• In a recent interview, Jushi’s Executive VP of Business Development, Olivier Blechner, shared the company’s plans to increase the number of its cannabis stores progressively from the current 24 to 36
• Jushi is also expanding its production facilities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts
• The company, which recently closed the purchase of Nature’s Remedy of Massachusetts, Inc. (“Nature’s Remedy”) and announced signing a definitive agreement to acquire an operating dispensary in Las Vegas, Nevada, is eying additional acquisitions
• Jushi participated in several conferences this month, including the Benzinga Cannabis Capital, MJBizCon and MJ Unpacked

As a company committed to setting the new standard for a sophisticated, modern cannabis experience, Jushi Holdings (CSE: JUSH) (OTCQX: JUSHF) has made substantial strides in fulfilling this vision. In a recent interview with IBN’s Jonathan Keim, Olivier Blechner, Jushi’s Executive VP of Business Development, delineated key milestones and the company’s growth throughout its now three and a half years of existence. From its initial retail-focused beginnings, Jushi has made significant inroads in the cultivation and production of cannabis, adopting a vertically integrated model that it has implemented in various states, including some major markets – Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts. It is now a multi-state cannabis operator focused on building assets in limited license medical markets and high-growth, large adult use markets that are limited at the state or jurisdictional level where it can create the greatest return on investments for its shareholders. Currently, Jushi holds permitted licenses to run 36 cannabis retail stores. Of these, the company operates 24 stores, with the expectation that it will operate five more before year-end and seven more next year. This company’s expansion plans follow a two-pronged investment and growth strategy that encompasses capital expenditure (“CapEx”), along with mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”). For the company to invest in a prospect, Blechner said, “it has to significantly expand and fortify our position in an existing market, or it has to be an additional market that is just as good if not better than what we have already.” This approach means that all potential investment projects compete internally for capital as the company only expects to channel funds into the best opportunities possible. Using this approach, Jushi has made high-return and low-risk investments through CapEx – it currently is in the process of expanding its facilities in a phased approach in Pennsylvania and Virginia and is growing Nature’s Remedy in Massachusetts. Similarly through M&A, the company recently announced signing a definitive agreement to acquire an operating dispensary in Las Vegas, Nevada (https://ibn.fm/JNSKm) and closing the previously announced acquisition of Nature’s Remedy (https://ibn.fm/aEnHz), as well as eyeing additional purchases in line with its M&A strategy, “The M&A market is still very interesting to us, and we see significant opportunities to expand our presence in states that we are operating in already, as well as selectively expand into new states.” Through M&A-induced and/or license application growth, Jushi expects to expand its BEYOND / HELLO(TM) store count in Illinois from 5 to 10. It also plans to add one more store in Massachusetts, bringing its total to three, the maximum limit of cannabis stores a company can own in the state. Further, Jushi intends to leverage organic growth to open the remaining three licensed stores for a total of 18 dispensaries open in Pennsylvania. As well as opening one dispensary this year in Virginia and California this year and the remaining four in Virginia and one in California next year. Individually and collectively, these markets provide Jushi’s asset base with the greatest growth potential. In Illinois, for example, many multi-state operators (“MSOs”) with whom Jushi is competing have already hit their limit of cannabis stores, yet Jushi can add five more. As for Pennsylvania, there are discussions the Commonwealth is looking to shift from medical cannabis use to recreational use, on the heels of a similar switch in Virginia. Jushi’s M&A strategy has greatly benefited from the company being publicly traded. This status has eased its ability to raise cash that it can use for current and future investments. For instance, Jushi closed on an approximate $122 million in gross proceeds (or $115 million net proceeds) from three equity financings since October 2020, which, according to Blechner, is being put to excellent use, with Nature’s Remedy as a prime M&A example and CapEx on the company’s facilities as the other example. Further, given the increased ability for employees to own stock in the organization they work for, a publicly traded company provides a great retention tool and a way to pool the team together. Mr. Blechner also discussed Jushi’s conference participation this month. These include:

• Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, New York: October 14-15
• MJBizCon, Las Vegas: October 19-21
• MJ Unpacked, Las Vegas: October 21-22

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

• PlantX Life Inc. is a growing global presence as a one-stop shopping and educational hub building a sense of community for the world’s plant-based lifestyle pursuits
• The company announced Oct. 19 that its wholly owned subsidiary Bloomboxclub Limited, based in the United Kingdom, has launched a web domain and market outreach in Canada
• Bloombox Club’s United Kingdom operation has been responsible for delivering more than 100,000 plants to over 50,000 customers
• PlantX Life’s weekly podcast series, YouTube channel videos, informative blog and e-commerce portal accessible through Walmart’s and Amazon’s Marketplace provide product sales and tips on healthy living, home plant ownership and recipes accessible to beginners and more experienced consumers alike
• The company recently opened a store in British Columbia, Canada, has an affiliated operation in California and plans to launch a website in Israel next month

Digital plant community products and lifestyle hub PlantX Life (CSE: VEGA) (Frankfurt: WNT1) (OTCQB: PLTXF) is establishing an expanding line of category verticals designed to firmly root its status as a one-stop shopping and education dynamo, selling more than 5,000 products in line with its mission and anticipating eventual forays into cosmetics, clothing and other product brands. On Oct. 19 PlantX Life celebrated the announcement of another indoor plant vertical’s growth as wholly owned subsidary Bloomboxclub Limited (“Bloombox Club”) entered Canada as a direct-to-consumer indoor plant-selling business platform. Bloombox Club is an e-commerce platform for indoor plants based in the United Kingdom. With its expansion to Canada under the new domain https://bloomboxclub.ca/, the wellness community is gaining new options for access to high-quality indoor plants, plant-care packages, self-care packages, planting pots and accessories. In the United Kingdom and Germany, Bloombox Club has delivered more than 100,000 plants to over 50,000 customers, according to the announcement (https://ibn.fm/s9KjY). The company has also begun expanding its range with plants that can live outside as well as indoors, including tea plants, citrus trees and an olive tree (https://ibn.fm/jbY7z). Parent company PlantX similarly is establishing an international growth presence through its flagship storefront in Canada’s Squamish, British Columbia and additional physical stores it is establishing in the United States (California market) and the State of Israel (https://ibn.fm/Ool9P). PlantX applied to the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) earlier this month to uplist its common shares in an effort to increase its access to capital markets. “Uplisting our shares to the TSX will mark a valuable milestone that will highlight PlantX’s impact and potential as a global leader in the plant-based industry. This is a crucial step in our growth that will significantly increase our brand recognition and could lead to enhanced trading activity,” CEO Lorne Rapkin stated (https://ibn.fm/Tt8bD). PlantX’s wellness community ecosystem efforts involve eliminating barriers for anyone interested in living a plant-based lifestyle and thriving in a longer, healthier and happier life, which means providing food-preparation tips, fitness and health insights, and education on home plant ownership through a podcast series, YouTube channel and blog outreach. “We are looking forward to showing our customers that plant-based food is not only delicious but also highly accessible and fun for all, whether they are vegan or otherwise,” Rapkin stated (https://ibn.fm/JHNjT). For more information, visit the company’s websites at www.PlantX.com, www.PlantX.ca, and https://investor.plantx.com/ and view PlantX for Plant-Based Investors. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to PLTXF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/PLTXF

• Red White & Bloom completed the build-out of its Apopka facility – phase one of a development strategy – and immediately commenced cultivation following the receipt of a cultivation license
• The initial licensed area is projected to generate annual revenue in excess of $10 million
• The Apopka facility will support phase two of the strategy, which entails the activation of thirty customized, self-contained growing pods
• Phase three will involve the activation of a 113,000 SF facility for cultivation located in Sanderson

Upon closing the acquisition of an operational 45,000 square-foot greenhouse situated on 4.7 acres of land in Apopka, Florida in early August (https://ibn.fm/l3Pye), the team at Red White & Bloom Florida LLC, a Red White & Bloom Brands (CSE: RWB) (OTCQX: RWBYF) subsidiary, embarked on the rapid development of the facility to ensure all compliance standards are achieved. The rapid development – build-out of Apopka – would constitute phase one of an aggressive three-phase development strategy for its Apopka and Sanderson facilities. In an October 12 press release, RWB announced that it had completed phase one of the strategy. In addition, having received regulatory approval to begin cultivation toward the end of September, RWB commenced operations on September 30 (https://ibn.fm/UcOrt). The initial licensed area in Apopka is capable of producing 85 g of flower per plant, translating to projected annual revenue in excess of $10 million. With a projected Q4 2021 harvest schedule in the facility, RWB has hired additional cultivation specialists specifically for the Florida project, fulfilling an earlier projection that the center would add tens of additional employment opportunities for the local community when fully operational. “We brought this site into production ahead of forecast and ahead of budget, and I’m very proud of our Florida team,” stated RWB CEO Brad Rogers. “Despite being relatively new players in the Florida market, I feel we have the most talented team of PhDs and horticulturalists, and an incredible grow infrastructure to bring the highest quality products, rich in terpenes and cannabinoid content, to some of the best retail locations in the state starting Q1 2022.” The Apopka facility will supply RWB’s phase two of the strategy, which entails activating thirty 16’ by 40’ customized, self-contained growing pods. First announced on April 6, the pods are part of the company’s plans to increase cultivation capacity by collectively providing about 19,000 square feet of operating space, with 14,400 square feet of canopy. They will also provide a unique opportunity for RWB to produce ultra-premium products for the Florida market (https://ibn.fm/hWmGK). With a targeted Q4 launch, the pods are expected to yield nearly 10,000 pounds of dried flower annually, representing a current market value of $30 million. The pods will be deployed at the Sanderson Property, which covers over 15 acres of land and houses a 113,000 square-foot facility for cultivation and processing. Notably, the activation of the latter facility constitutes the company’s third phase of the strategy. As a company committed to becoming the superior and most recognizable cannabis company in the United States, RWB’s ethos covers retail, brands, and cultivation. In Florida, where it has already commenced cultivation, the company earlier announced that it would brand its Florida medical dispensaries beginning in Q4 and is developing a consistent retail footprint and product line to align with the medical market in Florida. RWB also boasts premium THC and CBD brands, including Platinum Vape, HighTimes, and more (https://ibn.fm/BlYjh). For more information, visit the company’s website at www.RedWhiteBloom.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to RWBYF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/RWBYF

• Infobird continues to provide the Chinese market with technological solutions that optimize customer service, engagement, and overall experience through SaaS products that leverage AI solutions
• Customer engagement and salesforce management products currently available through Infobird are designed to help create optimized experiences for the customer and the company using them
• Infobird has over a decade of experience providing customer engagement and SaaS for large enterprises in the finance industry
• The SaaS market grows each year by approximately 18%, and it is estimated that by the end of 2021, 99% of businesses will utilize at least one SaaS product

Infobird (NASDAQ: IFBD) continues to show its dedication and commitment to improving its offering by successfully expanding into the consumer and retail product providers market, as shown in the August service contract signed by the company and the subsidiary of a leading retail brand. This service contract allows Infobird to expand its software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering, providing innovative AI-powered customer engagement solutions in China. Infobird empowers clients with business-driven solutions that help increase revenue, reduce costs, and enhance customer service quality and satisfaction. The company has over ten years of experience providing customer engagement and SaaS for large enterprises in the finance industry. The company’s comprehensive customer engagement SaaS solutions portfolio is highly intelligent, customizable, provides proof of stability and security at scale, and includes a concurrence of over 10,000 agents. Customer engagement products provided by Infobird include:

• Cloud Call Center – helps with improving customer satisfaction, increasing value per customer, and enhances the customer service experience through intelligent call routing, human/robot collaboration service, more than one method of deployment, customer engagement hub, and so much more
• Intelligent Telemarketing – Enhances work efficiency and increases success rates; offers predictive dialing, human/robot collaboration, multi-channel and media coordination, intelligent outbound routing strategies, cloud-native technology, full-stack capability with controlled source coding, and more
• Intelligent Omni-Channel Customer Service – Elevates customer experience with omnichannel engagement, human/robot collaboration, multidimensional data insights, and more
• AI Voice/Text Chatbot – allows for most questions to be answered 24/7, increases efficiency by almost 200%, decreases labor costs by up to 80%, chatbot works alongside human co-workers, utilizes powerful technology for speech recognition and synthesis, including semantic understanding, and more

AI salesforce management includes:

• Intelligent Quality Inspection – Improves quality inspection rates and service levels through real-time and total smart coverage, over 100 times more efficient, increases accuracy, increases agent capability, lowers complaint rates, lowers labor costs, and more
• Intelligent Training – Ensures and continuously improves the performance level of agents, reduces the high turnover rates and costs experienced during training, empowers agents to improve performance continuously, includes a standard curriculum, and more

The SaaS market is currently growing by 18% each year, and it is estimated that by the end of this year, 99% of organizations will be using one or more SaaS solutions. SaaS offers users opportunities that provide high strategic value, replacing on-premises deployment of software solutions. Through SaaS technologies, like those offered by Infobird, small and large businesses have the opportunity to expand and become more efficient (https://ibn.fm/sNZRq). Within the Chinese market, Infobird is hoping to expand through contracts, like the one signed in August. Many companies are implementing more optimized solutions for customer engagement, enhancing the customer experience through technological means. Infobird is aware of the trends, goals, and requirements, which is why it has been investing steadily in the technological innovation of its services. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Infobird.com/en/index. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IFBD are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/IFBD

• An estimated $173 trillion in energy supply and infrastructure investment is needed over the next 3 decades to facilitate the transition towards electric vehicles and renewable energy sources
• The energy transition is set to drive the next commodity supercycle; however, commodity supply growth has thus far been slow to catch up to rampant demand
• Only a single, dedicated silver mine commenced production in 2019, the last uninterrupted production year prior to the onset of the pandemic
• Through its diversified resource base and robust production profile, Excellon Resources has positioned itself well within the metal markets

The ongoing, era-defining shift from fossil fuels to clean energy is set to deliver an unprecedented boom for commodities, as a range of materials become essential to facilitate the delivery of emissions-free power, transportation and heavy industry. According to research provider BloombergNEF, the transition will require as much as $173 trillion in energy supply and infrastructure investment over the next three decades, with its effects reverberating through mining centres across the world (https://ibn.fm/ungtB). Excellon Resources (NYSE American: EXN) (TSX: EXN) (FSE: E4X2), a silver and base metals producer with precious metal projects in Mexico, Idaho and Germany, is aptly positioned to capitalize on this predicted commodity boom. As electric vehicles replace internal combustion engines, and solar panels and wind turbines supplant coal and oil as the world’s most common energy sources, silver finds itself on the brink of rapidly accelerating demand, alongside other industrial metals such as steel and copper. “The energy transition is driving the next commodity supercycle,” said Jessica Fung, head strategist at Zug, Switzerland-based Pala Investments Ltd., which funds mining projects tied to decarbonization. “It is a decades-long transition, but the time to invest and make money is this decade. The time is now.” Excellon Resources has been on the forefront of new mining production, with a precious metals growth pipeline which includes: Mexico’s Platosa Mine; Kilgore, a high-quality gold development project in Idaho with strong economics and significant growth potential; and an option on Silver City, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany boasting more than 750 years of mining history. The company recently released details of its robust second quarter production numbers generated from its Durango, Mexico-based Platosa Mine. Excellon saw silver production of 296,013 ounces, lead production of 1.9 million pounds and zinc production of 2.5 million pounds – in aggregate totalling silver equivalent production of 487,009 ounces. Although comparative results relative to the equivalent period in 2020 were impacted by the suspension of activities in Mexico from April 2, 2020 to June 1, 2020 on account of the COVID-19 outbreak, the second quarter of 2021 marked the fourth consecutive quarter during which Excellon’s Platosa mine witnessed over 21,000 tonnes mined and milled. Although changing demand patterns due to the shifts within the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors have been evident for some time, silver supply has thus far failed to keep up with demand. In 2019, the last calendar year boasting uninterrupted production schedules, a single new primary silver mine – the Sotkamo silver project in Finland – came online, with total new primary silver production amounting to less than 6 million ounces (https://ibn.fm/eN9LI). Global efforts to increase the supply of key raw materials – many of which require years of exploration and construction – must now begin to keep pace with future demand requirements, an effort which will necessitate enormous amounts of capital expenditure and geological research. Excellon Resources, a diversified metals producer with a broad geographic presence, ranks among the forefront of producers set to supply raw materials to help satisfy rampant demand emerging from the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors. Through production from its Platosa Mine as well as the continued development of its Idaho and Germany’s Silver City sites, Excellon Resources sits well positioned to capitalize. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ExcellonResources.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to EXN are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/EXN

• Avricore is a leader in the health diagnostics space offering the most sophisticated and complete solution for pharmacy today
• The company is also leading a charge aimed at saving lives and money spent on health care
• Avricore partnered with Abbott Diagnostics becoming the first third-party technology company to hold distribution agreements with the manufacturer
• Avricore is currently entering a period of epic growth

Avricore Health (TSX.V: AVCR) (OTCQB: AVCRF), a health diagnostics technology innovator, is a leader in the point-of-care (“POC”) diagnostics space and a company of several firsts. Through its flagship platform and eponymous wholly owned subsidiary, HealthTab(TM), Avricore has provided a proactive approach in the fight against diseases such as prediabetes, diabetes, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Influenza A and B, strep, and RSV (https://ibn.fm/DPsLu). Speaking during an interview with Stuart Smith as part of a recent Bell2Bell Podcast episode (https://ibn.fm/61OLh), AVCR CEO Hector Bremner summed up the company’s unique diagnostics and cloud-based technology by saying, “We are really excited to be leaders in the field. There’s nobody quite like us. There are people that do parts of what we do, but we have brought the most sophisticated and most complete solution for pharmacy today.” Better known as HealthTab, the solution is a fully automated, turnkey POC testing system that combines high-quality analyzers from manufacturers such as Abbott Diagnostics and Abaxis Global Diagnostics with a cloud-based solution, creating a network that benefits pharmacies and patients alike. For patients, the HealthTab system, through the analyzers, tests multiple key biomarkers associated with chronic and infectious diseases and subsequently generates lab-accurate, real-time results that patients can view via the system’s consumer-facing interface. For pharmacies, Bremner noted, Avricore provides an additional revenue-generating opportunity in the form of cognitive pharmacy services. In its vanguard role, Avricore is leading a charge that involves leveraging early detection and screening to save lives as well as the amount of money spent in health care. With early diagnosis having been proven as instrumental in reducing mortality and cardiovascular morbidity resulting from Type 2 diabetes (https://ibn.fm/7Htz0), as well as death caused by COVID-19 (https://ibn.fm/982Ml), HealthTab is indeed a boon. “I’ve always really believed that we need a true health care system [in Canada] that values early detection and screening if we really want to make sure that we’re not only saving lives but saving health care dollars in the future. We’re really passionate about leading this charge,” continued Bremner. Avricore’s leadoff stature also came into focus when it partnered with Abbott Diagnostics as part of a distribution agreement. Bremner, who described the partnership as groundbreaking, noted that Abbott does not ordinarily do distribution agreements for their technology with third-party technology companies like AVCR. “Normally, to distribute Abbott technologies at this level, you have to be a fairly large distributor of health care technologies to begin with. We were extremely fortunate to pioneer this agreement and really break ground to see what was possible as a value-added reseller to bring our technology in combination with theirs,” observed Bremner. Bremner noted that the partnership accelerated Avricore’s growth, further pointing out that the company is ideally poised for a great finish to the current year and continued growth through 2023, having repaid its debts and raised about $4.5 million this year. Avricore is committed to becoming the world’s largest health diagnostics company. With a primary focus on developing a network of POC analyzers that utilize its HealthTab software in community pharmacy, the company is staking a claim as a leader in the space. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.AvricoreHealth.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to AVCRF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/AVCRF

• Date: Nov. 4-5, 2021
• Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa
• Agenda: Two days of presentations on the state of the fintech industry and its potential within the state of Florida as well as beyond its borders
• Tickets and Registration Info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/florida-bitcoin-and-blockchain-summit-tickets-168286175481

An ongoing business migration to southern Florida’s international hub for commerce and travel is also sweeping in tech companies, and next month’s Florida Bitcoin and Blockchain Summit has been designed to harness that innovative market energy with a two-day in-person gathering that delivers a “clear and unique strategy on making Florida the leader in blockchain and financial technology” (https://ibn.fm/hCjwI). The Nov. 4 and 5 conference will take place at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, home of the current back-to-back NHL Stanley Cup Championship team the Tampa Bay Lightning. It will be organizer Chris Krimitsos’ second in-person event of the year in response to high demand for a timely gathering cognizant of the ongoing world pandemic conditions. Krimitsos is the innovator behind Florida’s internationally popular Podfest conference series. The first Bitcoin and Blockchain Summit he launched this summer in Orlando with entrepreneur Gabe Higgins introduced their aim to bring together stakeholders, businesses, and political leaders from across Florida as well as from outside the state to forge a continued growth strategy for the industry. “There is a lot of nuances to how blockchain is being used, but that’s the problem — we need to meet one another and know what everyone is doing, so we can have a cross-flow of ideas,” Krimitsos told business journal Tampa Bay Inno in June (https://ibn.fm/jHRQd). “You’ve got Miami, which the new financial capital of the country. And Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and other cities now have a huge opportunity to be the new Silicon Valley of blockchain if we play our cards right.” The journal noted that the metropolitan region has already attracted a number of blockchain and crypto power generators, including Celsius crypto co-founder Nuke Goldstein, Tampa-based blockchain company Pocket Network and blockchain-focused BlockSpaces founded by HIggins. The Tampa summit teams Krimitsos and Higgins with other Cutting Edge Events entrepreneurs to offer presentations in three tracks for beginners, stakeholders and advocates, bringing together both novices and experts to work in fostering growth within the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and more than two dozen companies and educators will be among the presenters. An associated Reach developers workshop on Nov. 5 at the Amalie Arena will provide the tools for developers to build blockchain applications in a matter of hours or days instead of weeks or months (https://ibn.fm/cuKqJ). For further information on the November conference and to obtain tickets for the event, visit https://floridablockchainsummit.com.

• CSU report notes that some forms of artificial cannabis plant production might not be environmentally friendly
• HENC sees environmental sustainability and minimizing carbon footprint as synonymous with being good corporate citizens and running a profitable business
• Company’s proprietary aeroponic cultivation system, high-tech sun chambers have minimal environment impact

In an atmosphere focused on sustainability and the environment, many consumers are taking a closer look at how things are made and the impact those things have on the world. Cannabis cultivation has not gone unnoticed, with a recent Colorado State University (“CSU”) report shining a spotlight on the sector (https://ibn.fm/jK31I). Committed to a strategic grow plan that produces high-efficiency, low-carbon-footprint crops, cannabis company Hero Technologies (OTC: HENC) pays close attention to these reports to ensure sustainability. “Generally, consumers want to better understand a product’s impact on the environment, often concerned with greenhouse gas emissions,” stated the CSU article, titled “Marijuana’s High Environmental Burden.” The article noted that marijuana, now legally available as a recreational drug, is often overlooked as far as its environmental impact. “Well, here at Colorado State University, we investigated the environmental impact of traditional marijuana cultivation practices. The results might surprise you. . . . “Since recreational legalization, the marijuana industry has seen exponential growth,” the article continued. “In Colorado alone, more than one million pounds of marijuana are grown annually. However, more than 80% of that one million pounds is grown indoors. That’s right, plants being grown inside warehouse-like buildings without access to the sun. This requires energy-intense grow lights, fans to circulate air and strengthen stems, carbon dioxide gas to increase plant growth and sophisticated equipment to maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity.” The article noted that those were only a few of the environmental control systems required to grow marijuana plants indoors, with the majority of such systems relying on electricity or natural gas. “Considering this energy is primarily made through combustion of fossil fuels, you may be starting to connect the dots here, realizing that this form of artificial plant production might not be so environmentally friendly,” the article observed. Hero Technologies cultivation systems, on the other hand, uses a proprietary aeroponic cultivation system and high-tech sun chambers designed to produce high plant density and yields but with minimal environment impact. “We see environmental sustainability and minimizing our carbon footprint as synonymous with being good corporate citizens and running a profitable business,” said Hero Technologies CEO Gina Serkasevich. “Sustainable cannabis production has mutually reinforcing drivers: increasing productivity, conserving energy and other resources, reducing environmental waste, and maximizing profitability.” The system, designed by HENC subsidiary BlackBox Systems and Technologies LLC, produces ideal growing conditions with highly efficient use of materials, resulting in greater photosynthesis, high plant flowers, and optimal harvest yields while also decreasing the carbon footprint per pound of product produced (https://ibn.fm/zynzw). BlackBox has also partnered with industry leader Ceres Greenhouse Solutions to build innovative, energy-efficient cannabis sun chambers, designed to maximize sunlight to reduce energy use and trap supplemental CO2 to avoid emissions into the atmosphere. The sun chambers, which feature sensors and controllers to regulate the environment and avoid energy waste, also provide renewable, local geothermal energy for unusually efficient heating, cooling and dehumidification. “Traditional HVAC and lighting systems can represent close to half of a typical cannabis grower’s operating costs,” said Serkasevich. “But we anticipate that our aeroponic growing system and super-efficient sun chambers could reduce those operating costs by one-third or more. . . . In addition, we expect our cannabis cultivation technologies to produce optimal plant density and crop cycles for the lowest possible cost-per-yield, which is the biggest contributor to sustainability, efficiency, and positive environmental impact.” Hero Technologies Inc. is a cannabis company working toward a vertically integrated business model. The company’s strategic business plan includes cannabis genetic engineering, space for both medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production licenses, distribution licenses, consumer packaging, and retail and dispensary operations that make the company a multistate operator. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.HeroTechnologiesInc.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to HENC are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HENC

• Oral drug delivery innovator Lexaria Bioscience is focused on providing alternatives to smoked or inhaled tobacco and cannabis products to help consumers reduce the threat to their lungs
• Lexaria’s patented technology — DehydraTECH(TM) — is a solution that processes active pharmaceutical ingredients into a powder or liquid form that can then be ingested with less harm than inhalation, while providing rapidity similar to inhalation substances
• DehydraTECH has previously shown the ability to move CBD into test subjects’ bloodstreams up to 20-fold higher than standard generic formulations
• New testing shows that DehydraTECH can similarly deliver THC to test subjects’ bloodstreams at rates faster and well above those of standard formulations for oral THC use

A leader in innovative drug delivery platforms, Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX) aims to reduce or eliminate the use of inhaled and addictive products by focusing on ways to deliver nicotine into smokers’ bloodstreams at levels comparable to the nerve-settling relief they get from cigarettes and other tobacco products, providing them an alternative to purchasing store brands likely to harm their lungs. The company has enhanced its pursuit by testing its solution — its patented DehydraTECH technology — as an alternative to smoked or vaped cannabis products as well, and is reporting continued breakthroughs in DehydraTECH’s performance against the industry standard medium-chain triglyceride-based control formulation (coconut oil). “The cannabis industry continues to use outdated formulations and processes that ignore the needs of modern THC users,” Lexaria CEO Chris Bunka stated in an Oct. 13 news release regarding DehydraTECH-delivered tetrahydrocannabinol effectiveness (https://ibn.fm/Gs0Ni). “THC users today include medicinal and pharmaceutical users, all of whom need technology that doesn’t rely on harmful delivery methods such as smoking but still provides rapid onset and high bioavailability which common oral formats do not offer. Our study findings demonstrated rapid delivery, increased overall THC delivery, and higher brain tissue delivery; all of which is consistent with the wants and needs of THC customers.” Specifically, the THC absorption study showed that the standard coconut oil THC formulation required 45 minutes to reach the same levels that DehydraTECH-THC produced after 15 minutes.  In the meantime, the DehydraTECH-THC was continuing to achieve higher levels of bloodstream delivery up until about the three-hour mark — well past coconut oil THC’s peak — and didn’t fall back to levels equal to the coconut oil medium until about the six-hour mark. The testing also noted that in two samplings of subjects’ brain tissue, DehydraTECH-THC levels were effectively twice as high as the coconut oil controls, demonstrating the further potential of DehydraTECH’s technology. This builds on previous results showing DehydraTECH can deliver cannabidiol (“CBD”) into the bloodstream at a rate 2,178 percent higher than generic industry control formulations, with 1,737 percent more CBD being moved across the blood-brain barrier than with those generic formulations Lexaria’s testing is focused on medical applications of THC delivery. The Harvard Medical School’s publishing wing has noted that the most common use for medical cannabis in the United States is to control pain, particularly in response to select chronic conditions (https://ibn.fm/Hm8uy). Lexaria’s technology is also undergoing clinical and pre-clinical trials for potential use in treating hypertension, viral infections and other conditions currently targeted by CBD-based nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical drugs DehydraTECH processes active pharmaceutical ingredientsinto a powder or liquid form for oral delivery. Other testing has shown its ability to become rapidly bioavailable by bypassing first-pass-liver processing, while also avoiding alteration of the drug substance during its conversion in such a way that would reduce the drug’s effectiveness or create unexpected drug entities requiring further regulatory attention for approval (https://ibn.fm/1Ccyq). “The fact that (DehydraTECH) is fast means that smokers might not be frustrated waiting for their nicotine experience to begin, the way they have been with traditional nicotine products such as gums and lozenges,” Bunka said in a Forbes interview about the solution’s potential impact on the tobacco market (https://ibn.fm/Bk9lW). “My father also died from lung cancer …, so I am no fan.” For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LEXX

• The growing cannabis industry is experiencing a rise in demand for experienced business executives to guide companies toward the top
• Flora Growth, which has achieved numerous milestones, is a testament to the importance of experienced leadership
• Established in 2019, Flora was the first all-outdoor cannabis cultivation company to list on NASDAQ and has the largest licensed cultivation footprint in Colombia
• The company also boasts the lowest production cost in the world of $0.06 per gram of dried flower
• Flora’s adherence to strict industry standards and prudent management of its finances positions it to become a global leader in the cannabis space

As the cannabis industry has continued to grow, so too has the demand for experienced business executives needed to steer cannabis companies to the top. Such executives, especially those brought in from industries experiencing similar regulations as the cannabis space, are particularly helpful as companies scale. According to a recent Benzinga article, leadership from outside industries provides the much-needed boardroom experience to bring a startup to a grander stage (https://ibn.fm/MW0XS). For Flora Growth (NASDAQ: FLGC), a global cannabis company leveraging all-natural, low-cost cultivation practices to supply cannabis flower and derivatives to its diverse divisions, Benzinga’s observations accurately narrate its story. Flora’s management team comprises disciplined operators, brand builders, and category disruptors with a track record of building direct-to-consumer brands and a loyal, engaged community. Collectively, the professionals share decades of industry-leading experience building consumer packaged goods (“CPG”) brands and managing global e-commerce, retail, distribution, and pharmaceutical research (https://ibn.fm/kahAB). And as FLGC President and CEO Luis Merchan notes, this makes for the perfect impetus for growth in the cannabis industry. “The industry is going through a period of transformation where operations, supply chain management, project management, and financial discipline are becoming imperatives in the skill set of executives that lead cannabis companies,” said Luis Merchan. A proven leader with more than a decade of experience in enterprise sales, management, corporate strategy, merchandising and expense management, and customer experience, Merchan previously served as the Vice President of Workforce Strategy and Operations at Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M), an Ohio-headquartered omnichannel retailer, where he managed the company’s P&L expense line for its 540 stores. Prior to this role, Merchan held various executive-level positions at Macy’s and managerial roles at Target (NYSE: TGT). Merchan is part of a diverse group of business professionals focused on the responsible growth of the company and who make up the board of directors, advisors, and management team. Through their guidance, Flora Growth, which was established in 2019, has achieved numerous milestones. “We are the first all-outdoor cannabis cultivation company to list on NASDAQ. We accomplished that on May 11th,” explained Merchan during the Benzinga Cannabis Hour Live Interview (https://ibn.fm/GwYjF). “We have tremendous strategies. One of them is the cultivation of wholesale cannabis at the lowest production cost in the world. We have been able to achieve a cost structure of about $0.06 per gram of dried flower.” Merchan also noted that the second strategy entails creating a brand portfolio of products that resonates with global consumers. With New Frontier Data projecting that the global legal cannabis market will grow from $23.7 billion in 2020 to $51 billion in 2025, representing a 16.6% CAGR (https://ibn.fm/AGaGh), Flora Growth is ideally poised to become a global leader in the space thanks to several factors. The economics associated with the company’s production facilities in Colombia are very attractive and the management team said it produces cannabis for as low as $0.06 per gram. The management team has been executing a global growth strategy and is focused on capturing market share in several international jurisdictions in the near term, including the European Union (“EU”), Australia, Panama, and South Africa. Further, FLGC is committed to prudent management of its finances, positioning it for long-term growth while allowing it to maintain a positive cash balance over the long term (https://ibn.fm/wczH6). In its mission to build a connected, mindful collective of plant-based wellness and lifestyle brands that deliver the most compelling customer experiences in the world, one community at a time, Flora Growth is banking on the guidance from its exceptional leadership to deliver on its mandate and rise to greater heights. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.FloraGrowth.ca. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FLGC are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/FLGC