• BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. will reveal important information about Bria-IMT and Bria-OTS at two leading conferences – the ASCO-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium and the American Association of Cancer Research’s annual meeting
• New information will also be made available about the company’s HLA-identification test, BriaDX, which is aimed at identifying patients most likely to benefit from Bria-IMT
• In addition, BriaCell founder and director Dr. Charles L. Wiseman will be a keynote speaker at the 10th Euro Breast Cancer Summit in France

BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (OTCQB: BCTXF) (TSX.V: BCT), a biotechnology company with a focus on immune-oncology, is expected to announce findings pertaining to the effectiveness and mode of action of its lead product candidate – Bria-IMT – at the 2019 ASCO-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium, according to a company press release (http://ibn.fm/eH3P5). The key oncology conference will be taking place from February 28 to March 2, 2019, in San Francisco.

The company was selected to present a poster highlighting the latest findings related to the mechanism of action of Bria-IMT – an immunotherapy solution for patients with advanced breast cancer. BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. will also present information regarding BriaDX, the companion diagnostic test that aims to identify the patient groups anticipated to benefit the most from the treatment. In addition, BriaCell will provide the latest information about its personalized, off-the-shelf immunotherapy solution called Bria-OTS.

Following the presentation at the symposium, BriaCell will post a copy of the poster on BriaCell.com/Investor-Relations/Presentations.

The company has also announced that BriaCell founder and director Dr. Charles L. Wiseman will be a keynote speaker at the 10th Euro Breast Cancer Summit to take place in Paris on March 21-22, 2019. This year’s summit theme is going to be “Rediscovering Novel Approaches towards Cure for Breast Cancer and Women’s Health.”

Finally, BriaCell Therapeutics will present a poster at the highly prestigious American Association of Cancer Research’s (“AACR”) annual meeting that will take place from March 29 to April 3, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia.

BriaCell has completed a 23-subject phase I/IIa trial of Bria-IMT in patients with advanced breast cancer. Significant tumor regression was observed in patients who matched Bria-IMT at human leukocyte antigen (“HLA”) types. During the ASCO-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium, BriaCell is set to detail these findings and provide an analysis of immunologic factors (HLA matching is currently being evaluated as a factor for predicting the tumor response in breast cancer patients treated with a combination of Bria-IMT and KEYTRUDA).

During the Atlanta conference, BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. is expected to provide additional information about the Bria-IMT mechanism of action. This type of data is derived from molecular and clinical findings, both supporting the development of Bria-OTS.

Bria-OTS is similar to Bria-IMT, because it also consists of a set of cell lines. The main difference is that Bria-OTS will be engineered to produce different HLA types to match individual patients. Bria-OTS is anticipated to produce an increased response rate due to HLA matching in comparison to unmatched therapeutic approaches.

The personalized off-the-shelf immunotherapy solution is still in the development phase. There are plans for Bria-OTS to enter the clinic later in 2019.

BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. is an immuno-oncology-focused biotech company that develops both targeted and safe cancer management approaches. The company’s lead candidate, Bria-IMT, has so far demonstrated substantial ability to provoke tumor shrinkage with excellent tolerability. Bria-OTS is anticipated to come at a lower production cost and have fewer side effects than comparable personalized immunotherapies.

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

• The cannabis industry is currently a $10 billion market and is expected to increase its economic vitality in coming years
• Cannabis Strategic Ventures recently acquired Worldwide Staffing Group, which works within the company as a wholly and separately owned subsidiary, adding to its staffing capabilities
• An increased demand for staffing within the burgeoning cannabis industry could prove beneficial for Cannabis Strategic Ventures’ influence in the market

Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS), a publicly traded corporation that cultivates and partners with brands around the world to build category leaders within the cannabis and CBD marketplace, is utilizing a diverse approach to create profitable opportunities across all corners of the market. While primarily outsourcing personnel solutions, the company also seeks investment opportunities in real estate, cultivation, extraction, distribution, packaging, dispensary operations and branded products within the cannabis marketplace.

The future of cannabis is booming, and the $10 billion industry is attracting businesses of all types. Companies ranging in products and services from energy efficiency technology to health and wellness are trying to create inroads into this lucrative market, which has yet to meet its demand. Cannabis Strategic Ventures has multiple irons in this fire, each well-positioned to take advantage of this opportune time in the cannabis and hemp industry.

Primarily, the company is focused on supporting the growth of entrepreneurs in this industry. It has made strategic acquisitions, in turn offering outsourced personnel solutions informed by the latest growth trends in the cannabis market. Cannabis Strategic Ventures supports all members of the cannabis market, including cultivators, manufacturers and dispensaries. The company offers mentorship and other important services to young and existing cannabis brands seeking to find staying power in the industry.

Most notably, Worldwide Staffing Group, a separate wholly owned subsidiary, works within Cannabis Strategic Ventures to provide non-cannabis-related employment and staffing services. The latter company aims to continue growing its business operations further into the cannabis staffing area, especially focusing on the California markets, where adult recreational cannabis use has been legalized.

This legislation has been estimated to create nearly 99,000 cannabis industry jobs in the state by 2021, which will represent a third of all cannabis jobs nationwide, according to Arcview Market Research. Additionally, worldwide consumer spending on legal cannabis (http://ibn.fm/t0l3j) is “projected to reach $57 billion by 2027, with adult-use cannabis making up the majority of spending at $38.3 billion.” Cannabis Strategic Ventures believes that this demand for staffing in the industry will work in its favor, and its acquisition of Worldwide Staffing Group, which logged approximately $1.5 million in 2017 revenues, only amplifies its robust industry presence.

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

• Unique business model and positioning as a licensed producer and technology company have created a distinct advantage
• Potential for the natural, water-soluble cannabis beverage to become a game changer for the industry
• Control of dosing placed into consumers’ hands

Sproutly Canada Inc. (OTCQB: SRUTF) (CSE: SPR) (FRA: 38G) CEO Keith Dolo sat down with NetworkNewsAudio to share the company’s vision of becoming the leading supplier to the cannabis beverage and edibles market. Dolo believes that the company’s unique business model and positioning as a licensed producer and technology company have created a distinct advantage for Sproutly. To listen to the full interview, visit http://ibn.fm/GrF5x.

Sproutly’s leadership team has decades’ worth of experience in biopharmaceutical research and development, technology commercialization and business development. Various members contribute in-depth knowledge of growing, well-known Fortune 200 and 500 companies, as well as experience in the North American and international CBD and beverage industries.

The current Canadian cannabis market alone is projected to reach $8.7 billion by the year 2024, with the Canadian cannabis market projected to hit between $0.9 billion and $4.4 billion. The company sees potential for the beverage market to hit even greater heights with the introduction of naturally water-soluble cannabis beverages.

The company owns exclusive rights to Infusion Biosciences’ APP technology in Canada, Australia, Israel, Jamaica and the EU. Combined with its facility’s capabilities of producing up to 1,400 kg of consistent, high-quality, pharma-grade cannabis per year, the company is well on its way toward seeing the fulfillment of its vision to be the leading supplier to the cannabis beverage market.

The recent acquisition of Infusion Biosciences placed a revolutionary technology into Sproutly’s hands. Dolo describes the company’s premium offerings as “the world’s first and only, truly water-soluble cannabis solution and bio-natural oils.”

The technology places control of dosing into the consumers’ hands. The bio-availability of the product, as well as the lingering effects, are shortened. Rather than the standard 45 to 120 minutes of previous products, this new water-soluble solution takes effect in only five minutes. While current products on the market can have lingering effects lasting anywhere from four hours to two days, Sproutly’s premium product lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. The company’s beverage, Infuz20, offers predictable effects that are comparable to smoking and vaping, while also providing an odorless, smokeless and versatile product with precise dosing.

Sproutly plans to internationally expand the target market of its products in 2019. Distribution agreements are being pursued in the Caribbean, Canada, Jamaica, Israel, Australia and the EU.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Sproutly.ca

• SinglePoint and other leading cannabis companies are entering the promising and highly competitive CBD pet product market
• Company, via SingleSeed subsidiary, recently launched PHYTO-BITES soft CBD chews for pets – dogs, in particular – to help them deal with stress, inflammation and separation anxiety
• The CBD pet product market is expected to be one of the most rapidly growing industry sectors, expanding at a CAGR of 57 percent by 2022

The CBD market is growing constantly, across different verticals and niches that are presenting new opportunities for expansion to companies in the sector. One of the fastest growing niches is the CBD pet market, according to leading investor news resource for hemp and cannabis stocks InvestorIdeas.com. In the first installment of a two-part analysis of the CBD pet market, Investorideas.com notes that this fat expansion comes with numerous opportunities for established cannabis and CBD enterprises that are already active on the market.

SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) is one these organizations, alongside other leading cannabis and hemp companies such as Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC), Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. (CSE: CWEB) (OTCQX: CWBHF) and CannTrust Holdings Inc. (TSX: TRST). All of these companies have already launched or are currently developing animal health products based on CBD, mostly targeting stress and anxiety-related conditions in pets.

In January 2019, SinglePoint launched PHYTO-BITES via subsidiary SingleSeed.com. PHYTO-BITES are CBD soft chews formulated to promote health and support the reduction of separation anxiety, stress, pain and inflammation in pets – dogs, in particular. Dogs make up the largest part of the U.S. pet market, according to GrandView research, and SinglePoint plans to take advantage of the market size and penetration potential by making PHYTO-BITES one of its leading products.

“We are very excited to add this to our list of products. The pet market is a tremendous opportunity and we plan to attend and use all our contacts to promote this product at every opportunity we are presented with,” SinglePoint CEO Greg Lambrecht said in a news release.

PHYTO-BITES are manufactured and supplied by CBD Unlimited, formerly known as Endexx. CBD Unlimited and SingleSeed are working together to distribute the product online, as well as in stores across the U.S.

Several factors are contributing to the emergence of this new niche on the CBD market, Investorideas.com writes.

For a start, the regulatory framework is changing. In addition, pet owners are becoming more aware of CBD products and the health benefits they bring to the table. As a result, market analysts predict that the CBD pet product niche will become much more competitive in the near future.

Americans are known to spend a significant amount on the acquisition of pet products. As of 2018, the market volume was over $72 billion, according to the American Pet Products Association (http://ibn.fm/0IoMy).

CBD oil has already made its way into this vast industry. Various companies are manufacturing foods and supplements for pets that feature the ingredient. According to statistics, CBD oil products for pets currently represent $7 million out of the $6 billion of weed dispensary sales in California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon (http://ibn.fm/RTve1).

Reports suggest that CBD can produce a range of benefits for pets – from anxiety reduction to improving appetite, controlling allergies and addressing skin problems. CBD products are also believed to help with pain reduction in older pets suffering from arthritis.

In 2017, the sales of hemp-derived pet and animal products in the U.S. reached $13 million out of a CBD market valued at $177 million, according to New Frontier Data (http://ibn.fm/kjyMf). Market volume is expected to reach $125 million by 2022 (of a $522 million CBD market), growing at a CAGR of 57 percent. This growth rate makes the CBD pet product market one of the fastest growing niches of the hemp-derived product space.

Currently, the vast majority of CBD products address the needs of dog and cat owners. In the near future, however, more opportunities are expected to become available for equine and other domestic animals.

SinglePoint is a technology and investment company with a focus on acquiring businesses that could benefit from capital or technology integration. Its current portfolio consists of mobile payment, ancillary, cannabis services and blockchain solutions. Acquisitions in horizontal markets are allowing SinglePoint to build a rich and diversified portfolio.

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

• PFSF is partnering with FIERO, a leading Brazilian trade association
• The company’s proprietary BOAPIN trade portal streamlines information with multilingual communication, marketing logistics and cross-border payment solutions
• PFSF is also working toward integrating its platform with the internet of things

Pacific Software Inc.’s (OTC: PFSF) proprietary BOAPIN cross-border blockchain trading platform is the centerpiece of its new partnership with China and FIERO. FIERO is a leading Brazilian trade association focused on developing and promoting the economy of Rondônia, a regional state within Brazil (http://ibn.fm/N2RWn). The partnership with FIERO may play a key role in what could become an expanded opportunity for PFSF throughout South America (http://ibn.fm/oKZe8).

BOAPIN is an e-commerce trade platform designed to foster streamlined information between China and agricultural suppliers in Brazil through its marketing logistics, smart contract technology, product certification, cross-border payment solutions and multilingual communication. PFSF plans to use its agri-blockchain technology to guarantee the transparency of trading transactions. BOAPIN’s revenue model is subscription based.

FIERO has 7,500 business members that could utilize BOAPIN, which is scheduled to launch in 2019. In a news release, PFSF President Peter Pizzino said, “The great State of Rondônia is a world-class producer of agricultural products, and we look forward to working with FIERO to provide its members with access to leading-edge technology and expanded revenue-generating opportunities in international trade.”

PFSF is a Toronto-based emerging-technology corporation with a regional office in Hong Kong. The company is also working on integrating its platform with the internet of things (“IoT”). The result could facilitate the gathering of valuable product data to ensure effective management of the supply chain. A significant strength of the company is its working relationship with IBM and its use of that company’s Hyperledger Blockchain Backend as a Service (“BaaS”) (http://ibn.fm/MfA6Q).

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

• Prevalence of electric vehicles is increasing demand for lithium
• Significant increase in lithium price and demand is projected for the years beyond 2020
• Employing a more reliable extraction method, QMC Quantum Minerals is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these market dynamics

The demand for lithium from battery makers is anticipated to nearly double in the years up to 2027. The automobile industry is expected to play a huge role in driving demand, as the world makes an increasingly pronounced shift toward electric vehicles. Companies like QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (OTC: QMCQF) (TSX.V: QMC) (FSE: 3LQ) are positioned to benefit from the opportunities created by these new market dynamics.

Demand for lithium stemming from lithium-ion battery manufacturers increased by 46 percent in 2017 and is anticipated to nearly double to 83 percent by 2027 (http://ibn.fm/WJN3d). A Roskill market outlook report says that “beyond 2021, the research firm expects lithium prices to rise above 2018 levels again as continued demand growth” will contribute to the depletion of the currently available resources. Prices in 2019 are expected to briefly fall back from 2018 levels, mainly due to oversupply, with a bottom floor of $11,000 per ton of battery grade lithium carbonate, but they are forecast to bounce back and surpass the rates reported last year. Lithium hydroxide prices have stayed steady at $15,000-$18,000 per ton.

Throughout 2018, car manufacturers have continued making announcements about the upcoming development and release of electric vehicle (“EV”) models. Experts anticipate that EV market penetration will grow from two percent in 2018 to approximately 15 percent in 2025 (http://ibn.fm/Wl6Qk).

Thus, the demand for lithium in 2019 alone is expected to increase 13.5 percent. Some analysts believe that 2019 is going to be a transition year for the lithium market, after which sustainable growth will follow over the next years, starting in 2020 or 2021.

This is good news for QMC Quantum Minerals Corp., a British Columbia-based company engaged in the business of acquisition, exploration and development of resource properties, with a focus on lithium extraction. QMC is currently exploring the Irgon Lithium Mine Project, a historically-productive lithium property, and, as exploration continues, the company sees great potential to expand the in-ground resource well above the current, historical resource estimate of 1.2 million tons at 1.51 percent Li2O.

The company is focusing on the development of a domestic source of lithium through the exploration of the Irgon Lithium Mine Project in southeastern Manitoba. This historic resource estimate on the property of 1.2 million tons of lithium oxide grading 1.51 percent is measured over a strike length of 365 meters and to a depth of 213 meters. QMC is working toward producing a current, NI 43-101-compatible resource estimate in the coming months. In addition, QMC has identified spodumene-bearing outcrops of pegmatite directly on strike with the Irgon Dike and up to 400 meters west of the current westernmost surface exposure of the Irgon Dike. If, as expected, this mineralization proves to be continuous, QMC intends to double the strike length of the Irgon Dike.

In January 2019, QMC announced the results of a mobile metal ion (“MMI”) soil geochemical orientation survey that was carried out over the Irgon Dike. The results identified the position of the unexposed portion of the western extension of the Irgon Dike and strongly suggested that there are two additional, buried lithium-bearing pegmatite targets – one located north and one south of the Irgon Dike. QMC plans to carry out exploration and subsequent drilling of these two new targets, which is anticipated to also significantly expand the historical lithium resource estimate for the Irgon Project.

QMC’s Irgon exploration focuses solidly on hard rock lithium mining. This method is considered to be more reliable than the brine evaporation technique upon which top market players like Chile and China are currently reliant.

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

• Spectrum Global Solutions is a full-service engineering, construction, installation, maintenance and professional services firm
• The company engineers, upgrades, installs and maintains telecommunication networks and infrastructure
• Spectrum recently reduced its debt and strengthened its balance sheet

Spectrum Global Solutions Inc. (OTCQB: SGSI) is a single-source provider of end-to-end, next-generation wireless and wireline network infrastructure and professional service solutions. The company provides these solutions to carriers, aggregators, utilities, enterprises, project management organizations (“PMOs”) and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) through diverse subsidiaries. Spectrum Global Solutions is headquartered in Longwood, Florida. The company recently announced that an equity investment by WaveTech Global has allowed the company to reduce an outstanding debt incurred through a previous acquisition (http://ibn.fm/lRn61).

The company has completed manifold project activities on wireless, DAS, wireline and fiber networks throughout the U.S., employing licensed professional engineers, project managers, technicians and general contractors (http://ibn.fm/QSRwQ). It is one of the few nationwide, full-service engineering, construction, installation, maintenance and professional services firms.

Spectrum Global Solutions provides its solutions to service provider (carrier) and corporate enterprise markets throughout the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Caribbean. The company provides complete outsourced services and solutions for the distribution and maintenance of next generation and legacy wireless and wireline telecommunication networks and infrastructure. Spectrum engineers, upgrades, installs and supports these networks.

Its subsidiaries include ADEX Corporation and ADEX Puerto Rico LLC, which provide professional services and solutions. Subsidiaries also include AW Solutions Inc. and AW Solutions Puerto Rico, which provide telecommunications and engineering services. Furthermore, subsidiaries include TNS Inc. (telecommunications structured cabling) and Tropical Communications Inc. (utilities) (http://ibn.fm/GmJfA). Via these subsidiaries, Spectrum’s services range in scope from a single activity to multi-year, multi-region large scale turnkey development contracts (http://ibn.fm/P6nHD).

Spectrum Global Solutions is professionally registered in 49 states, three U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) and six Canadian provinces. In addition, it has worldwide experience in Asia and Central and South America (http://ibn.fm/R1LJf). The company has a proven record of accomplishment with top-tier Fortune 1,000 companies globally.

Spectrum Global Solutions has a tactical acquisition strategy that is focused on organic market opportunities, which provide the potential to extend provider targets, grow margins, cultivate new industry partnerships, expand service footprints and use subsidiary and customers bases to execute coordinated cross-selling initiatives (http://ibn.fm/Nv0eb). Fundamentally, Spectrum pursues near-term synergistic acquisition opportunities that can foster growth.

Recently, Spectrum Global Solutions announced that it was able to use an equity investment received in association with the earlier reported merger with WaveTech Global of roughly $1.1 million to satisfy debt owed to Libertas Funding LLC, which was incurred in connection with Spectrum’s acquisition of TNS. WaveTech Global is an international next generation energy and network monitoring services management company. In a news release, Roger Ponder, chief executive officer of Spectrum Global Solutions, stated, “Our ability to satisfy the Libertas debt within 30 calendar days saved the Company thousands of dollars and freed up additional cash that was being used for amortization payments.”

Serving customers for 34 years and with 150,000 projects completed to date, Spectrum Global Solutions continues to advance next generation telecommunications technology. Its focus on providing comprehensive services encompassing all facets of fiber networks and infrastructure make it a compelling investment choice. The company remains centered on its vision of becoming the world-class industry leader by which all others are measured.

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

• Supreme Cannabis’ financial and operational report speaks to the company’s ability to strategically maneuver the cannabis industry while maintaining high revenues
• The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, 7ACRES, was named ‘Brand of the Year’ at the 2018 Canadian Cannabis Awards
• Supreme Cannabis expects to reach full production capacity in 2019, in large part due to 7ACRES’ 440,000-square-foot facility in Ontario

The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) (FRA: 53S1), an established contender in Canada’s cannabis industry, recently released its 2019 financial and operational results for the period ended December 31, 2018. The report portrayed the company’s vitality, profitability and shrewdness.

Supreme Cannabis’ wholly owned licensed producer subsidiary, 7ACRES, had a noteworthy quarter. During the quarter, Supreme Cannabis made its first shipments of 7ACRES-branded high-end cannabis to six of Canada’s provincially regulated adult-use channels. Additionally, the company’s 7ACRES brand was named ‘Brand of the Year’ at the 2018 Canadian Cannabis Awards (http://ibn.fm/g0wpY).

As of early February 2019, 7ACRES has operated a 440,000-square-foot facility in Ontario. Supreme Cannabis sees this as a precursor to fervent growth in the upcoming year, predicting an increase in its annual production target. Estimates point toward the company’s ability to reach full production capacity, which would mark an increase from its current 17,500 kg to 50,000 kg.

The Q2 report also detailed Supreme Cannabis’ profitability. The company recorded a 359 percent increase in revenue from Q2 2018 ($1.68 million) to Q2 2019 ($7.72 million). The company has also been making moves to stay competitive within the cannabis oil products market, an industry which has been dubbed the next “gold rush” since the 2018 United States Farm Bill removed hemp from the list of controlled substances (http://ibn.fm/73VEk). Demand for hemp-derived CBD products continues to grow worldwide and is estimated to become a $22 billion industry by 2022. Staying ahead of the curve, Supreme Cannabis contracted Medipharm Labs Co. to help coordinate the launch of the company’s cannabis oil product line.

Moreover, Supreme Cannabis entered into an exclusive consulting services agreement with Khalifa Kush Enterprises LLC (“KKE”) with the goal of developing and launching a line of premium cannabis products. This product line (http://ibn.fm/pUK1x) is expected to include “pre-rolls, extracts, capsules, and cannabis oils to be sold by Supreme Cannabis under the KKE brand.”

Wiz Khalifa, principal of KKE, spoke highly of Supreme Cannabis in a news release, stating, “My team and I have spent the last year finding a partner that shares our vision, values, and passion for cannabis. The team at Supreme Cannabis understands the importance of high quality cannabis and how to produce [it] at scale.”

Thanks to its strategic partnerships and continued focus on award-winning brand quality, Supreme Cannabis is set to remain a fierce competitor in the cannabis industry.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Supreme.ca

• The 1980s gave birth to the notion that opioids could be widely prescribed as non-addictive and quality-of-life enhancing drugs
• Therma Bright is testing its trademarked infrared heat therapy with cannabidiol to combat general and chronic pain
• The company is also making strides in testing a way to combat mosquito-borne viruses

Media attention to the so-called “opioid crisis” has sparked a new confluence of research and policy as medical professionals reevaluate existing prescriber practices for pain medications, advocates drive social change in drug use perspectives and politicians ponder best legislative practices for a wide variety of constituents. As non-addictive cannabidiol (“CBD”) has gained a significant following because of its reputed pain and spasm therapeutic capabilities, companies such as medical device innovator Therma Bright Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) are finding a ready market for their products.

Therma Bright is making a name for itself by targeting a variety of topical pain and injury concerns, using thermic heat-generating infrared light products to target troublesome cells and boost the skin’s defenses. The company’s trademarked TherOZap technology is currently being tested as a means of fighting the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

Therma Bright is also preparing to test its thermal technologies in concert with the non-addictive cannabidiol hemp-derivative in search of a response to general or chronic pain, such as back pain, arthritic pain and other orthopedic concerns (http://ibn.fm/FetLz). The company announced that it had developed its first prototype in December and that it aims to develop a pain therapy that will use creams, gels or salves.

Concerns about pain medicine and the growing number of opioid addictions and related deaths have largely been the driver behind the expanding popularity of cannabis — or medical marijuana — legalization during the past few years (http://ibn.fm/oXWQB).

A professional response to pain issues was established as a medical field in the 1960s and, in the 1980s, sparked a societal phenomenon when several prominent pain specialists suggested that opioid use resulted in a “low incidence of addictive behavior” and began encouraging increased use of the drugs to provide a general better quality of life to anyone, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (http://ibn.fm/l6LEj).

“We are in this culture now where too many people see drugs as the answer not only to pain, but to improving their lives,” Marcia Meldrum, an associate researcher in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles, told the Journal. “Pain can make it impossible to live your life. You lose so much quality of life. So for many people, if the solution also means they may become somewhat dependent on a drug, they probably think, ‘Well, that would be better than this.’”

Therma Bright’s efforts to develop a non-addictive pain reliever for common maladies using its natural therapy technology is also an effort to solve the social crisis surrounding the addictive opioids.

The company got its start in the field of using infrared light to tackle skin problems by delivering controlled, non-burning heat to cold sore-afflicted areas. Its InterceptCS product was developed to kill cells infected with the herpes simplex Type 1 virus well over a decade ago (http://ibn.fm/x0sXy).*

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

* Based on double blind placebo study the InterceptCS is approved for the claim “For prevention of cold sores when used within 3 hours of the onset of the prodrome” by Health Canada. The InterceptCS is not approved by the United States FDA for any claim of clinical indication, clinical efficacy and/or cure or prevention of disease.

• Company’s expanding portfolio includes new cultivation ventures with Southern California partnership and six-acre Northern California NUGS Farm
• Cannabis industry revenues expected to reach $80 billion in a decade as a result of current elevated interest among adults
• Cannabis Strategic Ventures has filed application to uplist to the OTCQB Venture Market as part of its 2019 growth strategy

Los Angeles-based Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS) is preparing to launch a canopy cultivation site in Northern California to sustain its brand and build options for its subsidiaries as it seeks to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market.

The company began the new year with an application for uplisting to the Venture Market and followed that with the announcement that it will partner with a Santa Barbara County cultivation operation that holds about 40 commercial cannabis licenses in Southern California. On January 30, Cannabis Strategic Ventures revealed that it will add the six-acre Northern California site after having obtained over 20 licenses for cannabis manufacturing, distribution and cultivation (http://ibn.fm/Nt34d).

“Establishing The NUGS Farm and securing these licenses are significant milestones for Cannabis Strategic Ventures. We are proud of what we have accomplished at this stage of the company,” CEO Simon Yu stated in a news release. “As the cannabis industry expands, and as we work to make cannabis legal on a federal level, Cannabis Strategic Ventures will be in position to touch on all areas of cannabis production.”

Cannabis Strategic Ventures first announced in October that it would begin acquiring properties to augment its operations with cultivation facilities (http://ibn.fm/9XTtC), adding that the new focus for the company would allow it to significantly expand its revenue base and establish a strong path for continued financial growth.

Cowen market analyst Vivien Azer increased her forecast for the U.S. cannabis market last month, predicting that sales could reach $80 billion by 2030 if the drug receives fully legal status at the federal level.

“Our increased confidence reflects the bigger than expected increases that we continue to see for reported cannabis incidence among adults,” Azer wrote in a note (http://ibn.fm/i2uni).

Cannabis Strategic Ventures has made its name by outsourcing personnel solutions that are tailor-made for cannabis cultivators, manufacturers and dispensaries while also seeking investment opportunities in the areas of real estate, cultivation, extraction, distribution, packaging, dispensary operations and branded products within the cannabis space, developing a selective portfolio that matches its vision.

One of its subsidiaries, Pure Applied Sciences Inc., has developed the brand “PureOrganix” for the high quality concentrate, organic and pure cannabis oils space. The brand conforms to current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMP”) and meets FDA guidelines for Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (“API”), according to the company. The company’s portfolio also features a collection of niche brands like Halo Filters, The Asher House Wellness, Fitamins and LYXR.

The company’s investment strategy welcomes startups, as well as growth stage businesses, with Cannabis Strategic Ventures providing the capital, know-how and networking opportunities for the brands’ success.

“We have many new initiatives planned in 2019 and we are managing our business operations for growth,” Yu stated after announcing the OTCQB application.

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