With the legal marijuana market on track to more than double by 2019, growing from an estimated $3.5 billion this year (ArcView), to more than $10.8 billion, the marijuana industry is easily one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. today. However, in an industry where cash is king and many financial service sector operators are leery of jumping in with both feet, given that the federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug alongside heroin and PCP, there is a decided need for a major transition away from cash when it comes to transacting business. Not just because financial services companies are reluctant to help process monies either, but because of the inherent security risks associated with keeping large sums of cash on hand for entities like dispensaries and couriers, which typically cannot financially withstand the bottom line impact of a sufficient security budget.

To illustrate this problem one need look no further than the state of Illinois, where the state treasurer’s office was recently left hanging when, after an official solicitation to find a bank or financial services company willing to process the large amounts of tax and fee derived cash that are anticipated, no one responded. Illinois has moved quickly on the marijuana issue and, eyeing the $70 million in tax revenues collected in Washington, as well as $40 million collected in Colorado, has ramped up legislative reform, with a decriminalization bill (HB 218) currently in General Assembly for final approval. A 27,000 square foot grow op near Anna is already under construction and could be done by the end of September, with the owner indicating a workforce of up to 30 employees and initial harvesting by as early as January. Mind you, this is just one week after the State Department of Financial and Professional Regulation approved the first medical marijuana registered dispensary down in Marion. Illinois could easily go from medical marijuana to blanket decriminalization in a heartbeat, and with similar metrics in the offing elsewhere nationwide, there is precious little time to get out ahead of the pack with ancillary services designed to support and foster the space.

Needless to say, the demand from end users, as well as sector operators like dispensaries, has cumulatively created an enormous groundswell of support for alternative transaction options that can directly address the problems associated with cash. This is why FastFunds Financial Corp. (OTC: FFFC) has gone to great lengths to select a creative agency, Casa Giallo, to help take the company’s pre-paid loyalty debit card with turnkey customer rewards technology, the branded Tommy Chong Green Card (TCGC), to the next level. With revisions and updates to the tommychonggreencard.com set to go live in a handful of days, Casa Giallo has put together a blockbuster social media integration program in order to make the official launch a big success. Tommy Chong is idolized by millions of people in the marijuana sector for his legendary comedy and increasingly vast business footprint in this thriving industry. His identity being associated with the company’s loyalty rewards debit card is a key asset which gives the TCGC an exceptionally strong brand footing and market presence on name recognition alone.

The company has already been sowing the seeds for the website debut as well, with Soren Holdings and Marketing, the TCGC brand manager and marketing specialist, helping to promote the card at the largest hempfest on earth recently, at the Seattle Washington Hempfest on August 14 through 16, where attendees also had the opportunity to look at FFFC subsidiary Pure Grow Systems’ highly efficient antimicrobial sanitation products and systems, using 100 percent biodegradable active ingredients. Having recently received general label registration approval in Washington and Wisconsin for its innovative GroClean product, designed to be the ultimate one-stop-shop solution to rapidly cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting growing and processing environments, Pure Grow Systems is fast becoming the other major reason for investors to keep a close eye on FFFC.

With several recent surveys indicating that a majority of Americans are now in favor of legalizing marijuana, including the 52 percent approval shown by the General Social Survey poll, and 51 percent approval shown in last year’s Gallup poll, the sizeable tax revenues that state legislatures can get their hands on have been sufficient impetus to cause more and more states to rapidly pass legislative reforms. If this seemingly unstoppable trend continues, marijuana could become an extremely important industry for the U.S. economy, on par with the roughly $108 billion (2014) plus alcoholic beverage retail sector, which also generates around 1.77 million jobs.

Take a closer look at Fastfunds Financial by visiting www.fastfundsfinancial.com

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Globalization was the rage in the 1990s, with multinational free trade pacts leading to offshore manufacturing and the presumed death of American heavy industry. Twenty years later, the pendulum has swung the other way and returning manufacturers needing to move raw materials and finished goods are fueling demand for On the Move Systems’ (OMVS) upcoming Uber-for-Trucking shared economy platform.

Distance, speed and cost are among the factors feeding de-globalization and re-shoring. Moving manufacturing offshore has created lengthy supply chains that have proved difficult to manage and maintain. Second, extended globalization has made it harder for companies to react quickly to changing market conditions. Finally, labor and energy costs in China and other once-cheap markets have increased, making them less desirable. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly moving or considering moving operations back to the United States for greater cost and quality control.

“Bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. is not only good for America but for trucking as well,” said OMVS CEO Robert Wilson. “As manufacturing returns, the demand for trucking services also rises, which means national trucking companies have a greater need to connect with local drivers, and vice-versa, to optimize routes and schedules. The growing re-shoring trend can therefore greatly strengthen our shared economy business plan as our upcoming on-demand platform will enable truckers to make the best possible use of resources.”

OMVS’s cutting-edge shared economy platform will enable truckers to not only build networks, but maximize equipment utilization, recruit drivers and effectively price their services. Shared economy services are estimated to be a $450 billion market.

For more information on OMVS, please visit www.onthemovesystems.com

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According to a report by Digi-Capital, the global video gaming industry is expected to be worth more than $100 billion within the next three years as demand for mobile games continues to rise in line with increasing global smartphone penetration. By 2017, the report forecasts that mobile and online gaming will account for as much as 60 percent of the industry’s total revenue, providing a substantial opportunity for leading mobile game developers – such as Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), Glu Mobile (NASDAQ: GLUU), King (NYSE: KING) and Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA) – as well as smaller firms and startups to promote rapid growth in the coming months.

WRIT Media Group, Inc. (OTCQB: WRIT), through wholly-owned subsidiaries Retro Infinity and Amiga Games, Inc., is strategically positioned to benefit from this market performance as it continues to progress toward the launch of its expansive classic gaming library. Moving forward, the company plans to license its vintage video game titles while republishing the most popular games for modern platforms, such as smartphones, modern game consoles, PCs and tablets. By leveraging the intellectual property portfolio of Amiga, WRIT will be able to market proven games that address a significant market demand without facing the considerable costs and risks associated with producing new content.

Utilizing a cross-platform design for its applications, WRIT plans to inexpensively distribute its vintage content across a variety of popular devices. As a result, the company will be able to expand the market potential of each release without significantly affecting its production schedule or budget. Since the games have already been released on vintage gaming platforms, the company also has access to a high level of market data about its titles that gives it a definitive strategic advantage in directing its budget toward its most marketable and successful games.

As the mobile gaming market continues to expand, WRIT is in a strong position to capitalize through its library of vintage gaming titles. Look for the company to continue making progress toward the launch of its mobile platform in the months to come, potentially providing a platform for sustainable financial growth in the future.

For more information about the company, visit www.writmediagroup.com

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Mobiquity Technologies, through wholly-owned subsidiary Mobiquity Networks, operates an innovative location-based mobile advertising network with a consumer-focused proximity feature that is unlike any other marketing solution in the United States. The company’s cutting-edge technology allows its clients to execute more personalized and contextually relevant experiences in order to effectively drive brand awareness while promoting revenue growth. Mobiquity is currently focused on expanding the presence of its location-based advertising solutions in viable markets with a goal of creating ‘smart malls’ in retail destinations across the country.

Last week, Mobiquity took a significant step toward expanding upon its current market share when it entered into an agreement with Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (NYSE: PEI), one of the largest owners and managers of retail shopping malls in the nation. Through this partnership, the company became the official provider of beacon-based advertising services for PEI’s high-quality portfolio of shopping centers, adding to its existing network of nearly 300 malls owned and operated by Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) and Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC). Mobiquity anticipates completing installation of its technology in PEI’s locations during the first quarter of 2016, increasing its national footprint to more than 320 malls and over 7,500 unique retailers.

“Adding PREIT’s portfolio of malls to our rapidly growing network is yet another significant milestone for Mobiquity Networks,” Thomas M. Arnost, chairman of Mobiquity Networks, stated in a news release. “PEI’s portfolio of properties delivers a highly desirable young and affluent demographic and adds significant scale to our already dominant national retail footprint.”

Unlike other beacon service providers, Mobiquity provides marketers with the means to deliver national scale consumer engagement campaigns that can reach an estimated 262 million monthly real-time shoppers, making it an ideal option for large retail brands. This existing traction in the market has allowed the company to rapidly expand its mall network. Moving forward, this progress will prove instrumental in Mobiquity’s efforts to expand into additional synergistic venues – such as stadiums, arenas, college campuses, airports and retail chains – in order to allow for innovative cross marketing opportunities.

As it continues to make progress toward expanding its groundbreaking advertising network, Mobiquity is in a favorable strategic position to promote rapid financial growth in the months to come. Look for the company to continue leveraging the considerable advantage provided by its traction in the thriving beacon-based advertising services market in order to maintain its position at the forefront of the industry.

For more information, visit www.mobiquitytechnologies.com

Erin Energy is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on energy resources in sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s asset portfolio includes nine licenses across four countries covering an area of approximately 16,600 square miles, including current production and exploration projects offshore Nigeria, as well as exploration licenses offshore Ghana and the Gambia and both offshore and onshore Kenya. By expertly managing its investments and on-going operations, Erin Energy is able to combat current market conditions by limiting capital exposure while maintaining economic efficiency in its operations and maximizing investment value.

In recent months, the company has made tremendous progress in advancing its exploration and development programs. On its project in Nigeria, Erin Energy successfully tied in two wells, Oyo-7 and Oyo-8, in the Oyo field. This achievement preceded the commencement of production in May. In total, the two wells accounted for production of more than 450,000 barrels of oil in the second quarter of 2015, giving the company considerable momentum as it looks to increase its production capacity moving forward.

“Bringing the Oyo-7 and Oyo-8 wells on production were significant milestones in the company’s history,” Kase Lawal, chairman and chief executive officer of Erin Energy, stated in a news release. “Growth is at the center of Erin Energy and this achievement is just the beginning for us.”

The company’s recent progress in the development of its Nigeria asset has been accompanied by equally noteworthy progress on other assets in its portfolio. On August 21, Erin Energy announced that it had received approval from the government of Kenya to enter the first additional exploration period on its onshore blocks, L1B and L16. According to the terms of this approval, the company will be required to acquire, process and interpret approximately 116 square miles of 3D seismic data and drill one exploration well on each block within the next two years.

“We are very pleased to begin the next phase of exploration in Kenya,” continued Lawal. “Our team is greatly encouraged by the results of our exploration efforts thus far, and excited by the significant hydrocarbon potential we see on the blocks.”

Since the start of oil production, the company’s wells have consistently outperformed pre-drill projections. As of August 1, the combined production rate of Oyo-7 and Oyo-8 was approximately 13,100 barrels of oil per day, giving Erin Energy a strong channel with which to generate revenue while continuing to expand its operations. Look for the company to build on these strong results as it progresses exploration efforts across its sizable asset portfolio in the months to come.

For more information, visit www.erinenergy.com

Skyline Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKLN, SKLNU) is a medical device company engaged in the production and commercialization of an innovative, environmentally-friendly tool targeted at improving the safety of one of the most dangerous jobs in the medical field. The company’s proprietary STREAMWAY® system is a cost-effective, canister-free platform that eliminates the frequent and potentially hazardous interruptions commonly associated with surgical waste handling. Utilizing a direct-to-drain installation, Skyline’s technology greatly reduces the risk of hospital staff being exposed to biohazard fluids while simultaneously promoting improved patient-focused care and significant time savings.

The immense benefits of the STREAMWAY system have helped the company make considerable strides toward achieving sustainable market growth in recent years. Originally released in 2009, Skyline has sold 89 units to date, and the company expects this figure to rapidly expand as it looks to bolster sales and production efforts. As new hospitals continue to approve the use of the groundbreaking STREAMWAY system for additional applications, Skyline expects to significantly improve its financial results.

In the first quarter of 2015, Skyline successfully leveraged the marketability of its innovative system to promote strong financial growth. In addition to selling and shipping five STREAMWAY units, the company realized a 115 percent year-over-year increase in total revenues, recording $151,274 for the period. Likewise, Skyline’s net loss and total expenses were reduced by more than $1.3 million during the quarter, as compared to the previous year.

“Our sales increased year-over-year as we continue to make sales to large and diverse medical centers across a broader geographical area,” Josh Kornberg, chief executive officer of Skyline, stated in a news release. “We are optimistic about our business opportunities as we execute on our sales strategy.”

In recent weeks, Skyline has turned its attention toward increasing its market visibility and securing the capital necessary to continue progressing with its strategic business plan. The company recently announced a public offering that’s expected to raise approximately $15 million to fund its ongoing sales efforts while allowing Skyline to increase its product inventory in the future. These actions will be a key part of Skyline’s progress toward market growth, particularly as the company targets achieving profitability as early as next year.

For prospective shareholders, the increasingly widespread adoption of Skyline’s proprietary STREAMWAY technology could provide a platform for ongoing growth. Look for the company to benefit from an improved cash position following the completion of its upcoming public offering as it continues to build upon it recent progress in the future.

For more information, visit www.skylinemedical.com

In continued preparation for its planned uplisting to the NASDAQ Capital Market, Stellar Biotechnologies recently announced that it will proceed with a consolidation of its issued and outstanding shares on the basis of one post-consolidated common share for every 10 pre-consolidated shares, pending regulatory approval. The reverse split is intended to fulfill one of the quantitative requirements for listing on the NASDAQ exchange.

“The reverse stock split is a key step in our growth strategy,” Frank Oates, president and chief executive officer of Stellar, stated in a news release. “We believe that the proposed uplisting to the NASDAQ Capital Market offers a number of advantages including the opportunity to improve liquidity for our shareholders and to increase Stellar’s visibility in the broader investment community and with institutional investors.”

Although the reverse stock split was approved by Stellar’s board of directors on August 26, the company is currently awaiting approval from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the TSX Venture Exchange before moving forward. With all required paperwork submitted, Stellar anticipates that the consolidation could become effective as early as next week.

If the company is successful in its efforts to uplist to the NASDAQ Capital Market, it will be in a strong strategic position to continue building on its recent financial performance. In its fiscal quarter ending June 30, Stellar recorded a 117 percent year-over-year increase in revenues on its way to achieving a net income of approximately $464,000.

As the leader in the sustainable manufacture of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), the company is benefitting from increased market demand as biotechnology firms continue to expand their pipelines of immunotherapies based on KLH protein. Following a strategic collaboration with Ostiones Guerreros SA de CV implemented earlier this year, Stellar has positioned itself as the only company with a reliable and scalable supply of KLH to meet this growing demand. As its roster of customers with successful therapeutic candidates approach FDA approval and commercialization, this advantage should provide an opportunity for the company to achieve rapid and sustainable market growth.

Stellar’s proposed move to the NASDAQ exchange is expected to significantly broaden its investment community, which could prove to be immensely beneficial as it looks to accelerate the development of its programs in response to rising market demand.

For more information, visit www.stellarbiotech.com

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating diseases. The company’s lead product candidate, Firdapse®, recently completed a pivotal phase III clinical trial for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic symdrome (LEMS), a rare neuromuscular, autoimmune disorder that afflicts about 3,000 people in the United States. Catalyst took a significant step toward the eventual commercialization of its innovative candidate when it initiated submission of a rolling new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year. The company anticipates completing this submission during the fourth quarter, putting it on schedule for approval in the first half of 2016.

“[W]e have been working diligently to advance regulatory and commercial affairs and are pleased with the initiation of our rolling NDA submission to the FDA for Firdapse,” Patrick J. McEnany, chief executive officer of Catalyst, stated in a news release. “Additionally, we are on schedule with our key commercial strategic imperatives to support the successful launch of Firdapse.”

Catalyst’s development pipeline also includes CPP-115, which is being studied for the treatment of infantile spasms, epilepsy and other neurological conditions associated with reduced GABAergic signaling, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and Tourette’s disease. CPP-115 has been granted U.S. orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of infantile spasms, making it eligible for a host of incentives designed to limit the costs associated with future development efforts.

In February, the company completed an offering of common stock that raised net proceeds of approximately $34.9 million to help fund its promising development programs. As of June 30, Catalyst reported cash and cash equivalents of $67.4 million with no outstanding debt. These considerable resources are expected to fund the company’s ongoing operations through the anticipated approval and subsequent product launch of Firdapse in 2016.

As it approaches the commercial launch of Firdapse, Catalyst is in a favorable position to promote strong financial growth. Look for the company to benefit from the operational flexibility afforded by its strong balance sheet as it focuses on making significant progress with the ongoing development of its product pipeline.

For more information, visit www.catalystpharma.com

Today before the opening bell, Latitude 360, Inc., the “ultimate upscale multi-dimensional entertainment eatery,” told investors that it has entered into management agreements for two locations of Revolutions, an upscale bowling, dining & entertainment concept owned by Frank Entertainment. The company intends to later acquire these two stores plus a third location in the near future via a Preferred Equity transaction.

The company expects these new locations to operate as Latitude 360 in the fourth quarter of this year. The move is part of Latitude 360’s expansion strategy and will effectively double the number of locations. The company has also entered into a letter of intent with Frank Entertainment to acquire these three locations. Assuming a definitive purchase agreement is entered into with the company and Frank Entertainment, it is the intent to close the acquisition of these three stores in the fourth quarter of 2015 subject to all closing conditions being met and liquor license approval being obtained from relevant government entities.

Latitude 360’s efforts are now focused on the integration and management of these locations and the September launch of 360 Fantasy Live, a cutting-edge daily fantasy sports platform. The Company expects that these strategic moves will provide a significant revenue increase and management believes will assist the Company as it positions itself for an uplisting to a national exchange in the future.

“We are confident the timing of the deal with Revolutions and 360 Fantasy Live’s upcoming launch made this the right move to create the most shareholder value for the capital outlay required. The decision to acquire existing locations will enable rapid top-line growth versus waiting for the construction of new location build-outs. We are excited about bringing the Latitude 360 to more markets as we continue to grow the revenues of our current locations,” said Brent Brown, CEO of Latitude 360.

Bruce Frank, President and CEO of Frank Entertainment, stated, “Latitude 360 is executing at the highest level in the restaurant entertainment space. The customer ‘360 Experience’ is one of the best concepts in the industry. We are excited to be a part of the momentum and look forward to more potential synergies with Frank Entertainment.”

In today’s press release, Latitude 360 also stated that it will not be moving forward with the previously announced construction and build out of the Albany, Kingston Collection or Shops at West End (Minneapolis) locations. The company executed mutual termination agreements on each location.

For more information, visit www.latitude360.com/corporate/investor-relations/

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Cherubim Interests is quickly gaining a foothold in the alternative construction, real estate development and controlled environment agriculture sectors.

Not only is this development-stage company focused on alternative construction projects, it also identifies mixed-use, single-family and multi-family properties for the purpose of real estate development, management and investment activities in North America. Within this sphere, the company is designed to cover the full spectrum of development from due diligence, acquisition and planning to construction, renovation and management. In short, Cherubim provides beginning-to-end development programs for single-family, multi-family and mixed use projects and properties.

Lately, the company has also explored opportunities that would highlight its focus on a third area of interest: the controlled environment agriculture sector. For some time now, the company has closely observed the cannabis industry’s progression and, after noting that more and more states were allowing for the recreational and medical use of cannabis, it began to look for an entry point into this marketplace and, recently, it found one.

Last month, Cherubim publicized that it had acquired an exclusive, worldwide license for a self-contained cultivation unit that would enable year-round plant cultivation in any location with water and electricity. Working in conjunction with its subsidiary BudCube Cultivation Systems, the company means to construct, deploy and lease marijuana plant cultivation facilities for commercial applications in states where the cultivation and consumption of medical and recreational cannabis is legal.

Cherubim’s licensed solution is set to provide growers with the opportunity to lease a portable and scalable turn-key cultivation solution. In so doing, the Cherubim team believes they can fill the gap for many first-time growers who want to enter the industry and for experienced cultivators without the capital to purchase land, construct the necessary facilities or improve pre-existing structures to create the ideal environment for cultivating a high-quality cannabis product.

For more information, visit the company’s website at http://CHIT.QualityStocks.net

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