Schwazze (OTCQX:SHWZ, NEO:SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.
Joe Gomes, Managing Director – Generalist Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
A New Store. Schwazze recently announced the opening of a new R. Greenleaf store in New Mexico. The new store will be located at 800 W. Pierce Street in Carlsbad and will have a grand opening date of March 25, 2023. The opening makes it eight new dispensaries in New Mexico since Schwazze acquired R. Greenleaf in February 2022.
City Details. Carlsbad has an overall population of 29,278 with a median household income of approximately $70,000 as of 2020 from Data USA. The town is somewhat competitive, as it contains 14 other dispensaries according to the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. Carlsbad is located in the southeast portion of New Mexico as well, near the border of Texas, which is an area of focus for Schwazze as local dispensaries can benefit from out-of-state customers.
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Here’s What Science Now Says about CBD’s Health Benefits
Over the last five years, an often forgotten piece of U.S. federal legislation – the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill – has ushered in an explosion of interest in the medical potential of cannabis-derived cannabidiol, or CBD.
After decades of debate, the bill made it legal for farmers to grow industrial hemp, a plant rich in CBD. Hemp itself has tremendous value as a cash crop; it’s used to produce biofuel, textiles and animal feed. But the CBD extracted from the hemp plant also has numerous medicinal properties, with the potential to benefit millions through the treatment of seizure disorders, pain or anxiety.
Prior to the bill’s passage, the resistance to legalizing hemp was due to its association with marijuana, its biological cousin. Though hemp and marijuana belong to the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa, they each have a unique chemistry, with very different characteristics and effects. Marijuana possesses tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical that produces the characteristic high that is associated with cannabis. Hemp, on the other hand, is a strain of the cannabis plant that contains virtually no THC, and neither it nor the CBD derived from it can produce a high sensation.
This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of Kent E Vrana, Professor and Chair of Pharmacology, Penn State.
As a professor and chair of the department of pharmacology at Penn State, I have been following research developments with CBD closely and have seen some promising evidence for its role in treating a broad range of medical conditions.
While there is growing evidence that CBD can help with certain conditions, caution is needed. Rigorous scientific studies are limited, so it is important that the marketing of CBD products does not get out ahead of the research and of robust evidence.
Unpacking the Hype Behind CBD
The primary concern about CBD marketing is that the scientific community is not sure of the best form of CBD to use. CBD can be produced as either a pure compound or a complex mixture of molecules from hemp that constitute CBD oil. CBD can also be formulated as a topical cream or lotion, or as a gummy, capsule or tincture.
Guidance, backed by clinical research, is needed on the best dose and delivery form of CBD for each medical condition. That research is still in progress.
But in the meantime, the siren’s call of the marketplace has sounded and created an environment in which CBD is often hyped as a cure-all – an elixir for insomnia, anxiety, neuropathic pain, cancer and heart disease.
Sadly, there is precious little rigorous scientific evidence to support many of these claims, and much of the existing research has been performed in animal models.
CBD is simply not a panacea for all that ails you.
Childhood Seizure Disorders
Here’s one thing that is known: Based on rigorous trials with hundreds of patients, CBD has been shown to be a proven safe and effective drug for seizure disorders, particularly in children.
In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted regulatory approval for the use of a purified CBD product sold under the brand name Epidiolex for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes in children.
These two rare syndromes, appearing early in life, produce large numbers of frequent seizures that are resistant to traditional epilepsy treatments. CBD delivered as an oral solution as Epidiolex, however, can produce a significant reduction – greater than 25% – in the frequency of seizures in these children, with 5% of the patients becoming seizure-free.
More than 200 Scientific Trials
CBD is what pharmacologists call a promiscuous drug. That means it could be effective for treating a number of medical conditions. In broad strokes, CBD affects more than one process in the body – a term called polypharmacology – and so could benefit more than one medical condition.
As of early 2023, there are 202 ongoing or completed scientific trials examining the effectiveness of CBD in humans on such diverse disorders as chronic pain, substance use disorders, anxiety and arthritis.
In particular, CBD appears to be an anti-inflammatory agent and analgesic, similar to the functions of aspirin. This means it might be helpful for treating people suffering with inflammatory pain, like arthritis, or headaches and body aches.
CBD also holds potential for use in cancer therapy, although it has not been approved by the FDA for this purpose.
The potential for CBD in the context of cancer is twofold:
First, there is evidence that it can directly kill cancer cells, enhancing the ability of traditional therapies to treat the disease. This is not to say that CBD will replace those traditional therapies; the data is not that compelling.
Second, because of its ability to reduce pain and perhaps anxiety, the addition of CBD to a treatment plan may reduce side effects and increase the quality of life for people with cancer.
The Risks of Unregulated CBD
While prescription CBD is safe when used as directed, other forms of the molecule come with risks. This is especially true for CBD oils. The over-the-counter CBD oil industry is unregulated and not necessarily safe, in that there are no regulatory requirements for monitoring what is in a product.
What’s more, rigorous science does not support the unsubstantiated marketing claims made by many CBD products.
In a 2018 commentary, the author describes the results of his own study, which was published in Dutch (in 2017). His team obtained samples of CBD products from patients and analyzed their content. Virtually none of the 21 samples contained the advertised quantity of CBD; indeed, 13 had little to no CBD at all and many contained significant levels of THC, the compound in marijuana that leads to a high – and that was not supposed to have been present.
In fact, studies have shown that there is little control of the contaminants that may be present in over-the-counter products. The FDA has issued scores of warning letters to companies that market unapproved drugs containing CBD. In spite of the marketing of CBD oils as all-natural, plant-derived products, consumers should be aware of the risks of unknown compounds in their products or unintended interactions with their prescription drugs.
Regulatory guidelines for CBD are sorely lacking. Most recently, in January 2023, the FDA concluded that the existing framework is “not appropriate for CBD” and said it would work with Congress to chart a way forward. In a statement, the agency said that “a new regulatory pathway for CBD is needed that balances individuals’ desire for access to CBD products with the regulatory oversight needed to manage risks.”
As a natural product, CBD is still acting as a drug – much like aspirin, acetaminophen or even a cancer chemotherapy. Health care providers simply need to better understand the risks or benefits.
CBD may interact with the body in ways that are unintended. CBD is eliminated from the body by the same liver enzymes that remove a variety of drugs such as blood thinners, antidepressants and organ transplant drugs. Adding CBD oil to your medication list without consulting a physician could be risky and could interfere with prescription medications.
In an effort to help prevent these unwanted interactions, my colleague Dr. Paul Kocis, a clinical pharmacist, and I have created a free online application called the CANNabinoid Drug Interaction Resource. It identifies how CBD could potentially interact with other prescription medications. And we urge all people to disclose both over-the-counter CBD or recreational or medical marijuana use to their health care providers to prevent undesirable drug interactions.
In the end, I believe that CBD will prove to have a place in people’s medicine cabinets – but not until the medical community has established the right form to take and the right dosage for a given medical condition.
Use of Psychedelics to Treat PTSD, OCD, Depression and Chronic Pain – a Researcher Discusses Recent Trials, Possible Risks
New research is exploring whether psychedelic drugs, taken under strict medical supervision, might help in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Dr. Jennifer Mitchell – a professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Science in the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco was interviewed by SciLine. She discusses what scientists have found to date about the effectiveness of these drugs in treating these disorders and how best for them to be administered. Highlights and key excerpts of the interview have been transcribed and published below.
What are psychedelic drugs and how do they work?
Dr. Jennifer Mitchell: Psychedelic basically means “mind manifesting,” suggesting that the compound assists one in uncovering subject matter that perhaps is otherwise deeply hidden from the conscious mind.
It’s a slightly different term from hallucinogen, which you see used almost interchangeably at times with the term psychedelic.
A hallucinogen by definition is something that makes you see, hear, smell something that isn’t otherwise there, so you can imagine there’s a lot of overlap between psychedelics and hallucinogens.
Which types of psychedelic drugs are being studied by researchers for potential therapeutic use?
Dr. Jennifer Mitchell: The two most well studied drugs at this point are MDMA and psilocybin.
MDMA is being evaluated mainly for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder treatments, and psilocybin mainly for treatment of resistant depression and major depressive disorder.
MDMA is the furthest along because there’s phase 3 data (data from late-stage research) and the possibility that a new drug application would be submitted to the FDA sometime later this year.
LSD is also being evaluated for a number of different indications, most notably obsessive-compulsive disorder.
And then a couple of sort of heavier hitters are now being tested in primarily healthy control populations, including drugs like mescaline and ayahuasca.
What have scientists discovered about whether these drugs are effective in treating health problems like PTSD or chronic pain?
Dr. Jennifer Mitchell: The drugs so far appear to be quite effective. I think one key, though, is that they’re typically being administered in conjunction with some form of psychotherapy.
So it’s important to keep that in mind when we look at the results from some of these recent trials that these are not drugs that are being administered in isolation. You are not taking home a bottle of pills and taking those twice a day as you would, say, an antidepressant. These are administered in a very particular way.
What is involved in therapeutic treatment using these drugs?
Dr. Jennifer Mitchell: Typically, prior to taking the drug at all, subjects participate in a number of preparatory sessions so that they understand a little bit about what is going to happen on an experimental session day.
And then subjects come into a room that looks very much like a comfortable living room, and they spend all day there. The drug is administered typically in the morning. For psilocybin, you’re looking at a six-hour dosing session, and for MDMA, an eight-hour dosing session.
You are in the company of a group of trained providers: therapists, psychedelic facilitators, psychiatrists and clinical research coordinators.
What are the potential risks of using psychedelic drugs for therapeutic purposes?
Dr. Jennifer Mitchell: One concern we’ve had is cardiovascular risk, and so we are taking great care in some of the clinical trials at present to evaluate cardiovascular burden, including heart attack risk, during and after the experiment. This evaluation includes tracking the heart rate and blood pressure of the participants.
In addition, researchers are worried about suicidality, in part because these are treatment-resistant populations that we’re starting off with, and so there’s a concern that perhaps, if they’re destabilized – either by the psychedelic, or just by tapering off their other meds in order to be part of a psychedelic trial – that we could run the risk of suicidality.
Lastly, I think the FDA has been concerned about the possibility that psychedelics are addictive, and so we’ve been following up with study participants to ensure that they aren’t engaging in drug seeking or drug taking outside of the study.
What do we know about the safety of taking psychedelics outside the clinical context?
Dr. Jennifer Mitchell: I think we’ve all heard stories from the ‘60s and ’70s of people taking psychedelics and having very bad experiences. What we know now is that the environment in which you take the psychedelic is of the utmost importance. It’s not appropriate at this point to try to take some of these substances or replicate some of these protocols on your own without oversight.
Watch the full interview to hear more about psychedelic medicine.
SciLine is a free service based at the nonprofit American Association for the Advancement of Science that helps journalists include scientific evidence and experts in their news stories.
People Produce Endocannabinoids – Similar to Compounds Found in Marijuana – Critical to Many Bodily Functions
Over the past two decades, a great deal of attention has been given to marijuana – also known as pot or weed. As of early 2023, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use in 21 states and Washington, D.C., and the use of marijuana for medical purposes has grown significantly during the last 20 or so years.
But few people know that the human body naturally produces chemicals that are very similar to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, which comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. These substances are called endocannabinoids, and they’re found across all vertebrate species.
Evolutionarily, the appearance of endocannabinoids in vertebrate animals predates that of Cannabis sativa by about 575 million years.
It is as if the human body has its own version of a marijuana seedling inside, constantly producing small amounts of endocannabinoids.
The similarity of endocannabinoids to THC, and their importance in maintaining human health, have raised significant interest among scientists to further study their role in health and disease, and potentially use them as therapeutic targets to treat human diseases.
THC was first identified in 1964, and is just one of more than 100 compounds found in marijuana that are called cannabinoids.
Endocannabinoids were not discovered until 1992. Since then, research has revealed that they are critical for many important physiological functions that regulate human health. An imbalance in the production of endocannabinoids, or in the body’s responsiveness to them, can lead to major clinical disorders, including obesity as well as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.
This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It represents the research-based findings and thoughts of Prakash Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina and Mitzi Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina.
We are immunologists who have been studying the effects of marijuana cannabinoids and vertebrate endocannabinoids on inflammation and cancer for more than two decades. Research in our laboratory has shown that endocannabinoids regulate inflammation and other immune functions.
What is the Endocannabinoid System?
A variety of tissues in the body, including brain, muscle, fatty tissue and immune cells, produce small quantities of endocannabinoids. There are two main types of endocannabinoids: anandamide, or AEA, and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, known as 2-AG. Both of them can activate the body’s cannabinoid receptors, which receive and process chemical signals in cells.
One of these receptors, called CB1, is found predominantly in the brain. The other, called CB2, is found mainly in immune cells. It is primarily through the activation of these two receptors that endocannabinoids control many bodily functions.
The receptors can be compared to a “lock” and the endocannabinoids a “key” that can open the lock and gain entry into the cells. All these endocannabinoid receptors and molecules together are referred to as the endocannabinoid system.
The cannabis plant contains another compound called cannabidiol, or CBD, which has become popular for its medicinal properties. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t have psychoactive properties because it does not activate CB1 receptors in the brain. Nor does it activate the CB2 receptors, meaning that its action on immune cells is independent of CB2 receptors.
Endocannabinoid receptors are found throughout most of the human body
Role of Endocannabinoids in the Body
The euphoric “high” feeling that people experience when using marijuana comes from THC activating the CB1 receptors in the brain.
But when endocannabinoids activate CB1 receptors, by comparison, they do not cause a marijuana high. One reason is that the body produces them in smaller quantities than the typical amount of THC in marijuana. The other is that certain enzymes break them down rapidly after they carry out their cellular functions.
However, there is growing evidence that certain activities may release mood-elevating endocannabinoids. Some research suggests that the relaxed, euphoric feeling you get after exercise, called a “runner’s high,” results from the release of endocannabinoids rather than from endorphins, as previously thought.
The endocannabinoids regulate several bodily functions such as sleep, mood, appetite, learning, memory, body temperature, pain, immune functions and fertility. They control some of these functions by regulating nerve cell signaling in the brain. Normally, nerve cells communicate with one another at junctions called synapses. The endocannabinoid system in the brain regulates this communication at synapses, which explains its ability to affect a wide array of bodily functions.
The Elixir of Endocannabinoids
Research in our laboratory has shown that certain cells of the immune system produce endocannabinoids that can regulate inflammation and other immune functions through the activation of CB2 receptors.
In addition, we have shown that endocannabinoids are highly effective in lessening the debilitating effects of autoimmune diseases. These are diseases in which the immune system goes haywire and starts destroying the body’s organs and tissues. Examples include multiple sclerosis, lupus, hepatitis and arthritis.
Recent research suggests that migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disease are all linked to low levels of endocannabinoids.
In a 2022 study, researchers found that a defect in a gene that helps produce endocannabinoids causes early onset of Parkinson’s disease. Another 2022 study linked the same gene defect to other neurological disorders, including developmental delay, poor muscle control and vision problems.
Other research has shown that people with a defective form of CB1 receptors experience increased pain sensitivity such as migraine headaches and suffer from sleep and memory disorders and anxiety.
The endocannabinoid system – consisting of the endocannabinoids and the cannabinoid receptors – regulates nerve cell communication at the synapse, thereby playing a role in a variety of bodily functions.
The Likeness Between Marijuana and Endocannabinoids
We believe that the medicinal properties of THC may be linked to the molecule’s ability to compensate for a deficiency or defect in the production or functions of the endocannabinoids.
For example, scientists have found that people who experience certain types of chronic pain may have decreased production of endocannabinoids. People who consume marijuana for medicinal purposes report significant relief from pain. Because the THC in marijuana is the cannabinoid that reduces pain, it may be helping to compensate for the decreased production or functions of endocannabinoids in such patients.
Deciphering the role of endocannabinoids is still an emerging area of health research. Certainly much more research is needed to decipher their role in regulating different functions in the body.
In our view, it will also be important to continue to unravel the relationship between defects in the endocannabinoid system and the development of various diseases and clinical disorders. We think that the answers could hold great promise for the development of new therapies using the body’s own cannabinoids.
Star Buds Retailer Now Enters the Fort Collins and Garden City Markets in Colorado
DENVER, Feb. 21, 2023 /CNW/ – Schwazze, (NEO: SHWZ) (OTCQX: SHWZ) (“Schwazze” or the “Company”), announced that it has signed definitive documents to acquire certain assets of Cannabis Care Wellness Centers, LLC and Green Medicals Wellness Center #5, LLC (d/b/a “Smokey’s”). The proposed transaction includes the adult use Smokey’s dispensaries located at 2515 7th Avenue in Garden City as well as 5740 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins. These two vibrant cannabis markets have limited licenses and present Schwazze with more opportunities to serve customers in northern Colorado. This acquisition continues Schwazze’s deliberate expansion in Colorado and, upon close, will bring the Company’s total number of Colorado dispensaries to 27.
The consideration for the proposed acquisition is US$7.5 million and will be paid as $3.75M cash and $3.75M stock at closing. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023 after Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division and local licensing approvals.
“We are excited to bring our Star Buds operations to Garden City and Fort Collins. Bringing our operating playbook to two key cities in northern Colorado allows us to deliver our brands, product assortment and our dedicated service to customers in new neighborhoods as we continue to go deep in the state,” said Nirup Krishnamurthy, President of Schwazze.
Since April 2020, Schwazze has acquired, announced the planned acquisition of, or opened 44 cannabis dispensaries as well as seven cultivation facilities and two manufacturing assets in Colorado and New Mexico. In May 2021, Schwazze announced its BioSciences division and in August 2021 it commenced home delivery services in Colorado.
About Schwazze
Schwazze (NEO: SHWZ) (OTCQX: SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.
Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze’s former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to enhance plant structure and promote healthy growth.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Such statements may be preceded by the words “plan,” “will,” “may,” “continue,” “predicts,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including the acquisition described in this press release, and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, * the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.
DENVER, Feb. 16, 2023 /CNW/ – Medicine Man Technologies operating as Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) (“Schwazze” or the “Company”), announces a key addition to its executive leadership team as it pursues expansion of its footprint in Colorado and New Mexico.
Christine Jones joins the Company as Chief Legal Officer. Jones replaces Dan Pabon who in late 2022 moved into a newly created role at Schwazze as Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer.
Jones joins Schwazze with more than 25 years of experience as corporate counsel to several prominent companies and an extensive background in providing tactical and strategic advice to executive management and Boards of Directors. In her most recent role, she served as the Senior Vice President, Legal and Corporate Secretary of Long Play, Inc. and its affiliates. Long Play is a vertically integrated cannabis company with cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and a portfolio of brands that includes Willie Nelson and the Grateful Dead.
In Jones’ position with Long Play, she managed all of the company’s legal affairs, including regulatory compliance, securities, licensing, litigation, employment, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, risk management, and intellectual property. Prior to joining Long Play, Jones delivered general counsel services to domestic and global companies of varying sizes. In addition, she also served as General Counsel of Jeppesen, which provides aeronautical navigational information, operations planning tools, flight planning products and software. Jones also served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel to TTech Holding and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Archstone-Smith, where she managed both company’s litigation and employment.
Jones received a BA from the University of Virginia and a JD from Washington College of Law at American University.
“We are excited to add a skilled cannabis legal professional to our Executive Leadership team as the Company positions itself for growth in both Colorado and New Mexico. Christine Jones’ expertise in corporate governance, contract management, and mergers and acquisitions will benefit Schwazze immensely as we pursue our regional growth model,” said Nirup Krishnamurthy, President of Schwazze.
Since April 2020, Schwazze has acquired, opened or announced the planned acquisition of 43 cannabis retail dispensaries (Star Buds, Emerald Fields and R,Greenleaf) as well as five cultivation facilities and two manufacturing plants in Colorado and New Mexico. In May 2021, Schwazze announced its Biosciences division, and in August 2021 it commenced home delivery services in Colorado.
About Schwazze
Schwazze (OTCQX: SHWZ; NEO: SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.
Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze’s former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to enhance plant structure and promote healthy growth. To learn more about Schwazze, visit www.Schwazze.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Such statements may be preceded by the words “plan,” “will,” “may,” “continue,” “predicts,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including the acquisition described in this press release, and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, * the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.
Cannabidiol (CBD) not Covered Under any Existing FDA Regulatory Framework – Ball Now In the Hands of Congress
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) called on Congress to set a new regulatory pathway for cannabidiol, or CBD, the non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis plants. The FDA said it is willing to work with Congress to create one. The regulatory body said the same is true for CBD in animal products. CBD has been in a form of regulatory limbo since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp, the base ingredient to make CBD. The extract is now found in many wellness products and is widely used in all 50 states. The FDA says it is not a food or a supplement, it may now be up to Congress to define its niche.
According to an FDA press release, the use of CBD raises safety concerns, in particular regarding its long-term use. It cited the potential harm to the liver, interactions with some medications and possible harm to the male reproductive system.
The FDA’s Reasoning
A high-level FDA working group that was to decide which FDA framework CBD products fall under, and related regulatory pathways, announced that it doesn’t easily fit within a regulatory framework that exists at the agency. On January 26 the FDA announced, “that after careful review, the FDA has concluded that a new regulatory pathway for CBD is needed that balances individuals’ desire for access to CBD products with the regulatory oversight needed to manage risks.” They said the FDA is prepared to work with Congress to create a legal, workable framework.
At the same time the FDA also denied three citizen petitions that had asked the agency to conduct rulemaking to allow the marketing of CBD products as dietary supplements.
The FDA listed safety concerns surrounding CBD use. “The use of CBD raises various safety concerns, especially with long-term use. Studies have shown the potential for harm to the liver, interactions with certain medications and possible harm to the male reproductive system.” They were also concerned about children and CBD exposure, and women who are pregnant.
The reason for a new regulatory pathway, according to the FDA, is that it would “benefit consumers by providing safeguards and oversight to manage and minimize risks related to CBD products.” The FDA said these may include clear labels, prevention of contaminants, CBD content limits, and measures, such as minimum purchase age. “In addition, a new pathway could provide access and oversight for certain CBD-containing products for animals,” the FDA said.
According to the FDA, existing foods and dietary supplement authorities provide only limited tools for managing risks associated with CBD products. Under the law, any substance, including CBD, must meet specific safety standards to be lawfully marketed as a dietary supplement or food additive. The FDA said “we have not found adequate evidence to determine how much CBD can be consumed, and for how long, before causing harm. Therefore, we do not intend to pursue rulemaking allowing the use of CBD in dietary supplements or conventional foods.”
The FDA said CBD also poses risks to animals, and people could be unknowingly exposed to CBD through meat, milk and eggs from animals fed CBD. Therefore, it is not apparent how CBD products could meet the safety standard for substances in animal food. “A new regulatory pathway could provide access and oversight for certain CBD-containing products for animals,” according to the release.
The FDA said it “will remain diligent in monitoring the marketplace, identifying products that pose risks and acting within our authorities. The FDA looks forward to working with Congress to develop a cross-agency strategy for the regulation of these products to protect the public’s health and safety.”
DENVER, Jan. 3, 2023 /CNW/ – Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) (“Schwazze” or the “Company”), a premier vertically integrated, multi-state operating cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico, announces the grand opening of its adult-use dispensary, R.Greenleaf, located in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The new store, located at 101 N. White Sands Blvd in Alamogordo, officially opened its doors for business on December 29, 2022. Store operating hours are 9a to 9p Monday through Saturday; 9a to 8p on Sunday.
The Alamogordo R.Greenleaf store opening continues the intentional expansion throughout the state of New Mexico and comes on the heels of a total of five R.Greenleaf store openings since Schwazze’s acquisition in February 2022. This brings R.Greenleaf’s total number of New Mexico retail dispensaries to 16. All locations serve the needs of medical patients as well as recreational adult-use consumers.
“We are excited to open up our sixth R.Greenleaf dispensary since late September, this one specifically in Alamogordo. The team has been hard at work to get this completed in time for the holiday season to serve this local community,” said Steve Pear, New Mexico Division President for Schwazze. “R.Greenleaf, offering a wide variety of quality products serviced by top-notch, knowledgeable staff, has grown from 10 locations to now 16 in New Mexico since Schwazze purchased the retail banner earlier this year.”
R.Greenleaf Alamogordo will also offer introductory pricing on flower, edibles, and vapes. Enrollment in the Gratify Rewards customer loyalty program, which can be used at any Schwazze-owned retail dispensary in either New Mexico or Colorado, is already open.
Alamogordo Store Location
R.Greenleaf 101 N. White Sands Blvd Alamogordo, NM 88310
Since April 2020, Schwazze has acquired, opened or announced the planned acquisition of 41 cannabis retail dispensaries as well as seven cultivation facilities and two manufacturing plants in Colorado and New Mexico. In May 2021, Schwazze announced its Biosciences division and in August 2021 it commenced home delivery services in Colorado.
About Schwazze
Schwazze (OTCQX: SHWZ NEO: SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.
Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze’s former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to enhance plant structure and promote healthy growth.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Such statements may be preceded by the words “plan,” “will,” “may,” “continue,” “predicts,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including the acquisition described in this press release, and realize synergies therefrom, (ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, * the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.
Is it Better to Shadow Trade Insiders Rather than Congress Members or Fund Managers?
As tricky as the overall market has been, a new crop of investors that had been primarily index investors have spent the past 11 months gravitating more toward creating their own diversified mix of above-average probability stocks. One proven way to put the odds more on your side as a self-directed investor is to watch trends in insider buying. It was Peter Lynch of Magellan Fund fame who said, “Insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.” To be sure, management only has so much control over performance, but they are likely to have greater clarity than anyone else evaluating their company.
Why Shadow Insiders?
Following insiders into stocks you otherwise are positive about is a form of shadow investing. Shadowing successful investors is a growing trend. There are websites dedicated to highlighting the transactions of investors like Paul Pelosi, Warren Buffett, Michael Burry, Cathie Wood, and others. But shadowing directors or key executives of publicly traded companies provides investors with much more current information – SEC Form 4 is used to disclose a transaction in company stock within two days of the purchase or sale. Compare the two-day reporting to institutional funds managing over $100 million that report 45 or more days after quarter-end on quarter-end holdings using SEC Form 13F. Or Congress-persons that can wait 45 days after a transaction to report it. Moreover, the insider is generally restricted to trading windows, so their holding time tends to be longer term. So their commitment level may be much higher than say a hedge fund manager like Michael Burry that may have purchased a security just before his 13F statement date, and then sold it a week later.
And the performance is above average. University of Michigan finance professor Nejat Seyhun, the author of “Investment Intelligence from Insider Trading” wrote stock prices rise more after insiders’ net purchases than after net sales. On the whole, insiders do earn profits from their legal trading activities, and their returns are greater than those of the overall market.
Current Example
I thought to write about following legal insider buying of stocks on your watch list after a link to a research note posted on Channelchek appeared in my inbox. It was on a company I follow and it highlighted legal insider trading by an executive. The report, available here, reported that the CEO of an expanding company in the cannabis sector name Schwazze (Medicine Man Technologies), was adding substantially to his ownership of the company he runs. The note by Noble Capital Markets Sr. Research Analyst, Joe Gomes, said:
“In a series of Form 4 filings, between November 14th and November 23rd Schwazze CEO Justin Dye purchased 1,325,852 SHWZ shares at a cost of $2.36 million, or a per share average of $1.78. According to the most recent Form 4 filed on November 25th, Mr. Dye directly currently owns 1,368,062 SHWZ common shares and indirectly owns 9,287,500 SHWZ common shares through Dye Capital & Company.”
How Do You Screen and Watch for Insider Buying Activity?
There are websites such as SECForm4.com and InsiderMonkey.com that aggregate SEC Form 4 filings and post them in a searchable, fully filterable online environment so you may search for characteristics you may prefer in your stock selections. While using insider activity, whether it be raw from the SEC or served up on online screening tools, here are four things to keep in mind to help hone your skills.
Some insiders are better than others. As a rule, directors tend to know less about a company’s outlook than top executives. Key executives are the CEO and CFO. The people day-to-day running the company are better able to assess risk of an investment in their company.
More insiders are better than a few. If one insider is buying in unusual amounts, it is a green flag to dig deeper. If several have begun adding to their holdings, it can be seen as a stronger signal.
People at small companies may have more insight. At smaller companies, a higher percentage of insiders are privy to company plans, changes in strategy, and financials. At big corporations, information is more dispersed, and typically only the core management team has the big picture.
Stay the course. Insiders tend to act far in advance of expected news. This is in part because of trading windows and also to avoid the appearance of illegal insider trading. A study by academics at Pennsylvania State and Michigan State contends that insider activity precedes specific company news by as long as two years before the eventual disclosure of the news.
Take Away
Insider tracking takes some work, but the resources to monitor a list of stocks you are interested in do exist to make it easier. Investors that would prefer to build their own diversified portfolio rather than own an index fund may find that watching insider buys helps point the way toward stocks more likely to beat a particular index. Another Peter Lynch quote says, “Know what you own, and why you own it.” Following insider buying allows you to have a methodology where you do know exactly why you are in a position. And although I have no hard data, I’d guess over the past five years it has paid better to follow insiders’ reported trades rather than social media influencers’ suggestions for a trade.
The Consequences of this Year’s Voting Should Create Opportunity for Investors
Once inconceivable in most voting districts throughout the U.S., ballots across the country this year will ask voters to decide on gambling measures, drug laws, and extra taxes based on defined demographics. While this is of interest to investors as it shows how trends are forming or continuing and can point to more potential for growth. Of the 130 ballot measures being decided upon on Tuesday, many will alter spending patterns and bolster industries.
What’s Being Decided Upon
Each year a number of states, including Maryland and Arkansas, are asking voters to decide upon legalizing recreational marijuana. Fully five states could move toward ending the use of involuntary prison labor. Nebraska and Nevada are asking voters if they should increase the minimum wage statewide. Gambling, firearms, and immigration are also the subject of state-level referendums.
A proposition in California would legalize online sports betting in that large potential market. Gaming companies, including DraftKings (DKNG) and FanDuel (DUEL) have poured nearly $160 million into the measure. It is not expected to pass, if it does, the news may cause a rally in these and other online gambling companies. Over $375 million has been spent by supporters and those against this measure.
Also being decided by California’s voters is a proposition that would raise taxes on personal incomes of $2 million or more. The revenue would be set aside to fund the state’s electric-vehicle production and help prevent wildfires. This is a very contentious measure that pit many from the same political party against each other.
In general environmental groups and companies perceived to benefit from a quicker evolving EV infrastructure support the “yes” campaign. Governor Newsom, and the California Teachers Association, a powerful state union, have joined business groups to oppose the measure, saying it would benefit a select number of large corporations as they transition to electric vehicles.
Recreational weed in Maryland? The pollsters seem to think it stands a good chance of passing. There are four other states (Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota) where recreational cannabis is also on the ballot, those outcomes won’t be known until after the votes are counted.
To date, 19 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the adult recreational use of marijuana. Colorado could become the second state behind Oregon to legalize the personal use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms and other plant-based hallucinogens.
Massachusetts voters get to decide if they raise their income taxes by 4% if they have personal incomes of $1 million or more. This would leave the total rate for that bracket to 9%. Should this pass and bring in additional funds, they are earmarked for education and transportation.
Voters in five states will weigh whether to explicitly outlaw involuntary servitude as part of the punishment for a crime. Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont will all consider these questions on the topic; there is a growing movement to change the 13th Amendment so it no longer allows slavery as a form of criminal punishment. This could potentially benefit the industry in these states.
On immigration, Ohio voters are considering whether to ban all local governments from allowing noncitizens to vote. San Francisco and New York have passed laws allowing noncitizens to vote for local offices and ballot measures. These face legal challenges.
Elsewhere, ballot measures will ask voters whether to extend certain benefits to immigrants in the country illegally, including the ability to obtain a driver’s license in Massachusetts and pay in-state college tuition in Arizona.
Take Away
They say elections have consequences. As various states elect to adopt or deny changes in the running of their state, investors may be able to position themselves to benefit from trends, changes, and additional funds being made available.
Floridians Can Soon Stop at Convenience Stores for Milk, Bread, and Cannabis
Do you use Circle K as a convenience store or a gas station? How about marijuana dispensary?
There is something new afoot at the Circle Ks in Florida, and it may forever change the medical marijuana dispensary, business model. Today, Green Thumb (GTBIF), a national cannabis consumer goods company, announced plans to expand its medical, retail footprint in Florida. It’s doing this through a lease agreement with Circle K convenience stores, where it expects to launch and test its RISE Express dispensary brand at ten Florida locations.
Green Thumb Founder and CEO Ben Kovler is very positive about the potential, “The opening of RISE Express stores at Circle K locations is a game-changer. Convenience is a strong channel in retail, and people want more access to cannabis,” said Kovler. “The new RISE Express model is a huge step forward in making it easier and more efficient for patients to purchase high-quality cannabis as part of their everyday routine when stopping by their local convenience store.”
The products available at these retail stores will come from the company’s new 28-acre cultivation facility in Ocala, FL. Green Thumb entered the Florida market in 2018 and currently owns and operates medical cannabis retail stores in many parts of the state.
Potential for Growth
Florida state marijuana laws allow for use with a medical marijuana card but prohibit recreational use. According to the Florida Department of Health, over 700,000 Floridians are currently registered active cardholders in the state’s medical marijuana program.
The deal is a first of its kind, given that legal marijuana has only been legally available in stand-alone dispensaries in the US and within pharmacies in countries such as Uruguay and Germany. This could help mainstream the substance as people stop as part of their normal routines to buy staples and daily necessities. No additional stop will be needed if you’re getting milk, bread, gas or other drugs like Tylenol.
Some Circle K locations have already ventured into cannabis-derived products that have recently become mainstream. This includes CBD oils and products and Delta-8 items, which can give consumers a mind-altering high, but currently fall through a legal loophole because it is derived from hemp.
Take Away
It was not long ago cannabinoids such as CBD could only be found at vape shops and other mom-and-pop locations. Today, we expect them to be carried in convenience stores and even at our local chain grocery.
Will medical marijuana also become widely available, so consumers don’t have to make a separate stop in their daily routines? Green Thumb and Circle K will be breaking new ground on this front beginning next year.
