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Empower Clinics $CBDT.ca Announces Record Preliminary Unaudited Q3 2019 Revenue with 138% year over year increase and Details for Release of Financial Statements $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $OGI.ca $FAF.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 7:25 AM on Thursday, November 7th, 2019
  • Empowers’ Q3 2019 preliminary unaudited revenue saw a year over year growth of approximately 138%
  • Company’s Q3 preliminary total direct clinic expenses have been reduced by approximately 40% even with the addition of the six Sun Valley clinic locations.
  • Company also has patient visits in corporate clinics increase by triple digits, with October 2019 patients seen increasing by 336% to 1,847 versus October 2018 with 550 patients seen.       
  • Earnings results are set to be released on November 14, 2019 at 9:00 am Eastern Time

VANCOUVER, Nov. 7, 2019 – EMPOWER CLINICS INC. (CSE: CBDT) (OTC: EPWCF) (Frankfurt 8EC) (“Empower” or the “Company“), a vertically integrated and growth-oriented CBD life sciences company, a multi-state operator of medical health & wellness clinics, a CBD product producer and operator of an extraction facility in Oregon, is pleased to announce preliminary unaudited year over year revenue growth of 138% for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The company also decreased total direct clinic expenses by approximately 40%, while adding six new clinics as a result of the Sun Valley clinics acquisition.

The Company also has patient visits in corporate clinics increase by triple digits, with October 2019 patients seen increasing by 336% to 1,847 versus October 2018 with 550 patients seen.       

“The Company is starting to feel the positive impact that the Sun Valley clinics acquisition has provided with their strong operational performance in Arizona, in conjunction with continued cost cutting measures with operations in Oregon and Washington State,” said Steven McAuley, CEO of Empower. “We have also been able to integrate key back office, admin, payroll & human resource functions from the Pacific Northwest into the operational controls of Sun Valley, bringing improved productivity to the organization.”

As part of the Company’s continued expansion of our health & wellness clinic model, we have already set up retail CBD product sales in-clinic, and now we have launched expanded physician based services starting with key Arizona clinics.

New Modalities and Services

  • Physician’s CBD Enhanced Massage, Acupuncture, or Cupping Sessions

  • CBD-Cannabis-Supplement Consumption & Coaching Consultation

  • Introduction to Alternative Health and Cannabinoid Therapies by a Physician

  • Comprehensive Naturopathic Patient Analysis & Consultation

  • Dietary Antigen Testing, Physician Consultation/Action Plan, & Concierge Blood Draw

  • Neurotransmitter (urine) Profile & Physician Consultation/Action Plan

  • Spectracell Micronutrient Test & Physician Consultation/Action Plan

Empower plans to release its third quarter results ending September 30th, 2019 on November 14, 2019 at 9:00AM Eastern time.

Financial Measures

This news release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures, including certain industry metrics. These metrics and measures are not recognized measures under IFRS do not have meanings prescribed under IFRS and are as a result unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures are provided as information complimentary to those IFRS measures by providing a further understanding of our operating results from the perspective of management. As such, these measures should not be considered in isolation or in lieu of review of our financial information reported under IFRS. These non-IFRS measures, including the industry measures, are used to provide investors with supplementary measures of our operating performance that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS metrics.

ABOUT EMPOWER

Empower is a vertically-integrated health & wellness brand with it’s first hemp-derived CBD extraction facility under development, the Company produces its proprietary line of cannabidiol (CBD) based products and distributes products through company owned and franchised clinics, with wholesale partnerships, online channels and with new retail opportunities nationwide in the U.S. The company is a leading multi-state operator of a network of physician-staffed wellness clinics, focused on helping patients improve and protect their health, through innovative physician recommended treatment options. The company has commenced activity on how to connect its significant data, to the potential of the efficacy of alternative treatment options related to hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) therapies.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Steven McAuley
Chief Executive Officer

DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (collectively “forward looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements can frequently be identified by words such as “plans”, “continues”, “expects”, “projects”, “intends”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed” and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding; the Company’s intention to open a hemp-based CBD extraction facility, the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders as a result of the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; the terms of the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; the effectiveness of the extraction technology; the expected benefits for Empower’s patient base and customers; the benefits of CBD based products; the effect of the approval of the Farm Bill; the growth of the Company’s patient list and that the Company will be positioned to be a market-leading service provider for complex patient requirements in 2019 and beyond. Such statements are only projections, are based on assumptions known to management at this time, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including; that the Company may not open a hemp-based CBD extraction facility; that legislative changes may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and product development; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate financing to pursue its business plan; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; failure to obtain any necessary approvals in connection with the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; and other factors beyond the Company’s control. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Empower Clinics Inc.

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2019/07/c9142.html

Investors: Steve Low, Boom Capital Markets, [email protected], 647-620-5101; Investors: Steven McAuley, CEO, [email protected], 604-789-2146; For French inquiries: Remy Scalabrini, Maricom Inc., E: [email protected], T: (888) 585-MARICopyright CNW Group 2019

North Bud Farms $NBUD.ca Announces Annual General and Special Meeting on December 16th and the Closing of the First Tranche of its Non-Brokered Private Placement of Secured Convertible Debenture Units $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:50 PM on Wednesday, November 6th, 2019
  • Annual General and Special Meeting at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2019 at the office of McMillan LLP World Exchange Plaza, Suite 2000, Ottawa, Ontario.  
  • Announce that on November 6, 2019, the board authorized the issuance of up to 4,000 convertible debenture units of the Company at a price of $1,000 per Unit for total gross proceeds of up to $4,000,000.

TORONTO, Nov. 06, 2019 — North Bud Farms Inc. (CSE: NBUD) (OTCQB: NOBDF) (“NORTHBUD” or the “Company”) today announces that the Company will hold its Annual General and Special Meeting at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2019 at the office of McMillan LLP World Exchange Plaza, Suite 2000, Ottawa, Ontario.  

Additionally, the Company is pleased to announce that on November 6, 2019, the board authorized the issuance of up to 4,000 convertible debenture units (“Units”) of the Company at a price of $1,000 per Unit for total gross proceeds of up to $4,000,000. Based on this decision the Company will not be closing any additional tranches of the previously announced equity private placement.

Each Unit is comprised of one $1,000 principal amount of secured convertible debenture (a “Convertible Debenture”) accruing interest at 10.0% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears until maturity, and 2,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company (each, a “Warrant”). The Convertible Debentures will have a maturity date of 36 months from the date of issuance.

Each Convertible Debenture shall be convertible into common shares in the capital of the Company (each, a “Conversion Share”) at a price of $0.30 per Conversion Share.

Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a “Warrant Share”) for an exercise price of $0.25 per Warrant Share for a period of 18 months following the closing date.

The Convertible Debentures are direct secured obligations of the Company and rank pari passu in right of payment of principal and interest with all other Convertible Debentures issued under the Offering.

The Company is pleased to announce that on November 6, 2019 it closed an initial tranche of 1,264 Units for gross proceeds of $1,264,000. These Units were purchased by one insider and existing shareholders. The Company intends to close the remaining Units in one or more tranches over the coming weeks.

Ryan Brown, the Chief Executive Officer, of the Company participated in the private placement and beneficially acquired 664 Units for a total proceeds of $664,000. The purchase constitutes a “related party transaction” within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The issuance is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the Units issued to or the consideration paid by such insider did not exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.

Certain finders (the “Finders”) received a cash commission on the sale of the Offering of $48,000. The Finders also received 48,000 compensation warrants (the “Compensation Warrants”), each carrying the right to purchase 3.3333 common shares in the capital of the Company at a price of $1.00 per Compensation Warrant for a period of 18 months from the closing date.

The proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company for expansion of the Company’s facilities and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Convertible Debentures, Warrants and Compensation Warrants issued pursuant to the Offering and any common shares in the capital of the Company issued on conversion of the Convertible Debentures or exercise of the Warrants or Compensation Warrants are subject to a statutory hold period in Canada of four months and one day following the closing date in accordance with applicable securities laws, which shall expire on March 7, 2020. Additional resale restrictions may be applicable under the laws of other jurisdictions, if any.

The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities of the
Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Corporate Update
Since the submission of our evidence package to Health Canada, the Company has received some minor comments from the regulators all of which have been responded to within 24 hours. The Company will update shareholders with any material developments related to the application process.

About North Bud Farms Inc.
North Bud Farms Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary GrowPros MMP Inc., is pursuing a licence under The Cannabis Act.  The Company has built a state-of-the-art purpose-built cannabis production facility located on 135 acres of Agricultural Land in Low, Quebec, Canada. NORTHBUD through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Bonfire Brands USA has entered into agreements to acquire assets in California and Nevada.

For more information visit: www.northbud.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements
Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), including those identified by the expressions “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “should” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward- looking statements that include, but are not limited to, statements related to the intended use of proceeds from the Offering. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in North Bud Farms Inc.’s final long form prospectus dated August 21, 2018, which is available under the issuer’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
North Bud Farms Inc.
Edward Miller
VP, IR & Communications
Office: (855) 628-3420 ext. 3
[email protected] 

NORTHBUD $NBUD.ca – #Cannabis may be helping some #Canadians cope with #PTSD symptoms: study $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, November 6th, 2019

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

NBUD: CSE
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Cannabis may be helping some Canadians cope with PTSD symptoms: study

  • Cannabis use could be helping Canadians cope with some of the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to new research from the BC Centre on Substance Use and University of British Columbia. 

By: Jeremiah Rodriguez

Cannabis use could be helping Canadians cope with some of the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to new research from the BC Centre on Substance Use and University of British Columbia. 

Cannabis use could be helping Canadians alleviate some of the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to new research from the BC Centre on Substance Use and University of British Columbia.

The study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, found people with PTSD who were not using cannabis were “far more likely” to have suicidal thoughts and suffer from severe depression than self-proclaimed pot users, according to data taken from Statistics Canada’s 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health.

People who suffered trauma — including survivors of acute injury, violence, conflict and disasters — suffer at disproportionately higher rates of depression, suicide and substance abuse than the general population.

The research team found that among non-cannabis users, PTSD was “significantly associated” with a major recent depressive episode and suicidal thoughts.

More specifically, PTSD sufferers who didn’t use pot were seven times more likely to have a depressive episode and nearly five times more likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to non-cannabis users without PTSD.

“Among the cannabis-non-using population, there was a strong association between having PTSD and experiencing these indicators of severe mental distress,” lead author Stephanie Lake said during a phone interview with CTVNews.ca, adding that pot users didn’t see this same association.

Her research was the first to track the relationship between PTSD, cannabis use and “severe mental health outcomes” among the average Canadian population, according to a university press release.

Lake, a research assistant at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, said this was the first study examining how PTSD’s connection to suicidal thoughts or severe depression “could be interrupted by the use of cannabis.”

Her study also found one in four Canadians with PTSD said they used cannabis — which is “remarkably high” compared to the prevalence of pot use among the general Canadian population (which is an estimated 11.4 per cent).

STUDY DIDN’T SHOW CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN POT, PTSD RATES

Lake stressed her study didn’t outright show a definitive, causal link between cannabis use and decreased PTSD symptoms.

The PhD candidate at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health said the study “didn’t tell us whether people are successfully using cannabis to treat PTSD … but it is a promising signal that there might be a therapeutic (benefit) to cannabis use.”

Of the 24,089 respondents to the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health, 420 people had a clinical diagnosis of PTSD.

From those with PTSD, 106 of them — 28 per cent — said they used cannabis. This rate is nearly three times the rate of pot users without PTSD (11.2 per cent).

Lake’s overall findings could be extremely helpful to many Canadians, as the study mentions that 9.2 per cent of Canadians have PTSD — one of the highest prevalence rates for the disorder in the world.

HOW CANNABIS POTENTIALLY HELPED WITH PTSD

Lake explained that cannabinoid receptors in people’s bodies help regulate mood and sleep, and some research suggests that trauma from PTSD could compromise this endocannabinoid system.

“So when you introduce external cannabinoids (from pot products) to the body, it might help to get the system working as normal again,” she suggested.

Lake also noted that, according to the study, PTSD patients did have cannabis-use disorders at a higher rate than the general population.

In a press release, senior author Dr. M-J Milloy, BCCSU research scientist and Canopy Growth Professor of Cannabis Science at UBC, said that “we’re only just beginning to understand what the therapeutic potential of cannabis may be for a variety of health conditions.”

“These findings are promising, and merit further study in order to fully understand the benefits of cannabis for people living with PTSD,” he added.

Lake added that UCB researchers are currently conducting a clinical trial looking at the effectiveness of cannabis products in specifically treating PTSD.

Source: https://www.theloop.ca/ctvnews/cannabis-may-be-helping-some-canadians-cope-with-ptsd-symptoms-study/

NORTHBUD $NBUD.ca – #Cannabis Canada: #Pot industry added nearly $8B to #GDP in August, #StatsCan says $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:31 PM on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

NBUD: CSE
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Cannabis Canada: Pot industry added nearly $8B to GDP in August, StatsCan says

Cannabis sales in Canada expected to double next year to $3.16B: analyst 

Canaccord Genuity cannabis analyst Matt Bottomley expects revenue in Canada’s legal pot sector to more than double next year despite slower-than-expected growth. Bottomley said in a research note to clients that Canada’s cannabis industry should expect $3.16 billion in revenue in 2020, up from the $1.46 billion forecast for 2019. He added Canada’s cannabis retail figures should see a five per cent reduction in overall sales in September from the prior month to $121 million, but said subsequent growth should advance at a five-per-cent monthly clip. Bottomley expects growth in the recreational market to increase by just 7.5 per cent in 2020. Alongside its latest estimates for the Canadian cannabis industry, Canaccord’s analysts have revised sales projections for some of the country’s largest licensed producers such as Canopy Growth, Aphria and Aurora Cannabis.

BRNT secures multiyear white label deal with Valens GroWorks for 2.2M vape pens

BRNT Group, a company which has made its name making high-end cannabis accessories, is getting into the vape game. The company announced on Thursday a partnership with Valens GroWorks to produce a minimum of 2.2 million vape pens over the next two years. The deal, which is believed to be one of the largest publicly announced multi-year white label agreements, is expected to generate over $50-million in gross revenue for Valens, according to a statement released by both companies. The vape devices are expected to be available in select markets starting in the first quarter of next year and roll out across Canada later in the year.

Canadian pot producer hires helicopter to avoid possible frost on outdoor grow

Looking for a novel way to ensure your outdoor crop won’t be impacted by frost? Give your local helicopter pilot a call. That’s what 48North did, according to an Instagram post published by Devin Piche, the company’s master grower. A helicopter is able to float above an agricultural crop and essentially suck up cold air upward away from plants which could be damaged by a potential frost. “The helicopter was used to move warm air in a temperature inversion down into the crop area to keep the temperature above freezing,” according to Connor Whitworth, a 48North spokesperson. The cannabis producer is harvesting the remaining cannabis plants it is growing in its Good:Farm facility. Whitworth declined to further comment on 48North’s outdoor harvest, which it has previously stated expects to yield 40,000 kilograms of cannabis.

Alberta eyes 500 pot shops by 2021, no consumption lounges planned: regulatory official

Alberta is already the country’s market leader in the pot retail space – and it looks like it could get even larger.  Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis expects its store count to grow to over 500 within two years, according to the Calgary Herald, citing an official with the provincial regulator. The regulator has already green lit 306 retail outlets across the province, a number that will likely grow by 200 by 2021. However, cannabis consumption lounges don’t appear yet to be coming out anytime soon and would require legislative approval to establish those types of facilities, the official said.

Canada’s cannabis industry contributed nearly $8B to GDP in August: StatsCan

Canada’s cannabis sector – both the legal and illegal market – contributed $7.92 billion to the country’s gross domestic product in August, a figure that continues to grow from the $7.02 billion last October when recreational cannabis was legalized and above the revised $7.79 billion mark made in July, according to new data published by Statistics Canada on Thursday. The StatsCan figures also show Canada’s legal cannabis industry has grown by 116 per cent in the first 11 months since recreational marijuana was legalized. The black market’s cannabis output has fallen by 22 per cent in that same time, according to StatsCan estimates.

Source: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/cannabis-canada-pot-industry-added-nearly-8b-to-gdp-in-august-statscan-says-1.1341044

Empower Clinics $CBDT.ca Is Laser Focused On The U.S. #CBD Opportunity $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $OGI.ca $FAF.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:41 AM on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

Empower Clinics Is Laser Focused On The U.S. CBD Opportunity

  • A leading owner/operator of physician staffed health and pain management clinics.
  • Patient database of over 165,000 patients 
  • Platform generating $4MM USD in revenue annually (2019)
  • Proprietary technology platforms including Electronic Health Records portal and e-Commerce for CBD product distribution
  • Launching CBD extraction facility
  • First extraction system capacity = 6,000 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

By Anthony Varrell

The last few months have been difficult for the cannabis sector and the recent decline has caught the attention of new capital. Over the last few months, we attended several conferences and met with new venture and private equity funds that are taking a hard look at the cannabis sector following the recent pullback.

Following our meeting with these funds, we became increasingly excited about how the sector will perform during 2020. During the final quarter of the year, we expect to see more tax loss selling and this is a trend to be monitoring. On average, we have seen a drastic improvement from a fundamental standpoint when analyzing companies that are focused on the cannabis sector. This is a trend that we expect to continue on a going forward basis and believe the recent weakness has created opportunity.

The US represents one of the most exciting cannabis markets and we have noticed a significant increase in the amount of interest in this burgeoning market. Over the next year, we expect to see further interest in the US market and expect deregulation to be a catalyst for the businesses that are levered to this opportunity.

During the last month, we have been highly focused on the US cannabis market and have been working to identify companies with specific criteria. When analyzing these cannabis businesses, we are looking for companies that are: 1) led by a management team that is focused on execution and creating value for shareholders; 2) have visible growth prospects and substantial potential catalysts for growth; 3) are attractively valued or misunderstood by the market; and 4) that are levered to states with burgeoning cannabis markets.

One company that we believe that meets this criteria is Empower Clinics (CBDT.CN) (EPWCF) and today, we have issued on the US cannabis business. The company has substantial growth prospects, a diverse business model, and represents a multi-faceted growth opportunity. Over the next year, Empower is expected to report strong revenue growth as the management team continues to execute on its expansion and advance the franchise model aspect of the business.

Growing Through Strategic Partnerships

One of the reasons we are excited about Empower is due the focus on securing strategic partners to support growth. From a resource’s standpoint, the company has been able to expand into markets that are both efficient and effective. Going forward, we expect to see Empower benefit from the relationships that it has formed and believe that the market underappreciates this aspect of the story.

A few weeks ago, Empower announced a major milestone and entered into a letter of intent to form a joint venture with Heritage Cannabis Holdings (CANN.CN) for the extraction of hemp for CBD oil production, and formulated CBD products. The joint venture will be owned 50/50 by each company and we are bullish on the growth prospects associated with this initiative.

Heritage, via its wholly owned subsidiary Purefarma Solutions, will install extraction units and related downstream extraction equipment inside Empower’s existing 5,000 sq. ft. licensed hemp processing facility. Purefarma will also train and supervise the staff on the proprietary methods of extraction and oil production that it produces in Canada.

We are favorable on the expertise that each company brings to the joint venture and expect this to play a key role in the success of the operation. Going forward, the joint venture plans to secure high quality hemp supply from local growers as construction is completed on the facility. Once operational, the joint venture will start producing proprietary branded products for Empower’s corporately owned physician staffed health clinics in Washington State, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona.

Highly Focused on the US CBD Market

Another attractive aspect of the Empower story is related to the hemp-derived CBD extraction facility in Oregon. The company is in the process of constructing a facility equipped with a state-of-the-art extraction system (expected to produce approx. 6,000 kg of extracted product per year) and this should prove to be a major revenue driver in 2020.

Empower has commenced the process to access the more than 1,300 licensed hemp farmers in Oregon and we are favorable on this. These cultivators are known to produce some of the highest quality hemp bio-mass in the US and we find this be significant. Quality of products has become very important following the issues over at Juul and we believe that the joint venture has done a great job by focusing of safety and consistency.

From a distribution standpoint, the footprint that Empower has throughout the US will play a key role in the success of the CBD business. Through Sun Valley Health, a subsidiary of Empower, the company has access to more than 165,000 patients. Through company owned and franchised cannabis clinics, Empower will be able to market to large potential customer base that is clearly open to cannabis.

Empower recently launched an e-commerce platform to sell company branded hemp-derived CBD based products as well as premium health and wellness supplements. Over the next year, we expect to see the company’s CBD product line gain traction within its clinic network and will monitor this aspect of the story.

An Opportunity that is Flying Under the Radar

Over the next year, we expect to see Empower benefit from having a multi-faceted growth model and additional revenue streams. Going forward, we are most excited about the growth prospects associated with the CBD market and the clinic franchise opportunity. Empower has visible growth prospects and we expect 2020 to be a banner year for the business.

One of the most significant developments of 2019 for Empower was the change in the management team. We believe that the transition has been smooth and are favorable on the verticals that the new leadership team has the business focused on. We believe that the new management team better understands how to utilize its assets to capitalize on the cannabis industry and find this to be significant.

During the last year, Empower has transitioned from being only focused on cannabis clinics to being a multi-faceted growth story with leverage to the CBD market. We believe that the CBD opportunity represents low hanging fruit for the company and this is primarily due to the relationships it has with consumers through the clinics.

Source: https://technical420.com/cannabis-article/empower-clinics-is-laser-focused-on-the-u-s-cbd-opportunity/#

PRIMO Nutraceuticals Inc. $PRMO.ca – Ask Our Experts: What’s The Big Deal About #CBD? $CROP.ca $VP.ca NF.ca $MCOA

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:54 PM on Monday, November 4th, 2019

SPONSOR:  PRIMO NUTRACEUTICALS INC. (CSE: PRMO) (OTC: BUGVF) (FSE: 8BV) (DEU: 8BV) (MUN: 8BV) (STU: 8BV) provides strategic capital to the thriving cannabis cultivation sector through ownership and development of commercial real estate properties. The company also offers fully built out turnkey facilities equipped with state-of-the-art growing infrastructure to cannabis growers and processors. Click here for more info.

Ask Our Experts: What’s The Big Deal About CBD?

  • CBD is used by all types of consumers, purchasing CBD-infused products for a variety of reasons
  • A recent Gallup survey found that one in seven Americans report using CBD for a range of medical and therapeutic purposes

By New Frontier Data

Q: There is a lot of media coverage about CBD, and it seems to be appearing all over the place. Who is buying all the CBD products?

A: CBD stands for cannabidiol, the second-most popular among active ingredients of the cannabis sativa plant. Cannabis contains hundreds of cannabinoids, each of which presents unique qualities and potential benefits.

CBD is used by all types of consumers, purchasing CBD-infused products for a variety of reasons. A recent Gallup survey found that one in seven Americans report using CBD for a range of medical and therapeutic purposes.

With passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill which federally legalized hemp for the first time since World War II, the market for hemp-derived CBD products has seen explosive growth. Mass-marketed, hemp-derived CBD products have found their way onto retail shelves everywhere from grocery stores, coffee shops, and cosmetics retailers to veterinarians’ offices and nutritional supplement shops nationwide.

That said, there remains confusion regarding to what extent CBD is legal. The DEA has asserted that only GW Pharmaceutical’s patented Epidiolex is legally permitted to incorporate CBD oil in products. Yet attorney Garrett Graff of Hoban Law Group, who specializes in cannabis law and is part of a group who brought an appeal against the DEA ruling, has challenged that.

“It’s our understanding that cannabinoids derived from industrial hemp so long as below the 0.3 percent THC threshold are, in fact, lawful pursuant to the farm bill under federal law,” Graff posited. Since the FDA has not approved any CBD products at all, “at this point, we simply agree to disagree, and those products remain on the marketplace,” he explained.

New Frontier Data is engaged in several ongoing CBD research projects examining the marketplace in the United States and globally, and expects to release several reports about CBD consumer behaviors, patterns of use, and engagement with the market. Among the first slated for release as part of New Frontier Data’s upcoming Cannabis Consumer Insight Series of white papers is Marijuana Consumers’ CBD Use, examining the preferences and behaviors of consumers already familiar with cannabis and cannabis-derived products.

Findings from the research indicate that nearly a third (30%) of cannabis consumers are using CBD products, or nearly twice the previously reported rate among the general population. Such consumers also tend to be women (57%), especially under the age of 35 (43%), consistent with much of the current marketing of CBD products as health and wellness brand targeted specifically to women consumers.

Other key insights from the report found that:

Cannabis consumers who purchase CBD-only products are high-retention customers: Among cannabis consumers who purchased a CBD product, the overwhelming majority (85%) indicated that they were likely to make additional CBD purchases within the next six months. The current market is at an inflection point for CBD brands, as consumers are enthusiastically purchasing and trying these products, but most likely have weak brand loyalty. Identifying core consumers and developing a unique brand identity in the CBD space is am imperative for success in the near term.

Understanding the specific cannabis consumers who are most interested in CBD will be key to capturing the most lucrative consumer segment: New Frontier Data has identified nine fundamental “Cannabis Consumer Archetypes“. Among those categorized cannabis consumers, it is the Modern Lifestylers, Medical Purists, and Functional Dependents who are most likely to have purchased a CBD product. However, as access to CBD products increases, it is expected that a broader base of consumers will integrate CBD into both their daily lives and as a complement to current cannabis use.

Source: https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/19/11/14717727/ask-our-experts-whats-the-big-deal-about-cbd

NORTHBUD $NBUD.ca – #Edible #CBD Products Offer Consumers a New Health Trend $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:00 PM on Thursday, October 31st, 2019

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

NBUD: CSE
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Edible CBD Products Offer Consumers a New Health Trend

  • North American consumer spending on cannabis-infused foods and drinks reached USD 1.5 Billion in 2018, according to data compiled by Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics,
  • By 2022, the two firms suggest that edible sales are on track to reach USD 4.1 Billion

NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2019 – Consumer trends constantly require industries to adapt in order to thrive among the competition. Specifically, the food and beverage industry is one of the fastest evolving markets because of constant changes in consumer demands. Nowadays, the increasing demand for healthier and more organic options is prompting manufacturers to produce alternatives to sugar-packed drinks and fatty snacks. Instead, consumers are looking for products that are processed with healthier sustainable ingredients, proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants. Notably, many consumers have turned to the beverage industry for functional drinks such as kombucha. A functional drink is a type of beverage that typically conveys a health benefit such as being packed with performance-enhancing agents like nootropics and amino acids. Consequently, the growing demand in the functional beverage market sparked interest within the CBD market. CBD is a derivative of the hemp plant, which falls under the cannabis family.

Typically, cannabis is associated with its marijuana component, which causes psychoactive effects because of its heavy THC concentrate. However, hemp does not cause psychoactive effects because the main compound is CBD. THC and CBD are widely different in their biological makeup, but because they derive from the cannabis plant, regulators deemed both compounds to be unsafe for consumers. However, extensive research has uncovered that CBD provides therapeutic and health benefits, which then led to the rapid emergence of CBD-based products. As such, North American consumer spending on cannabis-infused foods and drinks reached USD 1.5 Billion in 2018, according to data compiled by Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics, By 2022, the two firms suggest that edible sales are on track to reach USD 4.1 Billion.

Typically, most people consume CBD to simply relax. However, clinical trials have proven that CBD can also provide medical benefits. Specifically, patients suffering from chronic ailments such as severe pain, cancer, arthritis, and epilepsy can consume CBD drinks to subdue the symptoms. And while CBD is quickly permeating throughout global regions, the North American market is the primary driver because of legality stance. Canada moved to legalize cannabis entirely back in late 2018, which prompted a spur of recreational demand. On the other hand, the U.S. passed the Farm Bill in 2018, which legalized hemp-derived CBD products. Shortly after, stores across the nation began to commercialize CBD goods.

Now, consumers can easily purchase products such as tinctures, topicals, oils, and edibles at their local convenience stores or online e-commerce platforms. However, the CBD beverage market is one of the most popular segments because consumers can easily purchase a CBD-based tincture and add droplets of CBD into their beverage. Generally, CBD can be found within beverages such as soda, juice, coffee, wine, water, and even alcohol. However, consumers can also add CBD-based powders into their beverages and some producers have even mentioned that powders are much better in terms of solubility. Overall, the cannabis-infused beverage industry is quickly gaining traction, however, some beverage producers are still evaluating the industry.

Nonetheless, a handful of corporations such as the alcohol industry, have already dove into the marketplace and are already marking their presence.  “Everyone in the industry recognizes that CBD-infused beverages are going to be one of the largest category opportunities in all of CBD,” said Ben Witte, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Recess, a company producing CBD-infused sparkling water. “As a result of that, a lot of the suppliers in the supply chain have innovated to create a format that is soluble in beverages.”

Source: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/edible-cbd-products-offer-consumers-a-new-health-trend-884112693.html

PRIMO Nutraceuticals Inc. $PROM.ca Harvests 13,000 lbs of Dried Bio-mass from Oregon Hemp Farm $CROP.ca $VP.ca NF.ca $MCOA

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:24 AM on Wednesday, October 30th, 2019
  • Company has completed a harvest totaling 13,000 lbs of dried bio-mass of hemp from the Oregon hemp farm.
  • The dried bio-mass hemp is currently being stored at a local drying facility located near Eugene, Oregon.
  • The value for the crop in its current state is estimated to be worth $200,000 – $300,000 USD.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 30, 2019 — PRIMO NUTRACEUTICALS INC. (CSE: PRMO) (OTC: BUGVF) (FSE: 8BV) (DEU: 8BV) (MUN: 8BV) (STU: 8BV) (“Primo” or the “Company”)is pleased to announce that further to the Company news release dated October 1, 2019 the Company has completed a harvest totaling 13,000 lbs of dried bio-mass of hemp from the Oregon hemp farm. The dried bio-mass hemp is currently being stored at a local drying facility located near Eugene, Oregon. The value for the crop in its current state is estimated to be worth $200,000 – $300,000 USD. This will be added to the 28 kilo grams of crude oil currently in inventor from last year’s harvest. 

The completion of the 2019 harvest season is a major milestone for the company and for the hemp farm in Oregon, as this is the first year hemp has been federally legal since the Farm Bill was passed. This year in Oregon alone there are nearly 63,000 acres registered growing hemp compared to the 11,500 acres growing hemp registered in 2018. This is a significant increase in the amount of hemp being grown, which solidifies the Primo strategy of providing drying facilities to the ever growing hemp market in Oregon. Primo plans to have its first drying facility built and in operation by the end of the first quarter of next year.

President, Andy Jagpal Comments:

“I am very proud and excited with the amount of dried hemp that was harvested as it surpassed our expectations by a few thousand pounds. During a time in the cannabis market where companies have spent tens of millions of dollars building out facilities and cultivation infrastructure and have little to show for it, we have two harvests under our belt and product in inventory ready for sale. Together with this year’s harvest and last year’s inventory we estimate our inventory alone to be worth between $400,000 and $500,000 USD.”

VP Sales & Distribution, Andy Dhaliwal Comments:

“The on-hand inventory and quality of the hemp as starting material is a major advantage in the current marketplace. While the revenue opportunities from the harvest are extremely promising, the hemp processing infrastructure supports the expansion of our in-house product lines, and increases our white-label offering to the USA market as well. Both of which are tremendous assets for the company.”

About Primo Nutraceuticals, Inc.

Primo Nutraceuticals Inc. (“Primo” or the “Company”) provides strategic capital to the thriving cannabis cultivation sector through ownership and development of commercial real estate and farm friendly properties. Primo is dedicated to funding the rapid growth in production, processing, retail and branding of cannabis and cannabis related products in Canada and the United States. Primo provides fully built out turnkey facilities equipped with state-of-the-art growing infrastructure to cannabis growers and processors. In addition to the Company’s flagship hemp project in Oregon State and the Greenhouse campus in Washington State, Primo has invested in several brands and is pursuing partnerships with retailers and distribution companies in Canada and the United States. Primo’s management is in the process of building a corporate road map to further vertically integrate the Company, specifically by way of “Primo” branded retail outlets – offering “Thrive,” “Primo,” and a selection of curated partner brands. The Company possesses proprietary formulas for cannabis edibles, topical, and tinctures. Primo is focused on building a strong presence in the hemp industry with the objective of extracting and selling cannabinoids (CBD) products in both Canada and the United States.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
PRIMO NUTRACEUTICALS INC.

Andy Jagpal, President and Director

To learn more about what this news means to the shareholders visit https://marketnewsfirst.com/primo-nutraceuticals, as well as on the company’s site.

For further information, please contact Zoltan, IR Representative at: 604-722-0305 [email protected]. Or toll free at 1-877-517-7816.

http://primoceuticals.com/
https://twitter.com/prmonutra
www.thriveCBD.org

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ddc63988-72ec-4630-a25d-5d418ba2ea1b

NORTHBUD $NBUD.ca – ‘It is quite amazing’: #CBD oil entering the mainstream $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:26 AM on Friday, October 18th, 2019

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

NBUD: CSE
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‘It is quite amazing’: CBD oil entering the mainstream

By James Pugh

Some people are infusing the cannabis extract in cocktails, others are buying it in the form of dog treats, while many more are using it as a form of pain relief.

Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive extract of the cannabis plant commonly known as THC, cannabidiol doesn’t cause users to get high.

And it is legal in the UK, assuming it does not contain one part in 10,000 of THC.

“When I first got involved with CBD I wanted to know what it was all about,” says Richard Butler, part of the management team at CBD Virtue, between Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton.

“It is still new in the UK.”

Some of the products

His company uses CBD to make products such as tablets, oils, body creams and balms.

Mr Butler says people are turning to CBD products to alleviate symptoms from physical ailments like pain and inflammation as well as mental ones like anxiety and depression.

At present, use of the oil is largely unregulated, and clinical trials into its usefulness are ongoing, but Mr Butler says he has witnessed its benefits.

“You learn more from the responses and feedback you get from customers,” he says. “It helps with pain relief, mental issues, anxieties.

“It also helps with eczema, psoriasis and acne – it is quite amazing actually.

“A lot of our initial customers were 40 plus and many were buying products for the younger generation.

Dean Burke using a CBD Pod Filler at CBD Virtue

“What has amazed me is the amount of depression and anxiety that exists among teenagers up to people in their late 20s.”

CBD oil, its proponents say, offers numerous benefits, from pain relief to reducing anxiety. As an anticonvulsant, it may also help treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

CBD is also one of the biggest buzzwords in food and drink. It has been hailed the next big thing, with more and more chefs and producers using the products in their recipes.

After already taking other countries by storm, more businesses in the UK are looking to tap into the market.

Ross Burke viewing the product range at CBD Virtue

Mr Butler insists he has seen some significant success stories of people using the product for remedial purposes.

“I know someone who suffered with Parkinson’s for years who every time they woke up their whole body would be shaking and during the day they would shake out of control,” he says.

“I said ‘try this’ and within two weeks they went from their whole body shaking to feeling a slight twitch in their first finger and thumb.

“I am not allowed to say it cures cancer, but cancer sufferers are using it. There was someone who had skin cancer and it helped clear up blisters on their skin.

“My partner was on a lot of medication for various things and after taking four or five drops a day her stress and anxiety has gone.”

The product’s relationship to recreational cannabis also means that some people are reluctant to accept its use, and the medical benefits it provides have still to be proven beyond doubt.

But Mr Butler insists that the hemp-derived oil should be trusted.

“It is from a natural product that has been around for years,” he says. “Initially people were sceptical because it relates to cannabis. Yes, it is derived from cannabis plant, but the ‘high’ has been removed with the remedial side left behind.

The management team at CBD Virtue: Dean Burke, Richard Butler, Shannon Fyfe and Ross Burke

“We had the over 50s saying ‘ yeah but it’s cannabis, it’s cannabis’, but once you have explained to them they are willing to try it.

“A big part of my role has been educational. I would spend about two hours a day on Facebook educating people and answering a lot of questions.

“Initially it is getting people to try it, then after they see how effective it is they speak about it to their friends and family – a lot of it comes down to word of mouth.”

The plant is grown in Colorado in the USA, and a powdered form of the product is sent to the UK for the oil to be extracted by Richard’s team.

CBD Virtue employs 16 people, and is looking to double that by moving to larger premises to cope with demand.

Richard says: “We have a lab which is about 15ft by 20ft where a lot of our mixing is done. We also have another facility where we do the bottling up and everything else.

Jean Price packing up an order at CBD Virtue

“We are looking for larger premises due to growing demand and want to stay local. We employ 16 people and with the way things are going we are looking to double the workforce.”

Sales of products containing CBD have skyrocketed by 99 per cent in the UK, according to data.

Analysis by deals firm Wowcher suggests purchases of CBD products have almost doubled in 2019, with an increasing number of Brits trying the ingredient.

“The industry is exploding,” Mr Butler says. “Initially as a company we had a slow start with various issues with banks and online payment systems, but we have got more and more people on board who know how to get around these things.

Source: https://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2019/10/17/it-is-quite-amazing-cbd-oil-entering-the-mainstream/

Bougainville Ventures $BOG.ca – US retail sales of #CBD to increase 133% in 2019, surpass $10 billion by 2024 $CROP.ca $VP.ca NF.ca $MCOA

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:41 PM on Thursday, October 17th, 2019

SPONSOR:  Bougainville Ventures Inc (CSE: BOG) provides strategic capital to the thriving cannabis cultivation sector through ownership and development of commercial real estate properties. The company also offers fully built out turnkey facilities equipped with state-of-the-art growing infrastructure to cannabis growers and processors. Click here for more info.

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US retail sales of CBD to increase 133% in 2019, surpass $10 billion by 2024

  • Retail sales of CBD in the U.S. are expected to surpass $1 billion in 2019 – a 133% increase over 2018 sales

DENVER, Oct. 17, 2019 — Retail sales of CBD in the U.S. are expected to surpass $1 billion in 2019 – a 133% increase over 2018 sales – and may eclipse $10 billion by 2024, according to projections from the newly released 2019 Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook, produced by the editors of Hemp Industry Daily.

The 2019 Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook predicts that retail sales of CBD in the U.S. are expected to surpass $1 billion in 2019 – a 133% increase over 2018 sales – and may eclipse $10 billion by 2024.

“The recent surge of consumer demand for CBD, coupled with increasingly easy access to CBD products, is expected to drive retail sales to about $1.1 billion-$1.3 billion in 2019,” said Kristen Nichols, editor of the 2nd Annual Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook. “We project retail CBD sales will increase to $10.3 billion by 2024, a five-year compound annual growth rate of 54%.”

When no federal agency tracks hemp as a commodity, the exclusively business focused 2019 Annual Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook provides understanding of the current and future challenges needed to make the most accurate and informed business decisions. Research-driven insights, will help business professionals understand economic, agricultural and regulatory developments impacting their positions and growth in the industry.

The 2019 Annual Hemp & CBD Industry Factbook offers:

  • 30+ charts exploring and analyzing the hemp & CBD market from critical angles including retail forecasts, consumer demand, production and more.
  • Top 10 hemp-producing state profiles exploring market conditions and retail trends.
  • Regulatory outlook, best practices, and future considerations for cultivators and processors looking to meet consumer demand
  • Benchmarks and wholesale prices, plus prices for hemp seeds and clone varietals
  • Pain points for growers and processors with a focus on input costs and per acre profits

“Imagine running a race with brand-new shoes and a burst of energy but no idea what the course looks like. That’s somewhat the position in which today’s hemp industry finds itself,” said Nichols. “Relying on deeply researched data points along the way could make the difference between hitting the finish line and running off course.”

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-retail-sales-of-cbd-to-increase-133-in-2019-surpass-10-billion-by-2024-300940056.html