Winter Punch Antilles du Saka Cannabis Cocktail. Image provided by House of Saka.
Green Market Report released an exclusive recipe created by cannabis cocktail master Warren Bobrow called the “Winter Punch Antilles du Saka”. Perfect for this winter season! This delicious recipe includes the luxury cannabis-infused beverages, also known as a Vinfusion (cannabis-infused wine), Saka Pink by House of Saka.
Based in Napa Valley, California, House of Saka creates and manufactures infused luxury products by and for women. Their portfolio includes the Napa Valley-inspired, alcohol-free infused beverages: Saka Pink, Saka White, and Saka Red as well as a line of infused beauty and wellness products under the banner House of Saka Beauty. The company boasts an all-female leadership team guided by an all-female advisory board with over 100 years of collective experience in wine, cannabis and luxury branding.
RECIPE Ingredients: 1 – 750ml bottle of Saka – THC Infused-dealcoholized Napa Valley wine 1 – 6 oz. Fruitations Pure Natural Tangerine Simple Syrup 4 – 12oz. Cans of Ginger Beer (I used Pickett’s. It’s Authentic and in a can!) 10 shakes of Fee Brothers Lime Bitters Grilled orange slices
Prep: Add all the liquid ingredient (except for the ginger beer) into a punch bowl Mix carefully and completely Add a block of ice Add the Ginger Beer fizzy soda Add the lime bitters Add the grilled orange slices Stir again and serve to a very thirsty crowd
Marijuana plants. Image by Brent Barnett from Pixabay.
BevCanna Enterprises Inc., an emerging leader in infused cannabis beverages, has increased the size of its outdoor cannabis cultivation site to 292 acres, up from the originally announced 130-acre site. BevCanna has partnered with agricultural experts Clearwater CannGrow Ltd. to grow certified organic sun-grown cannabis on the property near Osoyoos, British Columbia.
This expansion of cultivatable land will allow BevCanna to develop into one of the largest outdoor cannabis cultivators in Canada. The Company has, in turn, increased its anticipated production to 300,000 kg – 400,000 kg of biomass, and a yield of 30,000 kg – 40,000 kg of pure cannabinoids through the finished extract.
“Interest in our BC sun-grown cannabis has been exceptionally strong, and we’re expanding our cultivation and production capabilities to meet the anticipated demand,” said John Campbell, Chief Strategy Officer at BevCanna. “The increased capacity will position BevCanna well to become a leader in the production of high-quality, next-generation products, in the lead-up to Canada’s commercialization of such products in 2020.”
In conjunction with the additional cultivation capacity, BevCanna has completed a debt settlement with cultivation partner Clearwater CannGrow, for $500,000, in exchange for the issuance of 1,000,000 common shares (each, a “Share”) at a deemed price of $0.50 per Share.
“We’re very pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Clearwater CannGrow,” said John Campbell, Chief Strategy Officer at BevCanna. “Clearwater CannGrow’s direct expenditures into our agricultural operation are an incredible sign of confidence and commitment to the operation, and to BevCanna as a whole.”
The Shares issued in the debt settlement are subject to resale restrictions imposed by applicable law or regulation, including a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of closing of the debt settlement.
Marijuana plant extract graphic. Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.
Nextleaf Solutions Ltd. has been granted a patent for its proprietary filtration stack used in the post-extraction processing of THC and CBD oils by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Nextleaf has been issued a total of 11 patents by four international patent offices in the key markets of Canada, the United States of America, Australia, and Colombia.
“Given the abundant supply of lower-grade dried cannabis, we believe processors that establish a competitive advantage by utilizing superior technology to transform otherwise unsellable biomass into high-purity THC and CBD oils at a lower cost than competitors, will generate better margins and build a sustainable long term business,” said Paul Pedersen, CEO of Nextleaf Solutions. “As we close out 2019, I’m extremely proud of our R&D team for obtaining its 11th patent, protecting what we believe to be the most efficient methods for producing distilled THC and CBD oil at scale within a regulated environment,” continued Pedersen.
While Canada became the first developed country to federally legalize cannabis and cannabis-infused products, Nextleaf became the first public company granted multiple patents for industrial-scale extraction and purification of cannabinoids. Other key milestones in 2019, include:
Completion of Custom Extraction Plant
In December, the Company received its high-capacity, proprietary extraction plant, the final component of the Company’s patented end-to-end processing system. The phase 1 plant, operating within the Nextleaf Labs Ltd. licensed production facility, can process the same amount of cannabis biomass into a refined oil as eight large supercritical CO2 extractors. With the recent legalization of cannabis 2.0 products combined with a supply glut of nearly 400 tonnes of cannabis biomass, there has been a strong demand for efficient, high-throughput extraction and refinement processing. Cost per milligram of THC and CBD, as well as fulfillment time, are the primary decision drivers when licensed companies decide to outsource their extraction.
In November, Nextleaf completed the commissioning of its automated vape cart filling line that can fill 3,000 vape cartridges per hour. The Company believes its patented large-scale extraction and refinement plant will position Nextleaf as a low-cost supplier of THC and CBD distillate. The Company expects to announce revenue from toll processing and the supply of bulk concentrates in the first calendar quarter of 2020.
Water-Soluble Technology for Cannabis Beverages
In September, Nextleaf acquired intellectual property pertaining to water-soluble cannabinoid formulations. Based around a nano and micro emulsification process, the technology utilizes food-grade emulsifiers already approved by Health Canada to create water-soluble cannabinoids that are shelf-stable and deliver fast onset time. Nextleaf believes fast-acting THC and CBD emulsification technology in cannabis beverages will prove disruptive to the beverage alcohol industry. The Company expects to monetize this technology in 2020.
Acquiring and Licensing Intellectual Property
In June, Nextleaf acquired a U.S. patent pending hydrocarbon extraction process and award-winning formulation for THC concentrate, commonly known as “shatter”. The unique patent-pending butane hash oil (BHO) extraction process and formulation produce a broad spectrum concentrate with a rich terpene profile. Nextleaf remains committed to developing and monetizing its intellectual property for innovative cannabis 2.0 products. The Company started generating licensing royalties in 2019 and expects to realize $5MM-$10MM in licensing royalties in 2020. (i)
(i) This estimate is based on management’s current views, strategies, expectations, assumptions, and forecasts, and has been calculated using accounting policies that are generally consistent with the Company’s current accounting policies. The estimate is derived from the expected gross revenues from IP licensing globally and assumes the commercialization of various aspects of Nextleaf IP portfolio and the achievement of projected product sales forecasts. This estimate is considered a financial outlook under applicable securities laws. The estimate and any other financial outlooks or future-oriented financial information included herein have been approved by the management of the Company as of the date hereof. Such financial outlooks or future-oriented financial information are provided for the purposes of presenting information about management’s current expectations and goals relating to the future business of OILS. Readers are cautioned that actual results may vary materially as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control.
(Top) Peace sign marijuana leaves graphic. Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay. (Bottom) Berner’s on Haight logo. Image provided by Cookies.
Just a few miles from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury District, the cannabis liberation movement that started in the 1960s continues this month with tested, licensed, equitable cannabis retail for all adults 21 and over.
The Cole Ashbury Group, in partnership with Cookies, officially opens “Berner’s on Haight” – an adult-use licensed cannabis retail store. In this partnership, Cole Ashbury Group will retain full ownership of the cannabis store with Shawn M. Richard serving as CEO of the store and advising Cookies concerning its broader Social Equity strategy. In turn, Cookies and its founder Berner (a.k.a. Gilbert Milam) bring 20 years of cannabis industry expertise and access to much-needed resources to the Haight Street shop. The shop will be the first to open under San Francisco’s Social Equity Program, which aims to address the damage done to communities of color by the “War on Drugs.”
Says Vallie Brown, outgoing District 5 Supervisor of the new endeavor on Upper Haight, “Cannabis legalization isn’t coming to the Haight-Ashbury; no, the laws are finally coming to the Haight-Ashbury’s way of thinking, of valuing healing, freedom of expression, and social equity. It’s exciting and fitting that San Francisco’s first social equity cannabis store will be right here in the Haight, and that it will be led by a man like Shawn Richard who has spent decades in selfless service to our community.”
Both Shawn M. Richard and Cookies’ founder Berner have deep ties to San Francisco and the Haight Street community specifically. Berner grew up above his father’s restaurant on Fillmore St. in San Francisco and went on to become a self-made entrepreneur with a cannabis, clothing, and lifestyle empire.
Shawn M. Richard is a native San Franciscan who grew up within walking distance of the cannabis store. The founder of the violence reduction nonprofit Brothers Against Guns and a co-founder of the San Francisco Equity Group, Shawn M. Richard is also the first Equity Partner approved by the City and County of San Francisco to open a cannabis store under the San Francisco Cannabis Equity Program.
“This isn’t just a store, it’s a platform,” said Shawn M. Richard. “All eyes will be on us, and I want to show the city and the world the benefits of partnering with people who are truly committed to advancing equity and understand that our communities need more than expungement. Cookies is that partner, and we’re excited to have them standing with us.”
The store is located in the most iconic part of San Francisco at the cross-section of cannabis culture and known as a tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. There is no better place for Berner’s on Haight to put down roots than in the community of Upper Haight.
Haight-Ashbury shoppers will get access to the most in-demand cannabis products in the world in a contemporary, licensed, and secure store. Designed by UK design firm Brinkworth, the soft blue and crisp white retail space at 1685 Haight Street features multiple viewing and purchasing stations for checking out Cookies’ unparalleled cultivars including Georgia Pie, Sunset Sherbert, Cherry Pop, Pancakes, Ocean Beach and Gary Payton. The store will feature the entire lineup of Cookies’ world-class genetics as well as products from the entire family of Cookies brands including Lemonnade, Runtz, Powerzzzup, Minntz, and Grandiflora.
CoCo Farms hosts employee training with licensed cannabis vendors. Image provided by Contra Costa Farms.
Contra Costa Farms LLC (aka CoCo Farms) opened a new dispensary in Antioch, CA – one of the first recreational cannabis dispensaries to open in that city. The licensed cannabis facility is owned and operated by the same management team as its sister company Rio Vista Farms. Rio Vista Farms has become a pillar of the community, providing over 100 jobs to adults in the area.
The facility in Rio Vista has been able to support the community and the owners hope to continue that in Antioch. Before December of 2019, there was not a licensed dispensary in the area. CoCo Farms hopes to set a standard for cannabis businesses coming into the city by providing a safe and welcoming environment for consumers and the neighborhood.
Located in the heart of Contra Costa County, CoCo Farms is permitted to sell cannabis to anyone age 21 and older with a government-issued ID card. The dispensary will be open 7 days a week from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. They will have a full menu of cannabis products including indoor, greenhouse, and sun-grown cannabis flowers, concentrates, vape cartridges, edibles, tinctures, and more. Since Rio Vista Farms and CoCo Farms are owned by the same company, consumers will accrue loyalty points with purchases that can be redeemed at either location.
In addition to providing jobs, tax dollars, and quality cannabis products, CoCo Farms has developed a social equity program for children of Antioch residents who have been incarcerated. This philanthropic effort aims to provide resources to support these children’s needs which may not be provided by existing city, county and state services.
The final project will include a large cultivation complex containing about 130,000 square feet of canopy, distribution, manufacturing as well as a retail storefront with delivery. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. You can find more information about CoCo Farms on their website www.enjoycocofarms.com.
White and brown puppy. Photo by T.R Photography on Unsplash.
Thousands of animals lose their lives every year from overprescribing of toxic and often unnecessary prescription medications. In an effort to stop this needless suffering, three trusted holistic pet care experts are joining forces to sponsor a free educational tour of the West Coast from January 2 through February 10.
The tour marks the launch of the alliance between Angela Ardolino, medical cannabis expert and founder of CBD Dog Health, Deb Gwynn, a certified herbalist, founder of Glacier Peak Holistics, and Julie Anne Lee, DCH, founder of Adored Beast Apothecary. Together, these pet-care powerhouses plan to save as many animals as possible by producing educational programming to empower pet parents about healing their pets with natural and proven methods. The tour includes sessions throughout California and Nevada with the CBD Dog Health education team, which includes Ardolino, CBD Dog Health co-owner, Hernando Umana, and director of education Carter Easler.
“We have traveled the East Coast educating as many people as possible on how to care for their pets naturally,” says Ardolino. “It seemed only right to band together to bring natural relief to as many animals as possible. We will teach the power of cannabis, safe use of essential herbs and oils for pets, and will share information about earth elements and minerals.”
To kick off the tour, CBD Dog Health will join Lisa Vanderpump and her rescue, The Vanderpump Dog Center, celebrating the Golden Globes on January 5 to raise awareness for animals in need. The team has also been given an exclusive invitation to celebrate the Oscars on February 9 and educate celebrity pet parents on natural medicine. Additionally, the tour includes sessions at local rescues, grooming and boarding salons, boutique shops, and veterinary offices.
“We are joining forces because we all have the same mission and intention,” says Lee. “To do no harm, help the body heal naturally, and educate and empower pet parents on how to make the best decisions for their pets.”
CBD Dog Health’s products include a line of all-natural, full-spectrum hemp extract (CBD) tinctures, treats, and salves. All of CBD Dog Health’s products work well in conjunction with Adored Beast Apothecary’s line of gut health products and Glacier Peak Holistics’ herbal blends. Together, the three holistic brands treat animals from head to toe.
“How many animals are better tonight because of what we did today,” says Gwynn. “That is what this is all about.”
Select stops on the Healing Pets Naturally Tour will be broadcast via Facebook Live. Sign up for tour updates at www.cbddoghealth.com/thehealingtour.
Marijuana flower bud. Image by David Cardinez from Pixabay.
Aurora Cannabis provided an update on the readiness of its operations with the introduction of new product formats, recent industry recognitions and updates to existing operations. As a global leader in cannabis revenues, cannabis production, research, innovation and international market development, the Company intends to provide regular updates to its stakeholders in an effort to demonstrate continued transparency and disclosure.
“We have focused our collective efforts to be ready for the successful launch of Cannabis 2.0 as Canada takes the next step in the legalization of newly allowed product forms. We are ready and have launched a diversified portfolio of new product formats and are excited for Canadians to have access to high-quality, safe alternative cannabis products such as edibles, vape pens, and other derivatives,” said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora. “We have prudently deployed capital and we believe that we’re ready with the appropriate combination of technology, scale and consumer insights to have the right products on store shelves in a timely fashion. This was not an easy task and I would like to thank the entire Aurora team for their collective efforts in getting 2.0 across the goal line in time for our provincial regulators.”
Aurora has taken steps to proactively rationalize capital expenditures, reduce near term debt and bolster liquidity to position the Company for long-term success. The previously announced deferral of construction and commissioning activities are expected to conserve approximately $200 million of cash in the near term. Aurora believes that its existing assets are sufficient to meet current demand at a low cost per gram. The company expects to have the flexibility to ramp up projects as global demand dictates.
In late November, the Company also retired $227 million of the $230 million 5% unsecured convertible debentures that were due in March 2020 with the issuance of shares and thereby preserving cash. Aurora continues to evaluate multiple sources of capital and currently has access to undrawn capacity under a CDN$360 million credit facility with a syndicate of banks, in addition to its US$400 million at-the-market (“ATM”) equity distribution program.
The Company has commenced shipments of initial orders received to 10 of Canada’s provincial regulators of Cannabis 2.0 products following December 17, 2019, however, most Canadian consumers will likely not see these products on retail store shelves until early January 2020 due to varied retail operations across the country. Patients can now immediately access a variety of new product formats.
Initially, the Company is providing a variety of CBD and THC vape and edible products, such as gummies, chocolates, baked goods, and mints. These new cannabis products are being produced at Aurora Sky in Edmonton, Alberta, Aurora River in Bradford, Ontario and Aurora Vie in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. These centers have been outfitted to provide centralized production, packaging, logistics and distribution capabilities. The Company has prioritized its resources to prepare for a successful initial launch and has built inventories to support an ongoing replenishment strategy to help ensure consumers across Canada have access to a diverse portfolio of high-quality derivative products.
The Company encourages Canadian consumers to review Aurora’s “Ready for Edibles” campaign, which aims to educate consumers about the responsible consumption of cannabis edibles. The campaign can be seen at cannabis retail outlets across Canada.
Man blowing vape smoke. Photo by Donn Gabriel Baleva on Unsplash.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced today that they have seized 44 websites advertising the sale of illicit vaping cartridges containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. The action, which is part of Operation Vapor Lock, reflects ongoing work by federal, state and local authorities to investigate the supply chain of vaping products associated with recent lung injuries.
The online networks, some of which were identified based on interviews with patients and families, were advertising THC vaping cartridges in various brand names alongside pictures and statements about THC levels or other information clearly indicating the items for sale would be considered a controlled substance under federal law. To date, none of the products advertised on the 44 websites have been confirmed to be linked to any cases of lung injury. Nonetheless, the FDA and DEA took action to seize these sites, which were advertising THC vaping products for sale over the internet in clear violation of federal law.
The seizure of the websites comes as the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other state and local health partners work to investigate lung injuries and deaths associated with the use of vaping products. FDA, CDC and state health authorities have made progress in identifying substances of concern; however, there are many different substances and product sources that remain under investigation, and there may be more than one cause. The latest national and state patient reports and product sample testing suggest THC-containing vaping products, particularly from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person or online dealers, are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the incidents.
“We need to fully understand the causes of vaping related lung injuries,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “Moreover, it is a federal crime to advertise the sale of illicit THC vaping cartridges online, and by seizing these websites today, we are able to focus on other online and in-person sources of illegal and potentially dangerous vaping products. As more information comes to light in this complex and evolving investigation, we remain committed to taking further appropriate actions with our federal, state and local partners.”
“In the wake of recent injuries and deaths caused by vaping products, these seizures send a message to anyone seeking to capitalize on this dangerous trend,” said Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “DEA will continue to work in lockstep with FDA and other federal, state, and local partners to use all our authorities to pursue anyone that violates our laws and puts Americans in harm’s way.”
The websites that were seized directed people to order illicit THC vaping cartridges and make payments for orders through various financial services. Some of the websites seized were determined to exist solely to fraudulently obtain payments from people without ever intending to mail any product. For all of the other websites seized, investigators were able to complete a purchasing transaction for illicit THC vaping cartridges, but to date have not received any of the product ordered.
In addition to health risks of illicit substances or illegal drugs purchased online, “scam” websites such as these pose other risks to consumers, including credit card fraud, identity theft and exposure to computer viruses. The FDA encourages consumers to report suspected criminal activity to the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
Shortly after the emergence of the lung injuries associated with vaping products, the FDA’s law enforcement arm began investigative efforts to identify particular products, constituents or compounds that may be at issue and the related supply chain. The agency’s Office of Criminal Investigations is following every possible lead, which includes traveling throughout the country and attempting to gather any available evidence and conduct interviews. The FDA is not pursuing any enforcement actions associated with the personal use of any vaping products; the agency’s interest is in suppliers.
To date, FDA laboratories have received over 1,200 samples from 31 states and one territory with roughly 1,004 of these samples connected to patients. These samples have been collected directly from consumers, hospitals, and state offices. They have included vaping devices and products containing varying levels of liquid as well as packaging and other documentation. The FDA laboratories are analyzing samples for the presence of a broad range of chemicals, including nicotine, THC and other cannabinoids, along with cutting agents/diluents and other additives, pesticides, opioids, poisons, heavy metals, and toxins. No one substance has been identified in all of the samples tested.
High Beauty cannabis sativa seed oil skincare products. Image provided by High Beauty.
In just over a year demand for High Beauty, the visionary skincare brand powered by cannabis sativa seed oil, has grown with an impressive list of global retailers in the United States, Canada, and Europe. This expansion led to a 1581% growth in sales from January 2019 to December 2019. Demand for the products is due to the expert formulation which delivers cannabis sativa seed oil in combination with certified organic plant oils, high-potency antioxidants and pure plant essential oils for healthy, beautiful skin. High Beauty is 100% legal and free of psychoactive substances including THC and CBD.
In addition to becoming the first cannabis brand in Macy’s, US retailers include Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Terrain, Amazon, and Beauty Collection. High Beauty is available internationally through European retailers Douglas and Amazon. Current Canadian distributors include Indigo, Hudson’s Bay, The Shopping Choice, Shoppers Drug Mart, Health Hut, Jacob & Sebastian and Heal Flow Wellness Centre. Products are also available online through Highbeauty.com, Revolve, Phorbe, Amazon, THG Ideas With Momentum including Skinstore.com and Looksfantastic.com.
“The chemistry of cannabis fascinated me. Cannabis sativa is a plant, essentially a weed, that has endurance and longevity. I believe this leads to cannabis’ abundant benefits – it is an ingredient that is only just beginning to have its true potential understood. I’m excited top retailers from around the world embrace high beauty and our positioning in the cannabis skincare market,” says Melissa Jochim, founder and CEO of High Beauty.
After 30 years of formulating products for the natural and organic beauty industry, Melissa Jochim founded High Beauty with a commitment to skincare that is truly beneficial and healthy. “I wanted to capture cannabis’ endurance, the plant’s innate chemistry when I formulated our high skincare compositions. The skin can absorb these ingredients, allowing it to thrive. The definition of high to me is feeling beautiful in the skin you are in at any age.”
High Beauty products currently distributed include:
Marijuana flower bud. Photo by Ndispensable on Unsplash.
7ACRES products will now be available in Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador. 7ACRES’ parent company, Supreme Cannabis, entered into a letter of intent with Société Québécoise du Cannabis to supply 7ACRES products to retail stores across Québec. On November 21, 2019, the Company also entered into a formal agreement to supply the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation with 7ACRES high-end cultivars.
“With increased packaging capacity we are pleased to have the recreational supply necessary to serve new consumers in Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador. As we enter two new provinces, we continue to benefit from the strength of our experienced sales team,” said Navdeep Dhaliwal, CEO of Supreme Cannabis. “In anticipation of our 7ACRES brand entering these priority provinces, we specifically launched strains with east coast consumers in mind.”
With the addition of improved bottling capacity at 7ACRES and both internal and third-party pre-roll manufacturing capacity, the Company looks forward to providing a steady supply of premium cannabis products to both markets. As Supreme Cannabis transitions to 100% recreational sales, it is well-positioned to successfully supply all ten Canadian provinces.
Supreme Cannabis’ 7ACRES brand is now available in all ten provinces across Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI. The Company continues to evaluate all markets for its additional recreational brands.
Supreme Cannabis is a global diversified portfolio of distinct cannabis companies, products, and brands. Supreme Cannabis’ portfolio includes 7ACRES, its wholly-owned subsidiary, and a multi-award-winning brand.
Yes! Cannabis! 