• The company’s priority is on research and development of innovative hemp extracts
• ETST aims to be a global supplier of hemp oil enriched with CBD
• Its product sales were up 66 percent for the year ended March 31, 2019, driven by full-spectrum cannabinoids

Earth Science Tech Inc. (OTCQB: ETST), a biotech company focused on the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields, reported in an SEC 10-K filing that it is prioritizing the marketing of CBD-rich hemp oil and consumer education about the oil’s health and nutritional benefits. ETST markets a complete line of high-grade hemp-CBD oils, hemp-CBD caps and CBD pet oils, with the entire line featuring full-spectrum, pure CBD oils obtained through a super-critical CO2 cold-liquid extraction method (http://ibn.fm/SHodY).

This focused marketing strategy has paid off, as ETST reported a 66.4 percent increase in product sales for the year ended March 31, 2019. Sales totaled $770,635, as compared to $463,108 for the same period in 2018. ETST attributed the increase to its line of branded, full-spectrum cannabinoids as the company continues to expand and maintain its core customer base.

ETST’s corporate strategy is “to design and produce CBD-enhanced nutraceutical products for sale to the general public. (It) intend(s) to create high-grade, CBD-rich hemp oil and other CBD-containing products unique to the current market in the nutraceuticals industry. (The company) believe(s) that (its) formulations will set (it) apart from competing products for promoting health.”

The company’s goal is to “offer a wide selection of health and nutrition products through online, clinics, pharmacies and in-store retail,” noting that its “product selection includes many high-quality supplement brands and includes (its) proprietary CBD-rich hemp oil.”

A priority for ETST is also to advance a variety of high-quality hemp extracts with a broad profile of cannabinoids and additional natural molecules found in industrial hemp and to identify their distinct properties. In addition to its marketing efforts, ETST is a biotechnology company that conducts R&D, then formulates, markets and distributes the CBD oil used for its studies to the public.

ETST conducts research through the University of Central Oklahoma and DV Biologics LLC, an independent biologics firm that operates in the fields of hemp-derived cannabinoids, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Hemp-based CBD is one of at least 80 cannabinoids found in hemp and is non-psychoactive. The company is striving to scale up its processing capability to accommodate new products in its pipeline. These efforts are particularly timely, as Arcview Market Research projects that legal cannabis sales in North America will reach $20.2 billion by 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25 percent from 2016 (http://ibn.fm/oZhJL).

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ETST are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/ETST

• VPR Brands LP recently announced the release of its ‘Guide to 2020 U.S. Presidential Candidates on Cannabis Issues’
• The company also released its Q1 2019 financial results, posting increased revenues
• VPR Brands is currently working with other market leaders to promote global cannabis growth, extraction and innovation

VPR Brands LP (OTC: VPRB) recently announced the availability of its ‘Guide to 2020 U.S. Presidential Candidates on Cannabis Issues’. As voters prepare to gather information about the 2020 elections, VPR Brands released the guide, which will act as a single point of reference on every candidate’s stance on cannabis.

“The time has come to elect a president who’ll establish a nationwide standard for cannabis as a legal substance, distributed through a regulated industry with access to capital markets, with pardons and reparations considered for those who found themselves ahead of the law,” VPR Brands CEO Kevin Frija stated in a news release (http://ibn.fm/guhHh).

Of the 27 candidates profiled in the VPR Brands guide (http://ibn.fm/I1O1C), 25 were net-positive on cannabis issues. Only former Health and Human Services Secretary Julian Castro and President Donald Trump scored negatively.

In addition to releasing the guide, VPR Brands also announced its 2019 first-quarter financial results, posting increased revenues and a narrowed net loss as compared to 2018. In addition to increasing its quarterly revenues approximately 31 percent year-over-year to $1.3 million, the company slightly lowered its net loss, from approximately $149,000 in 2018 to approximately $138,000 in 2019. The company continues to maintain strong gross operating margins above 40 percent as well. “[This year] is off to a solid start so far, and we are setting the company’s pace, which will allow us to remain focused on sustainable manageable growth,” Frija added (http://ibn.fm/ptvgv).

“I am very pleased with the increased sales performance we achieved in the first quarter of 2019 as we continue to fine tune our operational efficiencies,” Dan Hoff, COO of VPR Brands LP, stated. He commented on the success of cannabis vapes and CBD products as being integral to the company’s continued growth, as VPR Brands maintains a product portfolio heavily weighted toward these products.

VPR Brands is a publicly traded technology company whose assets include the U.S. and Chinese patents for atomization-related products, including technology for medical marijuana vaporizers, as well as e-cigarette products and components. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the company also develops such vaping products as e-liquids, e-cigarettes and vaporizers for use with cannabis and CBD.

The company’s current portfolio includes:

• GoldLine, which combines premium cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp-based ingredients and extracts coupled with the latest technology;
• HoneyStick, a lifestyle brand that develops cost-effective, upper-tier vaporizers;
• Helium, which brings the vaping experience to a new level with intense flavors;
• Vaporin, which delivers Sub-Ohm series starter kits;
• Vaporx, offering the most current, highest-quality products from the best-known brands, including KangerTech, eLeaf, Aspire, Pioneer4You, JoyeTech and Samsung;
• GoldLine Hemp products, which are developed specifically for the convenience store market segment; and
• Vapor Store Direct in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is one of the largest vaporizer and e-liquid wholesalers in the United States.

Leveraging its experienced management, VPR Brands is currently working with other market leaders to promote global cannabis growth, extraction and innovation.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to VPRB are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/VPRB

• The company has entered an exclusive partnership with PAX Labs
• Supreme recently appointed a new chief information officer and a VP of talent
• The vaping market is projected to reach $47.11 billion by 2025, with North American markets expected to represent the largest share at $20.49 billion

The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) (FRA: 53S1) is out to grow the world’s best cannabis and become a leader in the global industry. As Canada’s only coast-to-coast, premium-cannabis producer, SPRWF sees itself at the center of a global shift toward legalizing cannabis. The company is expanding through strategic partnerships and a strong leadership team. By effectively deploying capital and focusing on disciplined growth and high-quality products, Supreme Cannabis has positioned itself as one of the world’s fastest-growing, premium plant-driven lifestyle companies.

SPRWF is accelerating its growth into the vaporizer market. In June, the company announced an exclusive partnership with PAX Labs (http://ibn.fm/2T4Di). Pending Canada’s federal legalization of vaporizable products, the company will become a foundational brand partner and supplier for PAX Era in Canada. 7ACRES, a wholly owned subsidiary of SPRWF, will be one of only four licensed producers to create cannabis oil pods for the PAX Era, and Supreme Cannabis anticipates selling the branded Era pods coast-to-coast in Canada.

“We have been working hard to ensure Canadian consumers will be able to enjoy quality cannabis concentrates in a convenient pod format,” PAX Canadian General Manager Tim Pellerin stated in a news release (http://ibn.fm/D2wCs). “That is why we are excited to launch our immersive PAX Era experience with quality products from four powerhouse cannabis companies — Aphria, Aurora, Organigram, and Supreme Cannabis.”

PAX operates with the mission of establishing cannabis as a force for good. PAX does not manufacture, produce or sell cannabis, but instead designs and develops premium, app-controlled vaporization technologies and devices. The PAX mobile app allows the user to manage vapor, potency and flavor output. The app also has a security feature that locks the vaporizer from unwanted use. The PAX Era has the added ability to adjust vapor delivery based on the strength of the pull, making sure that no drop is wasted.

PAX has already proven itself as the best-selling pen-and-pod system in the U.S. vaping market and has sold 1.5 million devices worldwide. In 2018, e-cigarettes represented a $3.6 million market in the United States alone (http://ibn.fm/2aYQg). By 2025, the global e-cigarette and vaping market is projected to reach $47.11 billion, with North America expected to have the largest part of that share at $20.49 billion.

The fastest-growing segment of this market is expected to be modular devices that allow users to adjust vapor output to preference (http://ibn.fm/jV49I). In this respect, PAX is ahead of the game, already offering this ability to consumers through its mobile app.

“Together, we expect to deliver 7ACRES’ multi-award-winning flower extracted into oils exclusively for use in North America’s best-selling premium vaporizer, the PAX Era,” added Supreme Cannabis CEO Navdeep Dhaliwal (http://ibn.fm/60qMA). “7ACRES has established itself as the leading Canadian brand for high-end cannabis flower at scale, and as we extend our brand into newly available product categories, we are committed to maintaining the same level of quality our discerning consumer has come to expect. As our brand portfolio grows, we look forward to working with PAX to deliver additional premium brand experiences onto the PAX Era platform.”

In addition, SPRWF continues its next stage of growth with new appointments (http://ibn.fm/jgxnp). Ash Rajendra, an experienced information technology and business leader with a deep understanding of vertically integrated products, has been named the company’s new CIO. As the new VP of talent, Valerie Rother brings more than 16 years of experience in recruitment, talent management and HR business practices to the company. Supreme Cannabis also announced that John Fowler has resigned as director, a role he had held since 2014. Fowler will take on the new position of chief advocacy officer and managing director.

“We are excited to welcome Mr. Rajendra and Ms. Rother to the Supreme Cannabis team,” continued Dhaliwal. “Both bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to drive the company’s next phase of growth. Coupled with our recreational brand, 7ACRES, and the recent addition of our wellness brand, Blissco, and our anticipated acquisition of our global medical brand, Truverra, Supreme Cannabis has evolved as a global leader in premium cannabis brands and products. Our team continues to grow and evolve to meet the demands of this fast-moving industry.”

In additional to 7ACRES, the company’s portfolio includes Cambium Plant Sciences, Medigrow Lesotho, and a brand partnership and licensing deal with Khalifa Kush Enterprises Canada.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SPRWF are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SPRWF

• A strategic partnership is expected to enable Blue Hat to modernize classrooms across Guangzhou, China
• Through the agreement, Blue Hat will begin the development of augmented reality solutions for the education sector
• VR and AR are prominent in China, where both the government and provincial authorities are encouraging the introduction of technological initiatives in the field of education

Chinese augmented reality software developer Blue Hat Interactive Entertainment Technology (NASDAQ: BHAT) announced on April 30 the finalization of a strategic agreement with Guangdong Family Periodicals Group.

Through the partnership, the two enterprises will work toward the development of innovative educational solutions that feature Blue Hat’s innovative technologies, as the company detailed in a press release (http://ibn.fm/TDA6M).

The Guangdong Family Periodicals Group was established in 2002 as the first journal group in China. During the same year, the group was identified as one of the top-seven cultural industry groups supported in its endeavors by Guangdong Province.

Various magazines are currently being published as a part of the Guangdong Family Periodicals Group portfolio. Winning the Future is one of the most prominent conceptual projects launched by the group. Apart from printing traditional periodicals, Guangdong Family Periodicals Group also invests in digital projects like electronic and mobile magazines.

The partnership between the two entities is a result of technological advances over the past few years. The advent of 5G technology will make the widespread adoption of AR solutions a simpler task. This infrastructural development will enable innovators like Blue Hat to offer cutting-edge solutions to various types of consumers. The introduction of AR in Chinese schools is expected to give children an interactive platform that can enhance the learning experience and make it more entertaining.

Through the partnership, Blue Hat and Guangdong Family Periodicals Group will aim to create the so-called ‘AR Smart Kindergarten’.

China’s government has been focused on AR and virtual reality (VR) development for some time already, with special emphasis being put on the education sector. In 2016, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology established the Industry of Virtual Reality Alliance – the first ever government-backed alliance to focus on these technologies. The entity encompasses academic labs, research centers and educational institutions across China (http://ibn.fm/BozrY).

On a local level, numerous municipalities have also been encouraging technological transformation in education. Guizhou Province launched its Virtual Reality Town, an initiative aimed at helping businesses across different sectors to realize opportunities in virtual reality (http://ibn.fm/quHUo), while the Shenzhen Municipal Government set up a VR research institute in cooperation with HTC Corporation, with a goal of supporting the development of the VR industry in the Shenzhen special economic zone (http://ibn.fm/Yy04K).

VR and AR technologies are also anticipated to have a pronounced effect within the educational field on a global scale. The VR and AR markets are expected to grow at a CAGR of 41.2 percent by 2025, with the entertainment and education industries being two of the primary drivers of growth (http://ibn.fm/9sIDy).

Blue Hat Interactive Entertainment Technology is a China-based augmented reality software technology developer. Its focus falls on the younger market via the integration of toy and game designs with interactive, innovative tech. Founded in 2010, Blue Hat is committed to becoming the most popular interactive entertainment entity developing cutting-edge products for children in China.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.BlueHatGroup.net

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to BHAT are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/BHAT

• Lionsgate’s production studios have claimed 30 Academy Awards, 29 Emmys and nearly $10 billion in box office revenues over the past five years
• The company opened the world’s first vertical amusement park on July 31, set around themes evident in its most successful young adult-targeted movies, such as The Hunger Games and Twilight
• China’s amusement park industry is booming thanks to a growing middle-income demographic; it is projected to reach $12 billion in retail sales by next year, marking a 367 percent increase from a decade ago

Global and vertically oriented entertainment content provider Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: LGF.A) (NYSE: LGF.B) has entered the world of movie-themed amusement parks with its Lionsgate Entertainment World property situated in the Guangdong Province of China, near Hong Kong and Macau. The 240,000-square-foot indoor park opened July 31, offering 25 different attractions that build on some of the studio’s most young adult-friendly franchises, such as The Hunger Games, Twilight, Divergent, Escape Plan, Now You See Me and Gods of Egypt, according to Forbes (http://ibn.fm/tccMc).

Lionsgate has steadily built an empire of entertainment prowess, with nearly $10 billion in box office revenues over the past five years, 30 Academy Awards, 29 Emmys and 17,000 titles in its film and TV library.

The opening of the Chinese theme park occurred too late to play a part in the company’s financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, which closed at the end of June, but the company expects the August 8 livestream of its financial report (http://ibn.fm/v0Cm2) to showcase the studio conglomerate’s efforts to advance its content strategy.

In May, the company reported that its revenue for the previous fiscal year was $3.68 billion, its operating income was $130 million, its cash flow from operating activities was $428 million and its adjusted free cash flow was $638 million (http://ibn.fm/6wkFK).

“We’ve completed a very active and productive fiscal 2019 in which we set in place all the elements for strong growth and continued value creation in the year ahead,” Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer stated in a news release. “We’ve refilled our film and television content pipelines, refocused on extracting maximum value from our franchise properties and are capitalizing on an extraordinary opportunity to continue Starz’s global expansion and cement its stature as one of the leading international pure play subscription video-on-demand services.”

The new Lionsgate Entertainment World is billed as the world’s first “vertical theme park,” situated on multiple floors much like a large shopping mall. The Hunger Games attraction occupies an entire level, building tension through violent-themed virtual reality “without gore but with a lot more darkness and suspense than most theme parks,” the organizers stated in a Forbes interview.

Players can also get hair and makeup done in the over-the-top style of the Hunger Games films at a themed salon, so they will be in fine form while joining the rebellion against the oppressive Panem government.

“We have created the first PG-13 theme park by design. When the client came to us, the development that they are building has multiple components to it and they specifically wanted attractions to appeal to the Chinese young adult dating crowd. The dating crowd in their 20’s and 30’s in China goes out in large groups and the brands we were looking at were of that ilk,” project designer Dave Cobb added.

“In this park, we got to use VR in three different ways and that is enabled by the size and demographics of the audience,” he added. “We get to immerse people in these incredibly lush and visual worlds and combine motion simulation and physical effects that surround you… The headline VR attraction at the park is called Midnight Ride and is based on the Twilight Saga, and it’s the world’s first multi-player, interactive, hyper-reality VR simulator where you actually sit on a motorcycle and you race alongside the wolf pack on this dirt bike adventure that has complete rider freedom. It’s not just a canned simulator film that is pre-rendered and is a world you can explore as you ride.”

Asia Times reported that China’s theme park industry is booming within the world’s second largest economy. Its account notes that market analysts at World Travel Market predicted that theme park-related retail sales will reach $12 billion by 2020, marking an increase of 367 percent from 2010 (http://ibn.fm/2jHrN), as the country’s middle income demographic grows and takes advantage of newfound discretionary income.

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

• Trxade Group reported record revenues of over $1.9 million in its second quarter filing, as well as increased operating income and net income obtained through its acquisition of independent pharmacy services
• Trxade Group is a pharmaceutical services network dedicated to helping independent pharmacies remain competitive through its web-based purchasing platform, data analytics and delivery services
• Trxade also reported a year-over-year increase in operating income, from $31,446 to $132,705, and net income, from $20,513 to $57,981
• Gross profits rose to more than $1.1 million, with a gross margin of 60.7 percent offset by increased cost of sales from one of the company’s acquisitions

Florida-based Trxade Group Inc. (OTCQB: TRXD), a pharmaceutical services network that brings the buyers and sellers of pharmaceutical products and services together in its own community of trust, technology and transparency, reported ongoing record revenue growth as well as an increase in gross profits and independent pharmacy subscribers as part of its second-quarter financial statement.

Trxade reported that its revenues for the three months ended June 30 were over $1.9 million, marking an increase of 129 percent over the year-ago quarter’s $837,688. It also marked a 27 percent sequential increase over the first quarter ended March 31, according to a news release issued July 29 (http://ibn.fm/1uFir).

Operating income rose during the quarter to $132,705, versus $31,446 a year ago. Net income increased to $57,981 from last year’s second quarter report of $20,513. The gains in revenue and income were primarily attributed to the acquisition of Community Specialty Pharmacy LLC and an increase of fee income generated by the company’s web-based supplier-to-pharmacy trading platform.

Gross profit for the quarter was over $1.1 million, which created a gross margin of 60.7 percent for the three-month period, as compared to $837,688 and 100 percent respectively for the second quarter of the previous year. The margin decrease was attributable to greater revenues mixed with higher costs of sales from its acquisition of independent pharmacy services.

“We made excellent progress executing against our key strategic priorities in our Delivmeds.com program, our B2C commercial efforts and our proprietary B2B trading platform www.Trxade.com… enabling us to experience top and bottom line growth,” Trxade Group Chairman and CEO Suren Ajjarapu stated in a news release. “Accordingly, I am optimistic that our new product lines will generate profitability as increasing pharmaceutical prices drive independent pharmacies, payors and consumers to be more aggressive in sourcing medication.”

Trxade Group’s resources, which include software that links a member-pharmacist network, a platform for buying medications at competitive prices and services for storing and delivery pharmaceuticals, are designed to empower independently owned pharmacies and help them manage their inventories and operations through data analysis.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to TRXD are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/TRXD

• The home video services industry is undergoing a significant evolution, as younger consumers increasingly edge away from traditional cable TV and gravitate toward streaming services that are viewable on mobile devices
• End-to-end network technology provider Spectrum Global Solutions has positioned itself well to meet the evolving industry’s infrastructure and ongoing maintenance needs
• The company serves clients large and small throughout the United States and its territories, including telecommunications giants such as Ericsson, Nokia, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon
• SGSI’s acquisition of German energy infrastructure technology company WaveTech GmbH further positions its operations to respond to clients on an international scale

Online video streaming services were introduced to the television-viewing market as an alternate means of watching programming that hadn’t been DVR’d, sometimes providing supplementary content as well, but streaming services have since begun to evolve into content-providing solutions with gravitas, and current global telecommunications industry plans to begin rolling out the infrastructure for a 5G network evolution have further validated a shifting business focus toward over-the-top (OTT) services as well as cable TV.

Telecommunications network service provider Spectrum Global Solutions Inc. (OTCQB: SGSI) delivers network establishment and maintenance experience end-to-end, fulfilling contracts on a one-time service-needed basis as well as ongoing, multi-year contracts. The holding company’s client list includes carriers, aggregators, enterprise services, project management offices (PMOs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) large and small, with names such as Ericsson, Nokia, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon among them.

SGSI serves telecommunications engineering and infrastructure needs across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Caribbean. A July announcement of its pending acquisition of German energy infrastructure technology company WaveTech GmbH paves the way for further expansion into the global market (http://ibn.fm/NWzcw) and shows Spectrum’s potential to respond to differing needs in the world’s varied locales.

European internet users are generally less likely to watch video on a smart TV or smartphone than their U.S. counterparts, according to research from Ampere Analysis (http://ibn.fm/pQzvb), and the trend by which viewers worldwide continue to prefer connected TVs for long-form programming is expected to hold steady so long as significant video quality and streaming rate concerns remain outside of metropolitan areas. Still, the rise of global internet firms and changing viewing habits, particularly among younger generations, is increasing the pressure on traditional pay-TV and free-to-air broadcasters (http://ibn.fm/Yi8yv).

“Younger generations are growing up with more choices at their fingertips,” Peter Katsingris, senior vice president of audience insights at Nielsen, told USA Today (http://ibn.fm/EX7xQ) after noting that the percentage of 18-to-34-year-olds watching TV in a given minute dropped from 26.4 points in 2014 to 16.8 percentage points by late 2018 — a change of 36 percent overall. The younger “Gen Edge” demographic has dropped its traditional TV viewing in favor of streaming services in even larger numbers — close to 50 percent overall — according to the company.

Spectrum’s subsidiaries have provided the company the capacity to thrive amid the evolving industry landscape. AW Solutions Inc. and AW Solutions Puerto Rico LLC offer full turnkey service solutions for wireless and wireline clientele in all the contiguous states, the District of Columbia and Hawaii, as well as in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador, and in Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SGSI’s ADEX Corp. and ADEX Puerto Rico LLC subsidiaries provide turnkey network deployment services and staffing solutions to telecommunications carriers and enterprise clients on an international basis. Tropical Communications Inc., an electrical and underground utility contractor headquartered in Miami, Florida, and TNS Inc., headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois, both provide all types of structured wiring and installation services to enable private and public communication networks.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SGSI are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SGSI

• Cannabis industry investment builder Nabis Holdings has purchased Desert Hot Springs’ Desert’s Finest dispensary
• The new asset gives Nabis an entry point into the world’s largest cannabis industry market, and it is strategically located near the annual Coachella Music Festival
• Nabis envisions revenues of C$14.8 million this year with a leap to C$167.9 million next year, translating into forecasts of C$4.1 million in profits this year and C$67.5 million in 2020

The remarkable rise of the cannabis industry and its variety of sectors has created a sea change in some market metrics, drawing investors’ risk capital from last year’s newsmakers (http://ibn.fm/R8ubX). At the forefront of the trend, Nabis Holdings Inc. (CSE: NAB) (OTC: NABIF) (FRA: 71P) has been plying its experience in building an expanding portfolio of cannabis investments to create high-quality cash flow opportunities in states where limited licenses are granted for professional operations.

Nabis entered new territory with its first acquisition in California – the world’s largest market for the cannabis industry – which it announced in a June 12 news release noting a definitive agreement to acquire 100 percent ownership of Desert’s Finest, a 6,000-square-foot dispensary located in Desert Hot Springs, less than two hours east of Los Angeles (http://ibn.fm/9V5Jg).

“As we continue national expansion of the Nabis footprint, we are pleased to announce our first acquisition in the state of California, one of the dominant cannabis markets in the United States,” Nabis CEO and Director Shay Shnet stated in a news release. “Desert’s Finest has successfully generated material revenue driven in part by their convenient dispensary location in the Palm Springs region and extensive list of registered patients.”

The dispensary has more than 37,000 registered patients and brought in more than $5.7 million in revenues over the previous 12 months, leaving it with a 47 percent gross profit margin. Desert’s Finest’s location, strategically close to the annual Coachella Music Festival, has also shown to be a boon to sales of a wide assortment of flower, vape and edibles products.

Nabis expects that its portfolio of investments at a proper pricing point supports revenue forecasts of C$14.8 million this year followed by a leap to C$167.9 million next year as the company’s assets begin reaping the benefits of cultivation and harvest work. Most of those are due to expectations for strategically located assets in Michigan, where the company is building a pipeline of one cultivation facility, one processing facility and seven dispensaries.

Nabis expects the sales to translate into EBITDA of C$4.1 million in 2019 and C$67.5 million in 2020 (http://ibn.fm/5sMQa) as it builds a vertically integrated portfolio across the United States and expands into international markets.

The company’s investments include a cannabis cultivation facility, a greenhouse and a dispensary in Arizona, as well as a growing processing facility operation in Washington. In Israel, Nabis recently announced its 49 percent interest in sublingual cannabis strip maker Cannova Medical Ltd., with an option to purchase the remaining 51 percent at the company’s discretion.

Nabis also is examining multiple “off market” opportunities in Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and the European Union.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to NABIF are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/NABIF

• PBIO’s proprietary Ultra Shear Technology (UST) platform achieves the long sought-after ability to create truly water-soluble CBD oil that can provide optimized bioavailability
• CBD sales are projected to reach $89 billion by 2024 with a CAGR of 37 percent (2018-2024 forecast period)
• Analysts predict that the biggest short-term challenge for CBD businesses will be oversaturation and stiff competition in the marketplace; companies producing the highest-quality, most bioavailable CBD products are expected to earn top customer loyalty

Finding success in the lucrative yet ultra-competitive CBD industry is a daunting challenge for businesses in the space, with oversaturation in the marketplace being a real concern. The cannabis market was valued at $14.5 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach $89.1 billion by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 37 percent during the forecast period, according to Mordor Intelligence (http://ibn.fm/fCnCI). CBD manufacturers may find tapping into this booming trend to be short-lived if their CBD offerings don’t stand up to consumers’ expectations that the products they purchase are as beneficial as advertised.

Pressure BioSciences Inc. (OTCQB: PBIO), a leader in the development and sale of high pressure-based instruments, consumables and related services for the global life sciences and other industries, has developed a novel, proprietary process that has wide potential in the cannabis sector by solving one of the most critical problems facing CBD manufacturers today: the extremely poor water solubility of CBD oil. The recent launch of PBIO’s BaroShear K45 system, based on the company’s proprietary Ultra Shear Technology (UST) platform, has been optimized for the unique purpose of creating high quality, water-soluble nanoemulsions of CBD oil in water, as a news release details (http://ibn.fm/MY4mE).

CBD, a non-psychoactive compound believed to offer powerful health benefits, is extracted from the cannabis plant in an oil. After ingestion, because oils are not well absorbed, most of the CBD is flushed from the body, leaving little of the product to provide its beneficial properties. Because of these solubility issues, many CBD products on the market today contain an inefficient over-abundance of CBD and/or undesirable chemicals to try and improve solubility and bioavailability.

Dr. Nathan Lawrence, senior advisor to Pressure BioSciences, said that PBIO solves the water-solubility problem of CBD with its patented UST platform, which uses ultra-high pressure to create extreme shearing forces to make highly stable, homogenized nanoemulsions of materials that normally do not mix, such as CBD oil and water.

“The unique concept of the BaroShear K45 system is based on PBIO’s proprietary UST platform. It was designed for the efficient and affordable manufacture of limited quantity oil-based material into high quality, water-soluble nanoemulsions,” Dr. Lawrence stated in a news release. “The BaroShear K45 system uses a custom-designed, highly responsive ultra-high pressure generating subsystem, matched to our patented BaroIsolator device and NanoGap valve. This allows for the highest effectiveness possible at working pressures up to 45,000 psi. The BaroShear K45 system is ideally suited for processing small amounts (e.g., 50 mL – 2 L) of high value product, such as CBD oil, into water-soluble nanoemulsions with high yield.”

In a critical review report on cannabidiol (CBD), the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence noted that, while CBD is seen as a useful treatment for a number of medical conditions, there are efficacy issues because of its “poor aqueous solubility.”

“The absorption of CBD from the gastrointestinal tract is erratic, and the resulting pharmacokinetic profile is variable. Bioavailability from oral delivery was estimated to be 6 percent due to significant first-pass metabolism,” the report states (http://ibn.fm/k9TiL).

For most oil-based products, the ability to prepare them as nanoemulsions can improve the product’s absorption, medicinal benefits, visual appearance and sensory presentation. The biggest challenge in the short-term for CBD businesses will be oversaturation and stiff competition, a Forbes article notes (http://ibn.fm/rq67C). As consumers start to learn more about CBD and approach products with more discerning tastes, companies will need to start differentiating themselves from their competitors through smart branding and the delivery of excellent products.

Two short videos released by PBIO (http://ibn.fm/T4eUX and http://ibn.fm/ENM6e), showing how its patented UST platform was able to process CBD plant oil into a water-soluble nanoemulsion, give a quick lesson in PBIO’s proprietary technology. When the UST-processed CBD oil was added to different liquids – such as a soft drink, a sports drink and a beer – the nanoemulsified CBD oil completely dissolved in each liquid. For CBD companies seeking a way to stand out from the rising hordes of competition, PBIO’s BaroShear K45 system could be a true game changer.

“We are looking forward to working with the early adopters of this exciting technology platform,” Richard T. Schumacher, president and CEO of PBIO, said in a news release. “Early adopters will be the first to use the UST platform in the CBD field, thus giving them a significant head-start over companies who choose to wait or use other methods.”

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to PBIO are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/PBIO

• City View Green Holdings is completing the construction of a 40,000-square-foot cannabis cultivation facility in the Toronto-area following an all-clear notice from Health Canada under its new licensing regulations
• City View began trading on the Canadian Stock Exchange in March and has recently cleared more than half a million dollars in debt as part of efforts to strengthen its financial profile
• The company expects its 19.9 percent stake in Canadian retailer Budd Hutt to provide it with an avenue for gaining shelf space in Alberta and for other retail opportunities across the country
• CVGR’s fledgling operation has the benefit of an experienced leadership team, including a CEO with decades of sales and leadership experience in the alcoholic beverage industry and a master grower who co-founded a TSX Venture Exchange-listed cannabis firm
• The cannabis industry is expected to achieve $66.3 billion in sales by the end of 2025

Vertically integrated cannabis company City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) is pressing forward with its efforts to establish strong operational and financial resources for its green seed-to-retail strategy, building on recent budget-strengthening developments as it completes a 40,000-square-foot cultivation facility near Toronto for a pharmaceutical-grade crop.

City View Green Holdings announced July 24 that it had negotiated the settlement of $580,019 in debt with arm’s length creditors in exchange for an established number of shares at differentiated values. It also detailed negotiated terms for a sale and leaseback transaction related to its Toronto-area property in Brantford, Ontario, and for consultancy services, in exchange for warrants to purchase additional shares and other stock options (http://ibn.fm/s0M85).

CVGR expects to complete buildout at the Brantford facility during the coming months and to position itself for growing, extraction, production and retail services targeting the extract market and, once legalized, edibles, distillates and water-soluble products for the cannabis-infused beverage market. The company’s 19.9 percent stake in Canadian retail outlet Budd Hutt Inc. grants it a channel of opportunity for securing shelf space in Alberta and other retail opportunities across the country.

Budd Hutt has entered an agreement to acquire eight pre-license retail cannabis store locations in the Alberta market, all of which have the appropriate regulatory approvals in place except for pending approval from Alberta Gaming, Liquour and Cannabis (http://ibn.fm/TPMLC).

Health Canada has granted City View Green the go-ahead to continue building up its operation under new Cannabis Act & Regulations licensing rules announced May 8 that require new license applicants to have a fully built site at the time of submitting applications (http://ibn.fm/edC0l). CVGR received notice from Health Canada that there were no concerns under the proposed application following a high-level review, which paves the way for CVGR’s application to be fast-tracked once the Brantford site is finished (http://ibn.fm/Ilecc).

Following receipt of Health Canada’s letter, City View reported that preparation of the facility’s exterior, security fencing and interior has been completed, and the company expects to finish building the initial cultivation and extraction rooms during the second and third quarters of the current calendar year.

“We are excited to maintain our priority in the licensing process with Health Canada,” CEO Ian MacDonald stated in the news release. “With the recent changes announced to the application process, we believe timelines for inspection and approvals will be greatly improved and the value of a license will increase significantly. The new rules give priority to applicants like CVGR with strong operational and financial resources. Our buildout at our Brantford facility will be completed in the coming months and we are confident our license will be granted shortly thereafter so we can begin operations and provide the finest flower and oils in the cannabis industry.”

MacDonald was named CEO in April, shortly after the company began trading on the Canadian Stock Exchange, bringing CVGR the benefit of his distinguished career in the international alcoholic beverage industry that includes a strong foundation in sales, marketing and executive management over 30 years. The company’s leadership team also includes a master grower who helped found successful cannabis firm WeedMD.

City View is anticipating the purchase of processing equipment, the roll out of a direct route to market QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) concept and the acquisition of other products as part of its strategy going forward into world markets where medicinal and adult recreational use cannabis have been granted legal acceptance.

The legalized cannabis industry has enjoyed explosive success amid changing cultural perspectives and governmental regulatory approaches across the globe. Analysts at market observer Grand View Research anticipate that the worldwide legal cannabis market will expand at a CAGR of 23.9 percent through the end of 2025 to achieve $66.3 billion in sales (http://ibn.fm/2tygb).

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CVGR are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/CVGR