• Legal cannabis market likely to be plagued by poor quality control
• DNAX technology tracks all stages of cannabis supply chain
• Platform already deployed by biosciences company

Liberalization may be bringing cannabis consumption out of the shadows, but large parts of the supply chain remain hidden – an inconspicuous circumstance that poses great risk to consumers. In New Haven, Connecticut, about 100 people overdosed on “synthetic marijuana” recently, and they may have had no idea that their pot was “synthetic.” Synthetic marijuana can be made to look like the real thing. Technology from BLOCKStrain Technology Corp. (TSX.V: DNAX) (OTC: BKKSF) may have saved these unfortunate individuals from such dire straits. The company’s blockchain system can accurately track all stages of the cannabis supply chain and all aspects of quality control. It could make licensed cannabis retailers and dispensaries as safe as houses.

It’s not good practice to shop for weed in a park, the course of action taken by the 100 or so people who succumbed to the noxious effects of the manufactured variant. Synthetic marijuana, also called K2 or Spice, is composed of a mix selected from a grab bag of chemicals designed to stimulate cannabinoid receptor sites in the brain (http://ibn.fm/aojzw). These synthetic cannabinoid chemicals were first created as research tools to study the brain but are now finding their way into recreational use. Many formulations originate in Asian laboratories. They are purchased by cartels or street dealers, who use them to spray inert plant material before passing off the final product as marijuana.

Cannabis bought through a licensed retailer should be safer, but it may not always be. Although cannabis marketed to the public is subject to testing, state regulatory requirements vary and, more disturbingly, so too does the quality of services provided by the testing industry. The labs that provide these services assess THC levels and test for the presence of plant disease and contaminants. They are an essential aspect of effective regulatory oversight and are expected to abide by state-instituted standards in their testing procedures. However, since the facilities are neither graded nor regularly inspected, it’s difficult to say to what extent compliance is observed. As a result, the industry is plagued by lax practices that may allow substandard or fake cannabis to get to consumers. The need for a system like the one developed by DNAX is becoming more pressing as use of marijuana grows.

Regulators are acutely aware of the risks posed by present supply channels, and so a primary goal is to “establish an efficient, accountable and transparent system for regulatory oversight of the supply chain”, as noted in “The Final Report of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation” published by the Canadian government (http://ibn.fm/Knm38). To accomplish this, requires a system that collects and manages a tremendous amount of data, including pesticide use and quality control, as well as possession limits and servings sizes in order to validate and verify products.

DNAX’s BLOCKStrain platform can do all that and more. The technology can provide the integrity that the current system so sorely lacks. It goes further by ensuring product authenticity and IP protection with a genetics verification process. Using BLOCKStrain is also likely to enhance brand reputation. Producers and marketers can take advantage of this novel methodology by submitting the lab results of tested samples to BLOCKStrain. Each time an item is tested and verified by the network, a registration affidavit is auto-generated and given a unique “BLOCKStrain Address” along with a traceable QR Code. Producers, patients and consumers are able to not only verify the test but also rate the product, write reviews and share opinions. These details are stored within BLOCKStrain and, like the test results, cannot be tampered with or modified. Both verification and certification are earned by all parties for their participation. Moreover, pre-existing data on genetic cannabis strains can be submitted to the BLOCKStrain verification administrators, and those results will be added to the user’s blockchain account.

BLOCKStrain has already deployed the technology. Recently, it announced that it had signed a letter of intent to integrate its proprietary technology into Abattis’s product and services ecosystem (http://ibn.fm/m9DbR). Through this collaboration, the parties hope to enable Abattis’ clients to instantly arrange for sales, shipping, testing and analysis of Abattis products, giving those clients comprehensive visibility over such products throughout their entire lifecycles. Abattis is a life sciences and biotechnology company that aggregates, integrates and invests in cannabis technologies and biotechnology services for the legal cannabis industry in Canada.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.BLOCKStrain.io

• The company is entering the European hydroponics market as it expands its foothold in the cannabis supply marketplace through its first order program via Amazon UK
• SGMD estimates that its revenue will reach $30 million by 2019 with operating profitability and positive operating cash flow; it is increasing its commitment to the industrial hemp sector
• The European marijuana market is seen as becoming the largest cannabis market in the world, with more than $150 million invested already

Sugarmade, Inc. (OTC: SGMD) is targeting the European hydroponics market, supplying multiple products for cultivators via its first order through the Amazon UK program. Its agreement calls for it to offer several dozen stock keeping units (SKUs) to be sold in the United Kingdom. A cannabis-related supply company, SGMD projects that its 2019 volume will reach $30 million at operating profitability (http://ibn.fm/8m7iT).

In a news release, Jimmy Chan, CEO of SGMD, said, “While we have previously informed our investors of our $30 million revenue goal for next year, revenues continue to grow across the board.” He cited the opportunities presented by the lack of available quality products at attractive prices within the European market.

Sugarmade is entering Europe at a time when a new report by analyst group Prohibition Partners projects that, referencing a survey of 28 key countries across the continent, the marijuana market there will be worth €115 billion by 2028. It is seen as becoming the world’s single largest region for cannabis (http://ibn.fm/M0l7U).

SGMD, based in Monrovia, California, recently returned to the OCTQB Venture Market as a fully reporting company (http://ibn.fm/ko4wr). It is a hydroponics supply company committed to growth in the industrial hemp sector. SGMD is a product and brand marketing company with numerous operations, such as packaging and paper goods for diverse industries. By entering the industrial hemp market, it is seeking to increase its revenue base. Its brands include ZenHydro.com, CarryOutSupplies.com and BudLife.

“We not so much believe, but very much know that Europe will become the biggest cannabis industry in the world, it’s just a matter of when,” Stephen Murphy, co-founder and managing director of Prohibition Partners, noted in the report. “The European market has grown faster in the past six months than it has in the past six years.” The article noted that medical cannabis is currently legal in 20 countries across Europe. In 2018, three more announced legalization efforts, and more than $150 million has been invested in those markets already, per the report.

Sugarmade is investing in Hempistry, Inc., a privately held Nevada corporation, which has begun planting an ultra-high cannabidiol (CBD) industrial hemp strain in Kentucky. Additionally, Sugarmade expects to sign an agreement with Hempistry for hemp cultivation supplies.

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

• Partnership with Canopy Growth leverages the network, expertise and innovation capabilities of the world’s largest cannabis company
• Diversified portfolio of high-quality licensed cannabis producers, late-stage applicants, ancillary products and brands
• Investments tailored to meet unique needs of each counterparty while achieving positive cash flow, secured downside protection and upside equity optionality
• Access to an alternative investment vehicle characterized by early entry points, detailed counterparty due diligence and distinguished partners

Canopy Rivers Corporation is the venture capital investment platform of Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC).

Canopy Rivers is a unique investment and operating platform structured to pursue investment opportunities in the emerging global cannabis sector. Canopy Rivers collaborates with Canopy Growth to identify strategic counterparties seeking financial and/or operating support. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Canopy Rivers has developed an ecosystem of complementary cannabis operating companies operating throughout the cannabis value chain.

Canopy Rivers, in collaboration with Canopy Growth, has established a diverse portfolio of cannabis industry investments that includes domestic and international companies, licensed producers, late-stage licensed producer applicants, pharmaceutical formulators, brand developers and distributors, retail networks, and technology and media platforms. Investments are customized for each counterparty and include a balanced mix of equity, debt, royalty and profit-sharing agreements.

Canopy Rivers’ expanding portfolio includes:

• Agripharm Corp. (private) is an ACMPR licensed producer, acquired by Canopy Growth in January 2017. In November 2017 Agripharm completed a joint venture with globally recognized partners Green House Seeds and Organa Brands. Canopy Growth has sublicensed proprietary technology, trademarks, genetics, know-how and other intellectual property from Agripharm to distribute the suite of Green House and Organa Brands products across the country, when permissible.
• CanapaR Corp. (private) owns 80% of CanapaR Italy, a Sicily-based company focused on developing and commercializing Italy’s local hemp cultivation industry through its partnership with the renowned Department of Agriculture at the University of Catania and its rapidly building extraction capabilities for the production of organic CBD oil. CanapaR Italy’s outsource farming model with local Sicilian farmers and its university partnership will provide it with a low-cost source of organic CBD oil, which is increasingly used as an input into new commercial products in the growing health and wellness industries.
• Civilized Worldwide Inc. (private), is a media and lifestyle brand with offices in New Brunswick and California that embraces and highlights modern cannabis culture. Civilized aims to engage the millions of productive, motivated people who choose to enjoy cannabis responsibly as part of their lifestyle. Reaching 2+ million unique visitors per month, North America-wide, Civilized produces engaging content for and about people who enjoy cannabis responsibly.
• James E. Wagner Cultivation Ltd. (TSX.V: JWCA) was founded in 2007 by third generation agricultural and cannabis cultivators. JWC is the first entirely aeroponic producer of cannabis in Canada, and its patent-pending aeroponic production technology, called GrowthStormTM, allows for perpetual harvesting and improved yields. The company was issued a license to cultivate from Health Canada in January 2017 and a subsequent sales license in March 2018.
• LiveWell Foods Canada Inc. (TSX.V: LVWL) was established in 1993 as a nutritional lifestyle company, and operates in the production of fresh produce and food technology. The company’s O-Hemp division distributes bulk and retail hemp products through its existing channel partners. LiveWell entered into a strategic agreement with Canopy Rivers and Canopy Growth in April 2018.
• PharmHouse (private) is a joint venture between Canopy Rivers and the principals and operators of leading North American greenhouse produce companies. PharmHouse has arranged to acquire a newly built 1.3-million-square-foot greenhouse located in Leamington, Ontario.
• Radicle Cannabis Inc. (private) is an ACMPR-licensed cannabis company based in Hamilton, Ontario backed by a management team that brings extensive experience in regulated industries, retail distribution, tobacco and pharmaceutical development, as well as Award-winning cannabis horticulturist breeders and medical professionals.
• Solo Growth (TSX.V: ALZ) is a premiere retail cannabis distributor that will operate locations under the name “YSS by Solo,” relying on the expertise of a management team comprised of founding shareholders, senior officers and board members of Canada’s largest private liquor retailer, Solo Liquor, who collectively have more than 50 years of regulated substance retail experience. Solo Growth was established through a recapitalization of Aldershot Resources Ltd.’s corporate structure that will allow the company to execute a new retail-focused cannabis business strategy as “Solo Growth Corp.”
• Spot Therapeutics Inc. (private) is an applicant that was acquired by Canopy Growth in August 2017 to solidify its Maritimes expansion strategy and less than four weeks later Canopy Growth signed a supply MOU with the New Brunswick government. Canopy Rivers purchased the property and entered into a long-term lease and committed funding agreement with Canopy Growth.
• TerrAscend Corp. (CSE: TER) cultivates high-quality cannabis in an indoor hydroponic facility, backed by a strategic investor boasting a strong background in the pharmaceutical space and an extensive portfolio of specialty pharma assets.
• Vert Mirabel (private) is a joint venture that was established in December 2017 between Canopy Rivers, Canopy Growth, and Les Serres Stephane Bertrand. Bertrand is a large-scale greenhouse operator located in Mirabel, Quebec, and the largest grower of pink tomatoes in the country. With guidance and assistance from Canopy Growth, the greenhouse has been upgraded and retrofitted for cannabis production and was licensed by Health Canada in May 2018.

As the company’s portfolio continues to develop, each constituent benefits from opportunities to collaborate with Canopy Growth and among themselves. Canopy Rivers believes this formula results in an ideal environment for innovation, synergy and value creation for Canopy Rivers, Canopy Growth and across the entire Rivers ecosystem.

Canopy Rivers is led by an experienced team of qualified financial and technical professionals with deep industry experience and relationship networks. The company’s acting CEO and chairman is Bruce Linton, CEO of Canopy Growth and founder of Tweed Marijuana.

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

• Matthew Dole appointed as senior vice president of business development
• Jeff Palumbo appointed as chief technology officer
• New management part of a strategic plan to increase shareholder value and brand awareness

Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTC: GRYN), a cannabis cultivation company targeting the high-end medical and adult-use recreational market, recently announced that it has appointed two new professionals to its management team. Matthew Dole and Jeff Palumbo bring years of leadership experience to Green Hygienics Holdings. The full announcement can be viewed at http://ibn.fm/tUDRM.

Appointed as senior vice president of business development and director, Matthew Dole is a highly skilled business development manager. His extensive background in the health care insurance industry will help him successfully lead Green Hygienics’ business development and expansion initiatives.

Jeff Palumbo, the new chief technology officer (CTO) of Green Hygienics, has successfully created multiple platforms empowering publishers and merchants while engaging consumers. He has developed platforms for several Fortune 1000 companies and is an experienced mentor for start-ups. His expertise will be used to establish global consumer brands for Green Hygienics.

The additions of Dole and Palumbo to its management team are part of a strategic move by the company to grow by generating revenues from the sales of premium grade cannabis products, developing and licensing valuable IP, making strategic acquisitions and creating trusted global consumer brands. The experience that each brings to the company is invaluable and holds the promise of increasing shareholder value and brand awareness in an increasingly competitive industry.

The philosophy of the company can be found within its name. Hygienics is the science of preserving and promoting the health of individuals, communities and the planet, and it’s at the core of the company’s operations. By producing premium cannabis products at significantly lower costs per gram than its direct competitors, Green Hygienics is establishing itself as a leader in the advancement of science-driven cannabis cultivation systems. Combined with its highly experienced management team, Green Hygienics is on a strategic path to becoming a highly sought after and successful brand.

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

• Proprietary branding and partnership model for consumer-focused cannabis brands
• Expansion includes acquisition of Asher House Pet CBD brand of U.S. hemp-derived cannabidiol supplements for pets
• Footprint growing in billion-dollar Asian nutraceuticals market with Fitamins CBD brand
• Cannabis industry growing at accelerated rate, with North American market expected to top $47 billion by 2027

Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) is making good on its commitment to stakeholders as it moves forward on a previously announced strategy to develop a proprietary branding and partnership model for consumer-specific cannabis brands and secure several strategic acquisitions.

“Branding is becoming more important to the development of this industry,” Simon Yu, Cannabis Strategic’s CEO, stated in a news release announcing the company’s plans (http://ibn.fm/OGCCq). “As a firm, we predict consumer-focused cannabis brands will eventually become one of the largest categories in the cannabis industry. This is a place we want to be in and are taking steps to ensure our participation. Additionally, as the cannabis industry continues to evolve, the Cannabis Strategic Ventures business model will adapt to the changing needs of the market while remaining true to our core mission.”

Although headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Cannabis Strategic’s outlook is global, with an eye toward supporting entrepreneurial growth within the fast-growing legal cannabis sector. Reemphasizing the company’s belief that cannabis consumer brands are the future of success in the rapidly expanding marketplace, Cannabis Strategic notes that it has taken several steps toward implementing its new brand forward strategy:

• Acquisition of a controlling interest in the Asher House Pet CBD line, a brand of U.S. hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) supplements for pets that is gaining national attention and expanding on an international scale (http://ibn.fm/7DUi8).
• Investment into billion-dollar Asian-American nutraceuticals market with acquisition of Fitamins CBD brand, which has access to 600 wholesalers (http://ibn.fm/mIuuP).
• Wholly owned subsidiary Pure Applied Sciences commenced production of its patent-pending Halo Filters, a cannabis smoke filtration pre-rolled cone (http://ibn.fm/LJnRI).
• White label services agreement signed with Sunniva’s CP Logistics subsidiary to produce ultra-purified cannabis extracts for the Pure Organix™ brand owned by Pure Applied Sciences (http://ibn.fm/5KUtt).

Yu said that Cannabis Strategic’s commitment to “continue to evolve to do right for our investors, the industry, our customers, and everyone involved throughout the supply chain” was at the core of the company’s recent decision to conduct a major share restructuring. A total of 75.6 million shares were cancelled, including 20 million from Yu, in a move designed to increase value for all shareholders, a news release states (http://ibn.fm/O9ojV). The decision will also allow company managers, consultants, minority shareholders, and other key Cannabis Strategic Ventures stakeholders to increase corporate flexibility relative to future brand-oriented strategic acquisitions and partnerships.

“The share cancellations increase value for all shareholders and signals to minority shareholders on the management team’s interest in building long-term value for all,” Yu said in the release. “The future of Cannabis Strategic Ventures is all about acquiring and partnering with the best brands in the fast-growing cannabis marketplace. The streamlined share structure will continue to make our Company an attractive partner as we work toward signing other similar brands and distribution partnerships.”

The legal cannabis industry will see a huge growth spurt over the next 10 years, according to Arcview Market Research and partner BDS Analytics. Spending on legal cannabis worldwide is expected to hit $57 billion by 2027, with the majority of those sales – just over $47 billion – coming from North American buyers, an article in Forbes reports (http://ibn.fm/yaKun).

Cannabis Strategic plans to be at the forefront of this revolution as it incubates, develops and partners with category leaders within the cannabis sectors. The company pursues investment opportunities in the areas of real estate, cultivation, extraction, distribution, packaging, dispensary operations and branded products within the cannabis space, in addition to providing mentorship and a range of essential services to emerging and existing cannabis consumer brands.

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

• ChineseInvestors.com is a fintech company
• It provides financial information for Chinese-speaking investors
• The company is in the process of spinning off its cannabidiol (CBD) division

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) is a fintech company that concentrates on providing financial information and services. Its focus is on operating the foremost financial information website for Chinese-speaking investors. The company provides real-time market commentary, analysis and education-related services via www.ChineseFN.com. ChineseInvestors.com has corporate offices in San Gabriel, California; New York, New York; and Shanghai, China.

Furthermore, the company has recognized opportunities in the U.S. cannabis industry. It has worked to take advantage of the increasing demand for cannabidiol-based nutrition and health products. However, its intention is to focus back on its original mission of providing financial information and services to the greater Chinese community in the United States and internationally. As a result, ChineseInvestors.com is progressing on its initiative to spin off its CBD division, ChineseHempOil.com, Inc.

On January 31, 2017, the company formally launched the website for subsidiary ChineseCBDoil.com. This portal is the world’s first CBD health products online store in the Chinese language. The website offers an array of nutritional supplements containing CBD. Products include purified CBD oil; concentrated CBD; CBD extract liquid; CBD balm; CBD food; and CBD drinks. These offerings are targeted at Chinese-speaking customers around the world.

Warren Wang, ChineseInvestors.com’s chief executive officer, is hopeful that the spinoff of the company’s CBD subsidiary, ChineseHempOil.com, Inc., will be completed by the end of 2018. In a news release, Wang stated, “We intend to continue to expand our consumer division by dedicating more resources to marketing hemp-based CBD products both domestically and in China. At the same time, we will continue to offer our core financial subscription services with a focus on increasing subscription revenues through targeted marketing of the company’s new cryptocurrency subscription services and educational products.”

The drive to legalize hemp is gaining traction. Forbes reported recently that the U.S. Senate voted to legalize hemp after a decades-long ban under marijuana prohibition (http://ibn.fm/B1LUZ). Therefore, to meet the growing demand, ChineseHempOil.com is planning to expand its operations to more U.S. States, as well as Canada and Asian markets (http://ibn.fm/fZ0iH).

ChineseInvestors.com’s CBD division is an attractive asset. For fiscal year 2018, the company reported a 41 percent year-over-year increase in revenues. It ascribes most of the growth to consumer product sales via its wholly owned subsidiaries, ChineseHempOil.com Inc. and CBD Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Nonetheless, the company, upon completion of its CBD assets spin off, will return to its foundation in consulting, brand building and education for the Chinese-speaking community. While strategically centering on CBD hemp sales, it also has plans to create a cryptocurrency ATM network and a domestic online coin-to-coin exchange for Chinese cryptocurrency investors (http://ibn.fm/X94xT). ChineseInvestors.com continually seeks new growth channels to build its business and shareholder value.

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

• Net Element’s net revenues for Q2 2018 increased nine percent over the previous year
• Total processed transactions increased by 41 percent
• Company’s strategic initiatives anticipated to add more than $6.5 million in gross profits in the next four years

It’s been a fruitful year for Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE), a global technology-driven group that specializes in mobile payments and value-added transactional services.

As discussed in an earnings call (http://ibn.fm/RLmQF), Net Element recently reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2018, with a nine percent increase in net revenues. Total revenues for Q2 2018 were $32.45 million, up from $29.7 million for the same quarter of the previous year. Net Element has also seen a marked increase in North American business, which is chiefly due to organic growth in the company’s North American Transaction Solutions segment, which was up 15 percent from 2017.

So far during 2018, Unified Payments, a subsidiary of Net Element, has experienced considerable growth, which has contributed to an increase in total dollars processed through the company’s North American Transaction Solutions – up 37 percent to reach $1.62 billion as of June 2018. Net Element’s International Transaction Solutions increased to $211 million as of Q2 2018’s conclusion, representing an increase of 20 percent. In all, the company processed 50.2 million transactions during 2018 as of June, marking an increase of 41 percent.

During Q2 2018, Net Element also entered the multitrillion-dollar global B2B payments market through the launch of Netevia Smart Vendor Payment Solutions. Netevia is a premier omnichannel payments platform that enables businesses to accept more than 100 forms of cashless payments in various currencies. The company is also on track to launch blockchain technology solutions and value-added services.

Net Element has additionally developed Aptito, a payment service created to address the needs of the restaurant sector, and Unified Payments, a flexible mobile point-of-sale system that can be utilized by a broad array of vendors.

The company recently announced that its Unified Payments subsidiary has partnered with Payment Club, Inc. to launch subscription-based payment services. In partnership with Unified Payments’ institutional investor and through the “Team Unified” partnership program and Unified Prosperity Financing program, Unified Payments arranged a $5 million credit facility to bolster Payment Club’s growth initiatives, bringing total financing for the endeavor to $7 million (http://ibn.fm/BbaW8).

It is anticipated that Net Element’s strategic initiatives will add more than $6.5 million in gross profits in the coming four years. The company continues to focus on long-term growth and is on track to achieve yet another year marked by growth and financial improvement.

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

• Darold Parken, MKTDF CEO and president, says that the company’s markets are international and sees significant future expansion in developing regions globally
• MKTDF’s gamification strategy is to convert unknown social media followers into identified email subscribers through online games and surveys, building revenues and branding
• 2018 corporate goals include the debut of enhanced paid version of its Gamify slide out app in October; it also plans an in-store product launch in February 2019
• Company’s opportunity in Asia highlighted by Allstate Enterprise Consulting Ltd. (Hong Kong) investment of $1.5 million into MKTDF

DeepMarkit Inc. (TSX.V: MKT) (OTCQB: MKTDF) sees its gamification marketing strategy growing in international markets, such as the Asia-Pacific region, where the enthusiasm shown by the population toward online gaming is growing along with smartphone ownership. Gamification utilizes the marriage of game-like features with a non-game platform to collect consumer data from online games. The result is the application of real time analytics and information created for retailer clients to better understand their customer audience (http://ibn.fm/gyZUi).

In June, the company’s opportunities in Asia attracted Allstate Enterprise Consulting Ltd. (Hong Kong) to invest $1.5 million into MKTDF via a private placement at $0.12/share (http://ibn.fm/8uujE). DeepMarkit and Allstate are collaborating on a business strategy and distribution partnership, bringing DeepMarkit’s gamified promotions platform into the Chinese market through Allstate’s extensive network of over 15,000 agents.

MKTDF is a Calgary, Alberta-based technology company focused on the monetization of gamification. It seeks, through gaming apps that offer prizes and discounts, to convert visitors into loyal customers who confirm their identities as they participate. According to the company’s June 2018 investor presentation, MKTDF’s revenue comes from a three-tiered pricing program for each gamification campaign (http://ibn.fm/yvrj4).

CEO Darold Parken says in a corporate investor video that the company’s markets are international and its ambitions are global (http://ibn.fm/iFjfX). The company’s strategy is to convert players into leads and leads into customers. Online customers can use its offerings on the Shopify, Inc., platform (NYS: SHOP) (http://ibn.fm/XACW7). Gamify is also available for free download on other major e-commerce platforms.

“Growing passion for gaming in developing regions, particularly Asia-Pacific, (is) creating a major opportunity for global gamification growth,” MKTDF wrote in the presentation. Smartphone ownership’s exponential growth is enabling more users to partake in digital games and surveys. China and India are together projected, in a study by U.S. media agency Zenith, to have nearly two billion smartphone users in 2018 (http://ibn.fm/edVuO).

MKTDF plans a 2H2018 launch of its enhanced Gamify paid slide out app, updating from the current free version, which is available on multiple e-commerce platforms. It is also readying the debut of its survey product by year-end and an in-store product launch in February 2019, the presentation reports.

MKTDF’s adaptable gamification app and proprietary technology platform is patent-pending.

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

• ETST this week announced uplisting to OTCQB Venture Market
• FDA approved product containing cannabidiol (CBD)
• Congressional panel to vote on Cannabis Research Bill on September 13
• DEA plans to quintuple amount of marijuana for research

The official uplisting of Earth Science Tech, Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) to the OTCQB Venture Market (http://ibn.fm/EMxDP) on September 12, 2018, comes at a time when auspicious news graces the cannabis community.

On Thursday, September 13, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee will vote on a bill to increase opportunities for research into the medical benefits of marijuana (http://ibn.fm/n3K6f). This follows a report that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) plans to “quintuple the amount of cannabis that can legally be grown in the U.S. for research purposes—from roughly 1,000 pounds in 2018 to more than 5,400 pounds next year” (http://ibn.fm/2v5ud). An announcement on June 25 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration highlighted the organization’s approval of a drug containing cannabidiol (CBD), marking the first time the agency had given a drug based on substances derived from marijuana the green light. Such action, by Congress and federal agencies, one of which falls under its purview, undoubtedly puts pressure on the justice department to review its stance on cannabis. Hopefully, this will soon be forthcoming.

With an uplisting to the OTCQB Venture Market, Earth Science Tech expects an increase in visibility and share liquidity. It has now acquired fully reporting status with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Exchange Act of 1934. The company will now be mandated to file annual reports with the SEC on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and periodic reports on Form 8-K, as well as subjecting itself to additional reporting obligations related to proxies, shareholder actions and stock ownership rules (http://ibn.fm/qKKQ2).

In a news release, ETST president, director and Chairman Nickolas S. Tabraue commented, “Historically, up-listing to the OTCQB and being fully reporting has resulted in greater liquidity and awareness. We are committed to the higher level of corporate and financial disclosures required as an OTCQB fully reporting company, demonstrating our commitment to our loyal shareholders.”

The FDA ruling on June 25 is likely to have a ripple effect. It is the first time a product that “contains a purified drug substance derived from marijuana” has been approved by the FDA (http://ibn.fm/X8kVW). The favored drug is Epidiolex, an oral cannabidiol (CBD) solution, for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, in patients two years of age and older. It is also the first FDA approval of a drug for the treatment of patients with Dravet syndrome. Its authorization should overcome justice department inertia.  Since cannabis is presently classified as a Schedule 1 substance, with no medical use, the FDA must ask the DEA for a reclassification (http://ibn.fm/9Ecoz). Moreover, although the justice department has promised to relax the rules on cannabis research since 2016, it has, so far, approved none of the applications submitted. However, now that the FDA, which is under the Department of Health and Human Services, has pushed it into a corner, it may be forced to do so.

The brightening environment is bolstering Earth Science Tech’s prospects. Through subsidiary Cannabis Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI), it aims to take a leadership role in the development of new, leading-edge, cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. At present, CTI is studying various medicinal effects of CBD. The company holds a provisional application patent for a CBD product that is focused on developing treatments for breast and ovarian cancers.

Another subsidiary, Earth Science Pharma, Inc., is developing low-cost, noninvasive diagnostic tools, medical devices, testing processes and vaccines for sexually transmitted infections and/or diseases. The division is targeting medical devices and vaccines that meet the specific needs of women. Its first medical device, MSN-2, is a home kit designed for the detection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, from a self-obtained gynecological specimen.

A third subsidiary, KannaBidioiD (KBD), provides a wide variety of products geared toward the recreational cannabis market. KBD’s unique Kanna and CBD formulation is sold and distributed in CBD-infused edibles and vapes/e-liquid products. Kanna and CBD synergistically enhance one another, providing optimal relaxation, an uplifting sensation, enhanced focus and the added benefit of assisting with nicotine reduction therapy.

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

• Despite ongoing federal disdain for cannabis market, state-by-state efforts driving $9.2 billion industry with $47.3 billion outlook
• NUGL’s new search platform exceeded company’s expectations during first month since launch, gaining followers on social media daily and hundreds of company profiles
• NUGL’s search engine drives beyond location, allows brand and service searches without granting any favored status

Despite the U.S. federal government’s reluctance to legalize cannabis over the past several years or even encourage its use in scientific research, the medical marijuana industry has grown state-by-state and in other countries, along with a burgeoning acceptance of recreational marijuana use to such a point that consumers have become acquainted enough with cannabis to develop preferences for specialty strains and outlets. That consumer development parallels growing diversification within the cannabis industry, as companies step forward to fill a variety of service and product needs, and that, in turn, has created a niche for an enterprising cannabis industry search engine company named NUGL Inc. (OTC: NUGL).

NUGL bills itself as the world’s first cannabis search app built for the people, by the people. Its search platform is an efficient Firebase-built web app that its visionary team designed to link users not only to select dispensaries, but to the ever-growing network of ancillary services and branded products, including types of flowers, edibles, vapes and concentrates, which can be searched for wherever they may be located for purchase without biased results.

“This is one of the core competencies of why we built NUGL. The brand search is truly unique, and we feel it is the best and only one of its type in the industry,” Chief Technology Officer Jeff Odle stated in a news release announcing NUGL’s expansion into the cannabis market (http://ibn.fm/6sFSG).

“We have an edge over the competition. Everyone is fighting over the dispensaries and charging large sums of money for a simple listing. We have a much broader client base by expanding profiles far beyond dispensaries to include brands and services. The industry is growing and relatively untapped, so we will market to all of it,” Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Bartlette added.

NUGL was able to develop its web app quickly and design it to talk to Apple and Android app stores, giving it a running start at recognition in the B2B and B2P arenas. The company’s online user base and number of listings has grown at a pace surpassing expectations during the first month since its launch, drawing on a variety of marketing methods ranging from direct contacts to social media proselytization (http://ibn.fm/TT9HC).

“We are determined to grow the user base while expanding the company’s listings and profiles at the same time. It is a chicken before the egg scenario,” Bartlette stated. “NUGL is reaching thousands of users, hundreds of claimed profiles and is growing on both fronts daily. The NUGL Instagram has reached approximately 10,000 followers in one month and seems to have no end in sight.”

Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics estimate that legal cannabis sales reached $9.2 billion in the United States last year, and the market is expected to explode to $47.3 billion by 2027 (http://ibn.fm/i8AUi). As the reach of NUGL’s app grows, the company gains a heightened sense of what cannabis consumers need and how to help them meet those needs. The company has added advanced filtering that allows users to search for the distinct features of greatest interest to them, and NUGL plans to launch its biggest feature yet in the coming weeks — an integrated menu with sharing capabilities.

The company serves international markets with no geographical limitations and provides a variety of revenue streams to help businesses build their profits.

For more information, visit the company’s website at http://ibn.fm/NUGL