The global energy drinks market was valued at $45.80 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $108.40 billion by 2031

WESTON, Fla., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Golden Grail Technology (OTC: GOGY)  www.GoldenGrailBeverages.com is a fast-growing company with a strategic mission to innovate, build and streamline the growth of its beverage portfolio through fiscally responsible investing announces a production run of Spider Energy Drink.

Spider Energy Drink https://spiderenergydrink.com/ is packed with serious energy. This formula is the perfect balance of energy boosting B-vitamins, Taurine, Guarana, Ginseng, Key Levels of Amino Acids and herbal extracts. Made with 100% real sugar, Spider Energy is known as one of the best tasting with a fresh-citrus, smooth and refreshing flavor, without the medicinal aftertaste associated with most energy drinks.

According to Euromonitor, the global energy drinks market was valued at $45.80 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $108.40 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2022 to 2031.

Energy drinks are widely promoted as products that increase energy and enhance mental alertness and physical performance. Next to multivitamins, energy drinks are the most popular dietary supplement consumed by American teens and young adults. Men between the ages of 18 and 34 years consume the most energy drinks.

 “Caffeine the Energy Blog” wrote about Spider Energy Drink and some remarks can be found here.

This is a drink that has everything going for it – killer packaging, excellent taste, and a buzz that’s hard to match. Such is my enthusiasm for it that – if you know of a place where you can get Spider nearby – I would wholeheartedly encourage you to take a break from reading this review to buy a can, then come back and finish reading. Spider has nailed their original flavor here – which is orange. The Drink Overall gets a 9.33. Spider Energy is a great energy drink. It is seriously something I could see myself buying by the case- and that’s not something I say very often.

Golden Grail Technology (OTC: GOGY) www.GoldenGrailBeverages.com is a fast-growing company with a strategic mission to innovate, build and streamline the growth of its beverage portfolio through fiscally responsible investing. The company targets brands that have a proven sales history, loyal consumer following, retail presence and strong value proposition who need assistance to get to the next few levels. Golden Grail has been actively acquiring brands within emerging and growing beverage categories. Our robust product offerings include Spider Energy Drink, Trevi Fruit Essence Water, Tickle Water for kids, Sketch Can for Tweens, Cause Water helping reduce global plastic pollution and Scorpion Energy Hemp/CBD.

After an acquisition, the company utilizes a series of operational technologies to apply its business expertise, fiscal techniques and various manufacturing processes know-how to improve the economics and performance of each brand while advancing marketing and distribution for its beverage holdings. The company’s focus on sophisticated management and development of beverage brands, coupled with its rapidly growing and recognizable portfolio of healthy, functional beverages sets Golden Grail apart as a leader in acquiring and advancing existing beverage brands.

For more information on Golden Grail Technology Beverages (OTC: GOGY) visit 
www.GoldenGrailBeverages.com
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenGrailTechBeverages
https://twitter.com/golden_grail
Podcast: https://epodcastnetwork.com/disruption-in-the-marketplace-with-erin-heit-of-golden-grail-technology-corp

Our Brands

Cause Water is Pristine Mountain Spring Water with a Cause

Cause Water has three key initiatives be a vessel for change, do your part and encouraging consumers to join the cause, by drinking Cause Water. A fully recyclable aluminum bottle and cap supports its core mission of plastic reduction and ocean preservation. Cause Water can be found in high-end, influential natural food stores along the West Coast.

For more information visit:

https://causewater.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CauseWaterBeverage

https://www.instagram.com/cause_water/

Tickle Water is a premium sparkling water company dedicated to providing honest and clean hydration. Tickle Water is the first sparkling water in the market created specifically for children, yet enjoyed by all ages, complete with delicious flavors and a recyclable can, making it the perfect beverage for any occasion. Every can of Tickle Water is simply made with premium sparkling water and natural flavors without artificial ingredients, sugar, sodium, or preservatives.

For more information visit http://www.drinkticklewater.com

https://www.facebook.com/drinkticklewater

TCKL WTR ‘Sketch Can’ – The first and only ‘sketch can’ features a personalization space and a social media hash tag to invite Tickle fans to interact with the brand by drawing on the can and then sharing their custom can on Tik Tok. ‘Sketch Can’ provides kids with a brand they can call their own. It is a healthy premium sparkling water and natural flavors without artificial ingredients, sugar, sodium, or preservatives. ‘Sketch Can’ comes in a fully recyclable package, in two delicious flavors Watermelon and Sour Apple. Kids won’t be able to resist the urge to sip and sketch.

Trevi Essence Water is a true clean-label beverage with a superior flavor that stays true to the fruit. Trevi has zero sugar, zero calories, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, gluten free, vegan, kosher and diet friendly. Trevi comes in four delicious flavors Mango Orange, Coconut Lime, Peach and Grapefruit.

For more information visit www.DrinkTrevi.com

https://www.facebook.com/DrinkTrevi

https://www.instagram.com/drinktreviwater/

https://twitter.com/drinktreviwater

Spider Energy Drink is packed with serious energy. This formula is the perfect balance of energy boosting B-vitamins, Taurine, Guarana, Ginseng, Key Levels of Amino Acids and herbal extracts. Made with 100% real sugar, Spider Energy is known as one of the best tasting with a fresh-citrus, smooth and refreshing flavor, without the medicinal aftertaste associated with most energy drinks.

For more information visit  https://spiderenergydrink.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SpiderEnergyDrink

https://www.instagram.com/spiderenergydrink/

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes forward-looking statements concerning the future performance of our business, its operations and its financial performance and condition, and also includes selected operating results presented without the context of accompanying financial results. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to our objectives and strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates or intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations. We caution that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from the assumptions, estimates or expectations reflected or contained in the forward-looking information, and that actual future performance will be affected by a number of factors, including economic conditions, technological change, regulatory change and competitive factors, many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what we currently foresee. We are under no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Golden Grail Technology Corp

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.

Subsidiary Gold Leaf Distribution has another record month

MELBOURNE, Fla., Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Kona Gold Beverage, Inc. (OTCQB: KGKG), a holding company focused on product development in the better-for-you and hemp and CBD functional beverage sector, is pleased to announce revenue in October was the highest when compared to all prior Octobers, and the Company’s third best revenue month of 2021. The months of October, November, and December are generally the slowest months in the beverage industry, but Kona Gold Beverage’s subsidiaries, Kona Gold LLC and Gold Leaf Distribution LLC continue to see phenomenal growth, even in the slower season.

Kona Gold LLC saw October revenues of approximately $151,000 with approximately $32,000 in Gross Profit. Gold Leaf Distribution LLC saw October revenues of approximately $176,000 with approximately $48,000 in Gross Profit, which was another record revenue month for Gold Leaf Distribution. The combined Kona Gold Beverage subsidiaries saw approximately $327,000 in combined revenue.

Kona Gold Beverage’s announcement comes off last month’s announcement of having a record revenue quarter in Q3, with approximately $890,000 in revenue. At the current pace, Kona Gold Beverage’s Q4 revenues are on track to beat the previous quarters revenue, which would be a staple on the strong year the Company is having in 2021. The Company continues to be on pace to hit 2021 projected revenues of $2.5 to $3 million in revenue.

“I am pleased to announce to our shareholders that the Company continues to see exciting growth and our revenues are a reflection of that,” stated Robert Clark, CEO of Kona Gold Beverage, Inc. “I understand our shareholders are frustrated with the beating our stock price has taken recently, but that is not a reflection of the outstanding work our entire team is doing and the growth we are experiencing from a business perspective. We continue to hit our numbers we put out for 2021 and are ramping up for an extremely exciting 2022 with new product launches, rebranding of existing products, and expanding distribution operations.”

Clark continued, “To support the growth we are having, we recently hired a bookkeeper at our corporate location and 2 salesmen for our Gold Leaf Distribution operation. We started 2021 with 9 employees across all subsidiaries and we have grown to 18 employees to date.”

Kona Gold will be announcing an exciting new product line that will launch in the next few weeks along with rebranding updates of its Kona Gold Hemp Energy Drinks. Gold Leaf Distribution’s new Conway branch is now fully operational and the Company expects a substantial uptick in revenue from that location, adding to the phenomenal growth Gold Leaf is having in 2021.For more information regarding Kona Gold Beverage, please visit: https://konagoldbeverage.com/

About Kona Gold Beverage, Inc.

Kona Gold Beverage, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has created wholly-owned subsidiaries, Kona Gold LLC, HighDrate, LLC, and Gold Leaf Distribution, LLC. Kona Gold, LLC has developed a premium Hemp-Infused Energy Drink line; please visit its website at www.konagoldhemp.com. HighDrate, LLC has developed the beverage industry’s first CBD-Infused Energy Water, available in 6 delicious flavors; please visit its website at www.highdrateme.com. Gold Leaf Distribution, LLC was created to fill the Company’s distribution needs in markets that it wants to enter quickly; please visit its website at www.goldleafdist.com. Kona Gold Beverage, Inc. recently rebranded it’s Lemin Lemonade to Ooh La Lemin Lemonade; please visit its website at www.oohlalemin.com. Kona Gold and its family of companies are located on the east coast of Florida in Melbourne and in Greer and Conway South Carolina.

Safe Harbor Statement:

The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” and similar expressions. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact:
Robert Clark
+1 844-714-2224
[email protected]

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.

Bogota, Colombia–(Newsfile Corp. – May 27, 2021) – Medcolcanna Organics Inc. (TSXV: MCCN) (“Medcolcanna“, “MCCN” or the “Company“), a leading Canadian and globally integrated medicinal cannabis company with operations in Colombia, is pleased to announce the execution of a Letter of Intent (“LOI“) with Industrial Hemp Farms ( “IHF“), a large and well-established company based in Colorado, USA. The proposed business transaction is for the purchase of $1.0M USD ($1.2M CAD approx.) minimum of hemp derived high CBD dried flower per month. Pursuant to the LOI, other commodities will be also purchased from Medcolcanna by IHF.

The terms outlined in the LOI include a CBD Dried Flower Supply agreement, an option agreement for the supply of other MCCN products to IHF, and an investment option for IHF into MCCN if IHF meets certain performance targets.

Under these initial terms, and subject to the approval on upcoming legislation proposed by the Colombian Government on dried cannabis flower exports, MCCN is to supply IHF with a minimum of 20,000 pounds of CBD dried flower per month at a price of $50 USD per pound, for 5 years. The two Companies will also enter into a Supply Option Agreement along with the definitive agreement of CBD Dried Flower Supply Agreement, whereby MCCN is to supply and produce many other products for IHF including CBD, CBG, and CBN isolates, oils and distillates, as well as other consumer products.

This supply agreement would represent a minimum of $12 million USD ($14.5M CAD) on a rolling 12 month basis in revenue for MCCN. MCNN anticipates the CBD dried flower supply agreement to begin in Q4 2021, when regulations should be in place for the flower export.

This LOI shows IHF’s support of MCCN’s quality of operations, products and services. IHF will also provide their vast expertise, in the US and global markets, which should further strengthen MCCN’s research and development efforts along with their cultivation processes.

Given certain performance targets IHF will be granted stock options, which have a six-month expiry period, the period to begin once the performance targets have been achieved and the stock options vest. IHF will be granted 8,000,000 stock options, with a strike price of $0.13 which will vest once $3.0M USD ($3.6M CAD) of product is purchased and paid for, an additional 8,000,000 stock options, with a strike price of $0.17 which will vest once $5.0M USD ($6.1M CAD) of product is purchased and paid for and a final 8,000,000 stock options, with a strike price of $0.19 which will vest once $8.0M USD ($9.7M CAD) of product is purchased and paid for.

Pursuant to the LOI, IHF will be granted 5,000,000 performance units, which will be allocated in three tranches, the first tranche will have 1 million performance units, and the 2^nd and 3^rd tranche will both have 2 million performance units each. The first tranche of performance units will fully vest once IHF has purchased and paid for $3.0M ($3.6M CAD) of CBD dried flower from MCCN, the second and third tranches will fully vest once IHF has purchased and paid for $10M USD ($12.1M CAD) and $20M USD (24.2M CAD) of product, respectively. The above noted performance units will consist of a cash discount for future orders, such discount to be based on the price of the shares of Medcolcanna to be determined based on the then current market price of the shares on the facilities of any stock exchange on which the shares may then be listed and posted for trading. For example, if at the time the performance threshold for vesting is met through Industrial Hemp Farms ordering and paying for $3 million worth of product, the shares of Medcolcanna are trading at $0.25 per share, then the discount shall be based on multiplying 1,000,000 by the trading price of $0.25, resulting in a discount of $250,000 for future orders, such discount or credit to be applied by Industrial Hemp Farms towards the purchase of common shares of Medcolcanna at the prevailing market price by way of a new share issuance.

The LOI also provides that IHF has the ability to nominate two (2) additional board members to MCCN, such nomination to take effect upon the signing of the definitive agreement for this transaction, but subject to regulatory approval and conditional on the election of the six (6) nominees being put forward by management at the upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders to be held on July 7, 2021.

The increase in the size of the option pool under the stock option plan to facilitate the issuance of shares pursuant to the LOI and the increase to the size of the board of directors to six (6) members is subject to Board approval and shareholders’ approval at the AGM. This Increase in the size of the Board of Directors will facilitate the ability of IHF to nominate the aforementioned two (2) board members through the addition of one additional board position plus the resignation of one of the nominated six (6) members of the Board being elected at the upcoming AGM.

Comment from CEO Felipe de la Vega: “This is a major opportunity for the Company as it marks the beginning of a deeper relation with IHF, already a leader in the US market. Through their support in products and distribution we will also improve our trading activities in Europe from our Swiss office. The flower export is one of the largest contracts in the market for this product and demonstrates the state of the art facilities that the Company has developed. We are pleased to have been chosen by IHF after they had been looking for a reliable supplier in Colombia with the capabilities and a common view on market development. We are working already on some other opportunities with IHF that we expect will increase our position and brand recognition, and will be announced in due time.”

About Industrial Hemp Farms

IHF specializes in the production, distribution and sales of a wide arrangement of non-psychoactive cannabis-based products. IHF enjoys a commanding presence in the industry, being the third largest supplier of bulk hemp flower and extracts worldwide. They are one of the key players in the US cannabis market, with a product list covering an extensive range of non-psychoactive cannabis-based products.

About Medcolcanna

Medcolcanna is a Canadian-integrated medical cannabis company, whose fully licensed operations are based in Colombia.

Led by a proven and successful management team, Medcolcanna has a growing number of facilities in optimal growing locations, which positions the Company to become a global leader in the medical cannabis market.

Medcolcanna employs state-of-the-art organic agricultural technology and innovative pharmaceutical processes to produce high-quality products.

The Company’s scalable production model and network of pharmaceutical partnerships globally ensures that they remain at the forefront of the medical cannabis industry.

If you would like to receive News Releases via email as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: https://medcolcanna.com/contact-us/ or write to [email protected].

Additional information about Medcolcanna can be found on its web site at medcolcanna.com.

Medcolcanna Investor Relations Contact:
Chris Reid, CFO Carrera 49b # 93-62 Bogota, Colombia
Phone: +571 642-9113
Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements“) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release.

Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals for any proposed transaction, including those discussed herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release.

Medcolcanna assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by 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.

Ikänik to Supply Hemp CBD and Finished Products for sale in US and LATAM markets

CORONA, Calif., April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Ikänik Farms, Inc. (CSE: IKNK.U) (“Ikänik Farms” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce Ikänik Life, Inc. (“Ikänik Life”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company has signed a three-year supply agreement with Yura Group (“Yura”), for the company’s full line of hemp-based CBD products.

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Yura Group, whose founders have a strong reputation for distribution excellence in the LATAM marketplace,” said Brian Baca, CEO of Ikänik Farms. “We look forward to growing with our partner, not only to advance the industry geographically, but also categorically.”

The supply agreement with Yura is focused on the US and LATAM markets, with a minimum annual purchase quantity of 240,000 finished units. The cosmetic based product suite includes topical creams, rubs and balms. Ikänik Life is responsible for finished product formulations and will collaborate with Yura on new product development to support consumers growing demand of hemp CBD-based products. Yura services over 50 million Latin consumers annually.

“The Yura Group agreement will help expand the Company’s footprint into 8 additional countries, broadening our reach to our target consumers, globally.” said Borja Sanz de Madrid, President of Ikänik International, Inc.

“We are very excited to partner with Ikänik Farms and apply Yura’s commercial capabilities and decades of success in direct sales to US and Latin American markets. With the rapid regulatory changes occurring throughout LATAM, we anticipate having products available for sale in LATAM countries by Q3, 2021″ said Mariano Cariola, CEO of Yura Group.

Ikänik Farms is traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol (IKNK.U).

About Yura Group

Yura Group brings more than 20 years of experience through its founding partners in direct response sales of cosmetics and food supplements to millions of Latin people in the US and LATAM countries and specializes in the international distribution of medicinal cannabis-derived products to pharmaceutical industry, retailers, and final consumers without intermediaries. Yura Group currently sells CBD based products in the US and has registered its products in Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Ecuador.

About Ikänik Farms

Ikänik Farms is a California based, Multi-National Operator (MNO) who is building a dynamic portfolio of brands, inspired by its passion for health and wellness, action sports, and supported by its vertically integrated retail, distribution and cultivation in CA and its medical grade cultivation and laboratory in Colombia. The company’s leadership brings decades of expertise in R&D, cultivation, retail, branding, and corporate finance. Ikänik Farms’ operation in Colombia, through its pharma division Pideka, holds both GMP-PHARMA and (GACP) Good Agricultural and Collection Practice certifications for its Casa Flores operating facility.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws (together, “forward-looking information). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future is forward-looking information. When used in this news release, words such as “will”, “could”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “potential”, “believe”, “should”, and similar expressions, are forward-looking information.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: changes in laws, a change in management, the inability to obtain additional financing, increased competition, hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and, regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management’s expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in the forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this news release is made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and the Company does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ikänik Farms, Inc.

Related Links:

Corporate Site: www.iknkbrands.com
Brand Site: www.ikanikfarms.com

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Ikanik Farms Inc.

Related Links

https://ikanikfarms.com/

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.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) legalized hemp by removing the crop and its derivatives from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and by providing a detailed framework for the cultivation of hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill gives the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulatory authority over hemp cultivation at the federal level. In turn, states have the option to maintain primary regulatory authority over the crop cultivated within their borders by submitting a plan to the USDA.

This federal and state interplay has resulted in many legislative and regulatory changes at the state level. Indeed, most states have introduced (and adopted) bills that would authorize the commercial production of hemp within their borders. A smaller but growing number of states also regulate the sale of products derived from hemp.

In light of these legislative changes, we are presenting a 50-state series analyzing how each jurisdiction treats hemp-derived cannabidiol (Hemp CBD). Today we turn to Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) regulates hemp cultivation in Pennsylvania. PDA has an industrial hemp program that requires participants to submit applications and obtain permits to cultivate hemp in the state. There are fairly robust requirements to get a permit unlike in some other states: owners must undergo federal background checks and submit detailed information about their business in order to get permitted. PDA also imposes detailed reporting requirements and requires that cultivators follow strict guidelines when growing hemp.

Notably, Pennsylvania’s hemp production plan was approved by the USDA but has not yet taken effect. When it does take effect, it will impose much more robust rules on hemp cultivators, and will also require processors to obtain licenses. Expect big changes in the future.

When it comes to Hemp CBD products, PDA generally follows the FDA’s position when it comes to Hemp CBD products, and does not allow Hemp CBD to be added to foods. PDA also states, for what it’s worth, that products and product labels must comply with any applicable law, including FDA laws. While PDA has not directly addressed most other Hemp CBD products (such as cosmetics), we can assume that the agency would follow in the FDA’s footsteps given its incorporation of FDA policy relative to foods. Therefore, sellers of products that contain Hemp CBD that do not make medical claims and are not on the FDA’s target list for any other reason might be safer in Pennsylvania.

For additional updates on changes to Pennsylvania hemp laws and Hemp CBD laws, please stay tuned to the Canna Law Blog.  For previous coverage in this series, check out the links below:

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) continues to drag its feet in forging a clear path for the sale and marketing of hemp-derived cannabidiol (“Hemp CBD”) products, foreign agencies and industry players are leading the way by adopting their own sets of regulations.

Last week, giant beauty retailer Sephora announced it was now enforcing standards specifically tailored for all Hemp CBD products found on its shelves to ensure these products meet the company’s high-quality standards.

To comply with these CBD standards, all Hemp CBD products sold at Sephora must:

1. Exclusively contain full-spectrum or broad-spectrum Hemp CBD extracts, no isolate.
2. Be derived from hemp grown in the U.S.
3. Be accompanied by a certificate of analysis that could be made available for customers upon request.
4. Be tested three times for quality and purity, including CBD concentration levels as well as microbial and chemical contaminants.
5. Comply with the “Clean At Sephora” standards imposed on all products carried by the company, which ban the use of over 50 ingredients, including sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils and other potential toxins.

As the first national retailer to adopt CBD guidelines, Sephora is raising the need to assist consumers in navigating this complex regulatory landscape.

Hemp CBD topicals represent a significant percentage of the booming CBD market. According to an August 2019 report released by Grand View Research, Inc., the global CBD skincare market is expected to reach $1.7 billion by 2025, with North America leading the way. Yet, back in 2017, 60% of online CBD products reviewed in a study published in the Journal of American Medical Association, were found to be mislabeled. Mislabeled often meant false potency claims, with 26% of these products containing lower concentrations of CBD than listed on their labels.

Add to that the issue of adulteration and the sad reality that many CBD topicals–and CBD products, generally –contain dangerous substances. The issues are obviously hugely problematic and stress the need for standards like those adopted by Sephora to protect consumers from public health crises.

We applaud Sephora for leading the way in regulating the industry and hope that the company’s initiative will further pressure the FDA to fulfill its responsibility to ensure the safety of our nation’s cosmetics (among other things) by adopting its own regulations for the sale and marketing of these products.

We’ll continue to update you on any other regulatory development via this blog.

The U.S. hemp market continues to heat up for a variety of reasons, mainly because the general populace is finally starting to understand the difference between cannabis as marijuana and cannabis as hemp (and the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids derived from cannabis). In this post I’ll discuss why China’s pain can be U.S. hemp producers’ gain.

Basic principles of economics dictate that in the U.S. hemp market where demand stays constant (or increases) and supply decreases due to something like a coronavirus in China, the price of that good increases (sometimes substantially), enriching existing suppliers and drawing more suppliers into the market.

And it is also true that where there is available supply (U.S.) with the same or better good that can make up for the decreased market supply without substantially increasing the cost of that good, those suppliers will fill the void, equalizing supply and demand. China’s export-led hemp industry, with its normally outsized international presence, is no exception.

U.S. hemp producers happen to be 7,000 miles closer to the U.S. market than Chinese hemp producers. And do not forget that China’s hemp industry is only now starting to diversify from its industrial hemp products into consumer hemp products, so many U.S. hemp producers and extractors are ahead of their Chinese competitors.

Virtually all of China’s industries have been hit hard by the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). China is still basically on lockdown due to COVID-19, which means that most businesses are hobbling at best as they try to comply with government directives to get workers back to the factories and get production back up to capacity, with all of the attendant problems you can imagine in trying to do so under a nationwide epidemic.

But Chinese farms keep producing hemp, which will lead to a glut of raw and finished products in certain industries. These products require an export market; China has no significant domestic market to absorb its hemp production. This export bottleneck is less of an issue in one of China’s hemp centers in northeast Heilongjiang Province, where the average temperature in winter hovers barely above 0 degrees. But it certainly matters in China’s other hemp center of southwest Yunnan Province where its average temperature in winter is comfortably above freezing and has multiple growing seasons.

I recently read a good article in Hemp Industry Daily that said U.S.-based hemp growers will not be the only ones to benefit from China’s current virus-related meltdown and trade friction. It said, “this newest issue underscores the vulnerabilities in the global marketplace that vape and other cannabis and hemp companies rely on for products ranging from LED lighting to packaging supplies.”

Two of my co-authors, Adams Lee and Griffen Thorne, provided insight on that topic almost a year ago (see here). So opportunities also abound for cannabis-related companies to renegotiate contracts with Chinese suppliers, many of whom have already started reneging on current contracts as they point to force majeure clauses in their contracts.

And as I mentioned in a prior blog post, U.S.-based hemp companies need all of the good news they can get as they try to compete with China, but it will probably not come from the Phase One trade deal:

When the trade agreement was made public, some honed in on the appearance of hemp in the trade agreement, the relatively recently de-scheduled industrial crop in the U.S., thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill (Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018). One prominent marijuana publication published an article the day after the trade agreement was made public, on January 16, claiming that, “China Must Import More Hemp From U.S. Under New Trade Deal.” That is an overly generous interpretation of the trade agreement. . . The short gloss is that China may buy more hemp from the U.S. under the new trade deal, but China is definitely not obligated to buy more (or any) U.S. hemp as a result of the trade deal.

As one economics professor described to me recently, “The phase one trade deal is basically dead.” That reality, coupled with the current COVID-19 pain, means that China will be offline for some time to come, and that means U.S. hemp producers prepared for export markets will find less competition in the international marketplace.

If you are interested in keeping up with China-focused legal developments, check us out on our multiple award-winning China Law Blog.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) legalized hemp by removing the crop and its derivatives from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and by providing a detailed framework for the cultivation of hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill gives the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulatory authority over hemp cultivation at the federal level. In turn, states have the option to maintain primary regulatory authority over the crop cultivated within their borders by submitting a plan to the USDA.

This federal and state interplay has resulted in many legislative and regulatory changes at the state level. Indeed, most states have introduced (and adopted) bills that would authorize the commercial production of hemp within their borders. A smaller but growing number of states also regulate the sale of products derived from hemp.

In light of these legislative changes, we are presenting a 50-state series analyzing how each jurisdiction treats hemp-derived cannabidiol (Hemp CBD). Today we turn to Oregon.

Oregon was one of the first states to allow the production of industrial hemp following the enactment of the 2014 Farm Bill. Pursuant to Chapter 571 of the Oregon Revised Statutes, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (“ODA”) oversees the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp, Hemp CBD products, and commodities. Any grower or processors (known as “handlers” in the state) must secure a license from the ODA and comply with comprehensive reporting, recordkeeping and total THC testing requirements.

Oregon is also one of the states that have interpreted the 2014 Farm Bill to allow for the commercial sale of industrial hemp and Hemp CBD products, including products intended for human consumption. “Consumption” means “to ingest, inhale, topically apply to the skin or hair.” This means that Oregon permits the sale and marketing of Hemp CBD foods, non-alcoholic beverages, dietary supplements, cosmetics and smokables so long as they contain no more than 0.3% total THC and are free of certain chemicals.

Another unique aspect of Oregon hemp law is that it provides an opportunity for ODA-licensed growers and handlers to sell and transfer their products to the state’s marijuana recreational market so long as they satisfy certain licensing, testing, labeling and recordkeeping requirements.

Although the hemp rules only regulate the production and sale of hemp and Hemp CBD products within the state, ODA-licensed growers and handlers are free to sell or transfer these products outside of the state so long as they contain no more than 0.3% total THC. Under Oregon law, the exportation (and importation) of hemp and Hemp CBD products containing more than 0.3% total THC is strictly prohibited. This means that out-of-state growers, processors, manufactures and distributors wishing to sell their Hemp CBD products in Oregon must also ensure compliance with Oregon’s total THC testing standards before their product cross state lines. Violating this law is a Class C felony.

When it comes to transportation, the ODA rules mandate that any industrial hemp or industrial hemp seeds transported within the state be accompanied by a copy of the hemp registration and a copy of the pre-harvest test results that corresponds to the harvest lot in transit.

Earlier this year, the ODA submitted a plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to oversee the production of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill. However, the Oregon agency ultimately decided to continue operating its hemp program under the 2014 Farm Bill. Therefore, the requirements currently imposed on hemp stakeholders will remain in place until October 30, 2020.

Currently, the Oregon legislature is technically still in session: we previewed Senate Bill 1561 and the other hemp-related draft bills here. Unfortunately, the session is now hanging by a thread due to a controversial walk out, and there is a chance we don’t see a state hemp plan for commercial production and sale, a state hemp commission, or any of the other hemp-related proposals that seemed to have real legs before the session.

For more updates on Oregon’s Hemp CBD laws, stay tuned to the Canna Law Blog. And for previous coverage in this series, check out the links below:

According to Hemp Industry Daily reporter Laura Drotleff, it  was an eventful week for hemp regulation at the National Association of State Department of Agriculture (NASDA) meeting in Arlington, Virginia. Drotleff reported on two major developments at NASDA. These developments came from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), respectively, which are the primary regulators of hemp and its derivative products. Both are analyzed below.

FDA Changing Its Tune on Hemp CBD?

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, M.D., said that the agency is working towards regulating hemp-derived CBD (Hemp CBD) products and admitted that the agency’s approach to Hemp CBD is not sustainable:

We’re not going to be able to say you can’t use these products. It’s a fools errand to even approach that[.] We have to be open to the fact that there might be some value to these products and certainly Americans think that’s the case. But we want to get them information to make the right decisions.

Finally! The FDA is finally taking a rational approach to Hemp CBD. This is a major departure from the FDA’s recent messaging on Hemp CBD and it’s coming from the head of the agency.

It was only three months ago, on November 25, 2019, that the FDA sent out a whopping 15 warning letters to companies selling CBD and issued a consumer update stating that CBD was dangerous and could harm people before they even knew the harm occurred. Now, Dr. Hahn is admitting that the agency sees value in Hemp CBD and wants to make sure that consumers get enough information to make the right decision. Good! That’s what the FDA should be doing instead of constantly repeating that most Hemp CBD products are unlawful.

Now I know what you’re thinking: Aren’t you getting a little over-enthusiastic about a single statement on Hemp CBD? It’s not as if the law has changed or the FDA’s actually issued any regulations on Hemp CBD. Plus, hasn’t the FDA made positive statements on Hemp CBD before?

Yes, it’s true that Dr. Hahn has not established a regulatory framework for Hemp CBD with his statements, or convinced Congress to alter the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to accommodate Hemp CBD. It’s also true that before leaving his post, former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottleib, M.D., testified to Congress that “[w]e believe [CBD] does have therapeutic value and has been demonstrated[.]” That being said, there is reason to be excited the statements made in Arlington because of who said it and who heard it.

Let’s start with Dr. Hahn. The FDA’s issue with Hemp CBD stems from the FDCA’s “Drug Exclusion Rule” which, simply put, means that an article that has been approved or investigated as a drug cannot be a dietary supplement or be added to food unless the article was marketed as a supplement or food before it was investigated. CBD has been approved as an article in the drug Epidiolex and the FDA does not believe that CBD was marketed as a food or supplement prior to that investigation. But, the FDCA grants the FDA Commissioner can override the Drug Exclusion Rule by issuing “a regulation, after notice and comment, finding that the article would be lawful under [the FDCA].”  As head of the FDA, Dr. Hahn has the ability to regulate Hemp CBD so his statements are important.

Now, let’s talk about the audience which was made up of representatives from state departments of agriculture across the country. We’ve been doing a series on how states treat Hemp CBD and if you’ve been following it you know that states have been struggling to regulate Hemp CBD in light of the FDA’s position. Some states have regulated Hemp CBD despite the FDA’s slow movement, others are locked into the FDA’s policy, banning Hemp CBD in foods and dietary supplements. Many are somewhere in between, trying to figure out how the FDA will act. A positive statement like this from Dr. Hahn, made directly to the NASDA is likely to have ripple effects on enforcement policies across the state. This doesn’t mean that everything will change overnight, but I think it does portend a change in Hemp CBD policy across the US.

USDA Ditches DEA Registration

Drotleff also covered a very promising statement from USDA Undersecretary Greg Ibach, who told the NASDA that the USDA has reached an agreement with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to remove the requirement that only DEA-registered labs test hemp for THC. The DEA wrinkle was not part of the 2018 Farm Bill but was included in the USDA’s interim hemp rules issued in October.

Update: Drotleff’s story was updated on February 27 to clarify that DEA registration will not be required in 2020, but DEA expects states to work with its labs in the 2021 season.

The DEA registration was widely opposed by the agriculture community. Requiring DEA registration on all labs testing hemp creates a huge potential for a bottleneck as all hemp must be tested 15 days before harvest and there are less than 50 DEA-registered labs that could even undertake these tests. Many state departments of agriculture saw this as such a burden that they decided not to even submit a hemp cultivation plan to the USDA, electing to run out the clock with the 2014 Farm Bill, which expires October 31, 2020, rather than operate under the USDA’s interim rules and 2018 Farm Bill. The DEA Registration was a big part of this.

There are still challenges in THC testing, including the need to test for Total THC (delta-9 THC and THCA), which has caused some cultivars of hemp that would have been legal under the 2014 Farm Bill to fail under the 2018 Farm Bill. Still, this is a step in the right direction and quite promising, considering that the USDA will again accept public comments after the 2020 season.

Conclusion

The USDA and FDA are the two federal agencies directing the domestic hemp market. This process is far from over, but the NASDA meeting indicates that policy is moving in the right direction. If nothing else, these agencies are cognizant of how their decisions are perceived by the public and by state regulators. If you’re interested in hemp and Hemp CBD, stay focused on the FDA and USDA and make sure to participate in the public discourse.

The enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill and the legalization of hemp and hemp derivatives, including cannabidiol (“CBD”), has led to a massive CBD craze in the United States. The highly coveted cannabinoid is infused with everything: bath bombs, dog treats and even workout clothes (yes, workout clothes!). According to a recent study by Cowen, the sales of these products are expected to reach $16 billion by 2025.

Thanks to globalization, this sudden boom is not contained within the U.S. borders. Europe has also experienced a huge uptick in the sales of these products, which are expected to reach nearly $1.7 billion by 2023.

In light of this global expansion and the desire of many of our clients to export their hemp and hemp-derived CBD (“Hemp CBD”) products to Europe, we are presenting a mini-series that briefly analyses how certain European countries treat hemp and the sale and marketing of hemp-derived CBD. We begin by analyzing the laws of the United Kingdom (“UK”).

Hemp

Because industrial hemp falls under the definition of genus Cannabis, UK law treats it as a controlled drug in Class B of The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (“MDA”) and Schedule 1 of The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (“Regulations”). Under these Regulations, a license must be issued in order to lawfully cultivate the crop.

As a former European Union member, the UK limits the lawful cultivation of hemp strains to those found in the European Commission’s catalogue, all of which produce no more than 0.2% THC. Generally, UK law also requires that hemp from “third countries”’ be imported under a license.

Although hemp cultivation is lawful, UK farmers are prohibited from processing hemp flowers and leaves, where the highest CBD content can be found. Consequently, the processing of hemp into CBD oil is not permissible, forcing the country to heavily rely on the importation of CBD to sustain the market. In addition, the sale of CBD flowers and buds is strictly prohibited in the country even if the THC concentration is below 0.2% and from EU-approved origin.

Hemp CBD Products

In the UK, Hemp CBD products may be commercially sold so long as they:

1. contain no more than 1 mg (0.01%) of THC and/or of any other controlled cannabinoid, such as THC-V; and
2. make no health claims about their therapeutic values.

Other requirements may apply based on the category of products at issue.

Hemp CBD Foods

As we recently discussed, the Food Standard Agency (“FSA”), the agency responsible for protecting public health in relation to food in the UK, recently cleared a path for the sale of Hemp CBD food. Specifically, the FSA is giving the CBD industry until March 31, 2021 to submit valid novel food authorization applications to ensure these products meet specific safety standards. Following the March 31, 2021 deadline, only products for which a valid application has been submitted will be allowed to remain on the market. Therefore, for now, the sale of CBD-infused foods is lawful in the UK so long as these products are:

1. Properly labeled, including free of health claims;
2. Safe to consume; and
3. Only contain low/negligible amounts of THC or other controlled substances (i.e., no more than 1 mg).

Hemp CBD Cosmetics

There are no regulations that pertain to the sale and marketing of Hemp CBD cosmetics in the UK. However, even following its exit from the EU, the country strictly regulates the sale of all cosmetics pursuant to the EU Cosmetics Regulation. For more information on these regulations, you can visit the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (“CTPA“), the trade group that aims to regulate the cosmetic industry and educates consumers about the safety of these products.

Hemp CBD Vape Products

Similarly to US regulations, vape products may be subject to regulation by various governmental agencies depending on their purpose, how they are being used, and whether they contain nicotine and/or tobacco. As of now, no agency has issued Hemp CBD regulations for the sale and marketing of vaping products. All we know, thanks to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”), is that Hemp CBD vaping products are “less tightly regulated” and that these products should not contain any health claims.

Hemp CBD Pet Foods and Products

Hemp CBD Pet food and pet products are treated as veterinary medicines and thus would require a license before they can be lawfully sold in the UK. There are currently no Hemp CBD products licensed for veterinary use, which means the sale and marketing of these products is unregulated at best, and unlawfully at worse.

So, unlike in the US, the sale and marketing of Hemp CBD foods is the safest category of products a CBD company may sell right now given the fairly clear regulations implemented by the FSA – assuming their products meet all requirements imposed on these products, including no more than 1 mg THC per product.