Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:24 AM on Thursday, January 10th, 2019
Lung Association – Ontario and Tetra Bio-Pharma are excited to be partnering to fill that gap by funding a research program that will investigate various health impacts of cannabis use
The goal of this program will be to better support patients and healthcare providers with evidence-based information.
TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2019 /- With the recent legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, a major gap has been revealed, and that is a lack of scientific research on the health effects of its use – both on the recreational and medical side.
The Lung Association – Ontario and Tetra Bio-Pharma are
excited to be partnering to fill that gap by funding a research program
that will investigate various health impacts of cannabis use. The goal
of this program will be to better support patients and healthcare
providers with evidence-based information.
“It has become very clear that more research is needed to fully
understand both the effects of smoking cannabis on your lungs, and the
utility of medical cannabis as a viable option for chronic disease pain
management and treatment,” says George Habib, President and CEO of The Lung Association – Ontario. “The Lung Association is thrilled to be taking the lead in filling these gaps in knowledge.”
The results of these important research projects will ensure there is
a larger evidence-base to pull from when educating the public and
healthcare providers about the impact of cannabis use on lung health. It
will offer healthcare providers more resources to better inform the
decisions they make on behalf of their patients around the use of
cannabis.
“Tetra Bio-Pharma is excited to join forces with The Lung Association – Ontario
to expand knowledge on the impact of smoking a cannabinoid-derived
product through several pioneering research projects,” said Dr. Guy Chamberland,
CEO and CSO of Tetra Bio-Pharma. “Access to cannabinoid-derived medical
therapies is severely limited because of an absence of rigorous safety
and efficacy data. We are committed to supporting research excellence to
enable innovation but also to establish the evidence that regulators,
physicians and insurance companies are waiting for.”
The research funded as a result of this collaboration will be driven by The Lung Association – Ontario.
It will be fully peer reviewed and administered in a completely
arms-length manner from the Funder. Funding recipients will be announced
on March 28, 2019.
About The Lung Association – Ontario The Lung Association – Ontario
is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping all Ontarians
breathe. Our community of donors, patients, researchers, volunteers and
professional staff work to ensure Ontarians have healthy lungs, bodies
and clean air necessary to breathe. We achieve this by promoting healthy
breathing, supporting those living with lung disease and finding future
solutions. All of this is done with the goal of delivering a future of
better breathing for all.
About Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. Tetra
Bio-Pharma (TSX-V: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF) is a biopharmaceutical leader in
cannabinoid-based drug discovery and development with a Health Canada
approved, and FDA reviewed, clinical program aimed at bringing novel
prescription drugs and treatments to patients and their healthcare
providers. The Company has several subsidiaries engaged in the
development of an advanced and growing pipeline of Bio Pharmaceuticals,
Natural Health and Veterinary Products containing cannabinoid-derived
molecules and other medicinal plant-based elements. With patients at the
core of what we do, Tetra Bio-Pharma is focused on providing rigorous
scientific validation and safety data required for inclusion into the
existing bio pharma industry by regulators, physicians and insurance
companies. For more information visit: www.tetrabiopharma.com.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:22 AM on Thursday, January 10th, 2019
Clone production for the 2019 season at their Scio, Oregon High Yielding CBD Hemp project is now in high gear, in preparation for an “as early as possible†planting this year
Unlike 2018, which had a late start to planting due to delays in finalizing the acquisition of the project’s 109 acre farm, preparations are underway so that planting of this year’s crop can begin in late May to early June.
ESCONDIDO, Calif., Jan. 10, 2019 – via NetworkWire – MARIJUANA COMPANY OF AMERICA INC. (“MCOA†or the “Companyâ€) (OTC: MCOA), an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, and its Joint Venture partner Global Hemp Group Inc. (CSE: GHG/ OTC: GBHPF/ FRA: GHG) are pleased to announce that clone production for the 2019 season at their Scio, Oregon High Yielding CBD Hemp project is now in high gear, in preparation for an “as early as possible†planting this year. Unlike 2018, which had a late start to planting due to delays in finalizing the acquisition of the project’s 109 acre farm, preparations are underway so that planting of this year’s crop can begin in late May to early June. This will provide an additional 45 to 60 days of growing time compared to last year, allowing time for the hemp plants to get considerably larger, which will generate a greater quantity of biomass.
For 2019, the project will cultivate three hemp strains which will
offer high CBD content, substantial biomass yield, and ultra low THC
levels, along with superior pest resistance and disease tolerance. These
strains also have a shorter flowering period, which will allow for an
earlier harvest, before the usual Fall rainy season begins in the
region.
The hardiest phenotypes were selected for mother plants that will
feed the cloning process, which began back in November 2018 soon after
the recent harvest and drying operation was complete. This cloning
operation will produce the approximately 40,000+ clones required to
plant on the farm’s lower 35 acres.
The Scio team is now upgrading the lighting and electrical in the
greenhouses for continued expansion of the cloning operation. It is
expected that the cloning operations will produce an excess of clones
beyond what is required for the Scio project, which will allow for the
sale to other farms in the area. The team continues to talk with local
farmers that are interested in partnering to cultivate hemp for the
coming season. On-site clone operations will eliminate the need of
capital outlay to purchase clones from other growers as was required in
2018 as the result of the late start, an expense of over US$200,000.
In addition, the project’s operating company, Covered Bridge Acres
(CBA), has received its registration to cultivate hemp for 2019 from the
Oregon Department of Agriculture. Also, for the 2019 season, CBA is now
registered to produce or handle agricultural hemp seed, so that the
company can establish a breeding program that will potentially generate
additional revenue for the project.
Management is currently searching for an offsite warehouse to store
biomass and complete hammer mill processing of the material produced
from the 2018 harvest. Once the location has been secured, CBA will
complete its Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) and apply for its
2019 Industrial Hemp Handler registration that will enable CBA to
further process (extract) its material. Management is in ongoing
discussions with several potential off takers and processing partners in
an effort to monetize the 2018 biomass and prepare for the upcoming
2019 season which will produce significantly more material.
About Marijuana Company of America, Inc. MCOA is a corporation which participates in: (1) product research and development of legal hemp-based consumer products under the brand name “hempSMART™â€, that targets general health and well-being; (2) an affiliate marketing program to promote and sell its legal hemp-based consumer products containing CBD; (3) leasing of real property to separate business entities engaged in the growth and sale of cannabis in those states and jurisdictions where cannabis has been legalized and properly regulated for medicinal and recreations use; and, (4) the expansion of its business into ancillary areas of the legalized cannabis and hemp industry, as the legalized markets and opportunities in this segment mature and develop.
About Our hempSMART Products Containing CBD The
United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized CBD
as a safe and effective drug for any indication. Our products containing
CBD derived from industrial hemp are not marketed or sold based upon
claims that their use is safe and effective treatment for any medical
condition as drugs or dietary supplements subject to the FDA’s
jurisdiction.
About Global Hemp Group Inc.
Global Hemp Group Inc. (CSE: GHG) (OTC: GBHPF) (FRANKFURT: GHG), is
focused on a multi-phased strategy to build a strong presence in the
industrial hemp industry in both Canada and the United States. The
Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with hemp
cultivation operations in New Brunswick and Oregon. The first phase of
this strategy is to develop hemp cultivation with the objective of
extracting cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBN & CBC) and creating a near
term revenue stream that will allow the Company to expand and develop
successive phases of the strategy. The second phase of the plan will
focus on the development of value-added industrial hemp products
utilizing the processing of the whole hemp plant, as envisioned in the
Company’s Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone (HAIZ) strategy.
Forward Looking Statements This
news release contains “forward-looking statements” which are not purely
historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans,
expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking
statements include, among other things, the development, costs and
results of new business opportunities and words such as “anticipate”,
“seek”, intend”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, or
similar phrases may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual
results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking
statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others,
the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S.
and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company’s
reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of
cannabis-based products. These forward-looking statements are made as of
the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update
the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual
results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking
statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations
and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can
be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or
intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of
the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk
factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-12G, our
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from
time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more
information, please visit www.sec.gov.
For more information, please visit the Company’s websites at:
Tags: CBD, mcoa, Scio project, tsx, tsx-v Posted in All Recent Posts, Featured, Marijuana Company of America | Comments Off on Clone Production at Marijuana Company of America’s $MCOA Scio Oregon Hemp Project Underway – Hemp Growers License Renewed for 2019 $AERO $CBDS $CGRW $APH.ca $GBLX $ACG $ACB $WEED.ca $HIP.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 5:08 PM on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019
SPONSOR: ThreeD Capital Inc. (IDK:CSE) Led by
legendary financier, Sheldon Inwentash, ThreeD is a Canadian-based
venture capital firm that only invests in best of breed small-cap
companies which are both defensible and mass scalable. More than just
lip service, Inwentash has financed many of Canada’s biggest small-cap
exits. Click Here For More Information.
———————–
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced federal funding of up to $4.8 million for universities working on R&D projects, including those related to blockchain.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced federal funding of up to
$4.8 million for universities working on R&D projects, including
those related to blockchain.
Announced
Monday, the funding is being made available through the department’s
Office of Fossil Energy as a part of the “University Training and
Research†initiative aimed to develop fossil energy applications.
Projects under the initiative are aimed at achieving various
objectives, including the development of early-stage technologies for
more affordable domestic energy resources and improved electric grids,
the department said.
One of the areas being targeted for funding is blockchain technology
that would “secure process signal data and other information flows
within distributed sensor networks for fossil-based power generation
systems.â€
Other potential projects not necessarily including blockchain include
those that would explore advanced computing resources for coal plants
to generate analytical results, improve water reuse processes, and
investigate physical and biological sciences to measure chemical
elements within coal fly ash.
The department said it funds research and development projects to
reduce the “risk and cost†of advanced fossil fuel-based energy
technologies and make more sustainable use of fossil resources in the
U.S.
This is not the first time that the department has looked to explore
blockchain for technological improvements. Last January, it partnered with BlockCypher to develop solutions allowing energy transactions to be settled across multiple blockchains.
And, in July 2018, the department awarded a grant of nearly $1 million to a Colorado-based blockchain startup Grid7 in a move aimed to advance the development of a decentralized energy grid.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:41 AM on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019
SPONSOR: New Age Metals Inc.
(TSX-V: NAM) The company’s new Lithium Division has already made
significant acquisitions in Canada and the USA. The company also owns
one of North America’s largest primary platinum group metals deposit in
Sudbury, Canada. Learn More.
NAM: TSX-V
——————————
The Palladium Play – Part 1
Palladium: The White-Hot Metal Climbed 18% in 2018 and Doubled in Three Years
BY John Ciampaglia
Part 1 in our palladium series provides a primer; Part 2 will explore the unique supply/demand fundamentals that support our bullish outlook.
Palladium has been on a multi-year run that shows few signs of
abating. For the tumultuous market year 2018, spot palladium gained
18.6% and is up 124% since the beginning of 2016. In comparison, spot
gold, platinum and silver all declined last year (1.6%, 14.5%, and 8.5%,
respectively), while U.S. equities lost 4.4% in 2018, as measured by
the S&P 500 Total Return Index.1
Palladium is close to becoming the most “precious†of precious
metals. Palladium passed the $1,000 per ounce mark in late 2017 for the
first time since 2001. Palladium’s momentum accelerated in 2018, with
its $1,262 price-per-ounce edging close to gold’s $1,282 price by
year-end.Palladium was named by its discoverer William Wollaston in 1803, after the asteroid Pallas.
While the escalating U.S.-China trade war hurt many commodities in
2018, it couldn’t dent palladium’s rise. The white metal is primarily
used in catalytic converters that reduce pollution from gasoline
internal combustion engines (ICEs). Demand for palladium was especially
robust last year, as environmental concerns have prompted a global shift
from diesel to gasoline and hybrid vehicles. Not even the 2018 slowdown
in China’s auto market, the world’s largest, dampened demand.
Palladium (chemical symbol “Pdâ€) is primarily used as an industrial
metal and is considered a “precious†metal along with platinum, gold and
silver. Both palladium and platinum are far rarer than gold and
represent smaller markets. Recent world production of palladium and
platinum has averaged about 200 and 175 tonnes per year, respectively,
while gold production tallies approximately 3,000 tonnes per year (Read more about Platinum).
Also known as “white gold†or the “bright white metals,†palladium
and platinum are members of the Platinum Group Metals (also known as
“PGMs,†which also include ruthenium, rhodium, osmium and iridium) and
typically co-occur in ore deposits. Their shared chemical origins give
palladium and platinum similar characteristics, such as being relatively
inert and having high melting points – part of their appeal as
catalysts in industrial and automotive applications.
Figure 4. The Automotive Industry is the Largest Pd Consumer – Catalytic Converters
Automakers, who have little flexibility to produce cars without
palladium, are being forced to push the price higher to secure their
critical supply.
Source: Johnson Matthey.
Palladium’s primary application is within the auto sector. Though
historically more expensive than palladium, platinum was long the
primary metal used in catalytic converters, partly because of its
stability at the high temperatures required to achieve the conversion.
However, in the past decade, automakers have developed technology to
achieve nearly the same results with palladium, at a significantly lower
cost, causing the automotive industry to transition to palladium.
While palladium is also used in jewelry, electronics, chemical and
dental applications, the automotive industry’s need for catalytic
converters is the primary factor driving palladium demand. If
palladium’s price continues to outpace platinum’s, automakers may return
to using platinum. However, analysts predict that any move back to
platinum would take at least 18 to 24 months.
Palladium’s Supply Constraints
Supply shortages continue to support palladium’s performance, with
strong multi-year growth in palladium demand now straining a fixed
supply. Palladium is especially scarce and its supply is inelastic since
it is usually a by-product of ores that are being mined for other
metals, like platinum and rhodium. It is rarely mined on its own. Russia
is the world’s largest palladium-producing country, followed by South
Africa, Canada, the U.S. and Zimbabwe.
The official level of palladium reserves in Russia is a state secret
and many industry participants believe that Russia’s stockpiles of
palladium have been largely sold, constraining supply. Supply concerns
were further heightened in April 2018 when the U.S. levied more
sanctions against Russia.
Figure 5. Palladium Mine Production by Country (Metric Tonnes) 2012-2017
Source: U.S. Geological Survey.
Global demand for palladium, net of the supply provided through
recycling, was expected to reach 7.1 million oz. in 2018, exceeding a
total supply of 6.9 million oz. This shortfall extends a seven-year
trend leading to a current total deficit in the market of 801,000 oz.,
according to the chemical company, Johnson Matthey.2
Shifting Automotive Demand but Positive Outlook
While no country has outlawed new combustion engines, Norway, China
and Germany, among many countries, have implemented frameworks to
discontinue long-term ICE production and encourage demand for electric
vehicles (EVs) and hybrid-electric vehicles.
The growth of EVs3 could pose a risk to the palladium sector since
EVs do not require catalytic converters. On the other hand, the rise of
hybrid-electric vehicles could drive palladium demand, since they too
require palladium to control pollution. The mining company Norilsk
Nickel forecasts that combined palladium use in hybrid and plug-in
hybrid — or rechargeable — vehicles in 2019 will be nearly triple that
of 2016.
Today, catalytic converter demand accounts for 70% of the palladium
demand worldwide. While any threat to palladium’s role within catalytic
converters could impact its long-term price outlook, our view is that
palladium’s fundamentals should remain strong for at least the next 24
months.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:54 PM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
SPONSOR: New Age Metals Inc.
(TSX-V: NAM) The company’s new Lithium Division has already made
significant acquisitions in Canada and the USA. The company also owns
one of North America’s largest primary platinum group metals deposit in
Sudbury, Canada. Learn More.
Best metal of 2018 now commands $500 an ounce more than rival
Substitution in autocatalysts still seen as unlikely: Norilsk
Palladium’s premium to platinum jumped to a record, building on its ranking as the best-performing metal of 2018.
Shortages of the metal used in autocatalysts for gasoline-fueled
vehicles sent its price to yet another all-time high, widening the price
difference with rival platinum to more than $500 an ounce on Tuesday. Most analysts don’t see supply relief for palladium anytime soon.
Both metals are used in catalytic converters to reduce vehicle
emissions. Platinum, the more expensive of the two for most of this
century, has seen usage decline from its key consumers, diesel
carmakers. Demand slid as consumers turned away from diesel vehicles in
the wake of Volkswagen AG’s emissions-cheating scandal.
Platinum is now trading near a 10-year low, at about $821.35 an ounce, while palladium is near its highest, $1,325.13 an ounce.
The widening price gap has spurred speculation that petrol-carmakers
may switch from palladium to cheaper platinum. Anton Berlin, head of
analysis and market development at Russia’s Norilsk Nickel PJSC, says
this is unlikely. Palladium has some features that make it more suitable
for gasoline or hybrid cars, like better resistance to higher
temperatures.
Switching to platinum would take at least two years and would need
additional work and costs to adjust engines and car-exhaust systems,
said Berlin, whose company is the world’s biggest palladium miner and
fourth in platinum. Manufacturers also need to use more of the precious
metal than is needed with palladium, he said.
Berlin believes that overall demand for platinum will recover anyway.
The market may even face a deficit if investment demand is sufficient,
including bar and coin sales, he said. The World Platinum Investment
Council predicted in November that platinum will remain in surplus in 2019, albeit a smaller one than last year.
Tags: palladium, PGM, tsx Posted in All Recent Posts, New Age Metals | Comments Off on New Age Metals Inc. $NAM.ca – #Palladium Just Smashed Another Record $WG.ca $XTM.ca $WM.ca $PDL.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 12:09 PM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
SPONSOR: Monarques Gold Corp. produced 4,695 ounces of gold in the recent quarter with revenues of $10 million. Monarques owns close to 300 km² of gold properties, including the Wasamac deposit (measured and indicated resource of 2.6 million ounces of gold), the Beaufor Mine, the Croinor Gold, McKenzie Break and Swanson advanced projects and the Camflo and Beacon mills. Click here for more information.
MQR: TSX-V
—————-
Gold price likely buoyed by safe haven demand: HSBC
Gold price gains will likely be driven by fresh safe haven demand on equity concerns, higher financial volatility and economic uncertainty, said HSBC, leading the bank to lift its 2019 average dollar price for the yellow metal to $1,314/oz Tuesday.
London — Gold price gains will likely be driven by fresh safe haven demand on equity concerns, higher financial volatility and economic uncertainty, said HSBC, leading the bank to lift its 2019 average dollar price for the yellow metal to $1,314/oz Tuesday.
The original estimate was $1,292/oz, according to HSBC’s chief precious metals analyst James Steel.
“Gold prices are recovering from heavy investor liquidation and
losses throughout much of 2018. Recent equity market declines, higher
financial market volatility and other risks are triggering renewed
investor demand for bullion,” Steel said. “Geopolitical and trade risks,
which unusually did not lift gold last year (due to the strong US
dollar), also appear to be turning positive. We believe gold is set to
move higher in 2019, especially if the global economic outlook remains
uncertain.”
Gold has been toying with the $1,300/oz marker so far in 2019,
although for now that target has alluded bullion. Gold was spot bid at
$1,284/oz as of 1420 GMT Tuesday.
“Our FX view is for a stronger USD, which may present the greatest
threat to gold and will at the least limit rallies. Gold is inversely
related to US equities, and we believe an important price driver in 2019
will be equity direction and volatility. Recent equity weakness has
buoyed gold,” Steel added.
Looking at positioning, Steel noted that COMEX was net short in 2018
for the first time since 2001, which has since been scaled back.
“Further short-covering and builds in longs are likely in 2019,” the
analyst said.
Industry lobby group the World Gold Council said Tuesday that
gold-backed ETFs continued to rally in December against a backdrop of
market volatility, marking the third consecutive month of inflows.
Global ETFs increased 3%. or by $3.1 billion, driven by North American
and European fund activity, WGC said.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 11:18 AM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
SPONSOR: Good Life Networks (GOOD:TSX-V)
Video advertising is the future! Company’s A.I. makes 80,000
calculations / second, targeting 750 million users to deliver higher
prices and volume. Revenue was $10,000,650 for the nine months ended
September 30th, 2018, a 142% increase from $4,133,231 reported for the
six months ended September 30th, 2017. Click here for more information.
Innovid will use a $30 million investment from Goldman Sachs Private Capital Investing to further its interests in the connected TV sector by building what it claims will be the industry’s only “end-to-end CTV platform†and further its global footprint.
Innovid will use a $30 million investment from Goldman Sachs Private
Capital Investing to further its interests in the connected TV sector by
building what it claims will be the industry’s only “end-to-end CTV
platform†and further its global footprint.
Innovid was unable to provide insight on when any potential IPO might
take place, or which stock exchange it could choose to list on, by the
time of publication. Any such listing would buck the trend of ad-tech
outfits coming off the public markets, such as when Taptica purchased the buy-side of Tremor Video and Sizmek acquired Rocket Fuel in 2017.
In a statement, Zvika Netter, Innovid CEO, said, “With this funding,
Innovid will complete the development of the first end-to-end CTV
platform creating a more efficient workflow, while solving industry
measurement challenges and expanding its global footprint to meet the
evolving needs of its international client base for brands, media and
creative agencies, and publishers.â€
Innovid works with advertisers including Bank of America, Campbell’s
and L’Oreal to help deliver video ads across a host of different
platforms including Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Roku and Samsung TV, with an
emphasis on interactive ad units.
In particular, it also works with the industry to help advertisers
scale how they create, deliver and measure ads across different
platforms, with Innovid hoping to use the $30 million to further its
footprint in the fast-emerging connected TV space.
Hillel Moerman, head of Goldman Sachs’ Private Capital Investing
group, added, “Innovid has differentiated video advertising software and
technology, and has the scale and the reach to succeed, with access to
significant supply beyond CTV, including platforms such as Facebook,
Instagram, YouTube, Snap and others.â€
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:06 AM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
SPONSOR: Bougainville Ventures Inc (CSE: BOG) Converting irrigated farmland to greenhouse-equipped farmland. Bougainville does not “touch the plant†and only provides agricultural infrastructure as a landlord for licensed marijuana growers. Click here for more info.
BOG:CSE
—————————————
2018 was a momentous year for cannabis advocates as Canada became the second country (after Uruguay) to legalize recreational marijuana use.
Canadians and cannabis companies alike eagerly awaited legalization, but the rollout hasn’t been as smooth as they would have liked.
A marijuana law breakdown by Canadian Province, and five burning industry questions for 2019.Shopify Partners
This is the initial post in what will be a five-part series on the 5 Burning Questions for Canadian Cannabis in 2019.
2018 was a momentous year for cannabis advocates as Canada became the second country (after Uruguay)
to legalize recreational marijuana use. Canadians and cannabis
companies alike eagerly awaited legalization, but the rollout hasn’t
been as smooth as they would have liked.
The most pressing problem facing the country’s legal weed market is
the fact that, in the majority of provinces, suppliers are unable to
meet demand. According to MarketWatch,
the complexity of scaling up a national legal cannabis supply chain has
left many retailers with just a fraction of the promised products. In
many areas, the supply shortage may last well into 2019.
Some experts say the bottleneck exists in the regulatory approval by
Health Canada of Licensed Processors and Cultivators. “The cultivation
and processing capacity exists, but the lack of licensing is keeping
that production off the shelves,†Rob McIntyre, CFO of Salvation Botanicals Ltd., told me. His Canadian extraction and formulation company recently agreed to produce cannabis products for U.S.-based Medical Marijuana, Inc. for the Canadian market.
“Health Canada has added significant resources to attempt to shorten
the approval process, but the backlog is significant,†McIntyre
explained. “In the coming months, we expect to see this supply shortage
ease.â€
A shortage of marijuana in Canada threatens to undermine one aim of
legalization: to tame an illegal trade estimated at about 5.3 billion
Canadian dollars annually. Angry consumers say they are returning to
their illegal dealers. https://t.co/dZQogk8xGY
On the opposite end of a product shortage is strong product pricing
for cannabis producers and retailers. A gram of high-quality cannabis in
Vancouver, Canada, for example, sold for $752 a gram in November 2018.
Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, where an overabundance of marijuana is
begging to cross state lines, you could buy an entire ounce of similar
high-quality cannabis as recently as December.
These initial gains, however short-term they may be, will help
Canadian cannabis companies offset their startup costs. “This will
quickly help companies recoup the costs of building expensive
cultivation facilities,†said Debra Borchardt, CEO ofGreen Market Report,
and Canadian cannabis industry expert. “Once production begins to meet
demand, then the prices will fall, which is great for consumers, but
will come at a cost to the producers.â€
Another less obvious issue is the diversity of cannabis regulations
from province-to-province. Though weed is legal everywhere in Canada,
for smokers and businesses, where you are in the country will have a huge impact.
Currently, the only constants from province-to-province under the federal Cannabis Act
are a possession limit of up to 30g of dried flower (or an
equivalent) and a ban on consumption in vehicles. Beyond that,
everything from the legal age to the rules on public consumption can be
different—though the provinces all share a common goal in discouraging
underage use and exposure.
Nationwide, the biggest change in 2019 is the legalization of edible
sales, which will occur no later than October 17, 2019—one year after
marijuana legalization. Since edibles are more appealing to children, Canadian officials are being much more circumspect about rolling these products out. As Vice
points out, it is unclear how the regulations around edibles will play
out, since the government hasn’t ruled exactly what it means for a
product not to “appeal†to a young person.
Provincial Laws
Here’s a quick breakdown of the current laws in each province, plus news on any upcoming changes in 2019:
.@liftandco
produced an easy-to-digest graphic of the new Canadian marijuana laws
and retailers by province. The country’s outlets include both the
government and private sectors. pic.twitter.com/CDbHa6aArJ
You must be 18 years old to consume, buy, possess, and grow. Public
consumption laws are the same as tobacco, though you can’t smoke near
children. Home cultivation is allowed (up to four plants).
Though the province originally planned for 250 licensed retail stores managed by Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis, supply constraints mean it will be 6-18 months before the next stores open after the first 65 opened. The province also allows online sales controlled by the government.
British Columbia:
You must be 19 years old to consume, buy, possess, and grow. Public
consumption laws are the same as tobacco, though you can’t smoke near
children. Home cultivation is allowed (up to four plants), though they
must be hidden from street view.
British Columbia has not put a cap on the number of retail locations, but the licensing process has been slow. The first store opened up in December in Vancouver. Like Alberta, British Columbia allows online sales controlled by the government.
Manitoba:
You must be 19 years old consume, buy, and possess. Public
consumption is almost completely restricted. Unlike other provinces, you
won’t be able to grow your own weed at home.
By the end of November 2018, only fourteen retailers had been granted
licenses. The province will allow for private online and retail stores.
In 2019, the Safe and Responsible Retailing of Cannabis Act will take effect, adding on a 6 percent tax on revenues of licensed cannabis retailers as a “Social Responsibility Fee.â€
New Brunswick:
You must be 19 to consume, buy, possess, and grow. You will only be
allowed to consume it in a private residence. Up to four household
plants are allowed, as long as they are locked and secured.
The province will have 20 government-run locations and permit
government-controlled online sales. Like many other provinces, New
Brunswick has seen a spate of store shutdowns due to a lack of supply.
Newfoundland and Labrador:
You must be 19 to consume, buy, possess, and grow. You will only be
allowed to consume it in a private residence. You can grow up to four
plants per household.
Newfoundland and Labrador have a hybrid retail model, with private
retailers receiving licenses to sell products controlled by the
Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation. Online sales will go
through the government-controlled NLC as well.
Nova Scotia:
You must be 19 to consume, buy, possess, and grow. You will only be
allowed to consume it in designated public places. You can grow up to
four plants per household, as long as they’re inside.
Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, a government-run entity, will control
online and retail stores, with 12 physical locations available at
launch. Similar to other provinces, Nova Scotia faced shortages throughout 2018.
Ontario:
You must be 19 years old to consume to buy, use, posses, and grow.
Public consumption laws are the same as tobacco in the province, meaning
many public areas—especially ones where children may be—are off limits.
There’s a four plant limit per household.
On April 1, 2019, Ontario will begin allowing private retail stores,
but for now the only place to get it is through retail and online
stores—the aptly names Ontario Cannabis Store—controlled by the Ontario
LCBO. Thus far, the rollout has been…buggy. A questionable supply chain has been plagued by mold, mislabeled products, and mites, leading many to return to the black market in the region.
Prince Edward Island:
You must be 19 to consume, buy, possess, and grow. You will only be
allowed to consume it in private residences at present. You can grow up
to four plants per household, as long as they’re inside and not in reach
of children.
Like many other provinces, a government-run entity, the Prince Edward
Island Cannabis Management Corporation, will operate retail locations
and online sales. At launch, there were four licensed retail locations.
Compared to other areas, PEI’s rollout has been relatively smooth.
Quebec:
You must be 18 years old to consume, buy, and possess. Public
consumption follows the same rules as tobacco, with smoking at schools
and universities expressly prohibited. That may all change if newly proposed laws
pass in 2019 which would raise the legal age to 21 and prohibit any
smoking in public. Regardless, you cannot grow plants at home.
You must be 19 years old to consume, buy, possess, and grow. Public
consumption is prohibited. Four household plants are allowed per
household.
Unlike many other provinces, Saskatchewan will have a private
distribution system. The province handed out 51 licenses prior to Oct.
17, the day sales became legal, but as of December only a handful of those stores have opened because of supply issues. Online sales are allowed through private retailers.
5 Burning Questions for 2019
2019 marks the first full year of legal cannabis in Canada. 2018 was
full of excitement for legalization, plus a whole bunch of
disappointment as supply issues affected many parts of the country.
As we head into the new year, these are the biggest questions Canada’s cannabis industry will need to answer.
Will There Be Enough (Legal) Pot in Canada?
It would be an understatement to say that cannabis consumers were not best of buds with the country’s suppliers.
What Trends Will Dominate?
For consumers, the biggest trends for the upcoming year will be the
emergence of the edibles market and the expansion of CBD products.
Which IPOs Will Take Flight?
Look for even more U.S.-based companies to offer IPOs in Canada’s markets—and vice versa.
Does the U.S. Legalizing Hemp Jeopardize Canada’s Industry?
In December 2018, the U.S. Congress passed the Farm Bill, an omnibus
bill that, among other things, legalized the cultivation of industrial
hemp and allows for interstate commerce of hemp-based products for the
first time in decades. Though this brings competition to hemp production
in North America for the first time, Canada has decades of research and
growing experience under its belt already.
How Does Legal Weed Play Out on the International Stage?
As the second country to legalize recreational cannabis-use,
Canadians are reveling in their newfound freedom. But it’s unclear how
cannabis use will affect international relations.
For better or worse, 2019 will be a telling year for the Canadian
cannabis market. Let me know what you think’s going to happen on Twitter (@SocialMktgFella).
—
Disclaimer: I have no financial interest or positions in the
aforementioned companies. This information is for educational purposes
and does not constitute financial and/or legal advice.
Andre Bourque (@SocialMktgFella) is a cannabis industry media
influencer, brand executive and advisor, blockchain marketer, and
cannabis columnist. He specializes in cannabis industry partnerships,
distribution, and funding. Andre is the managing director of the
cannabis div…MORE
Andre is a cannabis connector and the VP of Bus. Dev. for Verdantis Advisors, a full-service consulting agency.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:15 AM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
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Security tokens — digital versions of financial securities like stocks and bonds — are becoming a new buzzword in crypto.
Analysts and executives in the industry see security tokens as a development that could reinvigorate the cryptocurrency space.
A key difference setting security tokens apart from other cryptocurrencies is that they are asset-backed and fall within regulatory parameters, experts say.
The Apple logo is displayed at the Nasdaq MarketSite just before the opening bell in New York on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011.
Scott Eells | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Cryptocurrencies had a wild 2018, tumbling well below some of the record highs seen toward the end of 2017.
Bitcoin, once
worth almost $20,000, plunged last year, closing out 2018 at a price
below $4,000. Other major virtual currencies, including XRP and ether, also fell steeply.
Analysts and executives in the industry are increasingly pointing to a
fairly new development that could reinvigorate the space: putting
securities like stocks and bonds on the blockchain.
So-called security tokens are becoming a new buzzword in crypto. The
term is part of a phenomenon in the industry known as “tokenization†—
turning real-world assets into digital tokens.
In the case of security tokens, tradable assets like equity and fixed
income are transformed into digital assets that use blockchain
technology, the virtual ledger of activity that underpins
cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
Security tokens had been talked about for some time, but now one firm is looking to put them to the test.
On Monday, DX.Exchange, an Estonia-based crypto firm, launched a
trading platform that lets investors buy shares of popular Nasdaq-listed
companies, including Apple, Tesla, Facebook and Netflix, indirectly through security tokens.
Each token is backed by one share of the company traders want to invest in and entitles them to the same cash dividends.
“The crypto community has been talking about security tokens for well
over a year now without much progress, so we think the impact will be
huge,†Amedeo Moscato, DX’s chief operating officer, told CNBC by email
over the weekend.
“By tokenizing stocks of some of the biggest publicly-traded companies like Google, Amazon,
Facebook and more, we are opening an untapped market of millions of old
and new traders around the globe cutting out the middleman. â€
watch now
VIDEO02:40
What is a security token?
Investors will be able to trade the digital stocks round-the-clock, even after markets close, DX says.
“The ability to trade around the clock, with a range of currencies,
offers investors both convenience and liquidity,†Dan Doney, co-founder
and chief executive of fintech firm Securrency told CNBC by email over
the weekend.
But Doney questioned whether DX’s exchange was sound on the regulatory front.
“We’re unsure and even skeptical of DX.Exchange’s model because we
don’t think that it’s acceptable to list tokenized shares of a company
without shareholder consent,†he said.
“However, we do think that the model can meet regulatory standards if executed properly.â€
DX stressed that its digital stocks are classed as derivatives — with
the underlying asset being equity of 10 Nasdaq-listed firms — and that
its platform is regulated under the European Union’s Mifid II directive.
Mifid II, a set of reforms to EU investment services regulation, aims
to protect investors and increase transparency and confidence in the
industry post-crisis.
Cyprus-licensed firm MPS MarketPlace Securities is holding the stocks
in a segregated account. DX built the platform on top of Nasdaq’s
Matching Engine technology, which is used across more than 70
international markets.
Experts are pointing to the model as one that could provide a solid
form of investment for traders — versus cryptocurrencies like bitcoin,
which have proven at times to be highly volatile — as well as a new
potential source of fundraising for start-ups and large firms alike.
‘STO’
New security tokens can be issued and sold to investors, similar to
how new digital tokens are sold through a crowdfunding method known as
an initial coin offering (ICO). This is what’s known as a security token
offering (STO).
ICOs were a source of much controversy in the crypto sphere in both
2017 and 2018, with China and South Korea banning the practice and the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rapping a number of ventures and founders over alleged illegal activities.
One supposed cryptocurrency start-up called Giza made off with more than $2 million through a fake ICO scam, a CNBC investigation last year showed.
Dubious as the murky world of ICOs is, the funding method at one point eclipsed early-stage venture capital funding.
ICO projects raked in almost $6.6 billion in 2017 and $21.5 billion in
2018, according to data provided by ICO listing site CoinSchedule.
The difference with STOs, experts say, is that security tokens are asset-backed and fall within regulatory parameters.
“Security tokens use blockchain to allow for efficient transactions
like cryptocurrencies, but are different in all other ways,â€
Securrency’s Doney said.
â€(They) emphasize regulatory compliance, automated regulatory
reporting, and represent share interest in value-producing assets. This
ultimately provides stable value versus the volatility of crypto.â€
Crowdfunding site Indiegogo delved into the world of STOs
last year, hosting a platform that let investors indirectly own shares
of a luxury ski resort by buying security tokens. That token sale
brought in $18 million, according to VentureBeat.
Security tokens and STOs have been compared to “stablecoins,â€
cryptocurrencies pegged 1:1 to government-backed currencies to avoid the
volatility typically seen in the cryptocurrency market. Stablecoins are
seen as another potential area for growth in the crypto industry.
“Cryptocurrencies and STOs will continue to evolve, and digital
stocks are another step in that process,†Daniel Skowronski, DX’s chief
executive, told CNBC by email.
STOs to ‘ramp into the market’ by mid-2019
Advocates also say that security tokens could reduce the cost of
listing a company on the stock market and that they will make it easier
to trade less liquid assets like private equity.
And though it may be early days, one expert thinks the trend of tokenizing securities will become a major theme by mid-2019.
“In terms of timing, we hear that mid-2019 is the time-frame when
most STOs will be able to ramp into the market,†Lex Soklin, partner and
global director of fintech strategy at Autonomous Research, told CNBC
by email.
“Given a longer regulatory approval process for these assets (rather
than none for ICOs), entrepreneurs have a slower path to market. But
perhaps a more stable one.â€
Some even believe that, eventually, everything from artwork to real estate will be transformed into digital tokens.
“Over the next decade, we could very well see the tokenization of the
entire financial markets,†Mati Greenspan, senior market analyst at
eToro, said in a note last week.
“Essentially, anything that has value and can be traded can also be represented as a digital token and traded on a blockchain.â€
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:33 AM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
The
partnership will facilitate capital raise for companies using KoreconX platform
[New York, NY – January 08,
2019] –
Investors will now be able to use KoreConX all-in-one platform to safely
and confidentially verify their accredited investor status.
The new feature was added through a partnership with InvestReady, a
company that developed technology to power issuers and platforms with the
capability to offer investor verification software right on their site for an
efficient and fast verification experience.
Once an investor is verified, they earn a digital, SEC compliant, InvestReady
certificate of accredited status. This allows them to instantly qualify for
access to participate in investments in a secure and scalable manner.
“Our work at KoreConX is all about making business management
effortless, so companies, broker-dealers can focus on growing,†says Oscar Jofre, Co-founder & CEO at
KoreConX. “The type of instant investor verification that InvestReady offers
make it easier for companies and broker-dealers to complete the capital raise
in a compliant manner.
The partnership also celebrates the values
both companies have in common.
“I believe our shared focus on providing
exceptional service at scale is a huge factor in this partnership,†said Adrian
Alvarez, Co-Founder & CEO at InvestReady. “We’re also both constantly
re-tooling and thinking about how we can improve our service.â€
InvestReady will become part of the
KorePartner ecosystem, a group of selected broker-dealers, secondary market
platforms, capital markets platforms, lawyers, compliance, investor relations,
accounting and marketing firms that support the KoreConX security token
protocol and adhere to KoreConX governance standards. KoreConX’s KorePartners
are from around the globe and bring the necessary expertise that a company will
need to launch a fully compliant security token in multiple jurisdictions.
About KoreConX
KoreConX is the world’s first highly-secure
permissioned blockchain ecosystem for fully-compliant tokenized securities
worldwide.
To ensure compliance with securities
regulation and corporate law, the KoreConX all-in-one, AI-based blockchain
platform manages the full lifecycle of tokenized securities including the
issuance, trading, clearing, settlement, management, reporting, corporate
actions, and custodianship. KoreConX connects companies to the capital markets
and secondary markets facilitating access to capital and liquidity for private
investors.
KoreConX is the first secure, all-in-one platform
for private companies to manage their capital market activity and stakeholder
communications. Removing the burden of fragmented systems and inefficient tools
across multiple vendors, KoreConX offers a single environment to connect
companies, investors and broker/dealers. Leveraged for investor relations and
fundraising, private companies can share and manage corporate records and
investments including portfolio management, capitalization table management,
virtual minute book, security registers, transfer agent services and virtual
deal rooms for raising capital.
