Debra Borchardt
It’s time for your daily hit of cannabis financial news for January 7, 2018.
On The Site
Jobs
As of 2018, there are more full-time cannabis workers than there are librarians, and the number is growing. These are not minimum wage positions either – retail managers, agriculture experts, and extraction technicians all earn attractive salaries and desirable compensation packages.
Patents
The number of global cannabis patent applications has doubled since 2008, Cannabis Law Report can reveal, as 2019 promises to be a landmark year for marijuana intellectual property. The World Intellectual Property Organization said approximately 10,246 cannabis-related applications have been filed since 1978 under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), with 6,137 applications coming after 2008. Experts say the number could potentially be even higher as firms exploit loopholes to snatch patents related to cannabis such as growing or treating addictions, without expressly referring to marijuana in their application.
In Other News
Green Thumb Industries Inc. (GTI) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Advanced Grow Labs LLC (AGL) and enter the Connecticut market. AGL is one of only four companies in Connecticut licensed to grow and process cannabis. The Connecticut-based cannabis company operates a 41,000 square foot manufacturing facility in West Haven with the potential to expand. In addition, AGL has a 46 percent ownership of a recently-awarded dispensary that will be located in Westport which makes it the only vertically licensed company in the state. Upon the close of AGL and the other recently announced acquisition, GTI will have 12 manufacturing facilities and licenses for 85 retail locations across 11 states.
Acreage Holdings, Inc. (CSE: ACRG.U) closed the acquisition of Florida-based Nature’s Way Nursery of Miami, Inc. (“Nature’s Way”). Nature’s Way was awarded a vertically integrated operating license last summer and will operate the business as Green Owl Pharms, the name under which it was awarded the operating license. The previously disclosed transaction paves the way for Acreage to bring cannabis products to Florida residents throughout the state. As of December 28, 2018, there were more than 209,000 total cannabis patients in Florida according to the Florida Department of Health Office of Medical Marijuana Use.
CannAmerica Brands Corp. (CSE: CANA) (OTCQB: CNNXF) entered into a binding letter of intent to create a joint venture with Invictus MD Strategies Corp. (TSXV: GENE) (OTCQX: IVITF) and CBDistribution Company Ltd. with the intention of acquiring hemp biomass for extraction into CBD isolate using purpose-built facilities for large-scale CBD extraction.
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (CSE: IAN) (OTCQX: ITHUF) opened its first and flagship dispensary in New York on December 30, 2018. The dispensary, located at 202 Flatbush Avenue directly across from Barclays Center and Atlantic Terminal, is the first in Brooklyn, New York’s largest borough, with a population of roughly 2.6 million people.
CLS Holdings USA, Inc. will commence trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange, or CSE, at the opening of the market on January 7, 2019, under the ticker symbol “CLSH”. Cannabis Life Sciences is the developer of a patented extraction and conversion methodology that has the potential to increase both yield and quality of cannabinoid oils extracted from cannabis plants.
Harvest One Cannabis Inc. (TSX-V: HVT) (OTCQX: HRVOF) said that its shares of common stock were approved for trading on the OTCQX® Best Market operated by OTC Market Group.
Rubicon Organics Inc. (CSE:ROMJ) (OTCQX:ROMJF) said that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol “ROMJF”. Rubicon Organics’ common shares will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker “ROMJ”.
Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSXV: RIV) announced that its 49%-owned joint venture PharmHouse Inc. has entered into a syndicated credit facility with the Bank of Montreal, as agent and lead lender, and with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Concentra Bank as lenders. Under the terms of the Credit Facility, the Lenders will provide PharmHouse up to C$80 million of secured debt financing at a rate of interest that is expected to average in the mid-to-high 5% per annum range over its three-year term.
Dixie Brands Inc. (CSE: DIXI.U), one of the cannabis industry’s leading consumer packaged goods companies, has announced the hiring of two new marketing executives. Andrew Floor joins as Vice President of Marketing, Dixie Brands, and Hilal Tabsh joins as Vice President of Marketing and Distribution, Aceso Wellness.
