A California cannabis industry bowling tournament funded one patient’s CBD oil this Christmas.

The Big Lebongski Bowling Tournament series bowlers earned $4.20 a strike for cannabis charities on December 17 at Bowlero Mar Vista in Los Angeles. Eighteen cannabis industry bowlers competed in the Supreme Organics sponsored event, earning $249.90 for charities CannaKids and Marine Qweens.

Tracy Ryan, CEO of Cannakids, said “This is amazing! Thanks so much guys! 100% of this money will be donated to a patient in need as a Christmas gift so they have money for their oils!” Supreme Organics will be donating the money to CannaKids.

California-based charity CannaKids supplies CBD oil to adults and kids, specializing in pediatric cancer, autism and epilepsy. “We are so appreciative to this incredible organization for their generosity towards our patients,” said Ryan. “So many families suffer extreme financial hardships when their child is stricken with disease, and it’s events like this that allow us to continue to provide free medicine to those in need.”

Marine Qweenz is an organization whose mission is to educate, empower, and inspire those suffering from the residuals of serving in the military.

The  winning team Edibles List Magazine claimed The Little Lebongski bowling trophy plus each team member scored a nifty bowling pin pipe. The next tournament takes place  January 27, 2018 at Bowlero Woodland Hills.

The victorious squad is also invited to The Big Lebongski Tournament of Champions on April 22 in Burbank, California – where the grand championship team gets to take home The Big Lebongski trophy.

Before the final tournament this spring, the bowling league has a mystery to solve. The Big Lebongski Touring Bowling Tournament series trophy was stolen last week, in a scenario eerily similar to the rug heist in The Big Lebowski.  A police report was filed with the Mission Hills California police department.

A reward is being offered for the trophy. Michael Hurt, CEO of tournament sponsor Supreme Organics, said “We will give anyone who provides information that leads to the safe return of the relic a year-long supply of Supreme Organics products — as long, of course, the individual possesses a valid California doctor’s recommendation.”

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The 5th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo on April 6-7 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, Colorado showcased top hemp companies and brands to leaders in farming, genetics, product development, innovation, technology and market strategy.

It turns out there is hemp in everything and anything. I discovered hemp fashion, bath products, food, innovations and packaging solutions at NoCo Hemp Expo.

NoCo5 brought together over 150 hemp-centric companies and 75+ industry expert speakers to share vital business-building knowledge for the hemp industry.

I see hemp and hemp usage on the rise to more eco-friendly living.

With a maxed capacity attendee outcome, it appears this tradeshow brought in people all over the world.

It was amazing to see what the hemp industry is up to these days.

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Cannabis industry bowlers will earn $4.20 a strike for veterans at The Big Lebongski Bowling Tournament on Friday, April 20 at the Santa Fe Bowling Center in Las Vegas.

California cannabis companies come together for ongoing The Big Lebongski bowling tournaments, which fundraise for cannabis-minded charities. In December, Big Lebongski teams funded one CannaKids patient’s CBD oil. California-based charity CannaKids supplies CBD oil to adults and kids, specializing in pediatric cancer, autism and epilepsy.

The Big Lebongski Tournament is seeking new teams to bowl in support of the Herogrown Foundation. The tournament is sponsored by Supreme Organics and Edibles List Magazine.

For every strike recorded in the 420 STRIKE-OUT event, edibles company Supreme Organics will make a $4.20 donation to the HeroGrown Foundation.

Formerly known as Grow For Vets, the HeroGrown Foundation advocates for veterans to have affordable access to medical cannabis. The organization recently lauched a new program, Operation AirDrop, which provides members with a free monthly HeroGrown Hope Box including hemp-based CBD products.

“We really appreciate the support of The Big Lebongski 420 Strikeout,” said Roger B. Martin, HeroGrown Foundation founder. “We couldn’t do what we do without events like these that support our lifesaving mission.”

Michael Hurt, CEO of Supreme Organics which is sponsoring the tournament, is an army veteran. “Supreme Organics is stoked to be able to help HeroGrown and as a vet myself, you can bet that I’ll be hollering out a “Hooyah” every time I see a strike rolled,” Hurt said. “We hope that everyone out there in weedland comes out and joins in on the fun, especially with such a worthy organization benefiting from your on-lane successes.”

The victorious bowling team is invited to The Big Lebongski Tournament of Champions on April 29 in Burbank, California – where the grand championship team gets to take home The Big Lebongski trophy. Each winning team member also recieves a bowling pin pipe.

So far, Tournament of Champions invitees include 420pros.com, The Biff Spliffs, Top Shelf Express Delivery, Pure Life Collective, Green Goddess Collective and Edibles List Magazine.

Before the final tournament this spring, the bowling league has a mystery to solve. The Big Lebongski Touring Bowling Tournament series trophy was stolen, in a scenario eerily similar to the rug heist in The Big Lebowski.

How Cannabis Companies Can Get Involved

Cannabis industry teams and individuals are invited to join The Big Lebongski Tournament. The team entry fee is $420 and includes a Supreme Organics Goodie Box, 100% cotton, Hanes Beefy-T, The Big Lebongski T-shirt for as many as six team members plus all games, bowling shoes & awards.

420 STRIKE-OUT Itinerary:

8:40 am – The Big Lebongski “Wake and Bake” Media Challenge
For every strike rolled by a member of the local or national media, $4.20 is donated to HeroGrown and a free team entry is won for the media source.

4:20 pm – The Big Lebongski “Let ‘er Rip” Lebowski Challenge*
Single bowlers can join a mish-mash team of six for a single entry fee of $70 . Play for free if you come dressed as a Big Lebowski character and roll a strike.

8:40 pm – The Big Lebongski Bowling Tournament
What it’s all about…let the good times roll!

Click here for more information on signing up.

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A California cannabis industry bowling tournament will earn $4.20 a strike for cannabis charities this weekend. But their trophy was stolen.

The Big Lebongski Touring Bowling Tournament series trophy was stolen, in a scenario eerily similar to the rug heist in The Big Lebowski.  A police report was filed with the Mission Hills California police department.

The California-touring The Big Lebongski Bowling Tournament series, presented by Supreme Organics, takes place 9 p.m. December 17 at Bowlero Mar Vista in Los Angeles. Bowlers will have the opportunity to raise money for CannaKids and Marine Qweens, earning $4.20 a strike and half as much for a spare.

 The trophy was stolen from the trunk of a vehicle under the cloak of night. Gary “Spacey” Lane, tournament commissioner, said “It’s a terrible feeling to find one’s car ransacked. But when I discovered that The Big Lebongski was swiped, it was like experiencing an ultimate buzz kill.”

A reward is being offered for the trophy. Michael Hurt, CEO of tournament sponsor Supreme Organics, said “We will give anyone who provides information that leads to the safe return of the relic a year-long supply of Supreme Organics products — as long, of course, the individual possesses a valid California doctor’s recommendation.

“Considering that its coolness factor is off the charts, it’s highly likely that The Big Lebongski will turn up at someone’s toking table somewhere sometime soon.  The good news  – at least we haven’t received a bloodied, severed pinky toe with a ransom note,” Hurt said.

Anyone who has information can contact the company via Instagram: @supremeorganics.   

The Big Lebongski was crafted by Jim Embescia from Los Angeles Glassblowing.  The trophy/bong is a see-through, glass-blown, bowling pin replica standing 15 inches tall and weighing approximately sixteen pounds.

The Big Lebongski trophy is envied as much as The Stanley Cup, Lane said. In year two, it was won by a team called Girl Scout OGs, after a popular strain.

This is year three for the cannabis industry bowling leagues and the first for The Big Lebongski Tournament. It’s also the first time they’ve bowled for charity.

California-based charity CannaKids supplies CBD oil to adults and kids, specializing in pediatric cancer, autism and epilepsy. “We are so appreciative to this incredible organization for their generosity towards our patients,” said Tracy Ryan, CannaKids CEO. “So many families suffer extreme financial hardships when their child is stricken with disease, and it’s events like this that allow us to continue to provide free medicine to those in need.”

Marine Qweenz is an organization whose mission is to educate, empower, and inspire those suffering from the residuals of serving in the military. In November, Marine Qweenz held a cannabis veterans ball.

The upcoming tournament’s winning team will claim The Little Lebongski bowling trophy plus each team member scores a nifty bowling pin pipe. The victorious squad is also invited to The Big Lebongski Tournament of Champions on April 22 in Burbank, California – where the grand championship team gets to take home The Big Lebongski trophy.

“We will be giving away The Little Lebongski trophy tomorrow night, as well as for other local tournaments.  The Big Lebongski doesn’t get awarded until the 4/20 weekend in 2018 so we do have some time to find it.  If it doesn’t turn up by then, we may have to commission another to be made,” Lane said.

Current Tournament of Champions invitees include local champions from Burbank (420pros.com), San Diego (The Biff Spliffs), San Francisco (Top Shelf Express Delivery), Sacramento (Pure Life Collective) and Orange County (Green Goddess Collective).

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A cannabis industry bowling tournament in Los Angeles next week will fundraise for two cannabis-related charities, in the spirit of the season. Bowlers will have the opportunity to raise money for CannaKids and Marine Qweens, earning $4.20 a strike and half as much for a spare.

The California-touring The Big Lebongski Bowling Tournament series, presented by Supreme Organics, takes place 9 p.m. December 17 at Bowlero Mar Vista in Los Angeles.

This is year three for the cannabis industry bowling leagues and the first for The Big Lebongski Tournament. It’s also the first time they’ve bowled for charity.

Organizer Gary Lane, who became active in the cannabis industry in the 1980s when he designed a board game called Trafficking, said “The Big Lebongski is an event I created – it’s a little bit of a reference to The Big Lebowski. The idea is to make it a cannabis industry event and raise money for charity,” Lane said.

California-based charity CannaKids supplies CBD oil to adults and kids, specializing in pediatric cancer, autism and epilepsy. “We are so appreciative to this incredible organization for their generosity towards our patients,” said Tracy Ryan, CannaKids CEO. “So many families suffer extreme financial hardships when their child is stricken with disease, and it’s events like this that allow us to continue to provide free medicine to those in need.”

Marine Qweenz is an organization whose mission is to educate, empower, and inspire those suffering from the residuals of serving in the military. In November, Marine Qweenz held a cannabis veterans ball.

“We do that through the education of cannabis, fitness, and other natural alternatives,” said Tanganyika “Tangy”,CEO/Co-Founder of Marine Qweenz, “So we are more than proud to partner with The Big Lebongski events to help complete that mission.”

Michael Hurt, CEO of edibles manufacturer Supreme Organics, is sponsoring the tournament. Hurt said,“We are also very proud to present The Big Lebongski Bowling Tournament Series and we hope that everyone out there in weedland comes out and joins in on the fun, especially with such a worthy organization benefitting from your on-lane successes.”

The Big Lebongski trophy is envied as much as The Stanley Cup, Lane said. In year two, it was won by a team called Girl Scout OGs, after a popular strain.

The upcoming tournament’s winning team will claim The Little Lebongski bowling trophy plus each team member scores a nifty bowling pin pipe. The victorious squad is also invited to The Big Lebongski Tournament of Champions on April 22 in Burbank, California – where the grand championship team gets to take home The Big Lebongski trophy.

The Big Lebongski trophy is envied as much as The Stanley Cup, Lane said. In year two, it was won by a team called Girl Scout Ogs, after a popular strain.

“Let’s give this away to the grand champions of a series,” Lane said.

Current Tournament of Champions invitees include local champions from Burbank (420pros.com), San Diego (The Biff Spliffs), San Francisco (Top Shelf Express Delivery), Sacramento (Pure Life Collective) and Orange County (Green Goddess Collective).

Lane encourages cannabis businesses to put together their own bowling teams and join in.

The team entry fee is $420, which provides a donation to one of the charities, and includes a Supreme Organics Goodie Box, 100% cotton, Hanes Beefy-T, The Big Lebongski T-shirt for as many as six team members plus all games, bowling shoes and awards. Visit the website for more information.

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This year’s most recognized cannabis trade show was the biggest yet. There were 18,121 attendees at the Marijuana Business Conference & Expo in the Las Vegas Convention Center last week, where we got a glimpse of the latest cannabis industry trends.

Baked Bros’ Nadeem Al-Hasan, a speaker on a panel at MJBizCon, said “It’s grown enormously since the first year at the RIO. It was a nice scene and setting as well. The EXPO was very well organized in regards to workshops, sessions, and EXPO floor.”

“There were lots of new companies and even more vendor companies such as packaging, ordering, technology solutions. It was just a small taste of where this is REALLY all going. We are anticipating an 80/20 rec/med market nationwide,” he said.

Here’s what cannabis industry members were talking about.

Some fun numbers from last weeks #MjBizCon – we had a blast!! href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Headset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Headset #cannabis #marijuana pic.twitter.com/vZE0bE0vTt

— Headset (@headsetio) November 20, 2017

1. Nuwu Cannabis Marketplace made waves

Many con attendees made a stop at the Nuwu Cannabis Marketplace, a 16,000-square-foot mega dispensary which gained national headlines for its drive-thru service. Check out our video tour hosted by Foottraffik!

2. Banking crisis brainstorming

Industry members voiced concerns about banking issues which remain a challenge as federal banking is unavailable.

“Stuart Titus, president, and CEO of California-based company Medical Marijuana Incorporated says the trend seems to be moving toward forming state banks, an idea Nevada lawmakers have floated before,” according to LasVegasNow.

The #MJBizCon expo floor is officially open! Come stop by and say hi at the MJBizDaily booth or MJBizCon Lounge pic.twitter.com/ZeUBc9K1LK

— Marijuana Biz Daily (@MJBizDaily) November 15, 2017

3. Opportunities that come with mainstream companies

Speakers pointed to opportunities with mainstream companies edging into the cannabis space. “The speaker sessions were fantastic . . . The deliverable and engagement or questions asked were great,” Al-Hasan said.

Speaker Jeanne Sullivan told attendees that “These companies are not going to miss out,” referring to the industry entrances of Scotts Miracle-Gro, liquor distributor Constellation Brands and Netflix, according to The Seattle Times.

“Sullivan said that her advice to those in the marijuana space is to position themselves as best they can for potential acquisition down the road by larger corporations such as those and others from the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.”

4. Push for innovation

Speaker and former Apple and Tesla executive George Blankenship focused on innovation as the key to reshaping the marijuana business.” “Sooner or later, you’re going to be able to say, ‘Alexa, send me an eighth of flower,’” Blankenship said.

Nothing’s too futuristic for the cannabis industry, as you can see by this virtual reality booth.

Have you experienced cannabis in virtual reality? We're here at #mjbizcon this week at booth #3425 Get your goggle on and come take a look at the future of the cannabis industry. #MJBizCon2017 pic.twitter.com/AknEWCk61J

— MJ Freeway (@mjfreeway) November 16, 2017

5. California’s regulations made everyone take a deep breath

During the con, California dropped over 300 pages of regulations on its cannabis businesses, which many companies paused to consider.

This seems low?? i hope. MQ: "only about 30% of #california #cannabis businesses will successfully transition w/new regs" #mjbizcon #mmj #mj

— Cannabis Biz Times (@editorCBT) November 12, 2015

6. Women talked industry leadership

Women-led sessions put emphasis on maintaining an inclusive, diverse industry.

“We want men to be a part of our good ol’ girl network too” – Andi B. Goldman on the importance of diversification and inclusivity in the industry. #MJBizCon #womenincannabis pic.twitter.com/jHIWKurMmK

— Marijuana Biz Daily (@MJBizDaily) November 16, 2017

Our own Amanda Rigdon kick started the #mjbizcon Science Symposium with an overview of the growth & direction of the #cannabis industry. pic.twitter.com/IoPKCgaU3M

— Emerald Scientific (@EmeraldSci) November 14, 2017

Women in the Cannabis Industry Luncheon #MJBizCon pic.twitter.com/9dyLHfelWD

— See Results (@thseeresults) November 16, 2017

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The question is simple: Where will you be on 4/20 this year? The possibilities are endless. After all, it is the BIGGEST holiday for the cannabis community. However, if you’re a cannabis professional or more specifically, a producer or processor, your answer will most definitely be, “Santa Rosa, CA for CannaCon’s 3-day expo + seminar series”. Being that it’s their debut event in the state, founder Bob Smart and his dedicated team have secured a value-packed lineup of speakers and topics for their upcoming seminar series and 200+ exhibitors showcasing in their expo hall at Santa Rosa CannaCon.

Top 3 Must-Do’s at Santa Rosa CannaCon:

1. Attend at Least 1 of 6 Cannabis Infused Cooking Demos. Start your morning learning the basics of infusions with a cup of cannabis-infused coffee in hand. Take a seat with Chef Jeremy Cooper and indulge in a handful of infused truffle popcorn while learning dosage scaling, flavoring, and masking. Take it easy and learn about crafting a product line of CBD-infused products for consumers looking for non-psychoactive infusions.
2. Grab a Seat for Kevin Jodrey’s Seminar on Genetic Testing, The Future of the Cannabis Supply Chain. Genetic testing is the future of the cannabis supply chain. Strains are more often than not misnamed or renamed, meaning that buyers and consumers never know what they’re getting. How can we resolve this problem? Learn how new testing technology can reintroduce trust and certainty into your products.
3. Bring Your Questions to CannaCon’s Legislative Update Q&A. Confused by current regulations or laws pertaining to your business? Join the panel discussion on California’s legislative landscape and get all your questions answered by vetted experts and professionals.

No plans for the night of 4/20? Celebrate with like-minded cannabis consumers at CannaCon’s Official Mixer Party!

Haven’t Bought Your Ticket Yet? The Details:

When: April 20 -22, 2017
Where: Santa Rosa, CA | Sonoma County Events Center
Tickets: ($40 – $420) Online Pre-registration *Open* Limited-Time Only | Buy Tickets

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Starting in November of 2015, we asked the cannabis community to nominate and vote for their favorite individuals, products, and organizations in the field for the inaugural Laurel Awards.

We weren’t sure what to expect, but we quickly took stock of the major players in the industry as more than 1,100 initial nominations and well over 7,500 official votes were submitted. The top winner by people’s choice in each of the ten categories will hold the honor for one year.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Marijuana Business Conference & Expo, Las Vegas

Winner of the Laurel for Best Cannabis Industry Trade Show

After hearing all the buzz about the event for weeks afterward, it’s clear: Marijuana Business Daily, one of the original B2B cannabis industry publications, certainly knows how to throw one heck of a party.

The largest and oldest cannabis trade show running, Marijuana Business Conference & Expo (or MJBiz for short) brought thousands of industry professionals and enthusiasts out to the off-strip Rio casino hotel in November, for a weekend of networking, conference sessions, investor pitches, and of course, exquisite branded product launch celebrations and swanky after-parties. Secret invite-only lists and rooftop VIP venues were standard as the cannabis community’s biggest players somehow managed to strike amazing new deals and partnerships over the course of the weekend.

Featuring thousands of attendees from across the country, an expo floor featuring over 200 exhibitors, and former presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader as one of the keynote speakers, this trade show was highly anticipated, got tons of media attention, and rounded out one of the most event-filled calendar years the cannabis space has ever seen.

This year, MJBiz travels to the unlikely locale of Orlando, Florida where cannabis is still controversial, but close to making its official debut. Though the southeastern United States is far from a hotspot for the cannabis industry, this huge conference could really leave its mark and build some momentum for reform.

For more information on this year’s event, visit mjbizconference.com.

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When it comes to cannabis conferences – many members of the community have just about had their fill by this time of year. The holidays are approaching, and projects for the new year are taking shape just as some old ones are fizzling out.

The New West Summit, held in San Francisco the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, upgraded the conference experience for cannabis entrepreneurs involved in the business of technology and media by remaining hyper-focused on innovative subject matter.

While a more generalistic conference might boast a greater quantity of vendors and speakers, the perceived quality tends to vary for each individual. Perhaps a vendor’s target customer demographic isn’t in attendance, or there are too many competitors on the floor making it difficult to stand out. Occasional grumbling may even be heard as attendees duck out of speaker sessions that were a little too elementary, or just not interesting to that individual.

That’s why laser-focused and topical trade shows might be the answer to a cannabis community burnt-out on repetition.

In addition to technology and media-focused programming, investment and funding education was provided by the ArcView Group in multiple exciting breakout sessions throughout the weekend. With the amount of money that has been raised by Silicon Valley tech companies in the short years since the “Web 2.0” boom, it’s definitely important for cannabis startups to start thinking about increasing the scale and value of their businesses.

Members of the media from both the cannabis space and the mainstream news universe were in attendance to cover the action. What’s more is that several prominent CEOs and Founders in the space were actually staffing their company booths on the expo floor, giving media organizations a unique opportunity to meet more than just the event or marketing staff.

“Direct Cannabis Network wanted to see the newest and latest tech, software platforms and apps in the cannabis industry. The New West Summit brought a variety of business professionals and cannabis entrepreneurs together from all throughout the U.S. and globally. With the well-informed forums, to the sneak preview of the ArcView pitch events and to the special announcements that were announced at the event, it was a well thought out and executed summit. We are looking forward to the next New West Summit and impressed by the contacts made at this event.” -Adelia Carrillo, Founder of Direct Cannabis Network

With session subjects ranging from extraction and vaporization trends to branding across key demographics, all business people in attendance could find a common denominator on one topic or another. The Summit program was color-coded to ensure that attendees interested in business, technology, and media presentations knew exactly where to go.

David Drake, Founder and CEO of Smoke Reports, spoke on a panel called “SFNewTech Inside New West: B2B Software” which explored some of the trends in the fast-growing field of cannabis enterprise technology. From seed-to-sale tracking to market analytics and workflow management, there are countless apps and softwares that help cannabis entrepreneurs increase efficiency and remain compliant with state regulations. Smoke Reports helps by tracking cannabis industry data and opening up to outside developers with an open-source API.

“The New West Summit was a huge amount of fun. For us, it was an excellent opportunity to present ourselves to the community as an exhibitor for the first time. I thought NWS had a wonderful air of collaboration to it compared to other cannabis events. Customers and businesses alike were working together and finding solutions towards creating a better future for everyone.” -David Drake, Founder & CEO, Smoke Reports

Though this event was a thorough discussion of the trends in the cannabis industry right now, the New West Summit organizers are on to a new trend of their own. Expect to see more subject-specific cannabis conferences next year, especially in the realm of technology. 

What do you think? Should conferences be more topic-focused, or are quality business conversations still getting done in a generalist trade show environment?

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Day two of the MJIS Las Vegas Cannabis Capital Growth Conference brought more information from the front lines of capital management, with discussions of navigating previously uncharted regulatory environments and some of the most exciting up-and-coming companies in the world of cannabis.

Emerging Companies in Cannabis

Matt Callahan – Botanix Pharma

Botanix is solving problems associated with skin disease with a proprietary CBD formula – a different approach from popular cannabis and pharmaceutical hybrid treatments for epilepsy and fibromyalgia.

The company’s pre-clinical data shows that CBD as an active ingredient reduces inflammation in the skin, blocks proliferation of acne, and effectively switches off excess production of sebum, the oil that causes acne. Though the “entourage effect,” or mixture of cannabinoids, has been touted as vital to medical cannabis, in Botanix’s studies, THC did not prove effective in treating skin disease, only CBD.

According to Callahan, there are around 50 million acne sufferers in the United States, and zero new active chemical treatments for acne have been developed since 2001. He touts his product as an alternative to the popular prescription drug Accutane, which carries a “black box” warning and can have dangerous and permanent side effects.

While Botanix’s initial focus is acne, the company is also working on psoriasis and skin cancer treatments.

Two roadblocks exist in creating this product: FDA and DEA regulation, and the fact that CBD is not entirely bioavailable, or able to be fully absorbed into the body. Botanix uses a CBD formula that is of FDA-approved purity and quality, and is planning further compliance work for the product so it can be prescribed by physicians and dermatologists.

In spite of its challenges, CBD comes with a much lower-cost and speedy drug development process than traditional pharmaceuticals, making it a great investment. There’s an extremely rapid path to market ahead for this life-changing drug.

Skin disease is a billion dollar market, and with the number of people of all ages who are negatively affected by acne, Botanix seems poised to disrupt the space.

Phil DeVries – THERA

Another company currently seeking funding is THERA Integrative Healthcare, an organization with physician operations and clinic operations businesses and targeting emerging medical cannabis markets.

According to Founder Phil DeVries, medical cannabis programs in emerging markets are plagued with limited patient participation due to lack of physician access and delays in the recommendation process or licensing for dispensaries. Likewise, there’s limited physician participation, as most are either uneducated or prohibited from discussing the topic for fear of losing their license.

THERA’s mission is to create a nationally scalable clinic model to full-service medical cannabis services to new markets like Illinois where dispensaries are starting to open, but there are still issues with patient and physician access to information.

This model will allow doctors to actually diagnose issues and prescribe cannabis, rather than make a “recommendation.” So far, insurance companies are covering up to 80% of the fees for patients.

With the potential for their clinics to be licensed out to any state where medical cannabis is legal, and the way the company is providing the missing link between the cannabis and medical fields, THERA is definitely one to watch in the next year.

Public Company Pitch

Lexaria Energy ($LXRP, $LXX)

Chris Bunka, Canadian-born venture capitalist and CEO of Lexaria Energy, has built a successful business that spans North America. His company produces a line of all natural, additive free, pain & inflammation-relieving coffees, teas and protein energy bars, medicated with CBD.

According the the company, the products improve concentration and can even promote muscle recovery, allowing athletes to train more regularly. Protein bars are currently make up a market of $8.3 billion, and are sold in gyms, convenience and grocery stores, and specialty nutrition stores – now, potentially a dispensary or recreational storefront.

According to a recently published Leafly poll, edibles are greatly outselling flower and concentrates in California, Colorado, and Arizona. With smoking or vaporizing, an average of five times more active cannabinoids are absorbed than with edibles, but infused food and beverage products remain a popular method of ingestion because of the health issues and stigma attached to the act of smoking.

The main problem with edibles as a medication, is that most of the cannabis content in edibles is not used by the body. Cannabinoids are not easily absorbed by the intestine, if they even make it through the acids of the stomach.

Lexaria’s proprietary technology binds cannabinoids with fatty acids at the molecular level, along with a process for enhanced palatability and absorption so the cannabis cannot be tasted. The company has done its research, having conducted a third-party in vitro laboratory study that showed 5X improvement in intestinal absorption compared with other delivery systems.

With over 40 thousand gyms in the US, plus dispensary, grocery, convenience and drugstore retail, there’s huge market potential. Lexaria is now evaluating license partners for the delivery mechanism technology, including established THC edibles companies.

Once patented, opportunities to use the delivery tech for nicotine, NSAIDs, vitamins as well.

Further funding would carry Lexaria through profitability, expanding production, distribution and sales, additional patents and R&D, further potency and efficacy testing, and new product development.

Canada’s Public Markets

Lexaria’s Chris Bunka went on to explain his background, and give some valuable insight on the Canadian stock exchanges and investing environment in comparison to the United States. After going public in 2005, Bunka’s company, Lexaria Energy, obtained a dual listing on CSE in 2009.

In 2013, Canada passed a law federally legalizing medical cannabis as part of Health Canada. The policy allows for electronic payments, capital and banking, and ample patient access without federal interference. The production and dispensary program has really just ramped up, and investments are beginning to show returns.

There are three stock exchanges in Canada:

• Toronto TSE (sim to nasdaq),
• Canadian CSE (sim to US reptg OTC+)
• Toronto Venture TSXV (sim to US reptg OTC)

According to Bunka, there are a few downsides to doing business in Canada; the legislative process is slow, so far there are only 26 licensed producers and only 24K registered patients, the law currently allows for flower only, and there are still issues of unknown market demand, supply, and price points, and a large number of non-official transactions still taking place.

High points of this favorable legislative and regulatory environment include the recent election of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Tweed + Bedrocan merger, and Organigram’s raise of $6.3 million. There’s Arguably lower risk than the current United States OTC markets, and with an estimated recreational market of 500K people, Canada is a great example for how legal markets might soon operate in the US.

Growth Company Spotlight

Justin Cifelli – Med Ag Ventures, Inc.

This company owns Phoenician, the best-in-class and most expensive grinder brand, with revenues of $70k per month and increasing. The brand is teaming up with rappers Snoop Dogg and Waka Flocka Flame in the near future for licensing the titanium products with their own branding.

Now acquiring more subsidiaries, including a massive online outlet to aid in their Hempioneers digital media business. In the meantime, the company is working on developing titanium nails for concentrates, luxury precious metal Phoenician grinders, and cultivation LED lights and curing structures for cannabis flower.

With strong brand recognition, in-house manufacturing, and a lifetime warranty on Phoenician products, this company has a track record of creating exceptional value.

Clint Crary – RhyaPharms

Based in Davis, just outside of Sacramento, Calif., RhyaPharms is a CBD-based “nutraceuticals” brand, complete with online retail, wholesale, and white labeling products. The company creates “CBD Prime” drops, sprays, tablets & capsules, and e-liquids for vaporizers.

In the near future, they plan on releasing single-dose CBD shots, body & hand lotions, “CBD Fusion” foods, and transdermal patches.

According to Clint Crary, the founder, CBD manufacturers face a dilemma in getting products to market. Many contract manufacturers are unwilling to work with cannabis at all, and among those who are willing, most require Minimum Order Quantities that small CBD companies cannot meet.

Therefore, RhyaPharms is ready for its own automated manufacturing line in order to solve bottling costs issues and fulfill the desire to become a white label manufacturer for other CBD products.

Private Equity After The JOBS Act

Many consumers think of “crowdfunding” as taking place on websites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe, but it’s become a common practice in the investment banking world, and requires a slightly different and more regulated process, especially for cannabis businesses.

On day one, Randy Shipley had given some insight on the JOBS Act, which was passed when the post-”bubble” access to venture capital began to dry up. The policy made changes to the restrictions on startups. Crowdfunding fills the gaps that occur when working in existing, traditional fundraising models. Just like during the Internet boom, early stage equity participation will definitely pay returns in the rapidly-growing cannabis industry, where angel investors and crowdfunding are filling a major void for startup capital.

On the second day, Gina Austin, Esq. of Austin Legal Group went over what cannabis entrepreneurs need to know about the various existing and proposed rules as they relate to crowdfunding.

Companies can file as either an S1 or S8, or either tier stipulated in Reg A+. The various types of business exemptions determine how companies can raise money, based on number of investors and monetary amounts permitted. Where one method may seem like the easier route in regard to general solicitation, others have benefits as well. She encourages every business owner in the industry to review and research all the various SEC filing options with a qualified cannabis attorney.

Matthew Mills, CEO of Med-X, is one of the cannabis entrepreneurs who went with Reg A+ in order to get on SEC and FINRA radar and begin reporting right away. He wanted to give everyone the opportunity to invest (at a $600 minimum) through a funding portal. Reg A+ gave Med-X that opportunity, and the company raised $15 million in a relatively short time.

Now, Med-X has one of the few pesticides approved by the EPA, a digital media platform, and an upcoming new pest-resistant soil product.

Also alluding to the importance of an attorney with a strong background in the cannabis space, Mills stated, “I’m not an expert – I’m a student.” In this industry, it’s refreshing to hear from entrepreneurs who are still learning themselves and successfully shaping positive perceptions of cannabis.

Technology & Cannabis Panel

David Goldstein, the founder and CEO of Potbotics, created a device that actually analyzes the brainwaves and the effects of various cannabis strains, and sources that data for its comprehensive strain and dispensary database in the form of a mobile app. Goldstein moderated the technology panel and gave an introduction to the “Internet of things”- devices connected to a larger network.

There are now 50 million devices currently connected to the IOT, and growing fast as Bluetooth and Wireless Internet technologies are integrated into homes, cars, printers, and in the cannabis space, used for remote grow room environmental control and cannabis testing.

When smart machines combine with big data, meaningful events and knowledge can be recorded, measured, and analyzed and problems can be solved without human intervention.

For connected devices, the tech community is already seeing many valuable applications to healthcare industry, with a $300 billion annual market in healthcare data. According to Goldstein, when it comes to backing up the claims of cannabis as an effective medicine, real data on the plant and treatment efficacy will be the factor that eventually re-schedules or completely de-schedules cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.

Eugene Lopin developed CHEX, or the Cannabis Hemp Exchange, which connects wholesale buyers and sellers to help them track and update inventory while making simple business-to-business transactions.

Following a new tech industry trend, APIs allow the owners of proprietary softwares to leverage the technology and license it out for use within other applications, similarly to how Google Maps appear in many other apps. Part of the strategy for CHEX is to integrate with existing apps that dispensaries and producer/processors are already using. Some seed-to-sale and state regulator softwares are already working on developing open APIs: Agrisoft and Flowhub.

With the burgeoning Las Vegas market as the venue for these promising companies to come together, the Cannabis Capital Growth Conference was an instant success. At its next event in San Francisco, March 3-5, 2016, the MJIS will continue to build on the information presented.

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Investment banking is a complicated subject for most individuals. Many startup companies fail because their leaders choose not to learn about the nuances of raising capital and growing sustainably.

MJIC Media and the Marijuana Investor Summit events capture the most useful information and share it with the larger cannabis industry. One of their most exciting events of the year, the Cannabis Capital Growth Conference in Las Vegas, is currently in progress.

The first day of the conference touched on topics like navigating Nevada’s local medical cannabis regulations, taking a company from private to public status, and the growing issue of cannabis companies using reverse mergers to go public with less funds and little to no federal regulation. A few public company pitches were also included, providing a fascinating window into some of this industry’s very first publicly traded success stories.

Overwhelming? Yes. Enlightening? Very.

The afternoon gave way to a handful of informative speaker sessions, Q&A, and some prime networking. Read on for a snapshot of each session.  

Grow Public

Sandra Tiffany, former Nevada State Senator and the GM of GrowBlox Sciences ($GBLX), shared her journey through the medical cannabis licensing process in Nevada after leaving public office.

Tiffany struggled with obtaining proper funding and licensing for her cultivation business, until she bought out her former business partners and merged her cultivation licenses with GrowBlox Sciences in order to have more leverage in the licensing process.

“I can’t stress partnerships enough in this industry,” she said.

Tiffany also gave a great breakdown of how Nevada’s cannabis landscape is different from any other region of the US.

Due to its constant influx of leisure tourism and business travelers, and plethora of affluent and savvy jet-set types, Nevada created a unique and inclusive medical cannabis program that contrasts sharply with states like California and Arizona. First, Nevada’s dispensaries are for-profit entities, allowing for greater development of capital in the local industry (and investment opportunities for the wealthy). Second, the state allows out-of-state holders of medical cannabis recommendations to purchase from Nevada dispensaries, capitalizing further on its tourist population. Nevada medical cannabis licenses are also open to applicants from out-of-state.

The dispensary program has really just taken off, and Nevada votes on adult use in November 2016. Tiffany is confident that the openness of the policy will promote exponential growth, making Nevada one of the most promising areas for cannabis investment in the next few years.

Regulators in Nevada are already experts in dealing with privilege license, having managed regulation, taxation and enforcement for bars and nightclubs and casino gaming, as well as adult entertainment and brothels – all high volume and cash-intensive industries.

The former legislator encourages anyone interested in investing to first do your homework: meet with your potential partners, tour facilities, and ensure compliance processes are in place before jumping into the rich ecosystem of the growing Nevada cannabis industry.

Using & Abusing Shells as Public Vehicles

Eyes were opened by Horwitz + Armstrong, LLP’s Lawrence Horwitz’s presentation on reverse mergers, or private companies using public shell companies to achieve public company status.

The SEC and FINRA do not look fondly on these mergers because they allow companies to bypass many of the regulatory hurdles that keep the financial industry regulated. One company is “absorbing” the other without necessarily going through the normal channels. It’s quick and less expensive than a traditional IPO, and for companies who work directly with the cannabis plant, it provides a sense of security that the business may not be audited or scrutinized as closely.

It makes sense, as getting traditional financing is difficult in the cannabis space, so entrepreneurs often turn to bad options, often with huge interest rates and leading to significant debt.

SEC violations are occurring at an alarming rate now, because the cannabis industry is growing so quickly, and the SEC has suspended a few companies as an example. In the few years that cannabis has been moving into the mainstream, there is already a history of outlandish reverse splits to capture liquidity. Now investor confidence is down, and federal scrutiny is up.

David Friedman, who moderated questions for Horwitz, shared his two cents on an important issue as well. Industry insiders may have noticed an increasing prevalence of investor relations (IR) firms. These are public relations agencies whose primary focus is to share their clients’ corporate and financial news and facilitate communication with shareholders.

According to Horwitz, the activities of some of these IR firms border on the “pump and dump” media tactic that is cause for investigation in the financial industry – specifically, spinning subjective news in press releases while tagging it as investing-quality news, or creating  excessive or unreasonable hype about new public companies “just to get their name out.”  

“News comes from actual newsworthy things happening in the company – not the PR or IR firm,” said Horwitz. “Research studies, thought leadership, and legislation advocacy are all excellent ways of creating news for the company in a non-promotional manner. It takes time to build genuine interest in your stock.”

What to look for in an IR firm? Ask for information and histories on some of their portfolio companies, and obtain references and examples of their successful trading history. “If they say ‘that’s confidential?’ Run. That information is not confidential and they should be able to produce references and examples of their work,” said Horwitz.

More wisdom from Larry Horwitz:

• In the cannabis industry, with a few exceptions, the “best of breed” companies are not going public right now.
• Watch the volume differences over time on the cannabis stocks to see if they are really trading, or if the company is adjusting the price point in a way that doesn’t make sense.
• “The capital drives the deal” – while on the ground level of the industry, ideas and trades can be as good as currency, playing in the investment banking world still requires some serious cash-on-hand.

Public Company Pitches

CLS Labs ($CLSH)

Jeff Binder, an attorney by trade and the founder of many companies across several industries, made his jump to the cannabis industry in order to create something different and profitable. The result was Cannabis Life Sciences Holdings, a Colorado-based company specializing in whole-plant cannabis extractions, as well as some business services.

The foundation of the company is scientific, centered around a proprietary, patent-pending chemical process that allows them to achieve a higher cannabinoid yield within the cannabis plant. pure & consistent process

It’s a cleaner extraction than those done with butane, which CLS Labs is lobbying to get banned from the industry, as the process leaves behind carcinogens and heavy metals, while running the risk of explosion during the extraction process.

CLS Labs uses a similar method to ethanol extraction, but what makes their process unique is that they can actively separate the various cannabinoid compounds, including the terpenes of the plant.

Four things that make CLS Labs different from other processors in the space:

1. Strong Profit Motive
   1. They process the entire plant, even crystals from the trim floor to maximize yield, and have consistently acheived higher THC return than any other, providing value and quality to customers
2. Emphasis on Labeling & Testing
   1. Binder believes that testing regulations should be more stringent and include more substances, and that labeling must be standardized across state lines to include testing data
3. Providing a “One-Stop-Shop”
   1. CLS Labs handles plant, oil, packaging, and vape cartridge filling technology, helping to serve local customers and “whitelabel” products for out-of-state sale
4. Philanthropy
   1. Binder ensures money goes toward studying the medical aspects of the plant and providing treatments to children who cannot afford it

Binder says the company’s future success lies in getting in front of federal regulations. CLS Labs is OSHA compliant with lengthy & detailed standard operating procedures that are sure to satisfy regulators.

MyDX ($MYDX)

Daniel Yazbeck, an entrepreneur with experience at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and Panasonic’s medical technology, started his own company in San Diego and developed the world’s tiniest chemical analysis machine: MyDx. Its three variations can be used to test carcinogens in food, EPA-standard air quality, and with the CannaDx, the cannabinoid, terpene and pesticide levels in cannabis.

Playing on consumers’ increasing interest and mindfulness of what they put into their minds & bodies, the device comes fully integrated with a mobile app component where users can journal their chemical measurements, and, for cannabis, the corresponding feelings or side effects for every flower they’ve tested. Users can mine their own database at any time, and with time, the app will begin to make custom recommendations based on the user’s past tests and recorded effects.

“The vision was to make the testing lab simple and portable for consumer use,” said Yazbeck. “We also want people to learn that when it comes to testing, it’s not all about THC; it’s about the TCP, or total chemical profile, of each cannabis strain.”

MyDx has an amazing product, but it’s also a success story in going public. It reverse-merged to become a public company in 2014, then uplisted to OTCQB in May 2015. The company will be reporting its first financial statements in February. MyDx grew 74 percent to $2.7b by 2014, and with increased marketing and adoption, is projecting $10.8b by 2018.

Taking the “razor and razorblade” recurring revenue approach, MyDx requires that sensor inserts be changed every six months, and also charges $2 for every completed test.

The company boasts HIPAA compliant data, regulator support, and heavy intellectual property patent protection.

Stay tuned for a brief recap of the conference’s second day, jam-packed with more informative expert speakers.

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High Desert: A Cannabis Conference in the Land of Law Enforcement

It’s no secret that cannabis trade shows bring a buzz and excitement to the community from the moment the attendees arrive in town. The overall vibration of the event largely depends on the locale.

Phoenix, Arizona just happens to be home to eight jails, a DEA field office, and some of the strictest criminal penalties in the United States for cannabis-related offenses. Lump in the other southwestern markets close by – Nevada, Texas, and New Mexico – and you’ve pretty much found the home base of the drug war.

Many might have wondered, “Who in their right mind would hold a cannabis conference here?!” However, with a burgeoning medical cannabis industry already ramping up, an adult use regulation initiative campaigning for 2016, and progressive legislation moving forward in neighboring states, the region appears to be shrugging its ruthless reputation in favor of free market principles, and the very first Southwest Cannabis Conference & Expo reflected that.

Rory Mendoza is more than sane; he’s a genius businessman for recognizing the vast opportunities the Southwest offers to the cannabis industry. “I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of the SWCCExpo; every element was absolutely perfect. We can’t wait until next year to continue working with the individuals who were part of this event.” He has ambitions to take the show on the road as a regionalized conference series.

Though law enforcement did get briefly involved on day one of the show, sweeping the expo floor with drug-sniffing dogs and causing vendors to wait on the sidewalk for the all-clear, the rest of the conference went off swimmingly and provided not only business and networking opportunities, but a great time for attendees.

Featuring aisles of vendor and exhibitor tables, the expo floor was one of the biggest we’ve seen thus far – impressive, considering the Cashinbis team is running out of fingers on which to count all the events we’ve attended this year.

Some new, interactive booth designs from the larger sponsors really stole the show as far as being hubs for networking and new deals. Industry veteran Weedmaps built a square, walled-in structure with a small living room feel, filled with shirts and other merchandise to share with attendees. Leafly’s bright and open display featured several pillars outfitted with every smartphone or device charger known to mankind, offering a place for vendors and attendees to juice up and meet new people at the same time. The event’s headlining sponsor, MJ Freeway, created a lobby-like setting with multiple chairs, sofas and tables where people could be seen on phone calls, laptops, and face-to-face meetings throughout the day.

Offering a place to sit and hang out is a low-pressure way to attract new business directly to your booth. It’s a great way to set your brand apart from the rest of the exhibitors and exude a friendly and inclusive attitude.

Whimsical and over-sized vehicles lined the outside of the floor as well as the center aisle, providing an extra dose of fun, music and visual appeal to what is typically a pretty “vanilla” floor setup. We commend the SWCCExpo organizers for being open to so many different and creative varieties of brand exhibitors, and for making the event worthwhile for the general public.

Even for companies without a branded exhibition table or booth, there was great value in the speaker sessions as well as networking across the expo floor.

“The SWCCExpo was a great event. We planned to attend in order to check out the vendors, speakers and overall experience, as well as to support all of our friends in the industry,” said Holly Alberti-Evans, co-founder of Healthy Headie Lifestyle and winner of the Arcview Denver “Best Pitch” award earlier this year. “I am pleased to say it was positive. From the expo floor, to the key note speakers there was much buzz and excitement! There seemed to be lots of business, networking and deals happening all around.”

Speakers and panels covered marketing and entrepreneurship in the cannabis industry, regulatory and legalization campaign updates for the Southwest region, industrial hemp and hemp CBD products, veteran and Native American issues, cannabis in professional sports, and new research into medical cannabis for PTSD.

Stay tuned – We completed over a dozen video interviews with speakers, panelists, and prominent attendees at the SWCCExpo. Join our Facebook community for first looks at all our multimedia material.

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