Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:12 AM on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020
Adam Smith is a bad ass Green Beret with nearly 17 years of service to his country …. who put a gun in his mouth when his PTSD simply became too much to handle. Pharma drugs prescribed by doctors were actually making his problems worse and he had nowhere to turn.  Â
More than just a story, watch his 2-minute video within our video interview with him and Hollister Biosciences CEO, Carl Saling. Be prepared. Â
Thankfully, a fellow soldier told him about CBD and Smith experienced firsthand how CBD can help retired and active-duty (military and law enforcement) ease their physical and mental issues – especially those who suffer from PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).  Â
The results were so dramatic that Smith’s new mission was to get CBD into the hands of as many soldiers as possible. He founded Tactical Relief and the rest is history. Tactical Relief creates, promotes and sells the highest quality and “most patriotic” CBD oils in the country.  Â
Yes, it’s a great business with tremendous potential for exponential growth. But profit isn’t driving this partnership between Smith and Carl Saling, who himself became very emotional when he shared his family’s deep military roots …. and struggles with PTSD. Â
As an investor in Hollister, you’ll love what this partnership can do for the company. As a human, you’ll love what this partnership is going to do for retired and active-duty military personnel. As a host, I’ve never been more proud of two guests on AGORACOM. Â
Sit back and be prepared to watch the most powerful interview ever produced by AGORACOM.  Â
Please share this video on your social networks so that military personnel and their families can discover Tactical Relief. Â
Physician Groups Order The Heartcheck(TM) Cardibeat For In-Home Arrhythmia And Atrial Fibrillation Monitoring
Confirms market traction with orders being placed by physician
groups for the newly launched HeartCheck™ CardiBeat Handheld ECG monitor
and GEMS™ Mobile Smartphone app for prescribed in-home arrhythmia
monitoring.
Partners in Advanced Cardiac Evaluation, the largest arrhythmia
practice in Ontario (Canada) placed a first order of the HeartCheck™
CardiBeat Handheld ECG monitors and is recommending its patients to use
the devices for one year of in-home, self-monitoring with an emphasis on
detecting a recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation following cardiac
ablation treatment for AF.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:00 PM on Monday, March 2nd, 2020
SPONSOR: Datametrex AI Limited
(TSX-V: DM) A revenue generating small cap A.I. company that NATO and
Canadian Defence are using to fight fake news & social media
threats. The company announced three $1M contacts in Q3-2019. Click here for more info.
Fake News In 2020 Election Puts Social Media Companies Under Siege
The social media giant recently unearthed hundreds of fake accounts that originated not only in Russia but Iran and Vietnam as well
Facebook says their purpose was clear: Sow confusion in the U.S. and ultimately disrupt the integrity of this year’s U.S. presidential contest
The struggle to keep the 2020 election free of fake news on social
media already is proving to be an uphill battle. Just ask the watchdogs
at Facebook (FB) who are battling more disinformation than ever, courtesy of “deepfakes” and other new weapons of deception.
The social media giant recently unearthed hundreds of fake accounts
that originated not only in Russia but Iran and Vietnam as well.
Facebook says their purpose was clear: Sow confusion in the U.S. and
ultimately disrupt the integrity of this year’s U.S. presidential
contest. Facebook purged the fake accounts in early February, and says it has heavily beefed up its safety and security team.
Halting the flood of Facebook fake news and misinformation on other
platforms is critical to social media companies. Failure on their part
runs the risk of alienating loyal users and angering lawmakers, who
could slap them with new regulations. And the scrutiny is sure to grow
after reports this week said
U.S. intelligence officials have told Congress that Russia already is
meddling in this year’s elections to boost President Donald Trump’s
reelection chances.
Clearly, U.S. election misinformation is a blossoming enterprise. In
2016 Russia established numerous fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter (TWTR) and the YouTube unit of Alphabet (GOOGL).
In 2020 these efforts continue to expand both inside and outside Russia
— and across all walks of social media. America’s enemies have put the
nation’s electoral process in the crosshairs with fake news stories on
social media and deepfakes, or doctored videos.
“What started as a Russian effort to undermine elections and cause
chaos and basically reduce faith in our democratic institutions is now
becoming a free-for-all,” said Lisa Kaplan, founder of Alethea Group, a
consulting group that helps businesses, politicians and candidates
protect themselves against disinformation.
Fake News On Social Media In The 2020 Election
Election meddling goes back decades, but the internet has greatly
amplified the disruption. Anyone with an internet connection has a
megaphone to the world. And that means governments in Russia, China,
Iran and others who are less than friendly to the U.S. are actively
using social media to influence the nation and its electorate, according
to intelligence agencies and studies.
“Lying is not a new concept but … knowing that a majority of
Americans get their news online through social media, it’s easy to
misinform and manipulate people,” Kaplan said. “It makes it much easier
for bad actors to launch these large-scale persuasion campaigns.”
Facebook fake news is a huge problem for the company. The same goes
for Twitter and YouTube. Senior executives of these social media
companies have spent considerable time over the past few years
testifying at congressional inquiries and investigations.
At the same time, they’re struggling to stop a steady flow of fake
news and disinformation planted on their platforms. Not only are the
disinformation campaigns coming from overseas but from domestic groups
as well.
FBI Director Christopher Wray says Russia continues to conduct an
“information warfare” operation against the U.S. ahead of the 2020
election. Wray on Feb. 5 told the House Judiciary Committee that Moscow
is using a covert social-media campaign.
“It is that kind of effort that is still very much ongoing,” Wray told the panel. “It’s not just an election cycle; it’s an effort to influence our republic in that regard.”
Anger Over Fake News On Social Media
The efforts by Russia and others have ushered in a new era of
scrutiny for tech giants. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., one of
the Democratic presidential hopefuls, has taken aim at Facebook fake
news and company Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. She chides Facebook
for spreading disinformation against her and other candidates.
In late January, Warren pledged that her campaign would not share
fake news or promote fraudulent accounts on social media. It’s part of
her plan to battle disinformation and hold Facebook, Google and Twitter
responsible for its spread.
“Anyone who seeks to challenge and defeat Donald Trump in the 2020
election must be fully prepared to take on the full array of
disinformation that foreign actors and people in and around the Trump
campaign will use to divide Democrats, suppress Democratic votes, and
erode the standing of the Democratic nominee,” Warren said in a written
statement on her campaign website.
She added: “And anyone who seeks to be the Democratic nominee must
condemn the use of disinformation and pledge not to knowingly use it to
benefit their own candidacy or damage others.”
More fuel to that fire came Thursday. Reports that Russia already is
actively meddling in the 2020 race drew concerns from lawmakers. The
news also angered Trump, who expressed fear Democrats would use the
information against him in the campaign. Trump dismissed Joseph Maguire,
former acting director of national intelligence, for telling the House
Intelligence Committee of the interference.
The widespread misuse of social media came to light in early 2018
during the investigation of Cambridge Analytica, a data mining and
analysis firm used by President Trump’s 2016 campaign. Through trickery
and deception, Cambridge Analytica accessed personal information
on 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge and used that data
to target specific readers with fake stories, divisive memes and other
content.
Media executives later were called before Congress to discuss what
they intended to do about disinformation for 2020. Congressional probes
revealed the ease of manipulating their platforms.
Facebook, Twitter and Google have responded with a slew of election
integrity projects such as new restrictions on postings. They also
increasingly try to root out what they call “inauthentic behavior” —
users assuming a false identity.
In response to written questions from IBD, Facebook says the size of
its teams working on safety and security matters is now 35,000, triple
its 2017 level. It also created rapid response centers to monitor
suspicious activity during the 2020 election.
“Since 2017, we’ve made large investments in teams and technologies
to better secure our elections and are deploying them where they will
have the greatest impact,” Facebook spokeswoman Katie Derkits said in a
written statement.
Twitter Bans Political Ads In 2020 Election
In late October, Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey banned all
political advertising from his network. Google quickly followed suit,
putting limits on political ads across some of its properties, including
YouTube.
“As caucuses and primaries for the 2020 presidential election get
underway, we’ll build on our efforts to protect the public conversation
and enforce our policies against platform manipulation,” Carlos Monje,
Twitter’s director of public policy and philanthropy, told Investor’s
Business Daily in written remarks. “We take the learnings from every
recent election around the world and use them to improve our election
integrity work.”
In September, Twitter suspended more than 10,000 accounts
across six countries. The company said the accounts actively spread
disinformation and encouraged unrest in politically sensitive regions.
YouTube and Google plan to restrict how precisely political advertisers can target an audience on their services.
Playing Whack-A-Mole With Facebook Fake News
Will these efforts make a difference in the 2020 election?
Research suggests social media firms will play a game of
whack-a-mole. They’ve deleted thousands of inauthentic accounts with
millions of followers. But that hasn’t stopped people from finding new
ways to get back online and send out fake news.
In the most recent takedown of accounts by Facebook, Russia was the
largest target. Facebook removed 118 accounts, groups and pages that
targeted Ukraine citizens. Other Russia sites focused on its involvement
in Syria and ethnic tensions in Crimea.
“Although the people behind this network attempted to conceal their
identities and coordination, our investigation found links to Russian
military intelligence services,” Facebook said in a blog post announcing
the slate of removals.
Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said the
social media company also removed 11 accounts distributing fake news
from Iran. The accounts focused mostly on U.S.-Iran relations,
Christianity and the upcoming election.
“We are making progress rooting out this abuse, but as we’ve said before, it’s an ongoing challenge,” Gleicher wrote.
Emerging Threat Of Deepfakes In 2020 Election
In December, Facebook and Twitter disabled a global network of 900
pages, groups and accounts sending pro-Trump messages. The fake news
accounts managed to avoid detection as being inauthentic. And they used
photos generated with the aid of artificial intelligence. The campaign
was based in the U.S. and Vietnam.
“There’s no question that social media has really changed the way
that we talk about politics,” said Deen Freelon, a media professor at
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The No. 1 example is
our president who, whether you like him or not, uses social media in
ways that are unprecedented for a president and I would say any
politician.”
The other fake news threat that social media companies face is from
deepfakes. The level of realism in deepfakes has increased vastly from
just a year ago, analysts say.
Using artificial intelligence technology, deepfake purveyors replace a
person in an existing image or video with someone else’s
likeness. Users also employ artificial intelligence tools in deepfakes
to misrepresent an event that occurred. Deepfakes can even manufacture
an event that never took place.
“Deepfakes are pretty scary to me,” said Freelon. “But I also think
the true impact of deepfakes won’t become apparent until the technology
gets developed a bit more.”
Cheapfakes: A Simpler Kind Of Fake News
Simpler versions of deepfakes get the name “cheapfakes,” or videos altered with traditional editing tools or low-end technology.
An example of a cheapfake that went viral was an altered video of
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The edited video slowed down her speech to
make her seem inebriated. That prompted right-wing cable news pundits to
question Pelosi’s mental health and fitness to serve office.
YouTube removed the video. Facebook did not. Only videos generated by
artificial intelligence to depict people saying fictional things would
be removed, Facebook said. It eventually placed a warning label on the Pelosi video.
In January, Facebook took steps to ban many types of misleading
videos from its site. It was part of a push against deepfake content and
online misinformation campaigns.
Facebook said in a blog post
that these fake news videos distort reality and present a “significant
challenge” for the technology industry. The rules will not apply to
satire or parody.
In February, Twitter changed its video policies, saying it would more
aggressively scrutinize fake or altered photos and videos. Starting in
March, Twitter will add labels or take down tweets carrying manipulated
images and videos, it said in a blog post.
But are the hurdles too high to surmount? A Massachusetts Institute
of Technology study last year concluded fake news is more likely to go
viral than other news. And it showed that a false story reached 1,500
people six times quicker than a true story.
As to why falsehoods perform so well, the MIT team settled on the hypothesis that fake news is more “novel” than real news. Subsequently, it evokes more emotion than the average tweet or post.
Ordinary social media users play a role in spreading fake news as
well. The determining factor for whether people spread disinformation is
the number of times they see it.
People who repeatedly encounter a fake news item may feel less
unethical about sharing it on social media. That comes regardless of
whether they believe it is accurate, according to a study published in the journal Psychological Science.
“Even when they know it’s false, if they repeatedly encounter it,
they feel it’s less unethical to share and they’re less likely to
censor,” said Daniel Effron, professor of Organizational Behavior at the
London Business School and an author of the study. “It suggests that
social media companies need a different approach to combating the spread
of disinformation.”
Letting Consumers Decide On Fake News
The findings carry heavy implications for industry executives hoping to stop 2020 election fake news on social media.
“We suggest that efforts to fight disinformation should consider how
people judge the morality of spreading it, not just whether they believe
it,” Effron said.
After the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook promised to do
better, and rolled out a number of reforms. But in October, Zuckerberg
delivered a strongly worded address at Georgetown University, defending
unfettered speech, including paid advertising.
Zuckerberg says he wants to avoid policing what politicians can and
cannot say to constituents. Facebook should allow its social media users
to make those decisions for themselves, he contends.
Facebook officials repeatedly warn against significant changes to its
rules for political or issue ads. Such changes could make it hard for
less well-funded groups to raise money for the 2020 election, they say.
“We face increasingly sophisticated attacks from nation states like
Russia, Iran and China,” Zuckerberg said. “But, I’m confident that we’re
more prepared now because we’ve played a role in defending against
election interference in more than 200 elections around the world since
2016.”
Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:53 AM on Monday, March 2nd, 2020
ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (TSXV: ZEN) “ZEN” or the “Company“) is pleased to announce the launch of Albany Pure TM graphene products on their website at https://shop.zengraphene.com/.
The Company is planning to expand its product line to bring Graphene
Quantum Dots, Graphene Oxide, Reduced Graphene Oxide, and other
graphene-based products to the market.
The
Company is ramping up its new lab facility in Guelph, Ontario and is
working towards larger-scale graphene production. The graphene precursor
material is sourced from the unique, igneous-hosted Albany Graphite
Deposit in Northern Ontario. As part of the company’s business
development plan, ZEN is actively working with several industries to
functionalize and test its graphene products in their applications with
the potential for subsequent industry partnerships and agreements.
About ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd.
ZEN
is an emerging graphene technology solutions company with a focus on
the development of graphene-based nanomaterial products and
applications. The unique Albany Graphite Project provides the company
with a potential competitive advantage in the graphene market as
independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada have independently
demonstrated that ZEN’s Albany PureTM Graphite is an ideal precursor
material which easily converts (exfoliates) to graphene, using a variety
of mechanical, chemical and electrochemical methods.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:32 PM on Friday, February 28th, 2020
AGORACOM Clients Attending PDAC 2020
THEREGAL PROJECT
B.C.’s Next Premier
Silver, Lead, Zinc, Copper Deposit?
Affinity Metals holds under option, a 100% interest in the Project, located within the northern end of the prolific Kootenay Arc, a highly prospective mineralized trend.
Treaty Creeks’ GOLDSTORM zone hosts a conceptual volume of ONE BILLION TONNES rock grading close to one gram per tonne gold and is open to the north, east, and at depth. Â
A major drill program is being planned for spring to develop a resource calculation. The focus has been on the gold enriched Goldstorm Zone which is on trend with, and part of, the same geological system as Seabridge Gold’s neighboring KSM deposits.
American Creek been selected to do a formal presentation at the conference. The presentation will be held on Tuesday, March 5 at 2:00PM in room #802
HPQ Silicon Resources designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma base processes
The innovative PUREVAP “Quartz Reduction Reactors†(QRR), will permit the One Step transformation of Quartz (SiO2) into High Purity Silicon (Si) at prices that will promote considerable renewable energy potential.
Lomiko hosts high-grade graphite at its La Loutre Property in Quebec. The company is working toward a Pre-Economic Assessment (PEA) that will increase its current indicated resource of 4.1 Mt of 6.5% Cg to over 10 Mt of 10%+ Cg in order to supply and develop graphite materials for the green economy.
30% Of Acquisition Price Paid If Venom Revenues Hit $30,000,000 and $40,000,000 By DEC 31, 2021
Average revenue per gram YTD 2019 $CDN 14 and will continue to increase as vape cartridge mix grows ($CDN 30 per gram)
One Of Arizona’s Largest Producers Of Award-Winning Medical Cannabis Distillate
Acquisition Expected To Close By March 31, 2020 Subject To Due Diligence
An established brand in Arizona for high quality
products in the wholesale and distillate marketplace. Venom is
leveraging its brand and success to aggressively expand into other US
states.
ACQUISITION TERMS
Hollister will acquire Venom Extracts for CDN$20,000,000 via Hollister stock
The stock price will be determined based on the greater of:
The 14-day VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) capped at $0.25 subsequent to announcing the transaction and $0.20
Once share price is established, 70% of the Payment Shares will be issued upon closing of the transaction
Remaining
30% of the Payment Shares will be issued when and if the following
milestones have been met on or prior to December 31st, 2021
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:29 PM on Thursday, February 27th, 2020
Announced the launch of its redesigned website taking effect this March
Website has been revamped to include new features and improved functionality that provide instant access to essential information and features geared towards PyroGenesis’ interested partiesÂ
MONTREAL, Feb. 27, 2020 — PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V: PYR) (OTCQB: PYRNF) (FRA: 8PY), a high-tech company, (the “Company”, the “Corporation†or “PyroGenesis”) that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma atomized metal powder, plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, is proud to announce the launch of its redesigned website taking effect this March. The website has been revamped to include new features and improved functionality that provide instant access to essential information and features geared towards PyroGenesis’ interested parties. Â
PyroGenesis’ new website will be continuously updated with business
developments, events, company presentations, media mentions and press
releases. Once launched, visitors are encouraged to explore the website
and sign up for direct emails from the Company.
“We are happy to unveil our redesigned website which offers a clean
and modern design providing a more comprehensive understanding of
PyroGenesis’ technologies,” said Mr. P Peter Pascali, CEO and President
of PyroGenesis. “We believe that this website will allow our visitors to
have a very informative experience as we continue to grow and increase
our market presence. I trust the timing of this news release is not lost
on our readers.â€
Of note, it is possible that, during this transition, PyroGenesis’
website may be under maintenance for a period up to 24 hours. It is also
important to note that, during the weeks following the launch date, the
redesigned website may be experiencing some minor technical
adjustments. PyroGenesis’ team will work diligently to ensure all issues
are resolved in a timely manner. The company looks forward to hearing
your comments and feedback.
About PyroGenesis Canada Inc.
PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a high-tech company, is the world leader in
the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced
plasma processes and products. We provide engineering and manufacturing
expertise, cutting-edge contract research, as well as turnkey process
equipment packages to the defense, metallurgical, mining, advanced
materials (including 3D printing), oil & gas, and environmental
industries. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and
technicians working out of our Montreal office and our 3,800 m2
manufacturing facility, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage
by remaining at the forefront of technology development and
commercialization. Our core competencies allow PyroGenesis to lead the
way in providing innovative plasma torches, plasma waste processes,
high-temperature metallurgical processes, and engineering services to
the global marketplace. Our operations are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D
certified, and have been since 1997. PyroGenesis is a publicly-traded
Canadian Corporation on the TSX Venture Exchange (Ticker Symbol: PYR)
and on the OTCQB Marketplace. For more information, please visit www.pyrogenesis.com
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation, statements containing the words “may”,
“plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”,
“expect”, “in the process” and other similar expressions which
constitute “forward- looking information” within the meaning of
applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the
Corporation’s current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited
to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the
market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the
capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research
and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new
product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory
approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the
Corporation with respect to future events and are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from
time-to-time in the Corporation’s ongoing filings with the securities
regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com, or at www.otcmarkets.com.
Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward- looking statements either as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of
the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the OTCQB accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
SOURCE PyroGenesis Canada Inc.
For further information please contact:
Rodayna Kafal, Vice President Investors Relations and Strategic Business Development Phone: (514) 937-0002, E-mail: [email protected]
Proprietary technology platforms including Electronic Health Records portal and e-Commerce for CBD product distribution
Recently launched CBD extraction facility
First extraction system capacity = 2,300 Kg per year.
CBD based products are poised to be a $20B global industry by 2022
Medical cannabis is poised to be a $100B global industry by 2025
Company to Create Psilocybin and Psychadelics Division Leveraging Corporate Wellness Clinics and Franchise Clinic Network
CBD consumption to rise across the treatment of neurological conditions
Research shows that CBD consumption for the treatment of neurological conditions is set to rise.
With an exponential rise in the availability of CBD products and public opinion towards it becoming more positive over the past decade, the consumption of the ingredient has exploded.
Global Market Insights, Inc., forecasts that global cannabidiol market size will be worth more than $89bn by 2026.
However, the industry will need to overcome the complex regulatory
landscape as well as quality and supply challenges in the near future.
Over the past few years, cannabidiol, or CBD, has caught the public’s
imagination as an ingredient presenting a range of health benefits when
infused in various consumables. More and more individuals worldwide are
now vouching for its effectiveness in terms of alleviating certain
chronic illnesses and treating several health conditions.
CBD has conquered industry after industry, from pharmaceuticals to
personal care and cosmetics, food and beverages, and nutraceuticals.
Cannabidiol is the legal and non-psychoactive counterpart of
tetrahydro cannabidiol (THC), the chemical compound responsible for
cannabis’s psychological effects. CBD is the second most-commonly used
active ingredients of cannabis.
The cannabinoid is derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of
the cannabis plant, and forms an essential component of medical
cannabis.
CBD regulatory landscape in Europe
Factors such as population growth, nationalised healthcare, GDP, and
cultural historic use of CBD in many European countries make the
continent an attractive market for global producers of both medical and
retail cannabis-based products. Hemp cultivation in the region has
witnessed a massive upsurge in recent years; the European Union (EU)
constitutes more than 25% of the global hemp production.
In July last year Epidiolex CBD oil
received a positive recommendation for marketing approval from the
European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of seizures. EMA’s
Human Medicines Committee (CHMP) approved the oral solution for use with
clobazam for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome
or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients aged two or more.
The European Commission granted marketing approval to Epidyolex, the
trade name for Epidiolex in Europe, in September 2019. Epidiolex is the
only federally-approved CBD product in the U.S.
Additionally, the use of CBD in cosmetics is harmonised within the European Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009.
The regulation prohibits the use of cannabis and its derivatives in
cosmetic products. Essentially, EU prohibits the use of CBD derived
naturally from cannabis plants. However, the use of hemp-derived or
synthetically-produced cannabidiol is approved.
Europe CBD market is poised to witness monumental growth in the
forthcoming years on account of surging consumer demand for
safe-strength CBD products that are easily available in their normal
retail environments and cultivated, extracted, processed and labelled as
per the European standards.
Growing burden of neurological diseases in Europe
Europe has witnessed a growing occurrence of various neurological
conditions in recent years. These include epilepsy, migraine, stress,
anxiety, and numerous sleeping disorders. An expanding geriatric
population base indicates rising incidences of these conditions. Citing
data from the European Brain Council, more than 220 million people in Europe
suffer from at least one neurological condition, which is more than the
populations of France, Germany, and the Great Britain combined.
Described below are some of the most prevalent neurological
conditions in Europe and the effectiveness of CBD in their treatment.
Stress and anxiety – Nearly 25% of the European population suffers
from stress, anxiety or depression each year. The effectiveness of CBD
products as anti-anxiety nutraceuticals is backed with plenty of
research, however there is still a long way to go. Several clinical
trials have provided considerable evidence of cannabidiol’s usefulness
for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social
anxiety disorder, and panic disorder;
Migraine – Migraine currently affects more than 11% of the global
population. The social societal burden of migraine in Europe is an
approximately €27bn
per year. While pain medications are known to help temporarily
alleviate the symptoms of migraine, they can have several side-effects.
Research concerning the use of cannabidiol for migraine is limited
however a number of laboratory studies suggest that CBD oil may help
reduce all types of acute and chronic pain, including migraine; and
Seizures – In Europe, close to six. million people suffer from
epilepsy, while 15 million people will have at least one seizure at some
point during their lifetime. Numerous research studies over the years
have demonstrated the benefits and effectiveness of hemp-derived CBD
products in patients with epilepsy who have not responded to traditional
treatment.
Surging popularity of cannabidiol among boomers along with ongoing
research and development into its potential health benefits will augment
CBD market forecast. More and more boomers are adding CBD to their
health regimes to help reduce stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and
alleviate chronic pain. Increasing awareness towards the safety and
efficacy of cannabidiol products will drive future CBD industry trends.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:21 AM on Thursday, February 27th, 2020
Cardston, Alberta–(February 27, 2020) – American Creek Resources
Ltd. (TSXV: AMK) (“the Corporation”) is pleased to report the assays
from phase 1 drilling from the 2019 fall drill program that was
conducted at the company’s 100% owned Dunwell Mine property located in
the Golden Triangle of British Columbia.
The Dunwell Mine is a high-grade past producing polymetallic mine
located just 8km by road from the shipping town of Stewart. This
property boasts exceptional logistics and a rich mining history with
significant potential for future development. A significant geological
feature running through the property is the Portland Canal Fissure Zone.
With the recent acquisition of the Glacier Creek claims American Creek
now controls 5km of the 6.5km Portland Canal Fissure Zone which contains
numerous high-grade polymetallic mineral occurrences including two past
producing mines (the Dunwell and Portland Canal). Very little modern
exploration has been done on the property. While there is huge potential
exploring along the extended reaches of the fissure zone, the initial
drill program was designed to test areas near the workings of the
Dunwell mine itself.
The initial objective for the drill program was to test the down dip
extension of the Dunwell main vein below sub-level 4. The second
objective was to test geophysical anomalies from an Induced Polarization
(IP) survey conducted later in the fall of 2019. Both of these
objectives were successfully accomplished with this drill program.
A total of 20 holes totaling 3,245.9m were completed on the property.
The first 14 holes were based on geological and historical data and
were successful in encountering veins of high-grade polymetallic
mineralization including 20.3 g/t AuEq over 2.7m, 18.4 g/t AuEq over 1.5m, 28.6 g/t AuEq over 0.5m and 24.4 g/t AuEq over 0.5m.
Holes DW19-04 to DW19-08 were drilled to test the down dip of the Dunwell zone below sub-level 4.
Results show high-grade hits, including 13.2 g/t AuEq,
in this series of holes that traversed from the east southeast to the
east. The holes consistently hit two zones, both at the base of dikes at
22 – 26 meters and 83 – 87 meters. These two zones, seen in the five
holes, run sub-parallel to the fault the drill pad was located on and
trend for some distance to the north.
Hole DW19-09 was drilled to test the north extension of the main zone
below level 4. The first breccia below the dike shows up in this hole
with a 28.5 g/t AuEq assay and the second with a 18.4 g/t AuEq assay.
HOLE
FROM (m)
TO (m)
INTERVAL (m)
AU g/t
AG g/t
CU %
PB %
ZN %
AuEq g/t
DW19-09
27.60
28.05
0.45
13.870
258.0
0.438
15.530
11.040
28.509
DW19-09
143.02
144.52
1.50
7.898
84.9
0.359
0.791
20.250
18.440
Hole DW19-10 was drilled to test below sub-level 4 but further to the southeast from hole DW19-04.
HOLE
FROM (m)
TO (m)
INTERVAL (m)
AU g/t
AG g/t
CU %
PB %
ZN %
AuEq g/t
DW19-10
29.00
29.57
0.57
2.785
42.5
0.055
0.713
3.020
4.956
DW19-10
88.71
89.61
0.90
3.535
43.2
0.060
1.480
2.860
5.959
DW19-10
99.13
99.79
0.66
1.707
33.7
0.031
0.285
0.529
2.491
The two breccias below the dikes, seen in holes 7 and 8 are present.
Holes 11 to 13 were drilled to follow up on the results from hole 9.
The holes were drilled in a fan where holes 11 and 12 were drilled at a
steeper angle to test below hole 9 and hole 13 was drilled at a flatter
angle to test above hole 9. Hole 14 was drilled at a 5° rotation to the
north of hole 9 to test the width of the structure.
HOLE
FROM (m)
TO (m)
INTERVAL (m)
AU g/t
AG g/t
CU %
PB %
ZN %
AuEq g/t
DW19-11
26.82
27.82
1.00
5.601
66.0
0.213
1.700
7.850
10.729
DW19-11
95.63
96.27
0.64
4.408
34.5
0.026
0.363
0.757
5.326
DW19-11
138.45
138.95
0.50
4.026
66.0
0.166
1.070
6.220
8.139
DW19-11
142.24
144.93
2.69
11.346
142.5
0.220
3.197
13.069
20.269
DW19-12
22.17
23.47
1.30
2.851
60.8
0.147
1.844
4.946
6.638
DW19-12
27.05
27.81
0.76
1.562
30.4
0.104
0.647
2.660
3.461
DW19-12
97.49
99.15
1.66
1.546
54.4
0.041
1.060
5.356
4.998
DW19-13
27.55
28.15
0.60
8.110
113.0
0.171
4.630
8.270
15.116
DW19-13
142.87
143.57
0.70
4.486
66.6
0.068
0.710
1.009
6.087
DW19-14
27.43
28.23
0.80
8.924
161.0
0.309
5.120
6.800
16.222
DW19-14
98.32
99.86
1.54
7.692
32.8
0.009
0.207
0.111
8.227
DW19-14
142.75
144.70
1.95
3.720
43.2
0.103
0.755
9.240
8.673
DW19-14
146.88
147.38
0.50
9.403
264.0
0.528
5.210
20.900
24.347
All the holes intersected the breccia below the dike at about 27
meters. Holes 11, 13 and 14 appear to intersect a similar structure to
that seen in hole 9. Multiple high-grade intercepts assayed as high as 24.3 g/t AuEq, 20.3 g/t AuEq, 16.3 AuEq, and 15.1 g/t AuEq while the remaining intercepts were still strong.
No modern exploration techniques or technologies have been used on
the Dunwell until a cutting edge Induced Polarization (IP) survey took
place in late fall of 2019. Only two of the dozens of geophysical
anomalies identified in the survey in close proximity to the Dunwell
Mine were drill tested in this first phase of drilling.
The last 6 holes (DW19-15 to DW19-19) were drilled to test the extent
of a large IP anomaly and were successful in encountering veins of
high-grade polymetallic mineralization including 19.4 g/t AuEq over 3.6m, 38.1 g/t AuEq over 0.5m and 28.4 AuEq over 0.4m with the remaining intercepts also containing significant mineralization.
Hole 15 was drilled south into the anomaly and Hole 16 was drilled
west into the anomaly with both intersecting a massive sulphide zone.
Holes 17 – 19 were drilled in a fan to follow up hole 16. Hole 18 also
hit a massive sulphide zone.
HOLE
FROM (m)
TO (m)
INTERVAL (m)
AU g/t
AG g/t
CU %
PB %
ZN %
AuEq g/t
DW19-15
100.90
102.08
1.18
8.445
869.0
0.034
0.186
1.265
19.536
DW19-15
152.09
152.59
0.50
32.230
472.0
0.008
0.134
0.372
38.119
DW19-16
45.11
45.81
0.70
11.260
144.0
0.208
6.550
6.010
18.471
DW19-16
75.07
78.68
3.61
8.850
88.8
0.221
1.768
19.514
19.354
DW19-17
no significant results
DW19-18
38.79
39.22
0.43
15.300
185.0
2.874
2.870
14.470
28.243
DW19-19
34.87
36.04
1.17
3.332
27.9
0.048
0.986
2.580
5.239
DW19-19
75.71
77.13
1.42
5.255
225.9
0.159
9.298
3.315
13.328
Hole 16 hit a massive sulphide interval at 75 – 78 meters. Hole 20
was drilled to test an IP anomaly along the access road below the second
drill pad. One small breccia was intercepted.
HOLE
FROM (m)
TO (m)
INTERVAL (m)
AU g/t
AG g/t
CU %
PB %
ZN %
AuEq g/t
DW19-20
121.01
121.45
0.44
1.669
27.5
0.007
0.034
0.082
2.056
CEO and President, Darren Blaney stated: “Our very
first drill program has intersected a significant number of high-grade
veins in the vicinity of the mine workings confirming our belief in the
potential of this project.
The Dunwell is an incredibly prospective property located in the
heart of the Golden Triangle. It has everything going for it from
amazing logistics to past high-grade production, with all indications
being that there is substantive additional ore yet to be mined.
With the recent acquisition of the Glacier Creek Crown Grants we now
cover 5km of the heavily mineralized Portland Canal Fissure Zone which
runs for 6.5km and is associated with over a dozen high-grade gold and
silver showings including two past producing mines. The potential of the
property extends far beyond the old workings of the Dunwell Mine.
Future exploration will be using the latest technologies to aid us in
unlocking that potential.”
Through a series of strategic acquisitions American Creek was able to
purchase the past-producing Dunwell Mine as well as several adjoining
very prospective properties, combining them into one large land package
that encompasses the best gold and silver mineral occurrences and
historic workings in the Bear River valley. The amalgamated property
spans 2,222 hectares covering the majority of the Portland Canal Fissure
Zone, an area first prospected in the late 1800’s and hosting some of
the earliest producing gold and silver mines in the Stewart area.
The Dunwell project is located 8km northeast of Stewart and is road
accessible with the Dunwell Mine adit itself located only 2km from
Highway 37A and a major power line. Stewart hosts a deep sea port
including ore loading and shipping facilities. Unlike the majority of
mineral properties located near Stewart, the Dunwell is located in low
mountainous terrain (700 m and lower elevation) with moderate relief.
These features allow for year-round work which typically isn’t the case
for exploration programs conducted in the Stewart region where projects
are typically at higher altitude, are accessible only by helicopter, and
lack critical infrastructure such as roads and power. The Dunwell
project may just have the best logistics of any project in the Golden
Triangle.
The Dunwell Mine is the most significant mineral occurrence within
the Portland Canal Fissure Zone. Production at the Dunwell occurred
between 1926 and 1937. From historic reports, it appears that a total of
45,657 tonnes averaging 6.63 g/t gold, 223.91 g/t silver, 1.83% lead,
2.43% zinc and 0.056% copper were produced.
In addition to the Dunwell mine itself, the property package also
contains over a dozen other high-grade gold and silver occurrences and
historic small-scale gold/silver high-grading operations along a
north/south trend that correlates to the fissure zone and major
faulting. Some examples of the nine areas that actually produced ore
are:
Ben Ali: 4,500 tons at 21.6 g/t gold
Lakeview 60 tons at 4.7 g/t gold, 2,734 g/t silver, and 11.5% lead
Victoria 11 tons at 20.15 g/t gold, 775 g/t silver, 25% lead
Tyee 8.2 tons at 124.4 g/t gold and 4,478.8 g/t silver
George E 12 tons at 13 g/t gold and 3,250 g/t silver, 23.3% lead
Each of these areas were producing during the 1930’s when exploration
techniques and technology was very primitive. American Creek has
already started to use the latest in exploration technology on the
property and will continue to do so to unlock the great potential that
exists here.
The Qualified Person for the Dunwell results in this new release is
James A. McCrea, P. Geo., for the purposes of National Instrument
43-101. He has read and approved the scientific and technical
information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this
news release.
About American Creek
American Creek holds a strong portfolio of gold and silver properties
in British Columbia. The portfolio includes three Golden Triangle
gold/silver properties; the Treaty Creek and Electrum joint ventures
with Walter Storm/Tudor as well as the 100% owned past-producing Dunwell
Mine. Other properties held throughout BC include the Gold Hill,
Austruck-Bonanza, Ample Goldmax, Silver Side, and Glitter King.
For further information please contact Kelvin Burton at: Phone: 403 752-4040 or Email: [email protected]. Information relating to the Corporation is available on its website at www.americancreek.com
Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:10 AM on Thursday, February 27th, 2020
Stillcanna is a vertically integrated, European-based company
with a focus on industrial-scale manufacturing of the highest quality
CBD extracts
Stillcanna looks to become one of the largest producers of THC-free CBD extracts in Europe
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 26, 2020 / Mota Ventures Corp. (CSE:MOTA)(OTC:PEMTF)(FRANKFURT:1WZGR) (“Mota“) and Stillcanna Inc. (STIL)(SCNNF)(A2PEWA) (“Stillcanna“) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a letter of intent (the “Letter of Intent“),
dated effective February 25, 2020, pursuant to which Mota proposes to
acquire all of the outstanding share capital of Stillcanna (the “Proposed Transaction“).
Strategic Merger
Mota
is a globally-focused CBD product development and marketing company
with established online retail brands in both the U.S. and Europe.
Through its acquisition of First Class CBD, Mota has become a
significant direct-to-consumer retail brand in the United States. In
2019, First Class CBD (then, a division of Unified Funding, LLC)
realized approximately C$28.7 million in revenue with an EBITDA of
approximately 12.5%.1 Mota’s successful e-commerce platform currently
serves over 140,000 online customers and has generated over 400,000
leads in the United States. With the roll-out of First Class CBD’s
proven e-marketing strategy throughout Europe, Mota believes that a
merger with a high-quality CBD producer is of paramount importance in
order to capture the large margins in the CBD-product supply chain.
Stillcanna
is a vertically integrated, European-based company with a focus on
industrial-scale manufacturing of the highest quality CBD extracts.
Using proprietary extraction techniques and purpose-built equipment,
Stillcanna looks to become one of the largest producers of THC-free CBD
extracts in Europe. Stillcanna’s Polish extraction facility, NEXUS, features
industrial-scale centrifugal chromatography equipment that allows for
the production of bulk THC-free CBD distillate as well as custom
Cannabinoid profiles. In February 2020, Stillcanna’s Romanian extraction
facility, ORIGIN,
which operates pursuant to a joint venture between Stillcanna and
Dragonfly Biosciences Ltd., received approval from the Ministry of
Health and the Anti-Drug Agency to become the first government
recognized extraction facility in the country. To date C$23,000,000 has
been invested by Stillcanna in the cultivation and extraction
operations, with current cash on hand in Stillcanna of approximately
C$7,000,000.
Stillcanna’s
CBD extracts are key to unlocking additional value in Mota’s retail
offerings in Europe. Through Stillcanna, Mota hopes to guarantee the
supply of high-quality CBD for its expanding product line in Europe,
while the large production capacity of NEXUS and ORIGIN will allow Mota to be a key supplier of legal CBD products in Europe.
“We
are very excited to pursue a transaction with Stillcanna. The merger of
this large-scale, high-quality CBD producer will fit brilliantly with
Mota’s strategic expansion plan to vertically integrate operations in
Europe while increasing profit margins in product offerings. Product
awareness and availability are still quite limited in Europe, which
presents an opportunity for Mota to further establish its brands in a
market that is expected to experience rapid growth in the near term.
With the Stillcanna merger, we’re putting together a team that can
create, market and sell consumer CBD products to European customers,â€
stated Ryan Hoggan, CEO of Mota.
“Combining
a company that has established brands and direct-to-consumer sales
channels with one that has proven CBD extraction expertise makes perfect
sense to us,†commented Jason Dussault, CEO of Stillcanna. “The
wholesale landscape for CBD has changed dramatically in the past year,
and the creation of a seed-to-consumer CBD company in the growing
European market creates a direct path to profitability. This merger
completes the circle for Stillcanna, evolving from a seed to CBD
concentrate company to a seed to retail sales company.â€
Merger Details
Under
the terms of the Proposed Transaction, Mota would acquire all of the
outstanding share capital of Stillcanna by way of a statutory plan of
arrangement under the Business Corporations Act of British Columbia Canada. Shareholders of Stillcanna (the “Stillcanna Shareholders“) would receive one common share of Mota for every 1.8 common shares of Stillcanna held at the time of exchange (the “Exchange Ratio“).
Based on the current outstanding common share capital of Stillcanna, it
is anticipated that Mota would issue approximately 61,597,082 Mota
shares to complete the Proposed Transaction.
Upon
completion of the Proposed Transaction: (i) all outstanding incentive
stock options of Stillcanna will be exchanged for options to purchase
Mota shares on the basis of the Exchange Ratio and will thereafter be
subject to the incentive stock option plan of Mota; and (ii) all
unexercised share purchase warrants of Stillcanna will be exchanged for
warrants to purchase Mota shares on the basis of the Exchange Ratio and
will expire in accordance with their current expiry dates.
Mota
and Stillcanna are at arms-length. The Proposed Transaction does not
constitute a reverse-takeover of Mota, nor is it expected to result in a
change of control of Mota within the meaning of applicable securities
laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. Upon
completion of the Proposed Transaction, there will be no changes to the
management or the board of directors of Mota and it is expected that
members of management and the board of Stillcanna will continue to
assist in relation to the management of Stillcanna’s business.
Completion
of the Proposed Transaction remains subject to a number of conditions,
including, but not limited to: (i) satisfactory completion of due
diligence; (ii) negotiation of definitive, legally-binding
documentation; (iii) receipt of any required regulatory approvals,
including the court; (iv) the approval of the Stillcanna Shareholders;
(v) receipt of a satisfactory fairness opinion in respect of the
Proposed Transaction; (vi) Stillcanna having arranged to amend the terms
of certain existing employment and consulting engagements; (vii)
shareholders of Stillcanna holding at least 40,000,000 of the
outstanding share capital of Stillcanna having agreed to the terms of a
pooling arrangement restricting their ability to trade one-half of the
Mota shares they receive for a period of six months following completion
of the Proposed Transaction; (viii) Stillcanna having positive working
capital of not less than C$6,000,000, after taking into account all
expenses associated with the Proposed Transaction; and (ix) Mota
completing a private placement of units to raise gross proceeds of not
less than C$5,000,000 (the “Mota Financing“).
The Proposed Transaction cannot be completed until these conditions are
satisfied. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will
be completed as proposed or at all.
The
proposed Mota Financing will consist of units at a price of C$0.45 per
unit, with each unit comprised of one Mota common share and one share
purchase warrant of Mota. Each such warrant will be exercisable to
purchase one common share of Mota at a price of C$0.60 for a period of
two years. All securities to be issued in connection with the Mota
Financing will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold
period in accordance with applicable securities laws. Mota anticipates
paying finders fees to certain eligible parties who have introduced
subscribers to the Mota Financing.
The
board of directors of each of Mota, and Stillcanna, have unanimously
approved the Letter of Intent. Further information about the Proposed
Transaction will be included in subsequent press releases when
available.
About Mota Ventures Corp.
Mota
is seeking to become a vertically integrated global CBD brand. Its plan
is to cultivate and extract CBD into high-quality value-added products
from its Latin American operations and distribute it both domestically
and internationally. Its existing operations in Colombia consist of a
2.5-hectare site that has optimal year-round growing conditions and
access to all necessary infrastructure. Mota is looking to establish
sales channels and a distribution network internationally through the
acquisition of the Sativida and First Class CBD brands. Low cost
production, coupled with international, direct to customer sales
channels will provide the foundation for the success of Mota.
About Stillcanna Inc.
Stillcanna
is a Canadian early-stage life sciences company focused on the
large-scale manufacturing of CBD in Europe using its proprietary
intellectual property. Stillcanna has signed an initial extraction
contract in Europe to be the exclusive extractor for Dragonfly
Biosciences LLC, a United Kingdom-based supplier of CBD. Stillcanna also
recently completed the acquisition of Olimax NT SP.Z.O.O., a
multi-generational hemp agricultural firm that is expected to increase
market share in the European CBD industry.
