the colloquial name given to the new Canadian cannabis regulations that just came into effect on October 17th. 

John Fowler Chief Advocacy Officer of The Supreme Cannabis Company

John Fowler is a well-recognized name in the cannabis industry, serving as an advocate, activist and entrepreneur, including founding Supreme Cannabis. Supreme Cannabis is a TSX (FIRE) and OTCQX (SPRWF) listed company, it is the holding company for a leading diversified portfolio of premium cannabis brands, products and facilities. Now, the company and John launch Session Garden to address, as John puts is, “a lack of hard-hitting and insightful content focused on all aspects of the cannabis community.”.

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In the first episode, Fowler sits down with Brigitte Simons, Chief Scientific Officer at Pasha Brands, Brad Poulos, a professor of cannabis entrepreneurship at Ryerson University, and Talaal Rshaidat, Chief Scientific Officer at humble+fume, to take a deep dive into the direction of the cannabis market, challenges facing the industry and who will be winners with Cannabis 2.0.

Cumulatively, the panel has a highly relevant and diversified background in cannabis, ranging from technology to brand and product development.

The 2.0 Groundwork

When Canadian legislatures legalized adult-use cannabis on October 17, 2018, they didn’t have any true references to use for guidelines. As such, they didn’t jump in with both feet by any stretch of the imagination, only permitting the sale of cannabis flower and oil. Cannabis 2.0 will introduce new products and market segments, including concentrates (which serve as the basis for vape pens), topicals and ingestible products, such as drinks and edibles. As noted by Ms. Simons, there will also be an insurgence of other items, such as bath and luxury beauty care and wellness products.

Pasha is eager to re-innovate baked goods and specialty products, such as those catering to healthier lifestyles, including plant-based products that will eliminate usage of preservatives and high fructose corn syrup.

Shy of some Health Canada restrictions on edible products, Rshaidat describes the opportunity to introduce new products as “free reign.”

“The consumer is waiting,” said Simons. “They’ve proved to us before in those type of sales that the consumer is ready for that,” she added.

 Click the photo above to listen to Supreme Cannabis’ John Fowler’s Podcast “Session Garden”

Cannabis 2.0 Shakes Up Everything…Are You Ready?

Deloitte estimates that the new products coming to market in Canada will add another $3.0 billion to the industry size on top of sales of flowers and oils. So what will be the dominant market segment? 

On this point, the panel sparks up a conversation on how different types of cannabis consumers will likely lean towards different product forms. The panel digs deeper into the topic of 2.0 products, touching on the impact of simply adding cannabinoids to existing products versus innovating new ones.

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The panel agrees that innovation and thoughtfulness in product development are going to be integral to the success of 2.0 products. For example, while the emphasis right now is largely on the popular cannabinoids CBD and THC, the panel discusses the opportunities ahead with innovation that will recognize and tap into the more than 100 other known cannabinoids. When contemplating about the market and where it can go, this sort of thinking speaks plainly to how early we still are in product development and the significant potential that lies ahead.  

Educating the Public

On the podcast, the group discusses one of the greatest challenges to manufacturers, with limited tools to reach consumers, it is difficult to educate consumers on the full arc of cannabis consumption. Science plays a tremendous role in the user experience and that can be difficult to convey. Things such as pharmacokinetics and bioavailability can vary greatly between strains and product forms. When advertising is negligible and communications are restricted, how can companies educate consumers? Fowler and his guests dive deep into this topic and discuss the varying information needs of different consumers, explaining why education is more important now than ever.

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So Who Wins?

Simply, companies that have the foresight and solutions to overcome the aforementioned challenges detailed by Fowler, Simons, Poulos and Rshaidat. An overarching takeaway is that there are tremendous growth opportunities for ancillary companies to fill gaps in the value chain.

There is also something to be said about being forward-thinking towards Cannabis 3.0. All the panelists are in the position they are because they made prescient decisions to be prepared for Cannabis 2.0 and now they’re looking for what’s next. 

Insightful and entertaining, but most importantly, informative, John Fowler’s Session Garden should become required listening for all in the cannabis space. We are already looking forward to episode two, set to air this Thursday October 31st. 

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 For additional information, visit the company’s website at: https://www.supreme.ca/about-supreme-cannabis

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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 Ash Stringer

Rolling Stone magazine has called Israel a “medical weed wonderland.” Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barack said earlier this year that the “Land of Milk and Honey” is now the “Land of Milk, Honey and Cannabis.” The man that discovered cannabinoids, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, did so there and continues to conduct his research there to this day. In 1973, Israel legalized medical cannabis.

Indeed, Israel, a diminutive country the size of New Jersey, punches like a heavyweight in the cannabis industry. In January, the Mediterranean country became only the third in the world to allow exports of medical marijuana to countries where it is legal, further cementing its progressive stance and dominant position in the cannabis industry.

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With the ideal climate for industrial scale cultivation and established commerce paths to the vast European markets, it’s no surprise that Israel is a prized market as a center for excellence in agronomy, research, genetics, manufacturing and quality assurance. The favorable backdrop has resulted in advanced corporate development for select companies, such as Isracann Biosciences (CSE: IPOT), which just became a public entity on October 17th, 2019.

Enchanting Old City Jerusalem, Israel

Perfect Environment

Israel is a country that sees 300+ days of sunshine each year. It also has optimal humidity, which safeguards plants from insects and facilitates optimum plant growth without the need for toxins like pesticides. In cannabis cultivation, organic is king. Aiding in growing premium plants is the fact that Israel has high UV rays, which are known to increase yields and improve plant quality.

The sunshine and temperature have other benefits too insomuch that these factors reduce energy consumption, saving on production costs year-round. Utilizing hybrid greenhouse technology and other leading technology today, Isracann is targeting cannabis production costs as low as just 40 cents per gram. 

The company is fully funded to develop its 230,000 square-foot property with capacity of 23,500 kilograms (~51,808 pounds) per annum. 

“Environment” means more than just the weather. Israel regulators are obviously supportive and hope to have the operation framework in place to begin cannabis exports in early 2020. The country also has robust domestic demand. In fact, Israel is among the highest cannabis use-per-capita in the world at over 27 percent. Recreational cannabis is not legal, but it is decriminalized in Israel with the passage of new laws in April.

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There are currently about 55,000 medical marijuana patients in Israel, with the number expected to rise to 90,000 next year. Isracann intends to fill this underserved market while penetrating European markets via partnerships.

Want Europe? Get Germany First. 

The global legal cannabis (recreational and medical) market is estimated to reach $146.6 billion by 2025. As a subset, the European Union medical cannabis market is forecast to be $64 billion by 2028, as demand rises and additional countries enact new cannabis-friendly legislation.

Germany, the biggest economy in the E.U., is the initial export market for Isracann via a MC-GAP/GSP certification. Currently, Germany has no cultivation laws and imports all its cannabis from the only two other countries with legal exports, Canada and the Netherlands. Israel will soon join in that mix and Isracann wants to be a part of it.

Through its strategic distribution partner, Isracann has a practical intermediate multinational trans-shipment entry point accessing Germany, United Kingdom, Poland and Denmark.

Ground Cannabis shaped as the world

Just like in other countries, the negative stigma associated with cannabis is slowly fading, underscored by educating the general population of the potential medicinal benefits as a therapy for traditionally challenging diseases and conditions. Cannabis has a robust therapeutic profile, touted to treat everything from dry skin to anxiety to chronic pain to epileptic seizures. 

German health care covered $75 million of cannabis products last year. During 2018, Germany’s four major health insurers, AOK-Bundesverband, Barmer, Techniker and DAK-Gesundheit, received nearly 20,000 applications for reimbursement of cannabis therapies.

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It seems most plausible that the country of 83 million people will continue to see increased demand over the coming years. That goes without mentioning the other 430 million people living in the European Union that one day could have access to legal cannabis.

The race to get those patients as loyal customers is on and you can bet that Isracann is eager to start planting its “Made in Israel Cannabis” flag to get their attention.

 For Additional Information, visit the company’s website at www.isracann.com.

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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 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.

Only days after announcing that its wholly owned subsidiary was awarded a German cannabis and cultivation and extraction licence, XPhyto Therapeutics is ready to enter the public domain. With a final prospectus filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission, XPhyto is ready to go public on the CSE under the ticker “XPHY”. The company will begin trading on the CSE on Tuesday, August 6, 2019.

Dual Market Focus: Germany

From its corporate headquarters in Vancouver, XPhyto is developing its business as a leader in formulation, processing, and clinical validation in two of the world’s most active markets, Canada and Germany. Germany, the largest economy in the European Union and second largest federally regulated medical cannabis market in the world (behind the U.S.), is seeing tremendous acceleration in cannabis demand, including importing nearly 2,500 kilograms for medical purposes in the first half of 2019. That’s almost as much as was imported in all of 2018 and more than twice as much as 2017.

Germany Flag on cannabis background. Drug policy. Legalization of marijuana

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Right now, Germany relies 100% on imports to supply is burgeoning medical cannabis market. Based upon some recently issued licenses, it will be until at least late in 2020 before any domestic cannabis will be available for medical purposes.

It is this growth that underscores Arcview Market Research forecasting Germany’s cannabis market to experience a whopping 76.8% compound annual growth rate to reach $1.6 billion by 2022.

Last Wednesday, the Company announced that its wholly owned German subsidiary, Bunker Pflanzenextrakte GmbH, was awarded a cannabis cultivation and extraction licence for scientific purposes from the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, better known as BfArM. Bunker still has to pass BfArM’s security requirements, which isn’t expected to be an issue considering the company operates from a monitored high-security area in Bavaria that previously served as a German air force command center and nuclear bunker.

Bunker has a long-term lease for the entire facility with 10,741 square feet for the initial buildout and nearby space available for expansion.

The new licence authorizes Bunker to cultivate and extract up to 70 different strains of cannabis sativa and indica for scientific R&D.

With the new licence in tow, Bunker is next applying for licenses that will allow for cannabis import, storage, distribution and manufacturing. The license estate is at the heart of Bunker’s plans to serve as a one-stop shop providing a bevy of products and services spanning genetic research and storage, cultivation, extraction, storage, processing, packaging, distribution and more.

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Dual Market Focus: Canada

Canada made history last year when it became the first G7 country to legalize adult-use marijuana. Supply shortages and regulatory challenges kept the industry from getting off to the rip-roaring start analysts expected, but that hasn’t stopped Arcview Market Research and partner BDS Analytics from forecasting the Canadian cannabis market reaching $5.2 billion by 2024.

XPhyto’s operations in Canada are centered on in-house production of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis-derived compounds, developing proprietary formulas and conducting modern clinical research for diseases and conditions with unmet medical need where cannabis could be a viable option. They also offer third-party commercial analytical testing for licensed producers, wholesalers, distributors and law enforcement.

Management is advancing these operations through strategic collaborations that accelerate the process with other collateral benefits. For instance, XPhyto has two five-year agreements with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. This partnership provides XPhyto with certified analytical testing capability, as well as a certified extraction, isolation, and formulation facility.

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This is a tremendous capital saver for XPhyto as its cost to entry pales in comparison to the value of the world-class infrastructure, not to mention potential maintenance costs in the future. Furthermore, The University of Alberta is well known for its expertise in biopharmaceutics, drug delivery quality control and regulatory sciences.  An authority like that as a strategic partner gives XPhyto immediate brand recognition as a high quality service provider and access to talent that other companies simply do not easily come by.

Public Soon

XPhyto is hitting the ground running when it comes public as it looks to fill a void between cannabis and modern medical science. They have secured a collaborative partner in the esteemed experts at the University of Alberta to capitalize on the opportunity with minimal capex while the Bunker acquisition – along with its assets – give XPhyto a first mover advantage in the burgeoning German market.

XPhyto will commence trading on the CSE on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, which should have investors keen to participate in the next wave of cannabis opportunities – medical formulations and emerging European markets.

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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 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.

The last six weeks have seen major strides taken by The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS) (OTCQB:BOSQF) (Frankfurt:YG3) to maintain their position as an exciting, forward-thinking and innovative cannabis company. An organisation dedicated to disrupting the wellness industry with revolutionary cannabis and hemp-based products, Yield Growth continues to make advances; it has released new products, continued to build and strengthen strategic alliances, and even begun to tackle the global market.

Wright & Well Enters Colorado’s Legal Cannabis Industry

Wright & Well, a subsidiary of Yield Growth, is a bold brand that aims to help relieve pain and anxiety through their line of THC and CBD based oils, gels, balms and other topicals.

On June 20th, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) gave final packaging approval for an additional three cannabis products to be distributed in Oregon. With this in place, Wright & Well will now begin manufacturing on all nine of their products.

According to Statista, legal sales of cannabis in the state of Oregon alone are projected to exceed US $1 billion by 2023, making this a major market to tackle, and an ideal blueprint for the brand as other jurisdictions across the country legalise the sale of cannabis and cannabis based products. Wright & Well jumped into the market early on, and are likely to be an important part of the Yield Growth roster as cannabis trends develop across the country.

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Urban Juve Maintains Notable Position in the Beauty World

Urban Juve is Yield Growth’s flagship brand, which blends ancient Ayurvedic knowledge with cutting edge science and technology to produce a proprietary skincare and wellness line of products, all of which are infused with hemp root and seed oil.

The company recently announced an alliance with beauty giant ipsy, the world’s leading beauty commerce community with over three million monthly members. Part of the alliance included the sale of Urban Juve products on Shopper, ipsy’s exclusive commerce marketplace, and Yield Growth has announced that this is now live.

With the global wellness market worth US $4.2 trillion according to the Global Wellness Institute, analysts now predict that CBD infused products will be a huge part of the industry, with Hemp Industry Daily projecting that within the US, this niche will grow to US $7 billion by 2023. Between their strategic alliances and wide-reaching marketing campaign, Urban Juve has positioned itself to be at the forefront of this new market.

Continuing to Meet Consumer Demands

Urban Juve has seen such positive responses from customers that on July 5th they announced the launch of three new Hemp Daily Ritual Kits, that feature the brand’s most loved products in a curated package.

The kits were launched partly in response to consumer’s who love the products and want to share them with others. ‘Whether personal gifts or professional-volume gifting, our new offering is just what customers are looking for, and our strategic focus on the gift-giving customer helps to generate additional revenue for the brand,” says Sandi Lesueur, president of Urban Juve.

The company continues to identify ways in which to reach new customers, while also maintaining a dedication to their existing customer base.

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Identifying Opportunities for Greater Revenue

Off the success of their existing brands, Yield Growth has invested time and money into the research and production of additional products. On June 25th, the company announced that it has completed testing on nine new products. The products contain hemp and other botanicals and have passed stability and preservation challenge tests at a laboratory in British Columbia.

The nine products include eye cream, deodorant, facial cleansers, facial oils and face masks. All the formulas in Yield Growth’s products are produced with the highest quality essential oils and pure botanical extracts. And in response to growing consumer trends, the company maintains a dedication to cruelty free practices.

With Jefferies financial research group’s estimation that the CBD Beauty Market will reach US $25 billion in ten years and amass 15% of the total skincare industry, Yield Growth is wise to continue to invest in this segment. With plans to launch several brands in California within the next 4 months, Yield Growth continues to prove itself as a force to be reckoned with in the wellness and CBD crossover market.

Going Global: Agreements Underway in Europe

In one of its most exciting reveals, Yield Growth announced on July 2nd that its Urban Juve Anti-Ageing Serum can now be sold in the European market. A Compliance Certificate was issued by Biorius, who is acting as Urban Juve’s Responsible Person in Europe.

Yield Growth had previously signed a letter of intent with Melorganics Hellas, who will act as the exclusive retail distributor and non-exclusive e-commerce distributor for the company’s flagship brand’s products in Cyprus and Greece.

As the European Union continues to create legislation that will bring cannabis closer to the mainstream market, luxury cannabis products such as Urban Juve’s line are becoming increasingly popular. With a population of well over 500 million, the EU offers an enormous market opportunity. Urban Juve hopes to obtain Compliance Certificates for all 11 of its products in the EU, and sales of its products are expected to begin in the fall of this year.

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Positioned to be a Leader as the Industry Develops

Yield Growth is a savvy company which manages to keep its many subsidiaries developing and growing alongside the growth of the industry. It is apt at identifying profitable market opportunities and it seizes these boldly and quickly. This, coupled with the company’s many strategic alliances has positioned Yield Growth to be a leader in the crossover market of cannabis based beauty products, both in North America and globally.

Disclaimer

The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/

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.

Many people hear the phrase ‘synthetic’ cannabinoids and immediately think of deadly designer drugs that have swept the recreational market. But synthetic cannabinoids refer to any cannabinoids that are created through chemical or biological processes other than the cultivation and extraction of cannabis plants. These processes could help make cannabinoids much cheaper and chemically-precise — key attributes for pharmaceutical development.

Let’s take a look at the rise of synthetic cannabinoids and how they could eventually pave the way for cannabinoids to finally realize their potential as pharmaceutical drugs.

How Insulin Could Provide a Roadmap

Insulin, a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreas and arguably the most successful drug ever, provides the perfect case study for why synthetic drugs are valuable. 

Diabetes affects nearly 10% of the U.S. population, or about 30 million people, as well as millions more around the world. In diabetes patients, the pancreas produces very little or no insulin, which makes it difficult for them to regulate blood sugar. This inability to regulate blood sugar can lead to a host of complications that are common in diabetic patients, including obesity, fatigue, frequent infection and other issues.

Before insulin’s discovery in the 1920s, diabetic children rarely lived a year after diagnosis and five percent of adults died within two years. The roughly 20% of adults that did live more than ten years often experienced complications like blindness, loss of limbs, kidney failure, stroke and heart attacks. Previous attempted treatments ranged from bleeding patients to dosing them with opium to starving them — all without much success.

Scientists had long suspected that the key to controlling glucose levels lay in the pancreas, but it wasn’t until the 1920s that Canadian surgeon Frederick Banting identified insulin. Between the 1920s and 1950s, purified animal-sourced insulin was the only type of insulin available to diabetics. The process was both expensive and time-consuming since it required that animals be raised and insulin extracted from their pancreas.

In 1978, Arthur Riggs and Keiichi Itakura created the first genetically-engineered ‘human’ insulin using E. coli as a ‘factory’. The discovery made it possible to mass produce insulin at a very low cost, making the drug easily available to millions of diabetics worldwide. The discovery saved millions of lives and generated billions of dollars for the pharmaceutical companies behind the development and commercialization of the treatment.

How To Create Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids may not address as dire of a population as insulin, but it could offer new treatment options for a wide range of medical conditions. Since synthetic cannabinoids can be developed with the utmost purity and accuracy, they could quickly become preferred by researchers for clinical trials that require exceptional precision and eventually by patients and physicians looking for predictable results from medical treatments.

There are two common ways to produce synthetic cannabinoids. Chemical and biosynthesis:

•  Chemical Synthesis – Companies like Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRLD) (OTC: CRTPF), in partnership with Noramco, chemically-synthesize cannabinoids in the same way that pharmaceutical companies create small molecule drugs — by using physical and chemical manipulations involving one or more reactions. The company plans to introduce its 100% pharmaceutical CBD products to the Canadian market later this year.

Cardiol recently announced plans for an international clinical trial of the effectiveness of its pharmaceutical CBD product in the treatment of acute myocarditis. The trials are being initiated under the orphan drug status. “The U.S. orphan drug program was successfully utilized to accelerate the first FDA approval of CBD for the treatment of rare forms of pediatric epilepsy and significant shareholder value was created in the process,” stated David Elsley, President and CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics. “Given the mortality and the significant morbidity risk associated with acute myocarditis, we believe there is a similar opportunity in pursuing an expedited development program of our CardiolRx pharmaceutical CBD formulation for this serious orphan disease which has no accepted standard of care.”

Click here to receive additional investor information on Cardiol Therapeutics Inc

• Biosynthesis-  Willow Biosciences Inc. (CSE: WLLW) uses biosynthesis to create cannabinoids using yeast, enzymes, or other living organisms that can act as anabolism factories. Willow Biosciences believes that these new production methods could result in purer cannabinoids that could be mass-produced at a much lower price and on a much shorter timeframe than conventional cannabis cultivation and extraction methods.

Led by groundbreaking researcher Dr. Facchini, Professor of Plant Biochemistry at the University of Calgary and Willow’s Chief Science Officer, the company owns proprietary yeast-based lab strains that produce CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabigerol (CBG).

Click here to receive additional information on Willow Biosciences Inc.

• Biosynthesis – FSD Pharma Inc. (CSE: HUGE) — through its investment in and partnership with Solarvest BioEnergy Inc., will carry out a research project using its algal expression system for the purpose of developing a proof of concept that algae can express pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids.

“We are delighted to have forged this collaboration with the Solarvest team and their leading-edge research using the SVS algal technology to produce pharma-grade bio-synthetic cannabinoids,” stated Zeeshan Saeed, Founder and President of FSD Pharma.

Click here to receive additional information on FSD Pharma Inc.

Click Here to See FSD CEO Video Interview: FSD Pharma CEO Lays Out Roadmap in Exclusive Video Interview with CFN Media

The benefits of synthetic cannabinoids are numerous, particularly given the strict regulation of the cannabis industry. Naturally-derived cannabinoids are not nearly as consistent as synthetic pharmaceuticals and many cultivators have struggled with pesticide and heavy metal contamination. These issues are easily transferred into extracts and other products where they can become dealbreakers for pharmaceutical regulators.

Synthetic cannabinoids could address these issues by ensuring 100% purity, while simultaneously eliminating the need for large cultivation facilities, security personnel, extraction equipment and everything else that’s currently required to produce cannabinoids.

Investing in Synthetic Cannabinoids

There are many different public and private companies working on synthetic cannabinoid development, including Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL), Willow Biosciences Inc. (CSE: WLLW), and FSD Pharma Inc. (CSE: HUGE). Investors may want to keep an eye on these companies and others as they look to create new high-volume, precise and low-cost methodologies for cannabinoid development.

Please Click here to receive additional information on Cardiol Therapeutics Inc.

Please Click here to receive additional information on WIllow Biosciences Inc.

Please Click here to receive additional information on FSD Pharma Inc.

Disclaimer

The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation:http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/

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.

Halo Labs Inc. (“Halo” or the “Company”) (NEO: HALO, OTCQX: AGEEF, Germany: A9KN) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) for the proposed acquisition of Bophelo Bioscience & Wellness (Pty) Ltd (“Bophelo”) (the “Transaction”). The Transaction is expected to strengthen the Company’s position in Lesotho, Africa, a country quickly becoming the continent’s export gateway to the global cannabis market. Lesotho is the first African country to grant medical marijuana licenses for cultivation and patient use and is making strides toward becoming the worldwide export hub for cannabis. Halo’s planned acquisition of Bophelo brings together two socially-minded companies on a shared mission to better the communities in Lesotho.

Halo’s initial partnership with Bophelo included operation of the 5-hectare cultivation and production site and purchase of its entire production in exchange for a 20% equity stake and a royalty on cannabis sales. In a growing consumer market, Halo now intends to purchase the entire issued share capital of Bophelo for 40,786,667 common shares in the capital of Halo (approximately USD $18.4M or CAD $24.7M).

Supreme Cannabis (TSX: FIRE) and Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) made significant investments in Lesotho recently with Supreme Cannabis making a CAD $10M strategic investment in Medigrow Lesotho (Pty) in exchange for a 10% ownership interest in that company, and Canopy Growth Corporation acquiring 100% of DaddyCann Lesotho (Pty) Ltd for CAD $28.8M.

This Transaction is expected to strengthen Halo’s position in a region strategically set to become the international breadbasket of Good Agricultural and Collecting Practice (GACP) and EU Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-grade cannabis isolates and distillates. GACP and GMP designations demonstrate Halo’s capability to grow and manufacture at scale while adhering to high-quality standards and enables distribution to European and international pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies in these attractive and growing markets.

Beyond providing a source of low-cost cannabis inputs and products for Europe and other regions, Africa as a continent boasts a strong consumer market. According to New Frontier, there are over 83 million annual cannabis consumers on the continent and the current market is estimated at USD $37.3 billion in combined legal and illegal sales out of the total USD $344.4 billion worldwide. This emerging opportunity will be unlocked with increased cannabis decriminalization and legalization policies, such as neighboring South Africa; which in 2018 approved private use and decriminalized possession, a market which according to the March 2019 Prohibition Partners Africa Report is now expected to be worth USD $1.851 billion by 2023.

Kiran Sidhu, the CEO of Halo Labs, commented, “The high-altitude, low-humidity climate and access to water, as well as low cost utility, tax, and labor rates mean cannabis in Lesotho can be cultivated naturally at a very competitive cost. While most of the licenses issued to date restrict cultivation to 2-3 hectares and indoor or greenhouse growing, Bophelo operates one of the largest sites in Lesotho at 5 hectares. The state has also given Bophelo preliminary approval to expand up to 200 hectares and has indicated they would consider granting permission for outdoor growing from 2019 onwards, following consultation with the INCB (International Narcotics Control Board). Bophelo has secured this site with a 20-year lease and option to renew for an additional 30 years.”

Once fully operational on the initial 5 hectare site, Bophelo intends to harvest GACP cultivated cannabis approximately twice per annum and will have the potential to produce approximately 4.6M grams of high quality EU GMP cannabis concentrate per annum.

Mr. Sidhu continued, “We anticipate EU GMP cannabis concentrate would be exported to the European market at an estimated price of USD $10 per gram while our FOB Lesotho all-in cost ready for export would not exceed USD $2 per gram. We expect the initial planting to occur in November and to complete our first harvest by the second quarter of 2019. Bophelo will also give Halo Labs an international platform for our innovative products like the DabTabs Dablets, the first ASTM C373-18 certified doseable cannabis product.”

Halo continues to solidify its reputation as a leader in cannabis oil and concentrates and is now the first U.S. based publicly traded company to make an investment into Lesotho. Upon closing of the Transaction, Halo will expand its global footprint and be one of the first cannabis companies in the world to have products and technology carried across the EU, the United States, and Africa.

The Chairman and non-executive director of Bophelo, Ms. Louisa Mojela, stated, “The acquisition of Bophelo by Halo Labs gives me great hope for the future of Africa’s cannabis industry. I am glad to be working with Halo’s executive team, too. Together we will strengthen Lesotho’s position as the breadbasket for Europe, Australia, and other global markets.” Ms. Mojela is among Africa’s most successful business personalities and a prominent citizen of Lesotho. She has been recognized by countless international organizations for her contributions to business, women, and impoverished communities winning an All Africa Business Leaders award by CNBC in 2016.

Halo’s acquisition of Bophelo will further solidify the Company’s strategic vision in addition to exemplifying its support of social responsibility initiatives. For example, the land leased by Bophelo is held by a non-profit trust that benefits the community. 10% (ten percent) of Bophelo’s pre-tax profits will go to this trust and be given back to the people of Lesotho. Both Ms. Mojela and Mr. Sidhu are like-minded about social impact and equity. Through support from the trust, Ms. Mojela has founded and built a school on Bophelo’s premises and Mr. Sidhu is personally donating computers for the school’s students. Ms. Mojela commented, “The social benefits of our public-private partnership are extremely important to me. Halo shares that commitment and these values will differentiate us from our competitors.”

Chairman of Halo Labs, G. Scott Paterson, summed up anticipated benefits from the transaction, “The proposed acquisition of Bophelo is game changing for Halo and important for the global cannabis economy. We are enthusiastic about the Lesotho opportunity and operating a scale cultivation and production facility for the international export of oil and concentrates. We expect a lift both to revenue and profit and are looking forward to delivering these financial results to our shareholders.”

Completion of the Transaction is subject to, among other things, the negotiation and execution of a mutually agreeable definitive acquisition agreement and related documents and the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions precedent to the consummation of the Transaction (including the receipt of any requisite regulatory and third-party approvals).

ABOUT HALO LABS

Halo is a cannabis extraction company that develops and manufactures quality cannabis oils and concentrates, which are the fastest growing segments in the cannabis industry. Halo is a global leader in cannabis oil and concentrates and has expertise across as major cannabis manufacturing processes, leveraging proprietary processes and products, and has produced over 4.0M grams of oils and concentrates since inception. The forward-thinking company is led by a strong management team with deep industry knowledge and blue-chip experience. The Company is currently operating in California and Oregon as well as Nevada with our partner Just Quality and in Lesotho with the Bophelo strategic partnership. With a consumer-centric focus, Halo will continue to market innovative branded and private label products across multiple product categories.

ABOUT BOPHELO BIOSCIENCE

Bophelo Bioscience is based in the Kingdom of Lesotho, Southern Africa and is the holder of one of a limited number of licenses issued in Lesotho for the production of medicinal cannabis products. Situated in proximity 70 kilometers to the capital city of Maseru, the Company’s operating site is an ideal location with ample labor, free water, flat land area, and low crime rates. The favorable high altitude, low humidity climate provides clean and organic growing conditions within the pristine mountainous region. With the motto “Sechaba se tlisa lerou” (community brings wealth), Bophelo highlights the value of community and empowerment of the Basotho people with a focus on the development of women and youth.

ABOUT LESOTHO

Lesotho is the first African country to legalize the cultivation and manufacturing of medicinal cannabis, becoming one of the most sought-after locations for cannabis operations in the world. The country has issued a limited number of licenses since legalization in 2016 and has been exporting cannabis since early 2018.

For further information regarding Halo, see Halo’s disclosure documents on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Halo’s beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Halo’s control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “will continue”, “will occur” or “will be achieved”. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Transaction (including the terms thereof, the entering into of definitive documentation and closing conditions), the receipt of regulatory approvals, the distribution and sale of Halo and Bophelo and the size and growth of the global and regional cannabis market generally.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Halo is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Halo has made certain assumptions. Although Halo believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Halo does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Halo or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190617005892/en/

Copyright Business Wire 2019

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.

 Jushi Holdings Inc. (NEO: JUSH) made its public debut on Monday, June 10^th.  The Boca Raton-based company has assembled a highly skilled and diversified team that is moving with a purpose, building a global footprint via organic and inorganic growth to capitalize on booming demand for cannabidiol, or CBD, in North America and abroad.

According to Cowen Equity Research and Marijuana Business Daily, global legal cannabis sales are forecasted to climb from about $9.6 billion in 2017 to $75 billion in 2030. In our opinion, there is no better time to be invested in this burgeoning industry.

Additionally, CBD is a non-psychotropic molecule found in cannabis and hemp.  The US Farm Bill, passed in December 2018, allowed, states to legalize industrial hemp and CBD products within their state paving the way for interstate commerce, while setting off a race to develop new products from hemp-derived CBD.

According to a report by market analysts at the Brightfield Group published in September 2018, hemp-based CBD is expected to blossom from around $600 million in 2018 to $22 billion by 2022.

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Operations Across the United States

Jushi and its portfolio companies have hemp operations in New York and are in the process of securing cannabis operations in California, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Nevada as well as additional states.  The targets in California, the biggest cannabis market in North America, include several handpicked retail cannabis locations with delivery capabilities and licenses for distribution, cultivation and processing.

In the East, Jushi is emerging as a leading player through its acquisition of Mend Products, formation of its hemp-centric subsidiary, Sound Wellness Holdings, Inc. earlier this year, and its relationship with the DENT Neurologic Institute in Buffalo, NY.

Quality is a differentiator for Jushi. All Jushi products are tested by an independent third party to ensure consistency for its premium goods, which cover the full spectrum, including oils, soft gel caps, creams, tinctures and more.  Most products on the market today do not go through any independent testing to ensure consistency across batches, safety and quality, or even CBD levels.

Meanwhile, the company’s subsidiary Sound Wellness, LLC, which earned a hemp processing license through NY’s Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research program, is moving forward with its own hemp/CBD manufacturing facility in upstate New York.  When completed, Sound Wellness will have one of the largest industrial hemp processing, extraction and manufacturing operations in the Northeastern United States.

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Scientific Commitment to Health and Wellness

Coupled with savvy acquisitions, partnerships and key hires, Jushi has access to private research thanks in part to Jushi’s Medical Director, Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, and Jushi’s Medical President, Steven Przybyla.  Dr. Mechtler, a world-renowned expert in cannabis and cannabis research, was a founder of Mend and still serves as Medical Director at the DENT Neurologic Institute, operator of the largest medical cannabis program in New York.

With Dr. Mechtler’s oversight, the full-spectrum CBD-hemp derived products of Mend are formulated using patient data collected from thousands of patients and formulated by board-certified physicians with a dynamic process for revisions based upon new data.  Dent’s large pool of patient data indicates substantial benefits from cannabis-derived products.  Further, Dent and Mend are in the process of initiating groundbreaking research through two planned clinical studies into the impact of Mend products.

Prior to taking on the role of President of Jushi Medical, Steven Przybyla worked as EVP of Business Development, General Counsel and Director of Cannabis Programs at DENT, strengthening the ties between Jushi and the prestigious institution.

The Mend Store held its grand opening in Dent Tower in Buffalo on June 3, 2019. While open to public, the Mend Store also expects to serve patients of DENT’s medical cannabis program. Sales have started strong and are exceeding internal estimates.

Other initiatives of the company include international expansion by Jushi Europe, which will be focused on an early stage market through a separately financed entity.

Elsewhere, Jushi recently acquired the trademarks The Clinic^TM, The Clinic Consulting Services^TM, The Bank^TM and The Lab^TM as well as, subject to certain limited exceptions, intellectual property derived from the operations of The Clinic^TM Colorado. The Clinic Colorado, a Denver-based cannabis company, is known for its intellectual property concerning cannabis cultivation, processing, retail distribution, compliance, and safety in multiple states, and has received more industry awards than any other cannabis company in the US with 32 first place awards. The Clinic Colorado has had a track record of success with The Bank^TM owning intellectual property to cultivation and genetics of over 150 different strains and the Lab’s^TM intellectual property consisting of proprietary concentrates and extraction techniques. This sophisticated IP will complement Jushi’s expanding platform.

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The Upshot

Piloted by Deutsche Bank corporate finance veteran Erich Mauff (Founder, President, Board Member) and experienced hedge fund manager Jim Cacioppo (Founder, CEO, Chairman of the Board), Jushi combines public company and capital markets know-how with an excellent mix of cannabis and medical executives to create a multi-state operator with a commitment to shareholder value and highest quality products.

These fundamentals underpin management and advisors investing more than $20 million of the approximately $135 million that Jushi raised since February 2018 to support growth through its diverse capital allocation methodology. With Jushi recently going public on Monday, June 10th, keep an eye on further developments as the company executes its vision of becoming a bold, new, principled leader in the cannabis and hemp industry.

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Disclaimer

The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/

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.