Marijuana Industry Pushing Toward Federal Acceptance, Expanded Research in 2017
February 01 2017 - 8:30AM
InvestorWire
New York, New York (NetworkNewsWire) – For the marijuana
industry, 2016 was a successful year by any standards, reaching an
estimated $7 billion in transactions and bringing the total number
of states to legalize marijuana for medical and/or recreational
purposes to 28. However, deemed America’s fastest growing industry
in recent years, the market still has some major obstacles to
overcome in 2017, such as gaining access to legal banking services,
obtaining federal drug reclassification, and more. Removing
marijuana from the federal list of Schedule I drugs would be a
major step forward for the industry, with massive implications and
benefits trickling through to reach cannabis-related product
manufacturers and distributors and ancillary service providers such
as Cannabis Sativa, Inc. (OTCQB: CBDS), Cannabis Science, Inc.
(OTC: CBIS), Eco Science Solutions, Inc. (OTC: ESSI), Medical
Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA), and SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: SING)
According to Cannabiz Media research firm, the industry headed
into 2017 with over 4,300 cultivators, more than 2,500 producers,
3,300 dispensaries and almost 4,000 retailers nationwide. The
numbers are expected to grow significantly in light of the recent
vote by eight more states to legalize medical or recreational
marijuana use. Driven by this impressive growth, the industry will
look to make a bigger impact this year, primarily by gaining
federal acceptance. The industry is already lobbying in favor of
removing marijuana from the list of Schedule I drugs, where it is
currently listed alongside heroin, ecstasy and LSD. It may take as
long as four to eight years to gain federal acceptance, experts
say, but the tide is in favor of the industry and, ultimately, the
administration will likely adhere to the wishes of the American
majority.
There are concerns that under the Trump Administration, and
especially with marijuana opponent U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions
(R-AL) as attorney general, the industry will struggle more and
might lose rights gained at a state level. President Donald Trump,
who spoke in favor of the marijuana market during the campaign, has
yet to make his official position known. In the meantime, a group
of 10 prominent lawmakers are pressing for banking reform to allow
cannabis and related businesses access to financial services. In an
open letter, the lawmakers asked the Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network to issue clear guidance on the matter in order to make it
easier for the industry to access banking services.
As a leading provider of mobile technology and payment solutions
serving various industries, including the marijuana market via
subsidiary SingleSeed
Payments, SinglePoint, Inc. (SING) would
welcome updated guidance from the Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network, as this could help the business attain its full potential
serving a rapidly expanding, legitimate market.
Since SingleSeed’s “reawakening” after voters in eight states
voted to legalize marijuana last November, SingleSeed’s main goal
has been to help legitimize the industry by helping medical or
retail cannabis providers grow their business securely and safely.
For that purpose, the company is providing several state-of-the-art
payment solutions and mobile marketing tools.
Representing the diverse nature of the cannabis industry,
SinglePoint earlier this week signed a Letter of Intent to acquire
an interest in Convectium, a profitable California-based company
that has created the world’s first oil filling machine focused on
the cannabis industry that is capable of filling cartridges or
disposable vape pens for wholesale distribution to dispensaries.
Convectium’s 710Shark and 710Seal system can fill and package up
100+ cartridges or disposable vape pens within 30 seconds. The
company forecasts revenues for 2017 at $3.5 million, which would be
a 150% increase over revenue of $1.4 million for 2016.
“To say we are excited about this opportunity is an
understatement. Convectium’s 710Shark and 710Seal system is
incredible, and its capabilities are unmatched. After looking at
hundreds of cannabis companies, finding an acquisition opportunity
like we have found in Convecitum adds a new dynamic to our
endeavors and the cannabis industry as a whole,” SinglePoint CEO
Greg Lambrecht stated in a news release on
1/31/17.
Banking reform would also have a positive impact on other
providers of ancillary services, including e-commerce company
Eco Science Solutions, Inc. (ESSI), which enables
cannabis enthusiasts to locate and connect with other enthusiasts
or with cannabis businesses, ultimately facilitating the purchasing
of related products. Another company that would benefit is
Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA), one of the first
manufacturers and providers of medical marijuana products and
worldwide distributor of Cannabidiol (CBD). In addition to
manufacturing cannabis-based pharmaceutical and consumer products,
the company also offers infrastructure and support services for the
entire industry.
Besides federal acceptance and banking reform, the industry is
also trying to achieve expanded research opportunities. If
marijuana is declassified as a Substance I drug, this will pave the
way to continued research into the effects of the substance and
cannabinoid makeup, which could ultimately help the industry not
only show that marijuana isn’t as harmful as opponents claim, but
also come up with better, more efficient formulations and products.
Extended research opportunities would greatly benefit companies
such as Cannabis Science, Inc. (CBIS) a company
dedicated to developing innovative cannabinoid-based therapies for
unmet medical needs, or Cannabis Sativa, Inc.
(CBDS), a company that manufactures and commercializes a
wide range of marijuana-based product under affiliated brand names,
ranging from CBD-infused bottled water and CBD capsules to skin
care products and more.
For more information on Singlepoint, Inc. (SING) please visit:
Singlepoint,
Inc. (SING)
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