• A joint development agreement signed with Noramco Inc., the world’s largest producer of chemically synthesized cannabinoids and pharmaceutical APIs, is expected to scale the development of Willow’s CBD biosynthesis program
• The collective market for CBD sales in the U.S. is expected to exceed $20 billion by 2024, while the cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals market may reach $50 billion by 2029
• Synthetic biology is expected to disrupt the cannabinoid industry supply chain, providing access to new and larger markets for CBD and related compounds

Willow Biosciences Inc. (CSE: WLLW), a leading developer of biosynthetic production systems for high-value, plant-derived active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and intermediates, is pursuing the burgeoning CBD market with a world-class partner. Willow recently announced a joint development agreement (JDA) with Noramco Inc., a leading manufacturer of cannabinoids, to collaboratively develop a yeast-based biosynthesis platform for the production and distribution of cannabidiol (CBD) (http://ibn.fm/8F330).

The JDA is mutually exclusive and creates an enviable arrangement designed to take advantage of each company’s unique and compelling skillsets, the news release notes. The JDA requires each company to cover its own costs, retain its own intellectual property associated with its own scopes of work and share equally in the gross profits from sales of CBD produced under the agreement.

Together, Willow and Noramco will aim to address the increasing demand for CBD-based APIs and other CBD-infused products by pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, consumer packaged goods, beverages and other industry sectors.

“Noramco is a world-class organization with a long history of developing APIs across numerous markets and is the market leader in synthetically produced CBD,” Dr. Joseph Tucker, Willow’s executive chairman, said in a news release. “They are the obvious first choice as a partner to scale the development of our CBD biosynthesis program. Noramco’s global leadership in the production and sales of cannabinoids to pharmaceutical companies will naturally lead into manufacturing and sales into additional nonpharmaceutical markets.”

It’s a lucrative market that is generating ample analytical statistics for investors to consider. BDS Analytics forecasts that the collective market for CBD sales is expected to exceed $20 billion in the U.S. by 2024 (http://ibn.fm/wgthy), stating in its report, “We’re witnessing CBD maturing from a cannabis sub-category into a full-blown industry of its own.”

Statista’s Research Department projects that the cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical market in the U.S. will soar from a mere $2 billion in 2020 to $50 billion by 2029 (http://ibn.fm/AEUai). As a technology platform, biosynthesis can provide a low-cost, ultrapure and scalable manufacturing solution for pharmaceutical, food, beverage and personal care consumers of CBD. The work conducted in the JDA between Willow and Noramco has the potential to open new and larger markets for CBD and related compounds.

“The addition of biosynthetic CBD production will augment Noramco’s ability to work with our existing customers and the capacity to address the rapidly increasing market demand for CBD-based APIs and ingredients from pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, consumer packaged goods, beverage and other industry sectors,” Bill Grubb, Noramco’s chief innovation officer and vice president of global business development, said in a news release. “We are excited to be working with the world class team at Willow and are confident in their ability to deliver scalable, CBD-producing strains to Noramco.”

Willow’s proprietary yeast-based lab strains produce CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabigerol (CBG), as well as certain minor and novel cannabinoids. Utilizing this proven synthetic biology platform, Willow’s research team has already begun producing cannabinoids at lab scale, using yeast as the host cell “factory.” This biosynthetic fermentation-based process is capable of producing pharmaceutical-grade CBD in 10 days – far less time than traditional plant-based extraction methods.

Willow believes that its technology can be scaled to produce hundreds of kilograms per batch of cannabinoid API at less than $1,000 per kilogram, thus costing approximately 60 percent less than current chemical synthesis methods and 90 percent less than conventional plant-based extraction methods.

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

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

• Lithium demand is seen as being long-term and relentless
• This market dynamic creates favorable conditions for resource development companies like QMC Quantum Minerals
• QMC is already at work to initiate sustainable lithium production at its Irgon Lithium Mine Project

Global lithium demand is anticipated to triple by 2025, driven primarily by expanded lithium-ion battery production for the electric vehicle market. According to a lithium market update, demand for lithium grew by more than 27 percent in 2018 (http://ibn.fm/9fsZn) and is expected to grow at rates above 20 percent in 2019.

Forecasts suggest that lithium demand will continue growing at healthy levels well beyond 2019. Some analysts believe that demand for one million tons per year could be reached much sooner than anticipated. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence quoted by Investing News, the achievement of full battery mega-factory capacity will contribute to a lithium demand of 961,351 tons per year in 2023 and over 1.57 million tons in 2028.

QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (TSX.V: QMC) (OTC: QMCQF) (FSE: 3LQ) is already strategically positioned to supply lithium on the basis of the growing demand. QMC Quantum Minerals engages in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural resource properties. Strategic acquisitions enable the development of high-quality lithium, gold, silver, nickel, zinc and copper deposits.

The company’s current properties are located in the Canadian province of Manitoba – one of the most productive and accessible mining areas in the country, which is insulated from many of the political pressures that threaten non-North American sources. The Irgon Lithium Mine Project is a key part of the company’s portfolio, not only because of the historic resource estimate and the most recent analyses that expand on it, but because of its potential to be in production in a short period of time.

Several factors contribute to the positive projections for the Irgon Project, including easy access to well-developed infrastructure such as the processing facility located at the recently acquired TANCO Mine. Sinomine Resource Group Co. Ltd., based in China, purchased from Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) its Specialty Fluids business (located at the TANCO Mine) for $135 million, including royalties of up to $5 million for lithium products.

In addition, QMC recently received positive assay results from historical drill cores for two of the supplementary Irgon Lithium Mine dikes. These suggest a much higher resource availability than what’s listed in historic estimates for the region. These findings could enable QMC Quantum Minerals to position itself as a leading provider of lithium serving a growing market driven by the rapid expansion of the electric vehicle industry.

Lithium is sometimes referred to as ‘white petroleum’, and it is a finite resource. By 2025, the search for sustainable and green solutions will increase the need for lithium by more than five times the current production levels (http://ibn.fm/6fAgr). Numerous vehicle manufacturers have announced plans to launch multiple electrical vehicle models – one of the new market trends that will have a primary effect on lithium production.

Volkswagen alone has announced more than 70 electric car model launches for the coming decade. Several other primary manufacturers have made similar announcements, as a Forbes report notes.

All indicators suggest an upward trend for lithium. In March 2019, battery capacity deployed worldwide in electric cars nearly doubled on an annual basis (http://ibn.fm/iUlFh). The lithium share per kWh has also expanded. Full electric vehicles are taking market share from hybrid cars, and China alone already has 486 registered electric vehicle manufacturers.

QMC is uniquely positioned to benefit from the growing demand for lithium as it works to initiate production at its Manitoba assets and position itself as a key player and provider on the domestic market. With a strong commitment to creating shareholder value through the strategic acquisition and development of quality prospects in one of Canada’s most productive mining regions, paired with a highly experienced management team, the company stands as a very attractive and lucrative investment opportunity.

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

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

• Organic farming is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 8.4 percent through 2026, fueled by high demand and concerns about the use of traditional agricultural practices
• The organic pesticide market is also expected to expand, at a CAGR of approximately 14.9 percent through 2023
• These market dynamics show that companies like MustGrow Biologics that specialize in biopesticides and biofertilizers could benefit from significant growth opportunities

As the global organic farming market continues growing at a sustainable and consistent rate, new expansion opportunities emerge for organizations such as MustGrow Biologics Corp. (CSE: MGRO), an agricultural biotech company that develops and commercializes natural biopesticides and bio-fertilizers serving as an alternative to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers typically used by cannabis and fruit and vegetable growers.

According to the ‘Organic Farming Market – Size, Share, Outlook and Opportunity Analysis’ report, the global organic farming market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.4 percent through 2026 (http://ibn.fm/VSVGi). Europe is expected to account for 25 percent of the growth during the forecast period. Until 2015, North America held the largest market share in the field of organic food production. Other markets are anticipated to start catching up, contributing to dynamic developments and the rapid adoption of new technologies.

Based on this forecast, it’s not surprising to also explore positive predictions for the organic pesticides market. Forecasts suggest that the market will reach $279 billion by 2023, as detailed in an Allied Market Research report (http://ibn.fm/k4cSo). The compound annual growth rate is estimated at 14.9 percent for the period from 2017 to 2023.

North America currently dominates the global biopesticides market, accounting for approximately a third of the market share. Several factors have been fueling growth of the market. The first and most prominent contributor is the heightened demand for organically grown products. In North America, the growth in demand is 13.8 percent. In Europe, it has reached 13.5 percent, and, in the Asia-Pacific region, it has reached 12.1 percent. Growing concerns about the use of traditional commercial pesticides are also driving a switch to biologically-sound, natural and organic-compatible products.

The organic pesticide market is segmented into natural and synthetic products. Natural products have historically accounted for a major share of the global organic pesticides market. Some growth is anticipated in the field of synthetic products, but natural is still likely to dominate.

These forecasts suggest that companies like MustGrow Biologics Corp. will benefit from excellent expansion opportunities in the years to come. MustGrow’s natural biopesticide and biofertilizer are effective and safe, as well as easy to use. The products can be utilized in the production of fruits, vegetables, turf and ornamental industries.

Both the MustGrow biopesticide and biofertilizer are refined from compounds of the mustard plant. These compounds are powerful nematicides, fungicides and pesticides. Research suggests that the MustGrow biopesticide delivers effective pathogen and pest control to ensure plant growth and high yields.

The MustGrow biopesticide has U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) labels. The product is approved for organic agriculture, allowing for safe and reliable pest and disease control.

To date, MustGrow has carried out over 110 independent third-party field trials on fruit and vegetable crops. The results suggest that MustGrow’s product is 100 percent capable of controlling root-knot nematodes, while delivering 95 percent control of Pythium root rot and 70 percent reduction in Verticillium root severity. As a result, the MustGrow biopesticide has been shown to increase tomato crop yields by 55 percent. The results cement MustGrow’s leading position in the market of unique solutions to help cannabis cultivators and fruit and vegetable growers control pests and crop diseases.

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

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

• CIIX CEO forecast that the company’s sales will reach $11­­­-12 million by 2020 during an interview with Redchip Money Report
• CIIX recently opened a hemp-based CBD product retail store in the Chinese-concentrated area of San Gabriel, California
• The company is geared up to concentrate on financial consultancy and related services targeted at the Chinese community in the United States

Warren Wang, CEO of ChineseInvestors.com Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX), predicted during a recent interview with Redchip Money Report that the company’s sales will reach $11‑12 million by 2020 (http://ibn.fm/KDzDV). Wang further emphasized that though CBD had played an important role in the growth of the company, CIIX offers diverse services that aid in its growth, development and stability.

CIIX offers its Chinese-speaking audience daily investment information through its online information portal, TV and radio shows, podcasts and real-time market commentary. CIIX also conducts online/offline cryptocurrency and blockchain education classes.

ChineseInvestors.com was founded in 1999 and has been primarily engaged in providing financial information and services to the Chinese-speaking investor community in the United States. With its immense knowledge and expertise in the financial realm, CIIX is leveraging the stupendous growth of the CBD products industry, which is expected to reach $20 billion in sales by 2024 (http://ibn.fm/zXA8l). In 2019, the company experienced an increase of 81 percent in revenue, which Wang attributes to CIIX’s hemp sales (http://ibn.fm/Lc4NI). CIIX is a leading Chinese CBD company, catering to four million Chinese-speaking Americans and Canadians.

During the interview, Wang also stated that, with the high spending capacity of Chinese consumers and huge market opportunities in the United States, Asia, and China specifically, CIIX’s sales are expected to double in the next 12 months. More mergers and acquisitions are lined up for the company in both the Chinese and wider Asian markets.

CIIX launched a CBD product-based website, ChineseCBDoil.com, in January 2017, offering industrial hemp-derived products to Chinese-speaking people worldwide. Company headquarters are located in the Chinese-concentrated area of San Gabriel, California, where CIIX opened its first mall popup kiosk on May 1, 2019 (http://ibn.fm/Haqhi). This retail outlet also offers customers hemp-derived and other CBD products.

In addition to its reach into the hemp space, the company’s main focus and core revenue source remains developing and marketing web-based tools designed to provide financial information and investment knowledge to the Chinese-speaking community in America. The company’s original website, ChineseFN.com (http://ibn.fm/CbdZS), has a following of more than 100,000 registered users and 5,000 subscribers.

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

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

• Siyata’s UV350 is the world’s first and only dedicated in-vehicle, 4G/LTE-capable smartphone specifically designed to ensure safer communications for first responders and professional fleet drivers
• Target markets for the company’s device include an estimated 10 million commercial trucks on America’s roadways and more than 3.5 million emergency and public safety vehicles
• Siyata Mobile Inc. was named in the Venture Top 50 for 2018

Siyata Mobile Inc. (TSX.V: SIM) (OTCQX: SYATF), a global developer and provider of cellular communications systems, is responding to a critical need expressed by commercial fleet drivers and their public safety counterparts who need to concentrate on their jobs and not be distracted by antiquated communication systems. Specifically designed to ensure safer communications, Siyata’s Uniden UV350 is the world’s first in-vehicle 4G/LTE smartphone providing crystal clear audio quality via a single unit with built-in, carrier-grade Push-to-Talk, voice, text, video and data applications (http://ibn.fm/6lG4A).

With more than 3.5 million first responder vehicles estimated in the United States alone, an immense market exists for fast, reliable and effective public safety communication. The nation’s pursuit of a dedicated nationwide broadband network for first responders – a critical need made painfully obvious during and after 9/11 – is highlighted in an editorial featuring Siyata Mobile and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) (http://ibn.fm/i4f46).

Siyata Mobile’s FirstNet Ready Uniden UV350 4G/LTE In-Vehicle Device for Public Safety (http://ibn.fm/5DJQs) is designed for the cabin of fire trucks, ambulances and police squad cars, combining the functions of multiple devices into one. It supports the FirstNet band 14 spectrum and gives public safety subscribers access to the dedicated, physically separate FirstNet network core that provides priority during emergencies.

“Drivers who are operating vehicles, whether it is a first responder vehicle or a commercial truck, need to feel safe while communicating important information,” Siyata Mobile CEO Marc Seelenfreund said in a news release. “The demand for a multi-functioning, in-vehicle device remains strong, especially from those who are required to operate vehicles in demanding situations. The UV350 allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road, and hands on the wheel.”

Commercial fleet drivers are also hampered by numerous distractions in cabin vehicles, which can include various communication devices from different vendors, all of which are burdened with multiple monthly voice and data fees. Siyata’s UV350 can effectively solve those issues for the nearly 10 million commercial vehicles in the U.S. with a cost-effective platform that runs on cellular LTE networking, providing global and nationwide coverage (http://ibn.fm/rx5ej).

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

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

• SGMD aims to market next-generation hemp machinery and proprietary extraction technologies
• Hemp extraction and cultivation is a growing business, as the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill continues to result in rising demand
• SGMD plans to provide both legacy and new technology, including water-based sonification extraction, microwaves and other low-cost techniques and equipment

Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) plans to offer next-generation equipment and techniques to its customers that process and extract from industrial hemp to help meet what is anticipated to be a peak crop in 2019. To this end, SGMD was recently featured in a CannabisNewsWire analysis article discussing the hemp market’s rising demand for processing power (http://ibn.fm/znmWo).

SGMD’s new initiative includes making available to its customers new technology such as water-based sonification extraction, microwaves and other techniques. These machines could reduce the cost of extraction and help cultivators increase output without significant increases in cost. SGMD is not in the hemp cultivation business itself, but it has a business model centered on supporting cultivators.

The combination of rising demand and the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which provides legal relief for hemp cultivators, is driving what is expected to be a record 2019 crop of industrial hemp. SGMD’s initiative is expected to increase the company’s revenue base as it introduces new-generation machinery and proprietary technologies for hemp extraction (http://ibn.fm/FKcnM). Some of the new offerings, which are more efficient and reduce the cost to cultivators seeking to meet the high demand, come from Southern China.

“We plan to not only market several domestic technologies, but also next-generation technologies we plan to implement from Southern China, where hemp cultivation and herbal extraction technologies are well ahead of North America,” SGMD CEO Jimmy Chan stated in a news release. SGMD sees an imbalance between cultivation outputs and extraction capacities within the industry. This record hemp harvest is creating a widespread need for efficient, cost-effective methods of processing within the industry, and SGMD is well-positioned to provide a solution.

“It is clear the 2019 and 2020 hemp cultivation seasons will be massive,” Chan added. “We expect the power balance between the cultivators and extractors to continue to heavily favor extractors, and we are seeing that part of the industry expand massively to be able to handle the significant amount of hemp biomass that will be harvested and will ultimately be processed.”

New Frontier Data projects that hemp sales in the United States will reach $2.6 billion by 2020 (http://ibn.fm/HA69K). Industrial hemp will have a broad impact on the market, the research shows.

Based in Monrovia, California, SGMD is a hydroponics and cultivation supply company that’s committed to supporting the industrial hemp sector. The company is also involved in product and brand marketing for diverse industries, with numerous operations such as packaging and paper goods.

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

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

• VPR Brands recently announced the availability of its ‘Guide to 2020 U.S. Presidential Candidates on Cannabis Issues’
• The company is working to establish the Honeystick brand as a market leader in cannabis vaporizers
• Honeystick recently launched its HRB Turbo Dry Herb Vaporizer

VPR Brands LP (OTC: VPRB) recently announced the availability of its ‘Guide to 2020 U.S. Presidential Candidates on Cannabis Issues’. The 2020 election may be the first for which the views of presidential candidates on marijuana issues have been compiled into a guide. VPR has sponsored this guide, which contains an extensive analysis of every candidate’s stance on cannabis issues (http://ibn.fm/aoZHa).

“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. “I looked for a single point of reference that clarified each one’s stances and accomplishments in the cannabis space… I couldn’t find it. I don’t think it existed until today.”

The 24-page guide is available at www.VPRBrands.com/Cannabis-Vote-2020

VPR Brands is a global leader in the product development of vaporizers and e-cigarettes containing nicotine, CBD extracts and accessories for essential oils. The company is working to build an international presence of its Honeystick brand (http://ibn.fm/KrGry) as a global producer of cannabis vaporizers.

Ezequiel Pavlotsky, VBR Brands’ director of international sales, has been in Europe since last year, focused on building new industry relationships and representing Honeystick at every major cannabis expo (http://ibn.fm/pQrSC). Honeystick will now be available in the European Union through its newest distributors: Near Dark in Germany, AllGrano Distribución in Chile, and B.O.B. Headquarters and Humble & Fume in Canada. Honeystick is also available online on Amazon UK.

Honeystick produces high-quality vaporizers that offer sound performance. VPR Brands also launched HRB Turbo, its pocket-sized, dry-herb vaporizer designed to take the consumer vape experiences to the next level. This ultra-premium, dry-herb vaporizer is priced competitively at $99.

“The HRB Turbo is the best dry-herb vaporizer under $100 on the market,” VPR Brands COO Dan Hoff stated in a news release (http://ibn.fm/ATMoI). “The luxurious feel and performance of the unit makes it truly a great value for anyone on the market looking for a top-tier pocket vaporizer who doesn’t want to spend an arm and a leg. With many of our clients requesting us to make more products for dry herb, it’s a perfect fit into our product line.”

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

• Sproutly’s financial results for fiscal 2019 show that the company has accomplished a number of important milestones
• Highlights included finalization of the company’s acquisition of Infusion Biosciences Canada and the completion of Sproutly’s Greater Toronto Area production facility
• The next phase of operations involves the launch of Sproutly’s premium flower under the CALIBER brand

Sproutly Canada Inc. (CSE: SPR) (OTCQB: SRUTF) (FRA: 38G), a company engaged in developing and bringing to market cannabis products, recently announced its financial results and most important strategic accomplishments for fiscal year 2019, which ended on February 28, 2019.

Keith Dolo, Sproutly’s CEO, said that FY2019 was a defining year for the company (http://ibn.fm/UEk17). Sproutly went public in July 2018, after which it finalized the acquisition of Infusion Biosciences Canada and SSM partners. The acquisition gave Sproutly access to groundbreaking APP technology for the production of water-soluble cannabinoids (Infuz2O) and oil-soluble cannabinoids (Bio Natural Oil).

The differentiating proprietary technologies give Sproutly a competitive advantage in both the infused beverages and edibles niches.

In addition, Sproutly completed its Greater Toronto Area production facility, received a cultivation license from Health Canada and started full-scale production in all 13 growing rooms. The next phase of operations is now to commence, Dolo noted. This phase involves the launch of CALIBER – the company’s premium branded flower. Sproutly also intends to launch a beverages and edibles line to begin establishing its position as a leader in the field of infused products.

The announcement also highlighted some of Sproutly’s most important financial results. A cash position of $9.6 million was reported at the end of February 2019, marking a massive increase from the $0.7 million the year before. During the reporting period, Sproutly also closed a $20.7 million bought deal financing.

Several other highlights in the announcement focus on Sproutly subsidiaries, as well as on additional agreements. Toronto Herbal Remedies (THR), a wholly owned Sproutly subsidiary and a licensed producer under the Cannabis Act, received its processing license from Health Canada. The license allows THR to produce cannabis oil and related products. In addition, the license allows THR to conduct research and development activities like the formulation of new proprietary infused beverage products.

Over the course of the fiscal year, Sproutly entered into an important definitive agreement for the formation of a joint venture with OCC Holdings Ltd., an affiliate of Moosehead Breweries. The aim of the agreement is the production of non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages.

Moosehead Breweries is one of Canada’s oldest and largest independent breweries. The partnership will allow Sproutly to use its Infuz2O technology for the delivery of a water-soluble cannabis formulation in a natural beverage.

Finally, Sproutly also announced its first commercial sale of cannabis flower in Canada.

Sproutly Canada is on a mission to become a leading supplier to the cannabis beverage and edibles market. The company’s Toronto-based licensed facility was set up to allow the cultivation of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis. Through strategic business partnerships, Sproutly aims to expand brand loyalty, ensure effective marketing and form reliable distribution networks for the establishment of brand popularity across the globe.

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

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

• Alberta’s cannabis industry regulatory agency has lifted a moratorium on accepting new retail licenses
• Budd Hutt is seeking retail partnerships in Alberta and across Canada
• CVGR CEO indicated that the lifting of the moratorium motivates the company to complete its buildout of a cannabis production facility

City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) is poised to benefit following Alberta’s AGLC regulatory agency’s decision to lift its moratorium on accepting new retail cannabis licenses, announcing that it will issue five new licenses weekly (http://ibn.fm/dRNM1). CVGR sees the move as providing a direct route to market for its products, as Budd Hutt, the company’s retail arm, seeks strong financial investment partners and retail partnerships in Alberta and across Canada (http://ibn.fm/jR11d). CVGR CEO Ian MacDonald said that the move would add value to the company’s 19.9 percent equity position in Budd Hutt and, ultimately, its shareholders.

For retail-focused cannabis company Budd Hutt, the addition of brick-and-mortar retail stores would cement the brand and the company in the recreational cannabis market while it prepares for growth into Ontario and other key markets in the near future.

The company expects to announce a retail partnership prior to the end of Q3 2019. Budd Hutt CEO Craig Belcher said in a news release that the company is “laser focused on acquiring the right retail opportunities in the right locations that will showcase Budd Hutt’s outstanding design and concept and provide consumers with a best-in-class experience in and out of (its) retail locations.”

“The lifting of the licensing moratorium in Alberta is extremely exciting and further motivates CVG towards completing our buildout of our Brantford facility and obtaining our licensing so we can ensure we supply Budd Hutt with unique products of the highest quality and consistency,” MacDonald stated in a news release.

Toronto, Canada-based CVGR is a vertically integrated, seed-to-sale cannabis company that’s planning to grow high-quality cannabis and produce extracts. The company anticipates producing edible products, distillates and water-soluble products for the beverage market once they become legalized. CVGR is focused on becoming a diversified company that will potentially acquire targets in the cannabis industry.

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

• Canada-based Willow Biosciences and U.S.-based Noramco are teaming to biosynthetically produce and market pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol (CBD)
• The companies expect to deliver yeast-cultivated CBD as a low-cost, ultra-pure alternative to cannabis cultivation that avoids large-scale plant waste from greenhouse processes
• Yeast-grown pharmaceutical ingredients have long served as fodder for insulin and other important drugs; the growing interest in cannabis as a therapy is driving a booming new market

The sea change in societal attitudes about cannabis, accompanied by the opening of governmental regulatory doors for its use (http://ibn.fm/KDlfq), has spawned a land rush by corporate interests set on staking out market territory for business development (http://ibn.fm/8HLQS). The so-called “green rush” began when chronically ill patients reported that cannabis properties provided accessible relief for select conditions. Now, InvestmentPitch Media is reporting in a new video that cannabis industry newcomer Willow Biosciences Inc. (CSE: WLLW) can deliver high yields of ultra-pure, low-cost cannabinoids to an evolving market utilizing proprietary biosynthetic processes.

The video (http://ibn.fm/gRZL3) highlights a recent joint development agreement between Alberta, Canada-based Willow Biosciences and Delaware-headquartered Noramco that will build on Willow’s experience in developing manufacturing processes for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that treat conditions such as cancer, pain and central nervous system disorders, as well as Noramco’s experience in producing high-quality synthetic cannabinoid APIs for the pharmaceutical and health care industry.

Under the agreement, Willow will focus on developing ultra-pure CBD with its pioneering biosynthetic technology, bypassing the costs and waste associated with plant cultivation for a single cannabinoid by optimizing yeast cultivation processes, while Noramco will be responsible for the scale-up, regulatory applications, marketing and distribution of the companies’ products. Their work has the potential to open new and larger markets for CBD and related compounds, as well as providing low-cost solutions to pharmaceutical partners.

“Biosynthesis, in yeast in particular and other processes, is used for producing insulin (and) artemisinin… There are numerous drugs, for example, that are in production today because of biosynthesis,” Willow CEO Trevor Peters said during a May 24 interview with Midas Letter (http://ibn.fm/rvgSE).

“We look at the cannabinoids as an ingredient as opposed to a cultivation process,” Peters added. “It’s baker’s yeast, essentially, that we use. It’s no different than brewing beer, with slightly more complicated – well, much more complicated science that’s involved in actually developing the yeast strain… I’m not sure what the biomass equivalents would be in a greenhouse, but I’m sure you’d be talking about hundreds of thousands of square feet to come up with the same product over a three- to four-month period.”

Noramco Chief Innovation Officer Bill Grubb, the vice president of global business development, expressed his confidence in Willow’s ability to deliver scalable CBD strains through the InvestmentPitch video report.

“The addition of biosynthetic CBD production will augment Noramco’s ability to work with our existing customers and (give Noramco) the capacity to address the rapidly increasing market demand for CBD-based APIs and ingredients from pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, consumer packaged goods, beverage and other industry sectors,” Grubb stated.

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

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