Invest in MJ Blog

Editors Notes: This is exciting news to see a major bank in Canada finally participate in the Cannabis industry and start financing larger cannabis licensed producers, the fact that Canopy has a $7 Billion dollar market cap and now big banks are investing in the space gives credibility to the Canadian cannabis sector.

Original Article:

Bank of Montreal became the first major Canadian bank to lead an equity financing for a public company in the medical marijuana sector, underwriting a $175-million stock sale for Canopy Growth Corp.

The bank's capital-markets arm and GMP Capital Inc. will be the co-lead underwriters on the bought deal financing, which was announced after the markets closed Wednesday. The deal was done at a price of $34.60 per share, or 8 percent below the company's closing share price on Wednesday.

Pot stocks have whipsawed in recent weeks, climbing sharply at the start of 2018 before selling off amid concerns about regulatory changes in the United States. Canopy, the largest Canadian public company in the cannabis sector with a market capitalization of $7.2-billion, has seen its shares climb 26 percent since the start of the year – yet they have fallen more than 10 percent since Jan. 9.

Canada's big banks have been hesitant to get involved in a visible way in the burgeoning marijuana sector because they have significant operations in the United States, where there is considerable conflict and uncertainty surrounding marijuana laws. The drug is legal in many U.S. states, at least for medical use, and on Jan. 1 California became the largest state to legalize it for recreational use for adults. Yet it is still illegal under U.S. federal law.

Since Canopy is one of the Canadian-headquartered cannabis companies that has no operations in the United States, it is considered a safer one for banks to do business with.

BMO was "very grueling about the fact that they are not looking to work with companies that break American law," said Bruce Linton, chief executive officer at Canopy.

Canopy's size and inclusion in the S&P/TSX composite index also means that it has a broader following among institutional investors.

"I think this signals a new normal," Mr. Linton added, referring to BMO entering the sector. "What I think is going to happen is the institutional buyers who've said we don't really do this because banks don't do this are going to say 'shoot, we really should do this.'"

Canopy is raising funds at a particularly tumultuous moment for the industry.

Days ago, U.S. Attorney-General Jeff Sessions revoked Obama-era guidelines, referred to as the Cole Memo, that limited how federal prosecutors could investigate and prosecute state-licensed marijuana production and distribution.

At the same time, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has said it is rethinking existing rules that allow marijuana firms with U.S. operations to go public on the stock market and raise money in Canada, as long as they disclose the legal risks they face south of the border.

Bank of Montreal has a relatively new CEO -- 46-year-old Darryl White took the top job last November -- who is a former investment banker. The bank has an extensive retail network in the U.S., along with significant U.S. capital markets operations. However, this deal doesn't indicate that the bank would be willing to support deals with cross-border cannabis companies.

Executives at Canada's other bank-owned investment dealers are expected to re-visit their policies on taking part in cannabis financings in the wake of BMO's participation in the Canopy Growth offering. An executive at a rival bank said late Wednesday: "We are reviewing our interpretation of the rules as we speak, and I imagine every other bank is doing the same."

The deal comes amid a hot market for financings related to marijuana stocks. Already, the amount raised in equity deals since the start of 2018 is closing in on $700-million in Canada. Until now, deals have largely been led by independent investment dealers such as GMP Capital Inc., Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. and Eight Capital, with the capital-markets arms of the Big Six banks on the sidelines.

Blog Repost: View Original Article

COSTA MESA, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 22, 2017) - NEMUS Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB : NMUS ) and the company's discovery and research partner, the University of Mississippi (UM), today announced that bactericidal synergy was achieved against multiple species of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) utilizing a proprietary cannabinoid-based therapeutic platform. MRSA species tested included community acquired- (CA-MRSA), healthcare-acquired- (HA-MRSA), and mupirocin-resistant (MR-MRSA) strains of MRSA. 

In vitro studies demonstrated that when using unique strategic cannabinoid-based cocktails, fractional-inhibitory concentration (FIC) levels demonstrating synergy between mixtures of individual cannabinoid-based components ranged from 0.06 to 0.28. FIC findings below 0.5 indicate significant killing potential of the mixture.

"This work highlights the importance of Nemus' relationship with the University which has significant experience and intellectual capital related to cannabinoid chemistry and physiology, dating back to 1968," stated Brian Murphy, M.D., C.E.O. and Chief Medical Officer of Nemus. "These unique botanically derived components establish an anti-infective platform which could potentially be expanded into other types of bacteria, as well as viruses, and fungi."

Dr. Mahmoud ElSohly, professor at the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi commented: "The University, in conjunction with Nemus, is looking to expand the anti-infective capabilities of this series of compounds. Historically, many types of anti-infective compounds are derived from plants so to have a series of cannabinoid-related compounds exhibit activity against this dangerous pathogen is in keeping with prior efforts of drug development. I believe that these compounds, in addition to the bacterial killing capability, could also offer benefits associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties that could enhance healing, especially against an organism associated with skin and soft tissue infections."

"This anti-infective platform will constitute the NB3000 series of Nemus molecules and formulations. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) placed MRSA on their list as one of the top six organisms that pose a global public health threat. While there are a number of compounds in the development pipeline against MRSA, we believe that this family of drug candidates could possess an excellent safety profile in addition to efficacy in neutralizing this bacterium," stated Dr. Murphy. "Nemus will work with Dr. Elsohly, the University lead researcher on this project, to have this data submitted to a future scientific meeting and anticipates performing further testing against a variety of other bacterial species. Commercially, the company looks to actively pursue partnering opportunities for these candidate molecules."

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the studies relating to and the potential benefits of the NB3000 series of drug candidates as well as the timing of our near term, intermediate term and long term goals. Such statements and other statements in this press release that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price could be materially negatively affected. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology including "goal," "focus," "aims," "expects," "plans," "believes," "can," "could," "challenge," "predictable," "will," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. We operate in a rapidly changing environment and new risks emerge from time to time. As a result, it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements the Company may make. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, our capital resources, uncertainty regarding the results of future testing and development efforts and other risks that are described in the Risk Factors section of NEMUS's most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as expressly required by law, NEMUS disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

The following news release was issued by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, they have provided a guide for potential entrepreneurs and businesses interested in applying for a recreational marijuana license.  If you are considering opening up a marijuana business in Oregon, please reach out to us at www.investinmj.com and contact us if you need assistance in financing, marketing or setting up your commercial grow operation.  We have many contacts in the industry that are very interested in helping you succeed.  We can leverage out contacts with many other commercial marijuana growers to assist you, some of which may even consider a joint venture with you.

We wish you all the best in opening up a marijuana operation in Oregon, these are very exciting times but they do come with some risk, Invest In MJ is here to help you mitigate them.  
IMJ Admin.

 http://www.oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana/Documents/BusinessReadinessGuide_RecreationalMarijuana.pdf

State Produces Guide for Recreational Marijuana Businesses

Designed to Help Navigate State and Local Government Requirements

November 20, 2015

Portland, Oregon – The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has released a “Business Readiness Guidebook for Oregon Recreational Marijuana Operations” for individuals interested in applying for a recreational marijuana license.  The guidebook was produced under the guidance of Governor Kate Brown’s office, with contributions from more than a dozen state agencies that directly regulate the marijuana industry or regulate business.

“Obtaining a license from the OLCC is just one step to establishing a marijuana related business,” said Steve Marks, Executive Director of the OLCC.  “The OLCC wants to help this industry become successful and compliant, and having this guide to help navigate the business regulatory process is an important component of that effort.”

From building codes to odor control, from waste management to workplace safety, the Business Readiness Guidebook provides an overview of the rules and requirements within the larger regulatory framework under which all businesses in Oregon must operate.

By pointing to where up-to-date state and local information can be found the OLCC expects the guide will help businesses be better prepared to establish legal recreational marijuana operations in Oregon and comply with state and local law.

The “Business Readiness Guidebook for Oregon Recreational Marijuana Operations” can be found on the OLCC website and will be updated with current information as it becomes available.

For more information:
Mark Pettinger, Spokesperson
Mark.pettinger@oregon.gov  (503) 872-5115
www.marijuana.oregon.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCTOBER 23, 2015

Statement from Chairman Gary Besaw

(Keshena, WI) –Today, Federal Agents improperly and unnecessarily entered the sovereign lands of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and destroyed the Tribe’s industrial hemp crop.

In May 2015, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Tribe legalized the growing of low THC non-psychotropic industrial hemp by Tribal licensees on its lands. Notice of this change in Tribal law was provided to the United States Attorney Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. This action was intended to comply with Congress’s actions in 2014 Farm Bill which recognizing a distinction between marijuana and industrial hemp that created an exception to the Controlled Substance Act to allow for growth, cultivation and the study of industrial hemp in certain circumstances. The Tribe’s industrial hemp crop was always intended to be a legal crop as allowed by the 2014 Farm Bill.

In response the federal actions, Chairman Besaw stated the following:

MassRoots, Inc. (MSRT), one of the largest and fastest growing social networks for cannabis consumers, is pleased to announce it has filed an application to become one of the first cannabis technology companies listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. Last year, MassRoots was one of the first cannabis-related companies to go public through a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as opposed to a reverse-merger.

MassRoots has demonstrated tremendous growth in recent quarters, more than doubling its userbase since the beginning of 2015 to a half million users. The Company recently started monetizing its digital properties and is expecting to rapidly scale its revenues over the next several quarters. Sitting at the intersection of cannabis and mobile technology, MassRoots offers a direct play on the regulated marijuana industry without ever touching the plant itself.

“Uplisting to the NASDAQ Capital Market would be a significant milestone not just for MassRoots, but the cannabis industry as a whole,” stated MassRoots Chief Executive Officer Isaac Dietrich. “We believe that uplisting to a national exchange like the NASDAQ would enable MassRoots to attract a broader range of institutional investors, increase share liquidity and help shift the paradigm about investing in the regulated marijuana market.”