• NUGS to benefit from approximately 40 commercial cannabis licenses throughout California
• Company signed letter of intent to partner with a Santa Barbara County grow operation with cultivation sites that are expected to be a critical component of each brand’s supply chain

Drive 400 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles anytime soon, and you may be passing through Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS) land. The Golden State incubator and brand builder is set to benefit from a large batch of licenses awarded in cannabis-friendly communities along the stretch. Recently, NUGS announced that it had signed a letter of intent to partner with a Santa Barbara County grow operation that holds approximately 40 commercial cannabis licenses from the County of Santa Barbara, the California Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch and the CalCannabis Cultivation (http://ibn.fm/b28rQ). This impending deal signals NUGS’ commitment to its strategy of promoting brands to be category leaders in the recreational and medical cannabis sectors. The NUGS management team believes that the cultivation sites will eventually be a critical component of each brand’s supply chain.

In California, the regulatory regime for cannabis, operative since January 16, 2019, is set out in the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (“MAUCRSA”). Traversing its tortuous tracks successfully may be possible for only for the most organized enterprises, like NUGS. The first stop is the Bureau of Cannabis Control (“BCC”), the lead agency in regulating commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California.

The BCC handles the licenses for four categories of cannabis businesses, including distributors, microbusinesses, retailers and testing laboratories, as well as short-term enterprises, such as cannabis shows and events. A microbusiness license allows the cultivation of cannabis on an area smaller than 10,000 square feet, as well as the distribution of cannabis and the manufacture of products that use either non-volatile solvents or no solvents at all. In addition to these four licenses, there are 16 others at the state level, including 14 cultivation licenses (indoor, outdoor, nursery, etc.) and two manufacturing categories.

For manufacturers, a license from the Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch (MCSB) is also required, while growers must get a license from CalCannabis Cultivation, a division of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (“CDFA”). At the county level, licensing applications will generally only be considered if state licenses are in place. In Santa Barbara County, where NUGS operates, there are eight types of permits: cultivation, distribution, microbusiness, nursery, retail, testing and volatile and non-volatile manufacturing.

Nevertheless, the travails of navigating the regulatory obstacle course are worth it. Close to 20 million people reside around the megalopolises of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and, together, the two metro areas have a GDP that is roughly the size of Mexico’s (around $1 trillion).

NUGS has a finger in other pies, too. Late last year, the company signed a deal with Biolog Inc., a company backed by Redfund Capital Corp. (CSE: LOAN) (Frankfurt: O3X4) (OTC: PNNRF), to develop water-soluble cannabis technologies for use in cannabis and phytocannabinoid-infused foods, beverages and consumer products (http://ibn.fm/2OYD3). Cannabinoids are hydrophobic and, thus, not easily soluble in water. Current cannabis formulations tend to be emulsions. Developing water-soluble versions of cannabinoids could considerably improve their range of application to beverages, foods, cosmetics and other consumer products, as well as significantly improving bioavailability.

NUGS recently acquired FITAMINS, a CBD performance brand, and it has retained Art ‘One Glove’ Jimmerson as an ambassador for the brand (http://ibn.fm/M0zp6). Jimmerson is a former professional boxer and mixed martial arts fighter, Ultimate Fighting Championship pioneer and coach. Under the acquisition agreement, FITAMINS will be distributing its vitamin- and hemp-derived CBD formulations through a network of 600+ wholesalers that serve the Asian-American market. FITAMINS will produce a proprietary CBD product to be added to NUGS’ brand portfolio, initially targeting distribution networks in the United States and eventually expanding into Asian markets that have legalized CBD products. FITAMINS leverages a proprietary health and wellness formula containing 25 mg of hemp-derived, THC-free cannabidiol (“CBD”) and other joint-supporting vitamins that work to improve health and relieve joint and muscle pain, encouraging movement and flexibility.

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

• Black Iron’s plan is to produce high-grade pellet feed in Ukraine
• High-grade pellet feed is forecast to substantially increase in price
• Close proximity to major infrastructure allows for the project to be built in low-cost phases
• Recently ranked by CRU in the lowest cost position globally for undeveloped iron ore pellet feed projects

Canadian-headquartered iron ore exploration and development company Black Iron Inc. (TSX: BKI) (OTC: BKIRF) (GR: BIN) is developing the Shymanivske iron ore deposit located in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. The company’s intention is to produce high grade pellet feed for sale to steel mills located in Europe, China and the Middle East. Its experienced management team is leveraging major infrastructure including railway, powerlines and ports that are already in place to advance its 100-percent-owned Shymanivske Project to production.

The global iron ore pellets market was valued at approximately $25.22 billion in 2017. The expectation is that it will reach $50.12 billion by 2024 (http://ibn.fm/dfxRy). In addition, iron ore prices are rising significantly. BMO Capital Markets, a Canada-based investment bank, has increased its 2019 forecast for benchmark prices by 24 percent to $78 per tonne (from $63 per tonne) and its 2020-2021 price to $70 per tonne. Regarding the worldwide pellet market, BMO is increasing its average Atlantic Basin pellet premium to $75 a tonne in 2019 (from $59 a tonne) and $55 tonne in 2020 (http://ibn.fm/1hNmN).

At present, Black Iron’s iron ore product sells for approximately $40 per tonne premium (http://ibn.fm/oRBjJ). Iron ore concentrates are one of the vital raw materials used by the steel industry to make sinter or highly valued pellets. Black Iron’s concentrate can be used in either application (http://ibn.fm/VBbLI). The price premium is increasing because of environmental consciousness, mainly in China. A benefit of Black Iron’s ultra-premium product (68 percent iron ore concentrate), upon the Shymanivske Project achieving production, is that less coal is burnt and therefore fewer emissions will be generated per ton of steel produced, as compared to benchmark iron ore containing 62 percent iron.

Moreover, its Shymanivske Project is strategically positioned between markets in Europe, Russia, Asia and the Middle East. This bodes well for the company as the demand for high-grade pellet feed increases across all of these markets. Shymanivske (surrounded by seven producing iron ore mines) lies 330km southeast of Kiev in central Ukraine, in the heart of the KrivBass iron ore mining district (http://ibn.fm/8CSKb).

The Shymanivske Project features a large iron ore deposit with an NI 43-101-compliant resource containing 646Mt Measure & Indicated at 31.6 percent iron. It also has an additional 188Mt Inferred resource at 30.1 percent iron that will be concentrated to the above-mentioned final product containing 68 percent iron. Forecast annual production for phase one of the project is 4.0 dmt (Dry Metric Tonnes), and it is expected to generate sufficient free cash flow to fully self-fund a second phase expansion to produce a total of 8.0 dmt (http://ibn.fm/IiSGG). The company can systematically and efficiently phase build because of its close proximity to rail (2 km), power (20 km), ports (five ranging from 230 km to 430 km) and a skilled workforce.

The Shymanivske project has been ranked by the CRU Group in the lowest position of the business cost curve for pellet feed projects currently under development and as the second-lowest in capital intensity (construction capital divided by annual production) within CRU Group’s extensive database (http://ibn.fm/hdIy1). This low-cost position makes the project economics very robust to any shocks in iron ore price while providing a very high return at current and forecast prices.

The foundation for Black Iron’s positivity regarding the Shymanivske Project moving toward production is strong interest from a number of steel mills and international traders looking to secure a long-term contract to purchase product in exchange for making a substantial equity investment for project construction. Additionally, strong interest is being shown by several European banks and international finance agencies to provide debt financing for project construction. Therefore, the company is moving ahead with this compelling pellet feed project to meet forecast global demand while simultaneously offering a dynamic iron ore opportunity to investors.

The technical and scientific contents of this article have been reviewed and approved by Matt Simpson, P.Eng., CEO of Black Iron, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

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

• Industry representatives believe that CBD has become “too big to fail” as a result of the legislative changes that occurred at the end of 2018
• Since hemp has been taken off the controlled substances list, the CBD market is anticipated to grow rapidly and reach $22 billion by 2022
• These changes will lead to intense competition and the need for more effective cultivation methods; because of such trends, companies like Green Hygienics Holdings are expected to benefit from rapid growth opportunities in 2019 and beyond

The legal status of hemp finally changed at the end of 2018, and, according to analysts, CBD products will grow to be bigger than ever before in 2019 and the years to come. This is good news for companies such as Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: GRYN), which are expected to profit from new growth opportunities as a result of the legislative changes.

The popularity of CBD is growing, and it has now become “too big to fail,” as U.S. Hemp Roundtable general counsel Jonathan Miller was quoted as saying in a Quartz article (http://ibn.fm/b00OG). Market projections for hemp-derived CBD suggest that it will reach $22 billion in the U.S. by 2022.

President Donald Trump signed the new Federal Farm Bill on December 20, 2018. The bill takes hemp off the controlled substances list, liberalizing the market and enabling large-scale cultivation, rather than just clinical or experimental projects.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement indicating that public meetings will be held for the purpose of creating a framework for the federal regulation of products featuring CBD oil. “We see a path in the very near future that the FDA will be formally approving of these products to be sold alongside the vitamin Cs and Ds and melatonins of the world,” Miller added.

The new legislative landscape will provide significant growth opportunities for companies like Green Hygienics. As the market expands and the competition becomes fiercer than ever before, the method and the cost of cultivation will become two of the determinants for success.

Green Hygienics offers cost-efficient growth solutions, and the company targets the high-end medical and adult-use recreational sectors. Its corporate strategy revolves around the use of hygienics and commercial indoor cultivation while optimizing yields.

The company relies on the aeroponic method of cultivation. Under this method, the roots of the plant are exposed, and the air is permeated by a mist of nutrients. The Green Hygienics proprietary aeroponics cultivation system provides a direct feed to the roots of the plant, and a centralized system is utilized to ensure optimal growth conditions – moisture, temperature, etc.

The result of using this proprietary aeroponics system is that a consistent grade of product can be delivered with both superior quality and superior yield in comparison to traditional cultivation methods.

Aeroponics systems operate in controlled, protected environments. Thus, many variables are eliminated to ensure cultivation consistency. The advanced, science-driven cultivation system brings the production cost per gram to under one dollar. In comparison, direct competitors that cultivate indoor products have reached a production cost per gram in the $2-$4 range.

Green Hygienics aims to grow in 2019 and beyond by generating revenue from the cultivation and sale of premium grade cannabis-derived products. In addition, Green Hygienics plans to develop and license intellectual property assets, make strategic acquisitions and develop globally-trusted consumer brands.

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

• Shares recently began trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the U.S.
• PLUS is the best-selling cannabis-infused brand in California
• Company’s retail sales and market share have consistently grown over the past five quarters
• PLUS plans to enter additional markets with its proven products and brands

Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQB: PLPRF) is employing a brand-building strategy to grow market share. In its investor presentation, the company notes that, as it competes exclusively in California’s CBD edibles market, it is well-positioned for expansion (http://ibn.fm/1yCvg).

In a news release (http://ibn.fm/GBS8x), PLUS CEO Jake Heimark said, “We believe branded edible market share is difficult to earn yet is one of the most important metrics of long-term shareholder value.” Heimark also noted that the company aims to expand its brand beyond California in 2019.

PLUS is a cannabis-infused, branded-products manufacturer that sells to regulated medicinal and adult-use recreational markets. PLUS produces its offerings in its 12,000-square-foot cannabis facility in Adelanto, California.

According to BDS Analytics data, PLUS has improved its edibles market position in terms of the retail value of sales from number four in Q2 2018 to number one in Q3 2018 (http://ibn.fm/yUDJV). BDS Analytics also shows that PLUS’ sales in units and market share increased every quarter from Q2 2017 to Q2 2018.

PLUS is focused on building the largest cannabis brand by growing organically and through acquisitions. “Edibles command the strongest long-term brand premiums,” PLUS states in its presentation. “Brands are built in differentiated, not commoditized, product categories.”

In conjunction with ongoing brand building, the company’s shares are now available on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States. Company shares will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange as well.

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

• Growth by acquisition will be a priority following IPO spin-off, according to CIIX CEO Warren Wang
• CIIX reported significant revenue growth, with hemp and CBD sales increasing by eight times year-over-year
• Industry trend may indicate more hemp or marijuana being sourced from Columbia, or Thailand and other Asian locations, moving forward

ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) is currently planning an IPO of wholly owned foreign enterprise CBD Biotech, according to CEO Warren Wang. Wang said in a news release that the company hopes for a Nasdaq IPO of CBD Biotech late in FY2019 or early the following year. CIIX would then focus on identifying an acquisition target for further growth (http://ibn.fm/cL3A8).

Wang emphasized that the CBD IPO would be a priority, followed by the acquisition search. CIIX sees CBD Biotech delivering higher CBD product distribution in FY2019, both domestically and in China. Wang added that the performance of the company’s financial services division in Q2 2019 was strong, recording a 40 percent increase in revenues over the same period of the prior year.

“As we leverage the momentum already in place, we look forward to having an even stronger second half for FY 2019,” Wang said in a news release (http://ibn.fm/O9Tv2).

Wang also discussed a possible future trend regarding production and sourcing of hemp and marijuana from Asian nations such as Thailand, as well as Columbia, due to cost savings as compared to relying on U.S. and Canadian facilities. This trend impacts CIIX, because the company sells hemp-based health products in China and the United States. CIIX also owns and operates ChineseHempOil.com Inc.

Based in San Gabriel, California, CIIX is a diversified company that offers its Chinese-speaking audience investment education through real-time market commentary, video reports, podcasts and an online site. Financial consulting services are provided to client companies as well.

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

• Recent legislative changes in San Diego are likely to help Green Hygienics Holdings expand to the region, despite increased competition over cultivation land
• Company’s innovative aeroponic growing technology requires less land while still generating higher quality crops
• Additional federal legislative changes expected to result in an incredibly favorable business climate for hemp producers
• The recently passed Federal Farm Bill legalizing hemp forecast to contribute to the growth of the hemp market at a CAGR of 18.4 percent from 2018 to 2022

The demand for cannabis-related real estate has increased significantly in San Diego after the recent legalization and approval of three additional industrial properties for planned marijuana production (http://ibn.fm/mbFvv). While this increases the challenge for many marijuana growers, it could give an advantage to companies such as Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTC: GRYN), whose aeroponics growing system requires limited land and resources, as compared to traditional growing techniques. Green Hygienics Holdings is planning on introducing its brands to the San Diego market first, before moving on to the rest of the U.S. and, then, internationally.

The San Diego City Council has increased the number of formally approved industrial spaces for marijuana cultivation to 21. In addition, the city council has approved 19 of an allowed quota of 36 retail locations. The legislative change was approved on December 3 by absolute majority (eight to zero votes). The vote affirmed permits for marijuana cultivation facilities at a 21,210-square-foot space in the Kearny Mesa area, a 40,536-square-foot space in Mira Mesa and an 86,288-square-foot space in Otay Mesa.

The decision led to increased competition over planned marijuana production sites, with 30 applicants currently vying for the remaining 19 slots available. Early last year, San Diego had 40 available locations and more than 66 applicants. Unless the city approves additional locations, many growers will be left out of San Diego and thus lose access to a market with high potential.

The situation will primarily affect businesses that utilize traditional growing methods, which require extensive resources in terms of land, water and electricity.  This could give companies such as Green Hygienics Holdings, which is using an innovative aeroponic growing technology (the delivery of nutrients to an exposed root), a competitive advantage over other businesses, as this technology requires considerably less land.

Green Hygienics Holdings, a full-scope premium cannabis cultivation enterprise targeting the high-end medical and adult-use recreational markets and leading the way in the development of science-driven cannabis cultivation systems, has developed significant expertise in aeroponics. Its proprietary aeroponics cultivation system offers multiple advantages, including superior quality and yields as a result of growing in a controlled and protected environment, scalability, lower labor costs, lower grow area and water requirements and more.

Consequently, the company’s growing efficiency is increased, and the cost per unit is significantly reduced on a consistent basis. Green Hygienics Holdings’ current product cost per gram is under $1, while competitors cultivating a high-end indoor product have costs ranging from $2 to $4 per gram.

The approvals in San Diego are a part of a larger, nationwide initiative aimed at supporting recreational cannabis sales. The attempt was first made legal in California about two years ago, when the state approved Proposition 64. At this time, California became the fifth state to legalize recreational marijuana use, and, since then, a few others have followed in its footsteps.

The San Diego developments are indicative of a much broader adoption that’s taking place on a national scale. The 2018 Federal Farm Bill was passed by the U.S. Congress with strong bipartisan support on December 12, 2018 (http://ibn.fm/QMNON). The $867 billion bill allocates significant subsidies to American farmers, and, even more importantly, it legalizes hemp.

This legalization is a long-awaited victory after decades of campaigning. It will classify hemp as an agricultural commodity that’s no longer included in the controlled substances list.

According to advocates, the legislative changes will contribute to a market boom. As a new supply chain develops and researchers discover new uses for cannabidiol oil (a hemp derivative), the industry is expected to become more economically viable than ever before.

Researchers suggest that the Federal Farm Bill will contribute to an 18.4 percent CAGR in the period from 2018 to 2022. The cannabidiol oil market is also expected to grow, from $390 million in 2018 to $1.3 billion in 2022 – a CAGR of 27.2 percent over the five-year period (http://ibn.fm/4crIU). The removal of hemp from the controlled substances list is forecast to have an immediate, domino-like effect.

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

• Kontrol Energy gains fast-growing startup recognition with revenue jump from $1.8 million to $16 million during past two years
• Kontrol shores up Dimax acquisition with purchase of IP and patents, technology rebrand to Kontrol SmartSite
• Acquisition strategy update notes focus on energy retrofit industry and emissions compliance

The world is rapidly becoming preoccupied with planetary climate changes as temperatures swing wildly, the Earth’s poles alter their icy constitutions, extreme weather events grow in intensity and sea coast areas experience flooded real estate (http://ibn.fm/ZLwdc). Kontrol Energy (CSE: KNR) (OTC: OTSHF) (FSE: 1K8) is attempting to lead out smart management efforts for utilities usage through a strong merger and acquisition philosophy as consumers become ever-more conscious of their impact on the situation.

Kontrol Energy’s software makes it possible for building managers to utilize automated building technology that’s already in place at their facilities or to add elements as needed to monitor and adjust HVAC system operations with real-time data. The company’s business model appears to be succeeding; in its most recent quarterly earnings report, Kontrol showed revenue growth of 35 percent over the previous year (http://ibn.fm/NyEec).

“In less than 2 years we have grown our revenue run rate from $1.8 Million to $16 Million,” CEO Paul Ghezzi stated in the company’s quarterly announcement. “Kontrol is delivering on our stated goals and objectives and we seek to continue our strong growth through further accretive acquisitions and the expansion of our smart energy technologies.”

On January 16, the company announced its most recent addition – the purchase of Dimax Controls Canada Inc.’s intellectual property and patents. Kontrol Energy acquired MCW Dimax Ltd.’s operating assets on April 30 of last year and began integrating the MCW Dimax team and operating assets into Kontrol Energy Group.

With the purchase of the Dimax IP and patents, Kontrol announced that it will also rebrand the energy software technology as Kontrol SmartSite.

“The Kontrol SmartSite technology now joins Kontrol SmartSuite in our growing portfolio of IOT enabled energy and property technologies,” Ghezzi continued (http://ibn.fm/C6l8G). “Which will enable further technology development.”

The company also recently added two energy service contracts with licensed producers in Canada’s cannabis sector and is wrapping up the acquisition of Ontario-based emission integrator CEM Specialties Inc.

Kontrol provided an update on its acquisition strategy on January 24 (http://ibn.fm/1wTb2), stating, “The immediate area of strategic focus for the Company is to grow its current operations in energy retrofits and emission compliance with an aim to expand across Canada through a number of accretive acquisitions.”

Energy retrofitting involves upgrades to existing commercial building systems. In the areas of emission compliance equipment, measuring and reporting, the company’s growth plan for 2019 envisions a national footprint through an acquisition in both western and eastern Canada, as well as a growing presence in the United States. Canadian Business and Maclean’s recently described Kontrol Energy as the seventh-fastest-growing startup in Canada (http://ibn.fm/Mwrhe).

Efficiency standards can prove important even during an extreme weather event, when utilities are in critical demand. During the recent “polar vortex” incident that plunged the Midwestern United States into a sub-zero deep freeze, many consumers were asked to keep their thermostats down below preferred temperatures or face the possibility of outages as a result of insufficient fuel supplies (http://ibn.fm/0hAZW). Michigan’s governor issued a call to action to the state’s residents in an attempt to help spread the word about the importance of conserving energy amid the crisis.

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

• LOI signed to acquire full-service advertising/marketing agency Goodfellas Group LLC, which serves cannabis/hemp industries throughout the U.S.
• TransCanna recently closed IPO, generating C$2.2 million in gross proceeds
• Principal business centers on branding, transportation, distribution, logistics and fulfillment services to California’s medical and adult-use cannabis industry
• Selection of Purple Crown Communications Corp. of Vancouver, Canada, as IR consultant is expected to build shareholder base, attract potential investors
• U.S. legal cannabis industry projected to reach $23.4 billion in consumer spending in 2022, growing at a 22 percent CAGR from 2017-2022

TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN), which recently raised C$2.2 million through its initial public offering (“IPO”) to help finance the company’s entry into California’s cannabis distribution and branding market (http://ibn.fm/phE3n), has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Goodfellas Group LLC, a full-service advertising and marketing agency that specializes in the cannabis and hemp industries. The move is designed to further expand the company’s reach and continue its ongoing growth strategy.

“It’s critically important that in order for our future brands to be successful in the cannabis and hemp space, we have to have relationships with the dispensaries and retailers, who in turn have the relationships with the end users,” Jim Pakulis, CEO of TransCanna, stated in a news release announcing the pending acquisition (http://ibn.fm/lM0NL). “Through GoodFellas, we’ll have immediate access to many of the most successful dispensaries in California, and retailers throughout the US. In addition, we’ll be examining GoodFellas clientele to determine if there are potential acquisition candidates that fit our extremely critical vetting process.”

The Goodfellas acquisition price will be calculated as two times the previous 12-month revenues at the time of execution of the definitive agreements, as set forth in the audited financial statements of Goodfellas. Sixty percent of the acquisition price will be paid at closing, of which one-half will be payable in cash and the rest payable through the issuance of TransCanna’s common shares. The remaining 40 percent of the acquisition price will be paid 12 months after the closing. TransCanna also anticipates retaining key members of the Goodfellas staff.

TransCanna is already in the process of acquiring 23 branding agreements from Goodfellas.

“We watched first-hand how Jim took TransCanna from the inception stage in 2017 to overseeing a successful IPO,” Nam Tran, president of Goodfellas, noted in a news release. “We believe TransCanna’s long term vision aligns with ours which is to build a portfolio of extremely successful brands and have the distribution and sales teams already in place as the brands come online.”

A new report issued by Arcview Market Research in partnership with BDS Analytics projects that the legal cannabis space in the U.S. will experience double-digit growth from 2018 to 2022. According to the report, “The State of Legal Marijuana Markets, Sixth Edition,” consumer spending on legal cannabis products in the U.S. was expected to reach $11 billion in 2018 and climb to more than $23 billion by 2022, growing at a 22 percent compound annual growth rate over the five-year period (http://ibn.fm/sS6Bh). A separate Arcview report, focusing on the economic multiplier effects of U.S. consumer spending on legal cannabis in 2021, states that more than 414,000 jobs will be created in the industry, with over $4 billion generated in tax receipts (http://ibn.fm/rblrY).

Transporting cannabis products in California has been challenging because of the state’s patchwork of local and state regulations. Companies regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation are barred from participating, because cannabis remains illegal under federal law, adding another layer of complication to distribution (http://ibn.fm/FmPIa). Companies looking to excel in the sector must hold a state-issued distributor license from the Bureau of Cannabis Control.

TCM Distribution, the operating company managed by TransCanna, has already entered into three exclusive distribution agreements with licensed operators on the condition that the company gets all of the necessary distribution and transportation licenses and California state permits. TransCanna has also entered into an intellectual property rights and royalty agreement for the Track & Trace software platform required by the state of California.

Keeping shareholders informed is a priority for TransCanna, which recently engaged Purple Crown Communications Corp. of Vancouver to act as its investor relations consultant, subject to regulatory approval of applicable filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange, according to a company news release (http://ibn.fm/nkeuW).

“Our goal was to align ourselves with a firm that puts shareholder communication first and can build a strong shareholder base as management focuses on building the business,” Pakulis stated in the release. “We’re extremely pleased to have retained Purple Crown, and we look forward to working with them and growing TransCanna together.”

Purple Crown will assist TransCanna in broadening its shareholder base and creating effective communications tools for shareholders and potential investors. Purple Crown has been engaged for a term of 12 months, renewable on a monthly basis thereafter on mutual agreement, and it will be paid a monthly fee of $7,000. Except for the investor relations services agreement, Purple Crown does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the company or its securities.

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

• An estimated $10 billion in ticket sales is expected to be generated in 2019 by the outside business events industry
• Based on its current business model, Cool Events expects to produce over 120 events in 2019 with gross revenues reaching over $19 million
• Non-traditional running events are taking the nation by storm with experiential races and obstacle races topping the “most popular” list, according to Running USA
• Charitable giving is at an all-time high in the U.S. with an estimated $210 billion donated in 2017, according to Giving USA Foundation’s annual report on philanthropy

Cool Events Inc. (OTC: RNWR) offers an array of unique, experiential running and obstacle events that attract thousands of participants sharing a passion for running and helping others. The company produced over 120 events in 2018 under the banner of five successful brands and has already lined up venues for 2019.

Cool Events offers the following trademarked events throughout the nation, with each dedicated to raising funds for important charities: Blacklight Run, the largest glow powder run in the world; Bubble Run, the largest daytime 5K run in the country; Foam Glow, The largest nighttime glow run in the country and the world’s only glowing foam run; Blacklight Slide, the first and only close to five story high Glow-N-Dark water slide with neon glowing water; and Terrain Race, the nation’s fastest growing and industry leading obstacle course race for all ages and athletic abilities.

Cool Events dedicates each of its trademarked runs and events to childhood cancer awareness, making sure this critically important issue is spread throughout the nation one runner, one race at a time. Since its first event in August 2013, the company has donated more than $1 million to Phoenix Children’s Hospital/Children’s Miracle Network and hundreds of thousands more to other charity partners such as Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Adoption Awareness, Special Olympics Massachusetts, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Kendra’s Kisses, Boys and Girls Club and many more over the years.

Cool Events brings a seasoned management team with 35 years of combined experience in operating experiential events including obstacle course races, running races, experiential family events and other competitive events. The Cool Events team also offers consulting, marketing and development for outside events. The company’s in-house marketing agency can handle all brand awareness for event strategy, bringing an event’s vision and goals to life.

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

• QMC Quantum Minerals is exploring for lithium at the Irgon Mine site in southern Manitoba, which is located nearby the world-class TANCO Deposit, another very productive, lithium-bearing granitic pegmatite
• The company is entering into talks with testing firm SGS Canada to begin the process of testing production of a saleable lithium product
• SGS’s evaluation of QMC’s site recently discovered two unexpected geochemical soil anomalies believed to indicate additional, adjacent, lithium-bearing pegmatite dikes

Recent successes in exploring for spodumene-bearing pegmatite dikes on its 100 percent-owned Irgon Property are leading QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (OTC: QMCQF) (TSX.V: QMC) (FSE: 3LQ) to begin preliminary testing of lithium recoveries from a sample of the Irgon mineralization. A January news release issued by the company (http://ibn.fm/ULHSE) notes that QMC is entering discussions with specialized international inspections and testing firm SGS Canada to evaluate lithium recoveries from a large spodumene-bearing pegmatite sample obtained from known dikes on the Irgon property. This is expected to result in confirmation that the production of a saleable lithium material is viable.

QMC will continue to evaluate the additional, potentially mineralized locations as defined by significant geochemical anomalies generated by the recent mobile metal ion (“MMI”) soil geochemical orientation survey that was undertaken at QMC’s Irgon Lithium Mine site in southern Manitoba. The company previously announced that MMI surveying techniques employed by SGS had accurately identified the western extension of its existing Irgon Dike and had gone on to identify two MMI geochemical soil anomalies located north and south of the Irgon Dike. The company believes that these geochemical anomalies are related to buried, parallel, lithium-bearing pegmatite occurrences at which no surface rock outcropping nor spodumene mineralization is visible (http://ibn.fm/Yt95o). Each of the anomalies, and several additional highly prospective areas, will be further tested and expanded during the upcoming field season to accurately define the exact location and size of the underlying source of the geochemical anomalies. Once defined, all targets will then be tested.

After evaluating the MMI test results received as a result of the MMI orientation geochemical soil survey established directly over the Irgon Dike, SGS noted that “Li (lithium) values in soils correlate well with both Cs (cesium) and Rb (rubidium) values,” and added that “the Cs values for many of the samples are well above a ‘normal Cs value’ in various rock types in North America. This would be expected as elevated Cs values have been previously documented in the assay results of samples obtained during the recent QMC channel sampling program of the Irgon Dike. Cs is also reported to occur in biotite selvages that occur along the contact of the Irgon Dike.”

The two “separate and very pronounced MMI anomalies” that were identified show stronger MMI signatures than the MMI signature received from above the known, existing spodumene mineralization that occurs in the Irgon Dike. QMC is planning to continue to use the MMI survey technique to explore other areas within the Irgon Lithium Mine Property with the aim of quickly adding potential resource expansion.

In the meantime, the lithium recovery study being negotiated with SGS will test the recoveries on and the upgrading of a large spodumene-bearing pegmatite sample taken from dikes on the Irgon Property. SGS will prepare the large sample so that it will be responsive to the dense media separation (“DMS”) process. Then, all gangue magnetic minerals (such as magnetite) will be removed, and a lithium concentrate will be made using DMS. The company will then upgrade the lithium concentrate through flotation technology to recover a final, saleable product.

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