• First Cobalt clears obligations through full acquisition to streamline plans for Idaho cobalt resource
• Company fully funded for all current exploratory projects stretching into next year as it awaits current resource estimate
• Cobalt demand has soared with worldwide increase in usage of electric vehicles that have cobalt-needy batteries
• Market tightening expected to continue for cobalt, leading to forecasts of 12,000-metric ton supply gap by 2021

Vertically integrated pure-play cobalt company First Cobalt Corp. (TSX.V: FCC) (OTCQX: FTSSF) (ASX: FCC) is putting the spurs to its strategy of exploring, developing and refining material in North America for sale back into the American battery market amid booming expectations for electric vehicle and numerous other tech device energy needs. The company announced on September 4 that it has acquired 100 percent ownership of its Iron Creek property in the western United States, where historical mineral resource estimates (non-compliant with NI 43-101 standards) of 1.3 million tons grading 0.59 percent cobalt are being expanded upon.

First Cobalt obtained the Iron Creek property last year through the acquisition of US Cobalt, Inc. and, after initial exploratory efforts, accelerated the project to take advantage of the area’s promising potential. Two new drill rigs were installed, and results from underground indicated two broad zones of cobalt-copper mineralization that extend well beyond the limits of the historic resource.

“Our outlook for the Iron Creek Project was instrumental in the decision to eliminate the outstanding royalty and acquire 100% ownership of the project at this time,” First Cobalt president and CEO Trent Mell stated in a news release about the move to free up Iron Creek obligations (http://ibn.fm/5REE6). “The Company is fully funded to complete our work programs in the USA and Canada this year and into 2019. We anticipate releasing preliminary metallurgical work and the maiden resource estimate for Iron Creek in the next few weeks.”

“This is also an important step in streamlining future works including the permitting process for potential future development,” the company added.

Mell had previously identified the Idaho site as “one of the most prospective and advanced projects in North America” (http://ibn.fm/EctmG), justifying a $9 million program to accelerate work there. Completion of preliminary metallurgical work and the maiden resource estimate is expected in the next few weeks, and development of a portion of the inferred mineral resource estimate into a secondary measured and indicated resource estimate is expected early next year as a result of surface drilling throughout the latter part of 2018.

The property consists of mining patents and exploration claims that have some infrastructure already in place, including drifting from three adits and an all-weather road that connects to a state highway. The project was under lease to First Cobalt with terms that required the company to make monthly payments and grant a four percent royalty to the leaseholder, but First Cobalt’s $1.07 million payment cleared the obligations. The deal marked a 47 percent reduction of the expected price tag, and First Cobalt’s cash balance of $20 million with an additional $2 million in assets (as of June 30) leaves it in a strong position to move forward with the mine planning process. The company is fully financed to complete all additional drilling programs currently scheduled, and it has begun collecting data for future permit requirements.

First Cobalt expects the pending resource estimate to show “wider true thickness of mineralization” than was reported in the historic calculation, based on the company’s recent drilling. Unlike cobalt resources tied to arsenic-bearing minerals in the rest of Idaho’s recognized ‘Cobalt Belt’, the Iron Creek Project’s cobalt-copper mineralization occurs in pyrite and chalcopyrite within finely layered meta-sedimentary rocks, according to the company.

Rising demand for lightweight electric vehicles, an increasing application of cobalt in the medical sector and growing demand for cobalt alloys in airplane engines are some of the key factors propelling the global cobalt market’s growth, a report from ResearchAndMarkets states (http://ibn.fm/oRAMk). Growing demand for cellphones, laptops and large-format rechargeable batteries is also driving the market, which boasts an expected compound annual growth rate of over 10 percent, the report states.

As demand for the metal soars – and as supply struggles to keep pace with consumption – a widening supply gap is expected to emerge, according to market analysts. The global cobalt market will face a tight supply situation, with a gap of 12,000 metric tons by 2021, representing more than 10 percent of current supply levels, the ResearchAndMarkets report states.

First Cobalt’s prospects for presenting a solution to supply level concerns are bolstered by its other assets, including more than 50 past producing mines in Canada’s renowned Cobalt Camp and the only permitted cobalt refinery (currently shuttered) in North America capable of producing battery materials. Amid concerns that cobalt supplies could be further hindered by international trade conflicts, the company’s North America-centric operations stand it in good stead.

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

• Company launches new line of brain-boosting drinks
• Improved formulation includes lion’s mane mushroom, credited for positive effects on cognitive decline
• Clinical trial of Koios drinks underway, results expected soon
• Global functional beverage market to reach $105.5 billion by 2021

Koios Beverage Corp. (CSE: KBEV) (OTC: SNOVF), a developer of products designed to boost brain function and productivity, has launched the first two flavors in a new line of beverages that has been flying off the shelves. Pear guava has proven so popular that the company is in its second run of production. The other flavor is peach mango. Both beverages include the new superfood lion’s mane mushroom, which is part of Koios’ reformulated and improved range of cognitive-enhancing drinks. Other flavors soon to come in the same line are blood orange and apricot vanilla.

Lion’s mane mushroom has long been credited in Asian countries for its positive effects on cognitive decline, anxiety and depression, and numerous studies have been conducted to assess these benefits (http://ibn.fm/dRsVP). In addition to improving cognitive function, this mushroom has a positive effect on digestive tract health, cardiac function, diabetes management and more.

Denver-based Koios is a growing presence in the field of nootropics, or over-the-counter dietary supplements that enhance cognitive function. Its proprietary GMP-certified formula is designed to enhance focus by increasing blood flow to the brain. Higher oxygen levels in the brain create higher levels of cognition, enhanced functionality and improved mood. Koios’ products contain nature-based ingredients that are typically used to treat people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The launch of Koios’ new line of beverages comes as the company expects clinical trial results of its products to be released any day. NeuraPerformance/Neuroptimize Brain Center, a brain lab and physiotherapy clinic in Denver, Colorado, that is trusted by professional athletes including the Denver Broncos football team, was contracted to carry out brain scans of Koios users to gauge the effects of the product. The brain-scan study could provide evidence that Koios products may enhance cognition over the long term, as well as helping the company improve its products’ formulations and performance (http://ibn.fm/lRclS).

Market watchers believe that the nootropics industry will expand significantly over the next few years. MarketResearch.com predicts a 9.3 percent expansion of the function-enhancing beverage market by 2022 (http://ibn.fm/PyKvF). Nutraingredients.com cites BCC Research, which suggests that the market will reach $105.5 billion by 2021 (http://ibn.fm/H3KOZ).

Koios is poised to be a part of this growth, with an available distribution network featuring thousands of retail locations across the United States. The company has just opened up distribution into Canada via a global shipping program through its website.

“The idea of using nootropic supplements to help boost focus and mental acuity has been catching on with people around the world, not just in the United States. We have particularly been seeing increased demand for our products in Canada and are happy to be able to now meet that demand with our global shipping program,” Koios CEO Chris Miller said in a news release referencing the expansion into Canada.

The company has relationships with some of the largest and most reputable distributors in the United States, including Europa Sports, SportLife Distribution and Wishing-U-Well. Together, these distributors represent more than 80,000 bricks-and-mortar locations across the United States, from sports nutrition stores to large natural grocery chains including Whole Foods and Sunflower markets. Through its partnership with Wishing-U-Well, Koios also enjoys a large presence online, and its products are certified under the Amazon Choice Product program.

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

• QMC sees lithium’s pricing outlook remaining favorable
• QMC upgrading assets at Canadian properties to modern NI 43-101 standards, expanding target size
• Lithium contract prices up 20 percent over last year amid forecasts of $1.7 billion in overall value by next year

The anticipated increase in demand for lithium is positioning the lightweight metal as a prime target for new mining ventures. QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (OTC: QMCQF) (TSX.V: QMC) (FSE: 3LQ), in particular, is expressing confidence in the unfolding of its southern Canada exploration project.

“At the bearish analysts’ lowest projections, lithium prices will still remain so high that a good resource which is run well, should surely prove successful,” QMC’s website states (http://ibn.fm/Lhf3b). “In 2007, lubricating greases and pharmaceuticals added up to more demand for lithium than did lithium consumption in lithium ion batteries. Batteries absorbed about 18 percent of the lithium supply at the time. Ten years later, that jumped to 39 percent for batteries. As many analysts continue to predict, this pace will only accelerate for the next several years.”

During August, spot prices for China’s 99.5 percent lithium carbonate declined nearly 10 percent, while global lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) contracts saw price increases of about 20 percent over the previous year to around $16,000 per metric ton (http://ibn.fm/2aRIT).

The overall market paints a positive picture of potential for the metal, which now serves to provide heat stability to power supplies in a wide variety of computerized products, including digital cameras, smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles. The latter is expected to play a key role in driving demand during the coming decade amid international efforts by governments to reduce their pollutant impact on the earth’s environment.

Lithium Investing News recently provided a market forecast calling for global lithium demand to reach 49,350 metric tons by next year with an LCE contract valuation of $1.7 billion (http://ibn.fm/Hb78p).

QMC is testing the strength of its 100 percent-owned Irgon Lithium Mine Project located in S.E. Manitoba, northwest of the Great Lakes and automaker hubs in the United States. The Manitoba Irgon Mine Project is situated where historic exploration enterprises prepared to extract up to 500 tons of ore per day several decades ago, when market prices were less favorable.

QMC is drawing on the expertise of SGS Canada, Inc. in establishing the viability of its Irgon Mine Property for the resumption of mining activity. SGS will provide consulting exploration services to QMC and will oversee the analysis of metals found in testing using its exclusive MMI (mobile metal ion) technology (http://ibn.fm/H4M53).

When the Irgon Mine site was initially explored and developed more than six decades ago, it produced a resource estimate of more than a million tons of lithium grading 1.51 percent Li2O, although that estimate needs to be upgraded to be in compliance with modern NI 43-101 regulatory standards. In the process of proving up the historical assessment to modern standards, the company has identified another target that includes a significantly sized “lithium soil anomaly” more than 3,600 feet long and up to 1,150 feet wide on the southern part of the property, which has stoked QMC’s enthusiasm.

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

• Smaller companies achieve higher R&D productivity
• Collaboration with academia key to R&D success
• Diverse projects increase chance of success

Big Pharma is losing the game in drug development. A decade ago, McKinsey & Company sounded the alarm, warning that the biopharma industry was afflicted by “diminishing R&D productivity.” Despite a doubling of investment in research and development, approvals of “new molecular entities” had fallen precipitously (http://ibn.fm/jUNpt). Nothing appears to have changed since then. A recent report by Deloitte laments the continued decline of returns on R&D investment. While R&D costs have generally remained the same, product revenues are falling, in part because many products never make it to “blockbuster” status (i.e. sales of a billion dollars or more). With narrower margins squeezing profits in the industry, these consultants suggest increasing “the number of drug programs to which a pharmaceutical company has access, without increasing, to the same degree, the capital or resource investment required to access them.”

PreveCeutical Medical Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H) has taken this advice to heart. The health sciences company has three distinct research programs underway. Top of the line is a non-opioid pain treatment based on cannabinoids to be administered through a proprietary nose-to-brain, soluble gel (Sol-gel) drug delivery system. The research team is also out to identify peptides and proteins derived from the venom of the Caribbean blue scorpion that may have therapeutic use. The company is also working on a smart RNA dual gene therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Expected returns on investment in research and development (R&D) for the top 12 pharma companies fell from 10.1 percent in 2010 to just 3.7 percent in 2016, according to a study by Deloitte’s Centre for Health Solutions (http://ibn.fm/ZWD9Y). From 2010-2016, the R&D divisions of the top 12 pharmaceutical companies were able to advance 376 products to late-stage development. With total forecast sales of $1.7 trillion, each drug was projected to be a blockbuster; average sales for the 376 candidates were $4.5 billion.

It is unlikely that more than just a handful have lived up to expectations. Of 667 new biopharmaceuticals launched in the U.S. over the past 20 years, only 19 drugs, less than three percent, have reached the $1 billion mark (http://ibn.fm/o7QWT). However, averages, like most generalizations can mislead. Deloitte found “a negative correlation between company size and both predicted returns and cost per product.” Big Pharma may be getting it wrong, but smaller biopharmas like PreveCeutical appear to be using models that achieve higher R&D productivity.

Perhaps increased collaboration with academia may be an aspect of PreveCeutical’s innovative approach. The company is working with the University of Queensland in Australia on two major research projects. The cooperation, which is being undertaken through UniQuest Pty. Ltd., the development arm of the university, is centered on PreveCeutical’s Sol-gel system and its Smart RNA Dual Gene Therapy.

The Sol-gel system is an innovative nose-to-brain drug delivery platform that holds the promise of making medication regimens more effective. When therapeutic compounds are taken orally (as many are), they travel through the stomach and intestines and are metabolized, reducing their effectiveness. However, the Sol-gel system works via nasal administration and delivers the therapeutic agent to the mucosal tissue, where it forms a gel and is time released to the brain, increasing bioavailability. It will be used initially for a cannabidiol-based agent designed to provide relief across a range of indications such as pain, inflammation, seizures and neurological disorders. Additionally, the gel stays in the nasal passages, slowly releasing the CBD while keeping it active for up to seven days. This ease of application and its long-lasting effects may be attractive for patients when compared to other delivery systems.

Another project in the development pipeline involves the identification of peptides and proteins in the venom of Caribbean blue scorpion, with the object of engineering ‘Nature Identical™’ compounds. Synthesizing compounds that are identical to the natural venom is expected to facilitate more commercially viable formulations. PreveCeutical already has an over-the-counter (OTC), commercially available oral solution of scorpion venom, CELLB9, on the market. CELLB9 has been used to treat inflammation, bacterial infections, pain and tumors.

PreveCeutical is also working on a Smart RNA Dual Gene Therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Gene therapy involves the substitution of defective genes in a cell with genetically altered genes. The team has already put five genes implicated in diabetes and obesity on a target short-list.

In June 2018, the company raised C$6.5 million ($4.9 million) to continue its ambitious research focused on preventative compounds using organic and nature-identical compounds, according to a Crystal Equity update (http://ibn.fm/ykwy1).

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

• Mainstream social media channels wary of promoting marijuana, close down user accounts for cannabis endorsement
• NUGL’s platform provides B2B and B2C marketing tools for companies
• Platform has capabilities of Yelp, LinkedIn and Google Business

Although the cannabis industry is gradually gaining social acceptability, many mainstream social media channels, such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, are still wary about promoting marijuana, according to a Digiday report. Cannabis ads are prohibited on a number of social media networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Google and Snapchat, although the latter does allow ads for cannabidiol-based products on a case-by-case basis, the report says. Additionally, many content creators and influencers have reportedly had their YouTube and Instagram accounts shut down for mentioning marijuana products (http://ibn.fm/J4tsO).

As a result, businesses in the cannabis industry finding these highly-effective marketing channels closed to them need to look elsewhere for promotion opportunities. Technology company NUGL Inc. (OTC: NUGL) hopes to address this concern by providing a platform with the capabilities of Yelp, LinkedIn and Google Business that’s specifically tailored for the needs of the marijuana industry.

NUGL’s networking platform, with both business-to-business and business-to-consumer applications, provides tools that can enable businesses across the industry to raise their profile, reach their customers and link up to businesses providing complementary services and products.

As the marijuana industry grows and matures, similarly to any other product such as beer, chocolate or footwear, specific brands will carve out identities and niches, and consumers will be looking out for their favorites. NUGL is positioning itself to allow producers to make their products visible on the right sales platforms and accessible to the consumers they want to reach. In addition, NUGL allows customers to provide unbiased reviews of products and services, such as dispensaries, shops and brands. The platform does not sell listing space or fake interviews, meaning that customer reviews are more transparent, credible and reliable.

The platform’s B2B app allows companies in the space to create a profile, through which they can post information about themselves and the goods and services they provide. Companies using the platform will be able to connect with other businesses and provide B2B services, such as growers connecting with dispensaries, for instance. The platform and app, available for Android and iOS devices, can also connect marijuana businesses with ancillary services, such as accounting, real estate, growing equipment providers and others.

Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics predict that the marijuana market in the U.S. will continue to grow exponentially, as the country is moving closer to ending cannabis prohibition. According to the sixth edition of “The State of Legal Marijuana Markets,” released by the two research companies, the U.S. legal cannabis market is on pace to reach $11 billion in consumer spending in 2018 and $23.4 billion by 2022 (http://ibn.fm/BPKhU).

NUGL is set to capitalize on this trend, as its platform has no geographic limitations and can connect cannabis companies and clients all across the United States. Additionally, the company plans to expand its reach across the globe as the cannabis industry continues to grow in international markets.

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

• Acquired controlling interest in The Asher House Pet CBD brand, produced with full-spectrum, whole-plant hemp, free of THC and pesticides
• An estimated $72.13 billion will be spent on pets by Americans during 2018, with over $33 billion spent on veterinary care, supplies and OTC medicines
• Percentage of U.S. households with a pet increased from 56 percent in 1988 to 68 percent in 2018
• Sales of CBD products to U.S. consumers estimated to reach $2.1 billion by 2020, with $450 million coming from hemp-based sources
• The U.S. cannabis market is growing at an accelerated rate; industry analysts projecting a $50 billion marketplace by 2026

When it comes to taking care of household pets, Americans are spending billions to get the job done right, according to the American Pet Products Association. In 2018 alone, U.S. consumers will spend an estimated $72 billion on pets, and that includes $33 billion on veterinary care, supplies and over-the-counter medicine (http://ibn.fm/p3kRj). Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) is expanding its diverse portfolio by moving into the pet care arena through its acquisition of The Asher House Pet CBD brand from The Asher House LLC, as detailed in a recent news release (http://ibn.fm/56Lm1).

Under the terms of the brand acquisition agreement, Cannabis Strategic Ventures will acquire controlling interest in the Asher House Pet CBD line, a brand of U.S. hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) supplements for pets that continues to gain national attention and is expanding internationally. Lee Asher and Luke Barton, founders of The Asher House, are currently on a whirlwind cross-country tour, working with animal shelters, pet rescues and humane societies to help erase the homeless pet population and increase awareness of pet health.

“Through the Asher House acquisition, Cannabis Strategic continues to expand its already diverse portfolio of Cannabis focus brands and service offerings,” Simon Yu, CEO of Cannabis Strategic, stated in a news release.  “At Cannabis Strategic, we believe that investing in people is as important as investing in industry-leading products and technologies. Lee and Luke’s passion for pet adoption and pet wellness is one of the key ingredients to Asher House’s national recognition. We welcome Lee Asher and Luke Barton, the founders of Asher House, to the NUGS family.”

Research into the potential benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) on dogs is underway at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, supported by a $356,000 grant from The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (http://ibn.fm/cPki1). Dr. Stephanie McGrath, a veterinary neurologist, received the grant to document the therapeutic potential of cannabis in dogs.

CBD is big business for human consumers as well, with sales expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2020 and $450 million of those sales coming from hemp-based sources, a Forbes article states (http://ibn.fm/cXdrg). CBD products are typically used for health reasons instead of recreational purposes, since they are derived from industrial hemp or cannabis plants with extremely low levels of THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana.

Cannabis Strategic’s portfolio includes the recently acquired Fitamins CBD brand, which offers vitamin- and hemp-derived CBD formulations through a network of more than 600 wholesalers serving the Asian-American market (http://ibn.fm/zPFkV). The company is also focused on supporting entrepreneurial growth in the legal cannabis sector through its personnel solutions, which are tailor-made to match the growth dynamics of this booming industry.

Cannabis Strategic pursues investment opportunities in the areas of real estate, cultivation, extraction, distribution, packaging, dispensary operations and branded products within the cannabis space. Carving out and controlling specific industry niches, in addition to creating and marketing unique cannabis consumer branded products for humans and pets alike, is a win-win for Cannabis Strategic and its stakeholders.

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

• Ability to cross blood brain barrier – now confirmed – is significant for possible treatment of central nervous system diseases
• LXRP may also be able to deliver micro nicotine doses, as per developing FDA policies
• LXRP completes formation of wholly owned subsidiary, Lexaria Nicotine Corp., to better commercialize opportunities
• The company is a technology disrupter and has applied for new U.S. patent on its delivery process; it plans to out-license and develop future products

Lexaria Bioscience Corp.’s (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) patented DehydraTECH™ drug delivery platform has been confirmed in analysis of a second generation lab study on 40 rats to transport 195 percent more nicotine, reaching peak levels at a four times faster rate to brain tissue than controls (http://ibn.fm/7RvnA). Originally, the tests were focused on developing products for nicotine delivery or smoking alternatives (http://ibn.fm/my45m). Now, it appears that the technology could also potentially apply to treatment of nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

The blood brain barrier is formed by microvascular endothelial cells, which form a layer or lining inside blood vessels and exist to block circulating toxins or other unwanted substances from entering the brain.  It has frustrated medical researchers for years as they’ve attempted to discover effective methods of transporting beneficial drugs into the brain.

The new report confirmed first generation results of in vivo tests on live animals showing that DehydraTECH™ was able to deliver more active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) across the brain’s protective blood brain barrier, as reported in an article published by the CFN Media Group (http://ibn.fm/rqa7h). Because of certain similarities in physical structure between the nicotine molecule and several of the drugs used to treat diseases such as Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia and depression, it is now theorized that DehydraTECH could offer similar delivery advantages.

Conceptually, its rapid and efficient delivery to the brain tissue may allow for smaller micro doses, conforming to newly developing FDA policies, the company said. Smaller doses could satiate cravings for nicotine while simultaneously being less addictive, in harmony with FDA goals of reducing nicotine consumption.

In a news release, Chris Bunka, CEO of LXRP, said, “Lexaria’s DehydraTECH delivery technology continues to demonstrate its superior effectiveness in delivering nicotine without the need for combustion or the need for inhalation whatsoever. Crossing the blood brain barrier is a significant achievement all on its own and this data confirms the outcome of our earlier first-generation test.”

The enhanced delivery of nicotine is also significant because LXRP, through wholly owned subsidiary Lexaria Nicotine Corp., seeks to encourage cigarette smokers to use nicotine sources that do not contribute to lung disease. After its original test, LXRP applied to the USPTO for a new patent. Its IP portfolio already includes patents for oral delivery of vitamins, NSAIDs and all cannabinoids.

Lexaria has roughly 50 patents pending or awarded and will license in any of the 40 countries worldwide where its technology already has a patent or is patent-pending. DehydraTECH™ is its proprietary absorption technology platform. Based in British Columbia, Canada, LXRP is a biotechnology company that out-licenses its disruptive delivery technology, which has shown faster and more effective delivery of cannabinoids and now nicotine.

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

• Sugarmade announces $1 million investment in hemp company growing ultra-high CBD industrial hemp
• Sugarmade CEO becomes Hempistry advisor, shareholder
• ‘Lucrative’ supply agreement offers tremendous opportunity in fast-growing sector

One of the largest publicly traded hydroponics supply companies, Sugarmade, Inc. (OTC: SGMD) is joining the ranks of savvy businesses that have chosen to enter the burgeoning hemp market. Last year, the U.S. hemp industry topped out at an impressive $820 million in revenue, and that total is expected to reach more than $1 billion by the end of 2018, with a 14 percent compound annual growth rate forecast through 2022.

Sugarmade is positioning itself to be a power player in the industry with the announcement this month that it will be investing an estimated $1 million in capital in Hempistry, Inc., a Nevada-based company that has already begun planting an ultra-high cannabidiol (CBD) industrial hemp strain in Kentucky (http://ibn.fm/x0ek9). Hempistry has planted more than 100 acres and has signed an exclusive agreement that guarantees the company rights to 23,000 acres of prime farmland to grow the valuable crop.

One of the primary reasons that the Hempistry project is such an attractive entry point for Sugarmade is the hemp grown by the company, which contains high levels of CBD while containing low levels (less than 0.3 percent) of THC. Both are natural compounds found in cannabis, but they create vastly different effects when consumed. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that doesn’t produce the problematic ‘high’ associated with THC.

The Sugarmade/Hempistry deal doesn’t end there. Sugarmade CEO Jimmy Chan will become an advisor to and shareholder in Hempistry, and Sugarmade has announced plans to sign an agreement with Hempistry for hemp cultivation supplies, as well.

“Demand for industrial hemp and products derived from hemp is soaring with no letup in sight,” Chan noted in a news release. “We expect our direct investment into Hempistry to be accretive to common shareholders and our supply agreement to be lucrative. All of us at Sugarmade see a tremendous opportunity to become a supplier to this fast-growing sector.”

The deal with Hempistry is not Sugarmade’s only recent headline news. Last week, the company also announced its filing of an application to uplist its common shares to the OTCQB Venture Market (http://ibn.fm/xWfMZ). This move is expected to allow the innovative company to build its visibility and expand liquidity for shareholders without the rigid procedures and requirements that go along with an exchange listing.

In only a few short years, Sugarmade has made its mark in the business world by investing in products and brands with disruptive potential. The company has established business operations in diverse marketplaces, including packaging and paper goods for various industries, as well as agricultural supplies. Sugarmade’s brands include ZenHydro.com, CarryOutSupplies.com, and BudLife.

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

• Enters the $7.7B cannabis market with new product line HempFX™
• Introduced three new proprietary blends of hemp-derived cannabinoid products
• Official launch will take place in October 2018

Over 20 years ago, Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) was founded around one central question: How can we live younger, longer? Since then, YGYI has prided itself on developing the highest quality and most well-researched nutritional products. Now a leading omni-direct lifestyle company, YGYI is putting people on a holistic path to better health.

Already offering products in the eight top selling retail categories (health/nutrition, home/family, food/beverage (including coffee), spa/beauty, fashion, essential oils, photo and a range of innovative services), YGYI recently announced its entry into the $7.7 billion cannabis market with new product line HempFX™ (http://ibn.fm/MFWfQ).

Direct Selling News recently reported, “According to recent data published by Forbes, citing Brightfield Group, the global cannabis market is projected to reach $31.4 billion by 2021. By end of 2017, the global market value was estimated at $7.7 billion.” In a rapidly growing cannabis market in which industry analysts continue to forecast sustained growth, the Hemp FX™ products hold promise.

Hemp FX™ has three new proprietary blends of organically grown hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Each product utilizes YGYI’s exclusive hemp-derived cannabinoid oil and combines it with natural herbs and minerals to achieve the desired results.

Soothe™ combines YGYI’s cannabidiol oil with herbs, minerals and a powerful antioxidant to support a healthy immune system and soothe sore, tired and achy muscles and joints.

Relax™ combines the cannabidiol oil with chamomile, lavender, valerian and melatonin for sleep-supporting benefits.

Uplift™ combines the cannabidiol oil with St. John’s Wort and a specialized set of natural terpenes (cannabinoid enhancers).

Soothe™, Relax™ and Uplift™ were introduced at the 2018 Youngevity Convention in San Diego, California. A limited quantity that was available for pre-sale purchases to attendees quickly sold out. This new product line has the potential to transform both the nutritional industry and Youngevity’s consumer base.

In a news release, Steve Wallach, Youngevity’s CEO, stated, “Hemp-derived cannabidiol aligns with what we do very well. We’ve taken what we know about essential nutrients along with decades of knowledge specializing in natural, plant-based nutrition and their most beneficial nutrients and put that knowledge to work to develop high-end cannabidiol products.”

The official launch of Hemp FX™ is set to take place in October 2018.

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

• Scaling up to become the largest organic cannabis brand in the world
• Grow facilities in Canada, Denmark and Jamaica to produce 195,000 kg of cannabis annually
• Announced $25.8 million acquisition of HemPoland adds gateway to huge European market
• Ecommerce giant Shopify to build online sales platform

With the release of its Q2 2018 results, a sterling performance by The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF) is on display (http://ibn.fm/RU5Nj). The string of achievements announced in the report shows that the company, a producer of organic, pesticide-free medical cannabis, is well on its way to realizing management’s vision of becoming the largest organic cannabis brand in the world. By the end of 2019, TGOD expects to have all of its production facilities up and running. Together, they will have the capacity to churn out 195,000 kilograms of cannabis annually.

Presently, the company is on track to achieve its ambitious goals, with four cultivation units under its aegis. The largest is the facility under construction at Valleyfield, Quebec. Work at the 72.4-acre property began soon after initial construction permits were granted in December 2017. The planned 820,000 square feet high-technology hybrid facility will have an output capacity of 142,000 kg of high-quality organic cannabis. Since it is eligible for Hydro Quebec’s economic development rate, which will lower its power cost, this facility will put TGOD in a good position to be a low cost producer. The plant is expected to be ready in the first half of 2019.

TGOD’s European operations won’t be quite as big as the Valleyfield complex, but, with a planned annual output capacity of 25,000 kg, the endeavor, focused on oil extraction, won’t be anything to sneeze at. Consisting of two facilities situated in 1.3 million sq. ft. of state-of-the-art automated greenhouses, the enterprise, currently the subject of a Letter of Intent (LOI), will be a 50/50 joint venture with Knud Jepsen, based in Hinnerup, Denmark. The expected completion date is in the second half of 2019.

However, in a recently announced acquisition that dramatically accelerates its strategic entry into Europe’s lucrative organic cannabis market, TGOD entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HemPoland, a European manufacturer and marketer of premium organic CBD oils (http://ibn.fm/qoOPs). The $25.8 million deal, which includes an immediate accretive cash and share transaction in addition to an infusion of funding for research and development, gives the cannabis-focused research and development company an enviable foothold in Europe’s multibillion dollar cannabis market, as noted by Brian Athaide, CEO of TGOD. In a news release, he stated “Gaining market share with CBD products now, in the EU, with over 700 locations, allows TGOD to establish immediate brand awareness across all verticals including infused beverages. This is an accretive acquisition and gateway to Europe’s 750 million people accelerating our plan of becoming the world’s largest organic cannabis brand.”

TGOD has already established a footprint in Jamaica. The company signed a binding agreement to acquire 49.18 percent of Epican Medicinals, a vertically integrated Jamaican cannabis company with cultivation, extraction, manufacturing and retail licenses. Epican is something of a pioneer. It was the first to be granted a cultivation license in Jamaica. Its grow facility currently has a capacity of 1,300 kg, which will be expanded to 14,000 kg by the end of 2018. Epican plans to launch a total of five dispensaries in Jamaica. The first had a successful opening in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday, July 14 (http://ibn.fm/ALwwO). This partnership with Epican provides TGOD with a low-cost platform to export premium Jamaican-grown cannabis to select international jurisdictions.

At its Hamilton facility, the target output capacity is also 14,000 kg. Construction is proceeding in phases. Phase 1, meant to be used as a test before scaling up, is an indoor facility covering 7,000 sq. ft., and producing 1,000 kg of cannabis. Phase 2 will add 20,000 sq. ft. in an indoor facility with a production capacity of 2,000 kg; it will focus on specialty grows and formulations. Phase 3 is a planned hybrid facility that will cover 123,000 sq. ft. and have an annual output capacity of 11,000 kg. At completion, scheduled for the first half of 2019, the Hamilton complex will extend over 150,000 sq. ft. and produce 14,000 kg of high quality organic cannabis annually.

All four facilities – Denmark, Hamilton, Jamaica and Valleyfield – are fully funded, and, on their completion, total TGOD facilities will cover 1,607,245 sq. ft. and produce 195,000 kg per annum.

To complement its brick-and-mortar operations, TGOD has engaged Shopify Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) (TSX: SHOP) to build an innovative ecommerce platform to promote and deliver medical and adult-use organic cannabis worldwide (http://ibn.fm/Dear3). Presently, Shopify is the leading cloud-based multichannel ecommerce platform. The company was involved in the partnership between TGOD and Epican in Jamaica, where it supplied the retail point-of-sale system for Epican’s retail outlets. Shopify is also developing the pre-registration system for medical patients throughout Jamaica.

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