• A field project review in June 2023 confirmed widespread mineralization at Appia’s Ionic Clay Project in Brazil
• The company’s highly experienced management team has more than 100 years of combined experience in the metals and minerals industry
• Appia’s Alces Lake project contains some of the highest-grade total critical REE mineralization in the world
• As of June 2023, the company had no debt

Appia Rare Earths & Uranium (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) is a mineral exploration company focused on exploration activities at its newly acquired Cachoeirinha rare earths project (“PCH Project”) in Brazil, as well as delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements (“REE”) and gallium at its Alces Lake property in Saskatchewan. Other properties in Appia’s portfolio include its Elliot Lake Property in Ontario’s historic mining camp, with a large NI 43-101 uranium and rare earths resource. Fully funded with over $5 million (CDN) in cash, no debt, aggressive exploration currently underway, and experienced management, Appia is progressing rapidly on multiple fronts in highly desired market sectors.

The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Projects

PCH Project-Brazil

The PCH project hosts REE mineralization in both ionic clays developed from the weathering of alkaline granites and in-situ rare earth mineralization associated with the underlying granite and a carbonatite intrusion to depths greater than 100 meters. Sampling data shows enrichment in rare earth minerals to depths of between eight meters and +30 meters.

In early 2023, Appia announced a definitive agreement to acquire a 70% interest in the PCH Project, which is 17,551 hectares in size and located in the Tocantins Structural Province of the Brasília Fold Belt, Goiás State, Brazil. It is classified as an alkaline intrusive rock occurrence with the potential for highly anomalous REE and Niobium mineralization.

The region around Iporá, a city located roughly 30 km from the PCH Project, has significant mineral exploration and mining activity and well-developed infrastructure.

In July 2023, Appia commenced an aggressive auger and reverse circulation (“RC”) drill campaign to delineate a potential resource estimate at the PCH project. Initial results at the site revealed significant exploration potential with impressive values that often surpass known ionic clay deposits in Brazil, particularly for the highly valuable heavy rare earths Terbium and Dysprosium.

The auger holes drilled at Target 4 have exhibited a range of total REE grades, ranging from 274 ppm to 16,648 ppm (1.66%), with an average of 1,291 ppm total REE. The valuable rare earths used in magnet applications – praseodymium, neodymium, terbium and dysprosium (Pr, Nd, Tb, and Dy) plus yttrium (Y) accounted for approximately 14% of total rare earths, reaching a maximum of 28.4%. Notably, the deposit also contains anomalous values of niobium and scandium, with average values of 736 ppm for Nb and 62 ppm for scandium in a composite sample from Target 4.

Heavy rare earths (“HREEs”) show maximum values of 1,624 ppm and average values of 1,291 ppm, primarily as terbium and dysprosium. Light rare earths (“LREEs”) show maximum values of 14,024 ppm (1.54%) with an average of 1,145 ppm. Neodymium and praseodymium, the main magnetic light rare earths, show respective maximum values of 3,131 ppm (Nd) and 885 ppm (Pr) and average values of 216 ppm (Nd) and 61.7 ppm (Pr). The overall HRRE/LREE ratio has a maximum of 39.5% and an average value of 16.67%.

“Appia is thrilled with the progress made and the promising results thus far,” CEO Tom Drivas stated in a news release. “The company remains committed to advancing its exploration plans, aiming to promptly gather significant data throughout the year, and to work towards estimating a maiden mineral resource in the coming months.”

Alces Lake Project – Saskatchewan

Appia’s Alces Lake project, located in northern Saskatchewan, encompasses some of the highest-grade total and critical REEs and gallium mineralization in the world, hosted within several surface and near-surface monazite occurrences that remain open at depth and along strike.

Following the company’s acquisition of additional new mineral claims in the area in February 2023, Appia’s Alces Lake claim block now totals 38,522 contiguous hectares (95,191 acres) – 100% owned by the Company.

Appia announced the completion of a NI43-101 technical report on the property in June 2023, providing an update on exploration previously reported in March 2021.The report is available on SEDAR under the company’s profile.

Extensive diamond drilling and geophysics surveys are underway to explore a more than 25-kilometer structural corridor. In July 2023, the company issued an update on its diamond drill program having completed the first phase of drilling at the project’s Magnet Ridge Zone to further test the extent of the mineralization to the south south-east (“SSE”). President Stephen Burega noted the presence of “continued mineralization at significantly thicker intercepts.”

As part of its 2023 exploration program at Alces Lake, Appia plans to target priority areas that extend SSE from the Wilson, Richard, Charles, Bell, Ivan, Dylan, Dante and AMP zones through the Magnet Ridge Zone and beyond, covering an area extending approximately 20 kilometers in length and 5 to 7 km in width. Appia will also undertake reconnaissance drilling on priority regional geological and geophysical targets in the Western Anomaly area.

Other Projects

• Appia holds a total of 75,314 hectares (186,106 acres) of land on four uranium claim blocks in the prolific Athabasca Basin (Loranger, North Wollaston, Eastside and Otherside). Exploration plans for these properties are expected to be announced once permits are in hand.
• Appia also has a 100% interest in 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres), with rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones, in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario.

Market Opportunity

A report from Mordor Intelligence forecasts the global REE market is expected to grow from 168 million tons in 2023 to 206.25 million tons by 2028, marking a CAGR of 4.19% during the forecast period. The market is gradually improving following the economic and production restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors driving the market’s growth include high demand from emerging economies and the dependency of environmentally friendly technologies on rare earth elements.

According to UxC, one of the nuclear industry’s leading market research and analysis companies, the uranium market is rapidly becoming production-driven, where spot and long-term prices more closely correlate to the marginal cost of uranium production.

Although global reactor requirements are projected to be flat through 2024, UxC forecasts that significant demand growth from 2025 to 2040 will necessitate new production as resources are exhausted at several uranium projects. In addition, a large percentage of production exists in regions of the world with high geopolitical risk, which makes the market vulnerable to future disruptions and price volatility.

Management Team

Tom Drivas is CEO of Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. He is an entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in various industries, including over 20 years in the mineral resource industry. He is also currently a director of Romios Gold Resources Inc., a publicly traded company he founded in 1995.

Stephen Burega is President of Appia. He brings 16 years of management and operations experience in the mining and natural resources sectors. His extensive emerging markets background, along with a deep understanding of stakeholder management, social development and structured community engagement, position him well to lead Appia’s First Nations community engagements. He is also President and CEO of Romios Gold Resources which is focused on base and precious metal exploration in North America.

Frank van de Water is the company’s CFO. He holds CPA and CA designations and has been involved with international mining, metals and resource companies in North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa for more than 40 years.

Dr. Irvine R. Annesley, Ph.D., is VP Exploration at Appia. He is a licensed geoscientist (P.GEO.) and Professor in Economic (Mining and Mineral Exploration) Geology at École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie in France and an Adjunct Professor in Geology at the University of Saskatchewan. He has over 35 years of global exploration and applied research experience in uranium, gold and base metals exploration, most recently with Athabasca uranium explorer JNR Resources Inc.

Don Hains, P.Geo., is the company’s Consulting Geologist and Qualified Person Consulting Industrial Minerals Expert.

Antonio Vitor is Appia’s Country Manager, Brazil. He has a track record as a portfolio manager and board member. He has held multiple significant positions, including Territory Manager at Shell, as well as Senior Project Planning and Consulting roles at PwC and Petrobras.

Jack Lifton is the company’s Senior Technical Advisor and Consultant. He is an author and lecturer on the market fundamentals of technology metals.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.AppiaREU.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to APAAF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/APAAF

• Ucore Rare Metals Inc. is a supply chain innovator dedicated to establishing North American production of tech-critical rare earth elements (“REEs”), a resource currently dependent upon Chinese industry priorities and governmental policies
• Ucore recently hosted representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Canada for an exclusive tour of the company’s proprietary RapidSX(TM) REE processing demonstration facility in Ontario
• The tour underscores the importance of international collaboration in establishing a North American supply for REEs and the strategic importance of such a supply chain to varied national interests
• Ucore intends to begin construction later this year on a commercial-scale REE production facility in Louisiana that expects to develop a production capacity of 2,000 metric tons of total rare earth oxides (“TREOs”) next year, increasing to 5,000 metric tons in 2025

Critical tech metal supply chain innovator Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) recently welcomed U.S. Embassy staff members on a tour of the company’s test demonstration facility in Ontario, showcasing the strategic international importance of Ucore’s rare earth element (“REE”) technology.

Ucore has developed a proprietary solution for processing REEs, which are metals regarded as critical to modern magnets used worldwide in a wide range of products that include Apple’s iPhone, Tesla’s Model 3 electric vehicle, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, and similarly computer-dependent technology.

Ucore is introducing its RapidSX(TM) processing solution as a faster, more environmentally conscious REE ore extraction alternative to the standard SX process used throughout the industry. And because The People’s Republic of China effectively controls the supply chain for REEs and other tech metals, Ucore’s North America base for RapidSX(TM) has the potential to help wrest REE infrastructure for domestic product security and reliability.

“We were thrilled to welcome the U.S. Embassy staff to our Kingston Demo Plant. This visit underscores the significance of our work in the rare earth minerals sector and highlights our dedication to pioneering eco-friendly resource solutions,” Ucore VP and COO Mike Schrider, P.E., stated in the company’s Aug. 29 news release (https://ibn.fm/zoVGx).

“We believe that collaborations on an international level will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable technologies,” Schrider added, “and strengthen our position of applying pioneering technological breakthroughs to bolster our forthcoming commercial rare earth separation facility in Alexandria, Louisiana.”

The Louisiana plant is expected to begin construction later this year, leading to commercialization of Ucore’s RapidSX(TM) technology. The company anticipates building up to a production capacity of 2,000 metric tons of total rare earth oxides (“TREOs”) next year and then increasing it to 5,000 metric tons in 2025.

“If you’re making a chemical concentrate, or any type of concentrate, from a rare earth mine, you have no option today other than to send it to China for processing and it will get used in Chinese processing at that time. It will get used in F-35 fighters. … That’s not right,” Ucore CEO Pat Ryan said in an interview with InvestorIntel last year (https://ibn.fm/cpEP9).

The embassy representatives were given an exclusive tour of the Ontario demo plant, whose exclusive purpose is to showcase how the RapidSX(TM) process and the conventional SX process compare in their output ahead of the construction of the commercial-scale plant in Louisiana.

Ucore’s plans and the embassy staff visit underscore the potential for establishing international collaboration in securing freedom of product movement in the REE supply chain. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (“IBAS”) Program recently announced it has awarded a $4 million grant to Ucore to help it demonstrate the importance of RapidSX(TM) to national interests (https://ibn.fm/qxmCh).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Ucore.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to UURAF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/UURAF

• D-Wave introduced algorithmic updates to its Constrained Quadratic Model (“CQM”) solver, delivering increased performance for existing binary problem classes, including offer allocation, portfolio optimization, and satisfiability
• D-Wave tested 2,045 binary quadratic problems, with the new CQM solver winning 80% of the problems against prior versions
• D-Wave’s hybrid solvers expand the size and complexity of potential problems customers can solve using classical and quantum computation to find better answers to complex business problems

D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS), a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services and the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, recently announced an update to its Constrained Quadratic Model (“CQM”) hybrid solver in its Leap(TM) quantum cloud service. The company introduced algorithmic updates to its CQM solver, delivering increased performance for existing binary problem classes, including offer allocation, portfolio optimization, and satisfiability (https://ibn.fm/1AGIY).

D-Wave’s Advantage(TM) quantum computer is the first and only quantum computer designed for business applications. The platform features a processing architecture with over 5,000 qubits and 15-way connectivity. The Advantage system features 2.5x more connections and more than double the number of qubits than the company’s first-generation quantum computer model.

Optimization problems are everywhere in today’s enterprises, and the current quantum-hybrid technology available may help developers tackle quadratic problems to find better solutions. To provide a benchmark of the performance enhancements made to its updated hybrid solver, D-Wave tested 2,045 binary quadratic problems, with the new CQM solver winning 80% of the problems against prior versions. The full technical report can be found at https://ibn.fm/hzcCJ. 

D-Wave offers several hybrid solvers, which combine the power of classical and quantum computation to solve customers’ complex business problems. D-Wave’s hybrid solvers are available in the Leap quantum cloud service. Some of these solvers make use of NVIDIA GPUs accessed through cloud infrastructure.

“Our mission at D-Wave is to unlock the power of practical quantum computing for our customers. These most recent updates to our CQM hybrid solver reflect our commitment to building solutions that bring real enterprise applicability and impact today,” said Trevor Lanting, vice president of software, algorithms, and cloud services for D-Wave. “We’re excited by the performance enhancements that we are seeing, and our rapid pace of innovation allows us to expand quantum-hybrid workflows to help solve increasingly complex problems.”

As the only quantum computing company capable of solving real-world business problems today, D-Wave has helped customers build hundreds of practical quantum applications spanning logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, employee scheduling, national defense, and financial modeling (https://ibn.fm/UQ7Jl). Some of the customers that D-Wave works with include Forbes Global 2000 companies and blue-chip industry leaders like Volkswagen, Mastercard, Deloitte, ArcelorMittal, Siemens Healthineers, Unisys, Accenture, BBVA, NEC Corporation, Pattison Food Group Ltd., DENSO and Lockheed Martin.

D-Wave owns one of the industry’s largest quantum computer intellectual property portfolios, including more than 210 issued US patents, and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in leading scientific journals.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.DWaveQuantum.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to QBTS are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/QBTS

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and may not be indicative of future results. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential of today’s quantum hybrid technologies to help developers tackle quadratic problems to find better solutions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management’s control, including general economic conditions and other risks; the company’s ability to expand its customer base and the customer adoption of the company’s solutions; risks within D-Wave’s industry, including anticipated trends, growth rates, and challenges for companies engaged in the business of quantum computing and the markets in which they operate; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the company; risks related to the performance of its business and the timing of expected business or financial milestones; unanticipated technological or project development challenges, including with respect to the cost and/or timing thereof; the performance of the company’s products; the effects of competition on its business; the risk that the company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the company may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that the company is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; volatility in the price of the company’s securities; the risk that its securities will not maintain the listing on the NYSE; and the numerous other factors set forth in D-Wave’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release in making an investment decision, which are based on information available to the company on the date hereof. D-Wave undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

• Electronic Servitor Publication Network, a technology-oriented digital engagement and activation company, is pioneering an evolution of digital marketing through its Digital Engagement Engine(TM), for the next generation of technology-enabled businesses
• Experts hold that sales leaders will need to rethink better ways to meet buyers’ inflated digital expectations
• As technology advances, companies are poised to move beyond simple automation and assisted selling to true augmented selling, where technology is positioned to play an active role in the design and execution of the sales process
• XESP is deploying its tech stack to create meaningful connections and drive the evolution of digital marketing

Technology is central to unlocking seller productivity and facilitating high-quality deals. However, according to Gartner, this is only possible when companies embrace technology and its applications as a teammate for sellers rather than merely a tool or a replacement. When looked at from this perspective, and amid a tech revolution that is giving technology more responsibility, new technological systems have the potential to transform the role of the seller, according to Robert Blaisdell, a Senior Director Analyst in Gartner’s Sales Practice (https://ibn.fm/oOIPA).

“A new approach that marries technology advances with the distinctive abilities that human sellers bring to a deal is required to adapt to customers’ changing needs and drive real commercial outcomes,” explains Blaisdell. “Sales leaders will need to rethink how to meet buyers’ inflated digital expectations. Those who don’t risk distancing themselves from buyers and leaving money on the table.”

As technology advances, it is increasingly playing a greater role and becoming fully embedded into operations. As a result, a recent article in Destination CRM notes (https://ibn.fm/8jqXe), companies “can finally move beyond simple automation and assisted selling to true augmented selling, where technology plays an active role in design and execution of the sales process.” Accordingly, sellers can rely on technology as their teammates, enabling them to assign or delegate roles associated with basic customer interactions or lead generations.

Some of the technologies that experts recognize as the top sales priorities in 2023 include content management, generative AI-powered email, digital sales rooms (“DSRs”), customer data platforms, digital engagement platforms, visual collaboration tools, virtual reality (“VR”), no-code workflows, workstream collaboration, conversational intelligence, visual configuration, narrative automation, buyer intent data collection tools, forecasting technology, and ChatGPT.

Amid recognition of the role that these technologies are poised to play in the future of sales and business, technology providers like Electronic Servitor Publication Network (OTCQB: XESP) are emerging to serve the next generation of technology-enabled businesses. XESP, a technology-oriented digital engagement and activation company, is pioneering the next step in the evolution of digital marketing with its Digital Engagement Engine(TM).

“Our Digital Engagement Engine isn’t just another marketing tool. It’s a way to develop real connections with your target market. And it’s the future of marketing,” explains the company. As the future of marketing, the Digital Engagement Engine is built on a robust stack of cutting-edge data analysis tools, smart technologies, and microservices, which, combined, enable it to identify the narrowest of niches within a company’s target market, create content that meets customers’ exact needs, and deliver content at the right moment when customers need it.

The company’s tools (a combination of its unique tech stack and proven processes) provision content, ensuring the message is well understood and is delivered in such a way that maximizes its potential for influence across both targeted audiences and new communities a company would like to engage. The tools also sort metadata, prior to launch, that will create the broadest of interest impacting both direct and indirectly related communities (https://ibn.fm/1sf91).

Upon launch, the tools analyze the initial launch data, autotune themselves, and begin redirecting to increase the reach of the content across online communities through omnichannel publications. Finally, the tech stack and tools loop back to the previously learned data – as well as any new data – enabling them to keep optimizing. In this regard, the tech stack continuously improves, driving better results for clients on a regular basis.

According to Electronic Servitor Publication Network’s case study, the company has already seen incredible results across multiple industries. Businesses within non-trending verticals, for example, are experiencing results that are nine times the industry average, while those within trending verticals are posting results that are seven times the industry standard (https://ibn.fm/kNeML).

In addition to blending several technologies that experts see as the top sales priorities in 2023 – including content management, digital engagement platforms, and more – XESP’s Digital Engagement Engine™ and processes are creating meaningful connections, driving the evolution of digital marketing, and serving the next generation of technology-enabled businesses.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.XESPN.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to XESP are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/XESP

• After a banner year in 2022, Prospera Energy remains poised for rapid growth in 2023; Prospera Energy Inc. recently announced the start of a 10-well horizontal drilling campaign that is intended to capture significant remaining heavy oil reserves
• The company aims to demonstrate that the coexistence of growth and sustainability is possible; seeks to capitalize on the high-margin potential of its core Canadian properties while steering the oil industry towards greener oil operations and a more sustainable future
• The company’s high aspirations come amid a burgeoning oil and gas market in Canada, for which 2023 is expected to be one of the pivotal moments

Following its transformational efforts in 2022, Prospera Energy (TSX.V: PEI) (OTC: GXRFF) (FRA: OF6B), a public oil and gas exploration, exploitation and development company focused on Western Canada, appears poised for record growth in 2023. Building on the success from 2022, when the company realized a Net Income of $3.1 million and experienced rapid growth when its revenue grew by a staggering 860% in Q2 2022. Prospera Energy expects significant reductions in production costs through 2024 and sizable increases in daily production. The company is currently exploring strategic acquisition targets to diversify Prospera heavy/light/gas product mix and path to 5,000 BPD over the next 24 months while expanding its reserve base to a billion barrels (https://ibn.fm/mYttq).

The company recently announced the spudding of the first horizontal well of the ten well modular multi-pad infill drill program, which is intended to accelerate production and recovery to capture the significant remaining heavy oil reserves (400 MMBBL). Stemming from a comprehensive geological, seismic, and reservoir management delineation, this ten well program can approximately add new 750 BPD at a low decline to Prospera’s current 900+ BOEPD (https://ibn.fm/WdpH5).

The company’s high aspirations come amid a growing oil and gas market. “The year 2023 may be one of the most pivotal moments in time for Canada’s oil and natural gas industry,” said Lisa Baiton, the president and CEO of The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (“CAPP”). CAPP expects oil and natural gas investment in upstream production to beat pre-COVID levels, hitting $29.4 billion in 2023. The total investment forecast is 11% more in additional spending than the previous year, mainly directed towards environmental protection and emission reduction technologies (https://ibn.fm/C5oe0).

Prospera Energy appears firmly committed to growth, but not at the cost of the environment. In an era where environmental sustainability takes center stage, companies across the economy rush to rethink their operations in a bid to curb their impact on the planet – and oil and gas remains no exception. Traditionally entrenched in carbon-intensive practices, the industry has been notorious for contributing to pollution.

However, in a world that seeks to strike a balance between energy needs and environmental sustainability, those times are changing. Although taunted for worsening global warming, the industry is still considered well-positioned to become one of the strongest allies in the fight against the climate crisis, as the sector can help slash greenhouse gas emissions for future generations by leveraging its ample scientific and engineering expertise.

In this race towards a more sustainable future the company is committed to being part of the trailblazing pack that aims to set new benchmarks for more responsible oil production. By employing advanced technologies and innovative practices, the company strives to slash or even potentially eliminate emissions associated with its operations, showcasing its dedication to sustainable energy production (https://ibn.fm/wF5pN).

Leveraging a seasoned leadership team with more than 100 years of combined experience across multiple areas of business operations and growth strategy, Prospera Energy appears poised to show how growth and responsibility can coexist. Aspiring to change the face of the oil and gas industry, criticized for its contribution to global warming, the company seeks to eliminate emissions, minimize environmental impact, and run environmentally sustainable operations while capitalizing on the high-margin potential of its core Canadian properties in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ProsperaEnergy.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GXRFF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GXRFF

Lucy Scientific Beats MindMed and Seelos Therapeutics to the Punch

Lucy Scientific Discovery (NASDAQ: LSDI) (“Lucy” or the “Company), a Nasdaq-listed company with holdings and operations in a variety of psychotropic businesses, just announced the acquisition of the Intellectual Property of High Times, its Licensing Agreements and Royalty Streams in all-stock transaction. This was a brilliant strategic business move.

With first movers in the “Mind Science” space like MindMed (NASDAQ: MNMD) and Seelos Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SEEL) realizing than 80% and 40% year-to-date gains respectively, today’s acquisition by Lucy delivers immediate revenue, an expanded product line, a proven and highly influential platform, and a vast customer database, in one quick strike.

Credibility and Audience Reach

High Times has been an icon in cannabis culture for decades, demonstrating credibility and influence within the market niche. Their media assets reach millions, presenting an ideal platform for educating the public about Lucy’s psychotropic businesses. This large and engaged audience should prove invaluable in Lucy’s pursuit of psychotropic research and associated future product launches.

Regulatory Momentum

High Times has been instrumental in shaping positive public sentiment around cannabis, a feat it achieved through education and advocacy. Its history and experience in navigating complex regulatory landscapes could offer a template for Lucy in overcoming similar challenges. As the shareholders Lucy are well aware, public sentiment and regulatory approval are interconnected. Capitalizing on the media reach and influence of High Times could catalyze a more favorable regulatory environment for Lucy, driving long-term shareholder value through potentially quicker paths to approval in various untapped markets.

Commercial Synergies

High Times has built a robust commercial ecosystem around cannabis culture, ranging from events to merchandise. For Lucy, leveraging these commercial capabilities can diversify revenue streams and create synergistic opportunities. High Times events can serve as platforms for Lucy’s psychotropic products and promotions, as well as networking with medical professionals, thereby not only driving awareness but also potentially increasing the company’s intellectual capital.

Brand Amplification

The acquisition of High Times provides an opportunity to create a unified, robust brand presence in the psychotropic medicine space. The reputation and authority that come with High Times can be funneled to promote responsible use and credible science surrounding psychotropic medical treatments. The result is a stronger, more cohesive brand that enhances investor confidence and attracts further investment, thereby benefiting the shareholders.

Conclusion

For Lucy, the acquisition of High Times Holding Corp’s assets and followers is not merely a value-add; it is a strategic imperative. By providing access to a vast, engaged audience, influencing regulatory outcomes, offering commercial synergies, and amplifying brand authority, the acquisition can generate long-term value for Lucy shareholders.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LucyScientific.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LSDI are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LSDI

• Guyana president reports country has experienced a threefold increase in its economy since 2020
• Projections forecast continued average annual growth rate for the country of 25% between 2023 and 2026
• Within this environment, Reunion Gold is moving its Oko West project forward on the path to development, which could further contribute to the country’s growth

As Guyana reports continued economic growth and recovery, Reunion Gold (TSX.V: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF) is strengthening its position as a leading gold explorer in the Guiana Shield.

“Guyana has undergone a remarkable economic transformation, experiencing a threefold increase in its economy since 2020,” reported the Guyana Chronicle, the country’s newspaper (https://ibn.fm/n5LJT). Covering a press conference held by Guyana president Dr. Irfaan Ali, the article noted that “the news of Guyana’s nominal gross domestic product (‘GDP’) surging from $1.1 trillion in 2020 to an impressive $3.1 trillion by the end of 2022 has positioned the nation as the fastest-growing economy in the world.

“The Head of State said that the momentous growth can largely be attributed to the successful commencement of oil production at the Lisa Unity FPSO, marking a new era of prosperity for the country,” the article continued. President Ali’s announcement during the press conference highlighted the significance of this milestone in Guyana’s economic trajectory.

“This extraordinary accomplishment, [Ali] said, comes in the face of a challenging global crisis that has inflicted human costs and exposed vulnerabilities in the global food and energy supply,” the article continued. “While global inflation peaked at 8.9% last year and is projected to remain elevated at 6.1% this year, Guyana has emerged as a beacon of economic strength. President Ali further revealed that Guyana is poised to continue its exceptional growth trajectory in the coming years.”

The article reported that Guyana is forecast to achieve an average annual growth rate of 25% between 2023 and 2026. And the growth isn’t just in oil production. “Guyana’s non-oil growth is estimated to reach an impressive 7.9% this year, building upon the remarkable 11.5% growth achieved in the previous year,” the article stated.

With that strong economic performance as a backdrop, Reunion Gold is positioning itself to leverage the strength of the economy while also contributing to the country’s growth. The company is a leading gold explorer in the Guiana Shield, which is made up of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

“The Guiana Shield remains one of the most prospective locations globally for the discovery of world-class orogenic gold deposits,” the company reports. “Guyana, Suriname [and] French Guiana all contain large greenstone belts, from which we expect many more significant gold discoveries could emerge in the coming years.

“The Guiana Shield is already well-endowed with substantial gold deposits,” the company continued. “So far, at least 15 gold mines and deposits hosting at least 50 million ounces of gold have been recognized in the Guiana Shield. Despite the geological prospectivity of this region, significant gold discoveries remain limited due to a lack of exploration. This is the opportunity that we at Reunion Gold are trying to capture.”

Reunion Gold’s Oko West Project in Guyana comprises a prospecting license with an area of approximately 44 square kilometers and is 100% held by the company through its local subsidiary. Guyana is recognized as a mining-friendly jurisdiction, and in the 2022 Fraser Institute ranking of mining investment attractiveness, the country increased to no. 22 in the world and the top country in South America. The company’s leadership together has accumulated more than 225 years of combined experience in the Guiana Shield, ideally positioning the company to make the most of the country’s growing economic stability.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ReunionGold.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to RGDFF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/RGDFF

Investors, business executives, researchers, and industry leaders, are invited to attend NECANN’s New York Cannabis & Hemp Convention to be held in Albany, New York from September 29 – 30, 2023. The highly anticipated event will focus on the latest trends in the cannabis and hemp industry. The convention serves as a unique platform to connect with industry leaders and explores the limitless possibilities within the cannabis and hemp sectors.

Featuring thought-provoking exhibits and engaging sessions, the New York Cannabis & Hemp Convention is designed to create a lasting impact on the participants. The immersive atmosphere will encourage attendees to share their experiences and gain valuable insights. As a perfect blend of opportunity, passion, and creativity, the two-day event will feature leading brands from different parts of the cannabis and hemp industries. Attendees will get an opportunity to explore a wide range of products.

Shaping the Cannabis and Hemp Industries

The main highlight of the convention is knowledge sharing. Keynote speakers and industry experts will take insightful seminars to discuss the latest trends and innovations in the industry. The thought-provoking panel discussions will provide a glimpse into the latest innovations in the industry. Attendees will get an opportunity to learn about industry trends, cannabis regulations, medical innovations, and investment opportunities.

The New York Cannabis & Hemp Convention will showcase the transformative potential of hemp across different industries, including food, textiles, construction, and beverages. It will enable participants to foster a collaborative environment that reveals innovative ideas and the latest advancements in the hemp industry. Attendees will get a golden opportunity to share their experiences, challenges, and stories, while ensuring an equitable cannabis landscape.

To learn more, please visit https://ibn.fm/5fIEd.

• Tellurium is listed by the United States and Canadian governments as a critical metal
• “We have an interesting critical metal that is going to be much of demand in the future as well as high-grade precious metals,” states FSTTF CEO
• The company’s two properties — Deer Horn Project in British Columbia and Klondike tellurium-gold property in Colorado — anchor a diversified search for metals

Tellurium is gaining recognition in a world increasingly focused on renewable sources of energy. Listed on both the U.S. (https://ibn.fm/bF1X8) and Canada (https://ibn.fm/jfQXH) list of critical metals, tellurium is a key component of solar panels. First Tellurium’s (CSE: FTEL) (OTCQB: FSTTF) president and CEO Tyrone Docherty was recently featured as a guest on the Bell2Bell podcast, where he talked about the company and its key position in the growing tellurium space.

“First Tellurium has a wonderful, high-grade gold and silver property in Canada, but it comes with this unique mineral, tellurium, which is listed by both the United States and Canadian governments as critical,” Docherty explained as he talked with Bell2Bell host Stuart Smith. “Tellurium has come into the fore over the last couple of decades because it is used in solar panels by U.S. corporation First Solar, which uses a mixture of cadmium and tellurium, as opposed to different solar panels coming out of China. Tellurium is very important there, and it’s a very rare metal.”

Docherty has worked in the minerals market for more than three decades. After starting Quinto Mining Inc. at $4 million, he eventually sold it for $175 million. He took shares in the buyout company, Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines, and ended up owning approximately 21% of that company. When Consolidated sold for $4.9 billion, Docherty gained an enterprise value of about $1 billion.

Docherty planned on retiring after his Quinto days, but he “put on the work boots again” with First Tellurium. As the largest shareholder along with his wife, Docherty notes that “I build companies sort of . . . like the movie, ‘Field of Dreams.’ You know, if you build something properly, people will come with big checks to buy you out, and that’s what I see happening here. We have an interesting critical metal that is going to be much of demand in the future as well as high-grade precious metals to go along with it.”

In addition, Docherty noted, the company’s polymetallic Deer Horn property looks as if it contains the “greenest of all minerals” — copper — which the company plans to start exploring soon. “We really are blessed to have a tremendous property and, to top that off, we’ve also got the highest-grade tellurium property in North America in a property in Colorado that used to be owned by First Solar. So we’re going to be looking at that after, so when it comes to solar potential and tellurium potential, we’re the only ones in town, so to speak.”

In his remarks, Docherty provided a brief overview of the company’s recent milestones, including uplisting to the OTC QB and purchasing a brand-new drill from a group in Alaska. “[The company] insisted that for payment they did not want cash, they only wanted shares of our company,” Docherty explained, “because one of their business associates walked our property in October and saw the copper [potential] for himself and apparently phoned them and said, ‘I haven’t done this for 16 years since I’ve worked with you guys, but you’ve got to buy shares in this junior company.’”

The Bell2Bell podcast delivers informative updates and exclusive interviews with executives operating in fast-moving industries. The complete Bell2Bell interview with Docherty can be heard here.

First Tellurium is committed to generating revenue and value by exploring responsibly and leveraging diverse partnerships. The company’s polymetallic (tellurium, gold, silver, copper, tungsten) Deer Horn Project in British Columbia and Klondike tellurium-gold property in Colorado anchor a diversified search for metals, working in alliance with indigenous peoples, NGOs, governments and leading metals buyers.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.FirstTellurium.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FSTTF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/FSTTF

• U.S.-based gene therapy developer Genprex, Inc. is developing new therapies for fighting cancer tumors and diabetes
• The company’s gene therapies for battling types 1 and 2 diabetes use a simple endoscopic procedure to introduce select insulin-boosting genes directly to the pancreas to combat insulin decline factors in the body
• The company is working with research collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and recently announced a new license agreement in relation to a gene therapy for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
• The company’s novel infusion process using related gene therapy has shown statistically significant results in preclinical testing and Genprex anticipates a pending Phase I trial following the generation of sufficient preclinical data

Clinical-stage cancer and diabetes gene therapy developer Genprex (NASDAQ: GNPX) continues to expand its intellectual property portfolio for the company’s diabetes gene therapy program, recently announcing that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement related to a particular gene therapy for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Specifically, the announcement involves a worldwide exclusive license to a patent application and related technology, and a worldwide non-exclusive license to use certain related know-how using the genes of the Pdx1 and MafA transcription factors controlled by a MafB promoter, as developed by the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt).

Genprex is developing technologies to administer disease-fighting genes that will provide new therapies in the fight against cancer and diabetes for large patient populations. In regard to the company’s diabetes approach, the Pdx1 and MafA genes are delivered directly to the pancreas through a novel infusion process (gene therapy candidates GPX-002 and GPX-003).

GPX-002 seeks a solution for type 1 diabetes, which most often appears in childhood or teen years and has no cure. In most cases, the body’s own immune system destroys the insulin-producing (islet) cells in the pancreas for some reason, slowing or stopping the production of vital sugar-regulating hormones (https://ibn.fm/14AW4).

GPX-002 changes alpha cells in the pancreas into functional beta-like cells, which can produce insulin but may be distinct enough from beta cells to help them avoid being destroyed by the body’s immune system. Preclinical testing in mouse models and subsequently in non-human primates has produced statistically significant results to this effect.

GPX-003 seeks a solution for type 2 diabetes, which is more common in adults but similarly involves insufficient quantities of the sugar-regulating insulin hormone, although not as a result of attacks by the body’s immune system. Instead, muscle, fat and liver cells simply become resistant to insulin, and the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin to regulate sugars.

GPX-003 also uses a novel infusion process to deliver Pdx1 and MafA genes directly to the pancreas, which are expected to work by rejuvenating diminished beta cells to increase insulin expression. A Phase I clinical trial in diabetic patients is pending, following the generation of sufficient preclinical data (https://ibn.fm/1nO8Z).

“We are continuing to build a fortress of protection and a powerful intellectual property portfolio for our diabetes gene therapy program,” Genprex Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Rodney Varner stated in the company’s news release about the new Pitt license (https://ibn.fm/mFZqN). “The addition of this license to MafB promoter technology expands and strengthens the potential for this novel, gene therapy to treat Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.”

The company’s CMO, Mark Berger, MD, added, “What is exciting about this latest licensed technology is the early data suggests greater potency when combined with other previously licensed technologies and may be a particularly significant step forward in our construct optimization.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Genprex.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GNPX are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/GNPX