WeedLife News Network

OpTic HECZ takes us into the heart of esports, and challenges corporations such as Facebook, Google, and TikTok to end the digital war on cannabis.

My name is OpTic HECZ and I had the honor of joining the cannabis industry by way of professional esports and building brands on the internet. Big shout out to my boy Jon Cappetta for inviting me to be a contributor to WEIRDOS and to share reflections from my journey. I know you all will be absolutely shocked to learn that there has always been a vibrant cannabis culture behind the scenes of gaming and esports, so my goal when joining the cannabis industry was to take the lessons I learned building OpTic Gaming and introduce them to a plant I love and traditional cannabis culture I feel naturally connect to.

Esports and cannabis cultures were both born on the edges of society and we’re still battling stigmas despite growing into multi-billion dollar global industries. While gamers never had to face the War on Drugs, many of us took huge personal risks and made extreme sacrifices to help build esports into what it is today. My wife and family were dangerously supportive when I left my corporate job in early 2009 to focus on becoming a full-time YouTube content creator, and after a year of telling them that “this is going to work out,” my first check was a hilarious 16 cents from monetizing Call of Duty montage videos. I may not have lived in tent on a hill in Humboldt County, but you better believe that back in June 2013 when we launched the first OpTic House, my wife and I were called crazy when we told our family that we would be moving to her parents’ basement to allow the players to move in to our current home and make one of the first YouTube content houses a reality.

Despite the risks and labels, cannabis OGs know the important lesson that the diehard esports community learned through our commitment: it’s what we did and stood for when everyone thought we were weirdos, before all the corporate investors rushed in, that will forever resonate in our respective cultures.

For esports, 6050 Russell Drive showed the world that OpTic Gaming, operating out of a cul-de-sac in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, could have a larger social media presence then all of Chicago’s historic sports franchises aside from the great Chicago Bulls (and that’s only because they had GOD in uniform during the 90s). That revelation drove many billionaire owners from traditional sports to quickly buy esports teams—we were one of the lucky teams that were paired up with incredible investors, but many other investors came into our industry with as much respect for the culture that made OpTic and esports popular as Chad has for growing and selling good weed.

So I came to cannabis knowing what it’s like to create something from a place of passion and I have seen firsthand the interests of big money trying to get their piece of something new. In 2017, an ownership group made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and I was happy to sell OpTic in hopes of expediting our growth as an elite professional esports franchise. But then things happened, people happened and business happened and I ultimately decided to buy back OpTic in 2020. The journey that led me to buying back OpTic taught me a very important lesson relevant to the cannabis industry today: when you put your heart and soul into something, the authentic relationship that you develop with supporters building that brand can never truly be bought or sold.

Nationally Esteemed Law Firm Burns & Levinson to Provide Simplifya’s Market Guide with Comprehensive, Up-to-Date Finance and Lending Regulatory Expertise for All 50 States

 Simplifya (“Simplifya” or “the Company”), the leading regulatory and operational compliance software platform serving the cannabis industry, formed a relationship with Burns & Levinson, an award-winning national law firm with nearly a decade of experience in the cannabis industry. Burns & Levinson will provide real-time finance and lending regulatory guidance to Simplifya Market Guide, a new RegTech platform that arms cannabis and cannabis-related businesses with comprehensive, user-friendly regulatory summaries for all 50 states.

“We created Simplifya Market Guide to provide easy-to-read state-by-state summaries that are regularly updated, and include information about every vital topic related to regulation,” said Simplifya CEO and Co-Founder Marion Mariathasan.

“As one of cannabis’ legal trailblazers, Burns & Levinson’s expertise in cannabis lending and financial regulations is unrivaled. By bringing the best finance and lending guidance to cannabis license holders and marijuana-related businesses (“MRBs”), our real-time RegTech platform simplifies the complex.”

"By bringing our finance and lending guidance to Simplifya Market Guide, we are delivering key due diligence content that is critical to understanding state-specific regulations for lending in the cannabis space, and will inform lenders as to how to compliantly work with licensed businesses in each state,” said Scott Moskol, co-chair of Burns & Levinson’s Cannabis Business & Law Advisory Group.

"Through our relationship, we will also continue to evolve and add essential data for jurisdictions, including those in California.”

Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANEB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel solutions for people suffering from acute cannabinoid intoxication (ACI) and substance abuse disorders (the “Company” or “Anebulo”), today announced positive topline data from Part A of an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the potential of ANEB-001 to treat ACI. Part A was a 60 subject randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a single dose of ANEB-001 in treating healthy subjects challenged with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis. These data demonstrated a highly statistically significant reduction in key symptoms of ACI, with only 10% of subjects in the 50 mg ANEB-001 group and 30% in the 100 mg group reporting feeling high compared to 75% of subjects in the placebo group (p 0.001). ANEB-001 was well tolerated in these healthy volunteers. Preliminary safety information showed all adverse events were mild and transient, except in the case of one subject in the 50 mg ANEB-001 group who experienced moderate nausea and vomiting.

“We believe this proof-of-concept trial demonstrates ANEB-001’s potential to reverse the symptoms of ACI for many of the five thousand cannabinoid intoxicated individuals visiting our emergency departments in the United States on a daily basis,” said Simon Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Anebulo. “We believe marijuana legalization and greater consumer access to cheaper and higher potency THC products will continue to increase the incidence and severity of emergency department visits related to cannabinoid intoxication. With no FDA approved therapy, individuals intoxicated with cannabinoids have few treatment options and may require expensive follow-on interventions for neuropsychiatric complications such as anxiety and acute psychosis. ANEB-001 has the potential to mitigate these unfortunate circumstances and reduce their burden on individuals, society, and our healthcare system.”

The study was conducted at the Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) in the Netherlands and enrolled 60 healthy adult occasional cannabis users randomized to three treatment arms of 20 subjects per arm. All subjects were challenged with a single oral dose of 10.5 mg THC and then treated with single oral doses of 50 mg ANEB-001, 100 mg ANEB-001, or placebo. Subjects were monitored for 24 hours to assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics, and repeatedly tested to determine potential effects on endpoints related to ACI symptoms. The tests also included a series of validated measures of subjective CNS symptoms using visual analog scale (VAS) assessments, as well as objective measures of intoxication. Subjects challenged with THC and treated with placebo showed substantial CNS effects including feeling high, decreased alertness, increased body sway, and increased heart rate. Compared to placebo, treatment of subjects with ANEB-001 led to a significant, robust, and sustained reduction in the VAS feeling high score (p 0.0001 at both dose levels) and improvement in the VAS alertness scale (p 0.01). In addition, the proportion of subjects reporting feeling high on the VAS was significantly reduced by ANEB-001 (p 0.001). Although THC-induced effects on body sway and heart rate in this study were small, there was also a trend towards statistical improvement of these parameters with ANEB-001 treatment compared to placebo. The 50 mg and 100 mg doses had similar results, suggesting that lower doses should be explored. Pharmacokinetic data are pending and additional analyses of Part A data, including pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) correlations, are planned.

“The number of individuals with cannabinoid related intoxication visiting our emergency departments is clearly on the rise,” said Dr. Andrew Monte M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Emergency Medicine & Medical Toxicology, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Center. “Patients are coming from multiple settings including first-time users taking small doses of THC, adults and children inadvertently ingesting powerful THC gummies, and regular users unintentionally overdosing on new and more powerful THC products. Introducing an effective cannabinoid antidote into our treatment options would represent a significant improvement in how we can manage these patients”

About Acute Cannabinoid Intoxication (ACI)

Symptoms of ACI can include increased somnolence, impaired cognition and perception, disorientation, anxiety, and acute psychosis. According to DSM-5, a diagnosis of cannabinoid intoxication should include recent history of cannabinoid use, clinically considerable behavioral or psychological changes, such as euphoria, impaired judgment and motor skills, which have taken place since cannabinoid exposure.

Geographically, the APAC industrial hemp market is predicted to witness the fastest growth during 2021–2030

The value of the industrial hemp market in 2021 was $,4452.0 million, and with a CAGR of 33.7% from 2021 to 2030, it is expected to reach $60,682.8 million. Hemp belongs to the same flora species as cannabis. The only distinguishing feature is that it contains low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). According to the U.S. 2018 farm law, hemp is not considered cannabis if it contains 0.3% or less THC.

Hemp cultivation is permitted in 36 countries globally, and the crop is expected to cater to the increasing bast fiber demand for high-quality textiles. Selling hemp and hemp products is legal in the U.S., as numerous states have legalized its farming. Moreover, Canada has focused on hemp cultivation for seed production, as it is widely used in the food and cosmetics industries. Recently, it also started to utilize this crop for building materials, insulation, and composites. China exports hemp fibers to Europe and Northern America.

Since the legalization of industrial hemp cultivation, a surge in the industrial hemp market size is being witnessed. In the U.S., hemp with less than 0.3% THC has been removed from the controlled substances definition. Similarly, the cultivation of cannabis varieties with less than 0.2% THC is legal in the European Union. The Chinese National Anti-Drug Committee also announced in 2019 that CBD is not a controlled drug anymore and removed it from the narcotic drugs list. Further, cannabis with 0.3% or less THC can be grown in certain regions of China.

The food industry dominated the industrial hemp market in 2021, accounting for more than 25% share. Hemp is utilized as a source of fiber and oil seeds in various industrial products. That’s why industrial hemp is grown as an agricultural commodity in more than 25 countries. For more than 5,000 years, hemp seeds and oil have been used in the human diet in APAC and Europe. Butter pastes, non-dairy milk, non-dairy cheeses, non-soy tofu, salad oils, and health bars are the major food products with hemp seeds and hemp oil.

The burgeoning usage of hemp in the pharmaceutical industry is a major industrial hemp market growth driver. There are numerous benefits of hemp, which allows it to be used to treat and mitigate various health conditions. Hemp contains a favorable omega-6-to-omega-3-PUFA ratio, which provides support in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, lessens osteoporosis symptoms, and alleviates eczema symptoms. Moreover, CBD serves as an agent for the treatment of illnesses of the central nervous system, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases.

The old, inefficient lighting systems used to cultivate cannabis have long proved problematic. For some time, individuals, regulatory agencies, and state governments have been looking into modern LEDs as the solution to their growing needs

All organic matter needs light to grow and flourish. The source of that light might be the sun, or it might be artificial, but without an abundant and steady supply of light, life withers and never reaches its full potential. Nowhere does this ring truer than in horticulture and farming, specifically the cultivation of a crop that has rocketed in popularity and demand in recent years — cannabis. Sourcing efficient, productive, and affordable LED grow lights for their cannabis plants has been a bone of contention for both commercial and home growers for many a moon. However, courtesy of new lighting technology introduced to the market by innovative tech company Fohse, indoor cannabis growing is a lot easier.

The old, inefficient lighting systems used to cultivate cannabis have long proved problematic. For some time, individuals, regulatory agencies, and state governments have been looking into modern LEDs as the solution to their growing needs. Companies strove in vain to produce LED grow lights that were both efficient and productive until Fohse appeared on the scene and heralded a lighting revolution. Fohse introduced technology to the marketplace that has enabled cultivators, big and small, to replace their old energy and profit sapping light set-ups with state-of-the-art LEDs that utilize less energy and produce higher yields.

Co-founder and CEO of Fohse, Brett Stevens, explained, "The cannabis industry is spreading like wildfire, and any good cannabis product rises and falls on one key aspect — cultivation! Quality cultivation relies on quality lighting, and that's our mission statement. LED is the light that will lead us towards a greener and more energy-efficient future. So it makes perfect sense that Fohse wants to revolutionize one of the fastest growing industries worldwide with a lighting source that is practical, sustainable, efficient, affordable, and, above all, works. Good lighting is the key component to any productive farm. Without it, the farm cannot succeed. It is the integral aspect that no grower can afford to ignore."

As more and more states legalize cannabis and commercial and individual growers get in on the act, Fohse believes their technology will spur the industry they love and have invested so much time into towards a brighter and better future, one LED grow light at a time.

Integrating the two best-in-class solutions, Cova and Tymber aim to empower cannabis retailers to focus on efficient in-store and online customer interactions

 Cova Software ("Cova" or "the Company"), a cannabis Point of Sale (POS) software company powering dispensaries across North America, announced the integration of Tymber's eCommerce platform with Cova's award-winning POS and Inventory tracking platform. This integration provides cannabis retailers with a user-friendly platform to offer consumers an on-brand experience with seamless in-store and online shopping options.

The Cova POS and Tymber integration allows cannabis retailers to display accurate product information for online menus, share live inventory updates with online shoppers, build and manage customer profiles, and process transactions with compliance and efficiency.

"Cova's goal is to provide cannabis retailers with beneficial tools to ensure their growth and success," said Gary Cohen, CEO of Cova Software.

"We both understand the importance of retailers being in control of their own customer data and their interactions with their base. Through this Tymber integration, we are aiding dispensaries' ability to grow their business with reliable tools that power dispensary operations and digital growth."

Tymber gives dispensaries an SEO-optimized, eCommerce platform that empowers retailers to break their dependence on iframe menus and 3rd party marketplaces with a recognizable brand and frictionless shopping experience.

The latest innovations in digital finance could greatly help the struggling pot industry, according to the leader of a specialty finance company.

At first glance, the 21st-century businesses of cryptocurrency and legalized marijuana seem incompatible. A closer look reveals a potentially more harmonious picture, however.

That's not only because pot companies, which currently have problems accessing even the most basic services provided by the traditional financial industry, might benefit from the use of assets like Bitcoin (BTC 0.95%) and Ethereum (ETH 0.78%). It's also because blockchain technology holds the promise of  streamlining the operations and accounting of an industry where such efforts can be complex.

Motley Fool contributor Eric Volkman recently had a chance to discuss the potential marriage of crypto and weed with Mark Lozzi, founder and chief executive officer of next-generation cannabis industry financial services company Conifa. Here's what he had to say.

Eric Volkman: What are some of the best use cases for crypto tokens and coins in the marijuana industry?

Mark Lozzi: The cannabis industry would be best served with a stablecoin. The industry already faces enough market volatility, so introducing additional risk is unnecessary and should be cautioned.

Sorting Robotics, an industrial cannabis-focused AI and computer vision technologies company, launched Jiko. Jiko is the cannabis industry’s first automated pre-roll infusion robot.

Approximately 70% of all cannabis manufacturing is still being done by hand, and will result in about $2B manufacturing labor spend in 2022–significantly eating into operators’ bottom-lines. With Jiko’s ability to infuse up to 800 pre-rolls per hour and reduce waste and spillage by approximately 20%-30%, Jiko has been engineered to help operators boost margins, scale, and achieve profitability. (Benzinga)

Companies using Jiko have reported being able to scale production from 10,000 to 40,0000 infused pre-rolls per month, and saving over $20,000 in labor and spillage costs during the first month of use.

“I want a world where all repetitive manual labor tasks are done autonomously; then people can focus their efforts on helping others and being creative,” stated Nohtal Partansky, co-founder and CEO, Sorting Robotics.

“Most people think robots are a bad thing. I see it completely differently. In the cannabis value chain, effectively automating repetitive manual tasks improves margins and allows operators to reinvest more into innovation and creative problem solving.”

Nohtal, a former NASA-JPL Engineer assigned to the MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) project, co-founded Sorting Robotics to break through the toughest bottlenecks of cannabis brands and processors through a combination of real-time production data analytics, modern IoT hardware, and precision automation.

Precision Extraction offers comprehensive cannabis and hemp extraction solutions, including facility design and build-out, state-of-the-art equipment and technical support.

In recent years, the cannabis consumption landscape has changed from a primarily flower-dominated market to one that heavily features products made from extracts that can be vaped or infused into topicals, edibles and a myriad of other products. However, not all extracts are created equal; the extraction method directly impacts product quality and consistency. In response to this, Precision Extraction provides cannabis businesses with complete turn-key lab solutions, including facility design, installation, training and technical support.

“At Precision, we realized pretty early that cannabis concentrates were growing in popularity and that consistency and reproducibility at scale in the extraction processes was key to long-term success,” said Brian Towns, Precision Extraction’s vice president of operations.

Precision Extraction is on a mission to continue evolving the science of extraction equipment and technology. To achieve this, the Precision Extraction team uses their design, engineering and manufacturing expertise to ensure that all of their products are safe, reliable, refined, and only of the highest quality. 

Precision Extraction was recently acquired by Agrify, the cannabis and hemp market’s largest integrated total solutions provider. According to Tennant, the acquisition will provide solutions for many of the challenges customers encounter across the supply chain from a single trusted source.

Top-Tier Extraction on Every Scale

Precision Extraction offers ethanol and hydrocarbon extraction equipment. The ethanol extraction system is the fastest batch extraction method on the market and is recommended for creating full-spectrum hemp extracts.

Leviathan Natural Products Inc. has completed the acquisition of One Cannabis Market Inc. ("OCM"). OCM is a privately-held technology company that provides solutions to consumers and businesses in dynamic markets. The company's mission is to be the industry leader in cannabis technology by innovation and value creation. (Benzinga)

Leviathan has acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of OCM in exchange for 500,000 common shares of Leviathan pursuant to a share purchase agreement dated June 9, 2022. The issued shares shall be subject to restrictions on resale or transfer that may be imposed by applicable securities laws from time to time, including without limitation under National Instrument 45-102 - Resale Restrictions.

In connection with the closing of the transaction, OCM's founder and president, Kamyar Hosseini ("Kam"), will join Leviathan as head of technology, and will help grow Leviathan's technology business. In connection with Kam's appointment, Leviathan's board of directors has authorized the issuance of 500,000 stock options in Leviathan to Kam, exercisable at CA$1.10 ($0.87) per share vesting over 2 years.

Leviathan has a total of 3.82 million stock options representing approximately 4% of the outstanding common shares of the company.

The Hemp Alliance of Tennessee is leading a study on the feasibility of the production of hemp fiber in the state. The organization, comprised of hemp-industry colleagues who support, educate, and collaborate for a successful industry, partnered with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to fund the research that will be conducted by the University of Tennessee.

The study will include an assessment of the feasibility of hemp fiber production for the Tennessee automobile industry as well as an overall assessment of hemp fiber for the development of the Tennessee economy. The research will take place from now through year’s end.

“We are proud to work with the TDA and the research team at the University of Tennessee to explore the potential hemp has to benefit our state’s economy,” said Frederick Cawthon, President of HAT.

“Our organization and its members are invested in realizing the potential of this plant, and our hope is that this study will prompt significant industry investment in Tennessee hemp and its diverse applications.”

The feasibility analysis will include developing a hemp fiber crop production budget for Tennessee farmers and an analysis regarding the costs, revenue, and profits of processing hemp fiber in Tennessee including transportation and supply chain logistics. The broad outlook portion of the study will assess the likelihood for successful Tennessee-based production and processing for the various major uses of hemp fiber.

Cannabis Cash Coin has reached an agreement to have their new cryptocurrency listed on popular crypto exchange CoinMooner. This agreement will allow cannabis enthusiasts to swap Ethereum for the coin using Uniswap, a service also hosted on CoinMooner.

“We chose CoinMooner as our first crypto exchange because of the exposure potential. In addition, we were excited about the number of users that will be introduced to our coin,” says Cannabis Cash Coin CEO and Co-Founder Robert Felder.

“We believe this listing is the momentum we need, and we fully anticipate being listed on additional exchanges in the coming months.”

The mission of Cannabis Cash Coin is to provide cannabis users with a safe, alternative payment method when purchasing cannabis-related products. Their goal is to unite the cannabis and cryptocurrency industries by providing a mobile app that allows you to buy coins, find local dispensaries, and earn rewards for your purchases. Users will be able to purchase this coin directly through Cannabis Mobile later this year.

LeBron James has said it takes a village to help raise a kid and make a true difference.

And Tuesday's announcement of the new I Promise HealthQuarters furthers his contention that a holistic approach is needed to make change not only in a child's life but for the student's entire family.

The new I Promise HealthQuarters will be the latest addition to the growing set of resources offered by James' namesake foundation and will be situated right across the street from the now-under-construction House Three Thirty.

Like the old Tangier, the property and building was owned by the George family that has operated Bell Music Co. — which supplies arcade-type amusements to businesses — for decades out of the structure that includes offices and a large warehouse space.

Once the renovations are complete, the West Market Street HealthQuarters will offer full medical, dental, optometry, and mental health services and counseling not only to I Promise students but also their families in both the general program and the school the foundation operates just down the street.

There will be room for outdoor and recreational amenities too.

 Green Check Verified (GCV), the leading fintech provider of compliant cannabis banking solutions and services, today announced an official integration with Canix, one of the cannabis industry’s most comprehensive seed-to-sale enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions. Canix serves both large commercial operations and single owner operators, and maintains over 2,000 cannabis licenses on its platform. This integration will enable GCV’s partners to seamlessly sync sales with Canix while greatly enhancing their data visualization capabilities. 

As banking legislation and bi-partisan support for cannabis reform gains momentum, industry maturation is on the verge of accelerating with the potential of significant new bills being passed by the end of the year. Yet as legal programs develop in new states across the country and existing programs continue to expand, there is a growing need for cannabis-related businesses (CRB) to have access to advanced regtech solutions as well as tools for processing and automating sales. 

This integration allows CRBs and users to quickly and easily begin syncing sales from Canix, while also mirroring product, price, and total order info so there’s no manually uploading or tracking sales in disparate systems. It also ensures that wholesale orders seamlessly integrate into GCV’s system once transactions are complete, and provides visualization on sales order ID to allow for total cross-referencing of payment details. 

“Over the past year GCV has seen significant market adoption and engagement from both the financial services and legal cannabis communities, and this is an important step in our evolution,” said Kevin Hart, CEO of Green Check Verified.

“Green Check Verified continues to look for ways of bringing more complete and comprehensive solutions for our CRB partners, and we believe that this integration with Canix truly is a value-added combination.”

Dutchie, a Bend, Ore.-based software startup that serves cannabis retailers, has laid off 7% of its workforce.

GeekWire confirmed the cuts with a Dutchie spokesperson. The company employs more than 700 people.

The cuts affected roles across product and recruiting teams, according to LinkedIn posts written by laid off employees. 

“I am saddened, frustrated, and genuinely blindsided by this decision,” one laid off employee wrote.

“Beyond my frustration, confusion, and disappointment, I’m heartbroken,” another said.

Dutchie is the latest tech company to lay off workers in response to the broader ongoing economic uncertainty. Several cannabis software companies have slashed staff in recent weeks, including Eaze and Akerna.

Cannabis processing and marketing companies are beginning to test the effectiveness of the metaverse to promote their products and educate consumers about the use of weed in its different presentations.

Like other companies from different economic sectors such as JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) & Co., Miller Lite, Estée Lauder or Wendy’s, companies dedicated to the marijuana trade plan to create virtual stores for the promotion and sale of real-world products and even market non-fungible tokens.

Cannabis sellers have seen in the metaverse an opportunity to market their products more freely than on other platforms like Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), Cannabis Marketing Association executive director Lisa Buffo told The Wall Street Journal.

That is if the virtual platforms can continue to operate under a totally flexible and decentralized framework as they have been up to now. "It's a wide open space in Web3... regulators haven’t wrapped their head around it yet," Buffo said. Several companies have been operating in the metaverse since last year. This is the case of Higher Life CBD Dispensary LLC, which operates in partnership with Saucey Farms & Extracts LLC and is hosted on the Cryptovoxels virtual platform.

The store is visited by about 1,000 people daily, according to Higher Life CEO Brandon Howard. Although virtual visitors cannot buy CBD products directly there, they can purchase them by accessing a link to the Higher Life website.

The second floor of the store is occupied by Saucey. From there, visitors are also directed to the company’s official website, where they can purchase other types of products other than the cannabis products that Higher Life sells.

APPlife Digital Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: ALDS) (“APPlife”, the Company”), a business incubator and portfolio manager that invests in and creates e-commerce and cloud-based solutions is pleased to announce that the Global Hemp Service LLC (“Global”) web site has recently completed its extended beta period and is now a fully-functioning e-commerce platform that offers an extensive line of hemp and CBD related products including those for personal, home, beauty, organic, and industrial uses.

“We are excited to see the products being offered by Global Hemp Service becoming more prominently featured in daily use around the world. Hemp is a game-changer for its benefits to our climate. APPlife is proud to have been the lead investor in this project and hope to see it flourish in the coming months,” stated Matthew Reid, CEO of APPLife.

"It is our mission at Global Hemp Service to unify hemp stakeholders and support the category growth in all industries where hemp can be applied. The challenge isn't how to make a better world, it’s to make it happen now. Our focus on hemp is the most intelligent decision for us to do our part and reach a sustainable society within a few years," said Paul Iglesia, founder and president of Global Hemp Services LLC.

The team at Global understands that humanity is need of both environmental and societal transformations and while our current resources might be enough, the way we consume them is not sustainable. While cures for these challenges are complicated and will take time, effort, and energy, Global believes part of the cure is a simple plant, created by nature itself, named cannabis, most commonly known as hemp. It’s been interacting with humans all over the planet and the course of history from ancient writings and customs to the present days.   There are hundreds of thousands of people all over the planet working with hemp, consuming hemp in their diet, their products, their habitat, and their farms.

Together, APPlife and Global believe that hemp’s diverse applications and attributes could be valuable components in achieving numerous global sustainability goals, some of which include:

For generations, Michael Marinaro’s family honed their cultivation techniques in the vineyards of Naples, Italy. Years later, the first-generation Italian-American is drawing on those techniques — not for grapes, but another agricultural pursuit: cannabis. 

Marinaro, CEO of Tyngsborough-based cultivator BadaBloom!, is part of the team behind Trevor Express, a proposed adult-use marijuana delivery operator seeking to open in Natick.

The company was formed through a partnership with Bada Bloom! — which holds provisional licenses from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission — and Revolutionary Clinics, which operates medical marijuana dispensaries in Cambridge and Somerville.

Trevor Express holds a lease at 1 Tech Circle/211 Oak St. in Natick, close to two other marijuana-related businesses: cannabis, CBD and hemp testing facility Kaycha Labs and proposed delivery operator Your Green Package, both at 16 Tech Circle. 

Trevor Express Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Tara Hopper said she and Marinaro, Trevor’s president, are looking forward to establishing the business in Natick, their hometown.

Big Data & Content Distribution Powers Lifestyle-Focused Brand Marketing

StupidDOPE LLC announced today the launch of an in-house brand marketing, content distribution and big data advertising agency serving the Cannabis and CBD industry. With a focus on big data and content distribution partnerships within the cannabis industry, the lifestyle brand will help companies intelligently target and engage in-market Cannabis and CBD shoppers.

stupidDOPE delivers social media, photo and video, press trips, media buys, influencer marketing, and experiential event strategies since 2008. Its custom-built digital marketing campaigns are powered by a patented algorithm that delivers personalized content on behalf of 200M+ mobile users in the U.S. stupidDOPE’s in-depth experience in the Cannabis and CBD industry provides insight into reaching shoppers, while meeting certified corporate and regulatory compliance standards.

“Major advertising channels, including Google and Facebook, continue to shut down digital Cannabis and CBD campaigns in response to the complex regulatory market in the U.S.,” said LeVar Thomas, co-founder, stupidDOPE.

“At stupidDOPE, we are solving this dilemma for Cannabis, CBD brands and retailers who need to reach new customers without access to the most popular digital marketing channels available.”

Founded in 2008, stupidDOPE brings together a massive audience and top tiered content distribution partnerships with its lifestyle destination, sharing the latest in video, music, travel, culture, fashion, art and more. The company has worked with Fortune 100 companies and global brands, including AT&T, Harley-Davidson, Sony Entertainment Network, Frito-Lay, Topgolf USA, State Farm, M&M’s Racing, Nissan and many more. A Google, Bing, and Apple News publisher, stupidDOPE delivers timely content on trending topics, infused with unique advertising opportunities and custom created content.