As 2018 comses to an end, we look back on an incredible year of growth and achievement as we continue to lead the CBD industry.
Throughout our family of companies, Medical Marijuana, Inc. has experienced unprecedented success and unrivaled innovation as we worked to ensure that people around the world have access to safe, reliable CBD products to promote wellness and a great quality of life.
Here are our highlights from the past year, including record revenue, the opening of new CBD markets, creating cannabinoid pharmaceuticals, participating or hosting dozens of events, educating doctors and more on the benefits of CBD, launching new companies, introducing new products, and more.
Record Sales Revenue
How could Medical Marijuana, Inc. follow a 2017 that saw our family of companies record its largest revenue year ever? By building on that success to once again set company records.
We didn’t have to wait long this past year to see the results of our work, experiencing month after month of revenue growth. By the end of July, Medical Marijuana, Inc. and our family of companies had already surpassed our 2017 revenue and continued to grow. Interest in CBD is higher than ever, impacting the market around the world.
Entering New International Markets
Medical Marijuana, Inc. is always looking for new ways to bring our CBD oil products to consumers and patients across the globe. This year, our products became available in three new international markets.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. direct selling subsidiary Kannaway officially launched its business operations in Europe this year. After nearly a year of preparation, including the opening of its European offices, enrolling local European brand ambassadors, and hosting events in cities like Copenhagen, Oslo, Regensburg, Helsinki, Milan, Budapest, Bremen, Rome, Liverpool, and many more.
This hard work culminated in Kannaway’s Europe Grand Opening Event held in Prague in November. This event, Kannaway’s largest ever with more than 2000 attendees, celebrated the official launch of Kannaway’s European business and the success the company has experienced throughout the EU in the past year.
Kannaway currently ships to 34 European countries and territories, including the following:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canary Island
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Jersey Island
- Latvia
- Lichtenstein
- Lituania
- Luxemburg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Reunion Island
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Earlier in the year, Medical Marijuana, Inc. received its official registration of its RSHO-X™ and RSHO™ Blue Label products as registered medicines by Paraguay’s national health regulation organization (Dirección Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria). Prior to becoming registered as official medicines, in May of 2016, Real Scientific Hemp Oil™ became the first medical cannabis product approved and imported for use in Paraguay for compassionate use with a prescription and government permission.
In June, Argentina’s National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) approved RSHO-X™ for import into the country. In Argentina, CBD products are sold for compassionate use and must be prescribed by a licensed physician. HempMeds® entry into the medical cannabis market in Argentina continues the company’s efforts to offer its products across Latin America.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. entered Canada’s legal cannabis market when it launched in October. Our company first announced its intent to the enter the Canadian market in June, when Medical Marijuana, Inc. signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with Salvation Botanicals, Ltd. to bring our internationally recognized cannabis products from brands like Dixie Botanicals® and Real Scientific Hemp Oil™ to the quickly growing Canadian cannabis market. Then in September, our company officially signed an agreement with Salvation Botanicals to manufacture and distribute the Medical Marijuana, Inc. brands in Canada.
Leading into the start of legal cannabis throughout Canada in October, Medical Marijuana, Inc. officially introduced Real Scientific® and Dixie Botanicals® to the Canadian market. These worldwide recognized brands launching in Canada will allow us to bring our top quality CBD products to consumers in the country.
Partnered with Athletes
To help spread the word about the benefits of CBD products, like those sold by the Medical Marijuana, Inc., for athletes, our family of companies partnered with professional and amateur athletes to educate them on the effects of CBD on the body.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. subsidiary HempMeds® partnered with UFC fighter Liz Carmouche in January to help promote the potential of CBD for athletes to assist their training and recovery. Carmouche, a U.S. Marine Corp Veteran, is the UFC’s most decorated ex-military athlete and is the first openly gay UFC fighter. Nicknamed the “Girl-rilla,” Carmouche is one of the second ranked 125-pound female MMA fighter in the world, according to the Unified Women’s MMA Rankings.
“I’m excited to share my experience of taking Real Scientific Hemp Oil and hopefully help other people, especially athletes, discover this natural product that is not only safe to use during intense physical activities, but is non-addictive and won’t get you high,” Carmouche said of joining with HempMeds®. “There’s just a lot of misinformation out there and I’d love to help clear that up.”
Kannaway, another Medical Marijuana, Inc. portfolio company, is pioneering the use of CBD by athletes with its Kannaway Sports initiative. Kannaway continued to push ahead with its Kannaway Sports initiative in 2018, partnering with a number of athletes to gather testimonials about how CBD products from the company have had an impact on their lives. This past year, Kannaway added testimonials from
- Former Kansas City Chief Christian Okoye
- 6-Time Olympic Gold Winning Swimmer Amy Van Dyken
- MLB Hall of Famer Richard “Goose” Gossage
- Super Bowl Champion Derek Kennard
Taking Next Steps Towards Cannabinoid Pharmaceuticals
Medical Marijuana, Inc. subsidiary Kannalife™ and investment AXIM® Biotechnologies are both researching cannabinoids with the goal of creating novel treatments for a range of medical conditions.
Early in 2018, AXIM® Biotechnologies has successfully executed their first-ever proprietary current good manufacturing practices (“cGMP”) methodology in the extraction and microencapsulation of cannabinoid molecules. These manufacturing processes will be used to generate a variety of pharmaceutical delivery formats for medicinal cannabis products. The breakthrough makes AXIM® the only company in the world with the ability to harness the proprietary procedure to provide Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (“APIs”) of such purity (over 99% pure) from naturally extracted cannabis sources.
Meanwhile, Medical Marijuana, Inc. portfolio company Kannalife Sciences, Inc. has completed a share exchange offer with TYG Solutions Corp. The closing of this transaction marks an important step in making Kannalife the only publicly traded company in the cannabinoid therapeutics space with an exclusive license to a U.S. government patent from the National Institutes of Health.
Kannalife Sciences currently holds two licenses with NIH. The first, an exclusive license for the commercialization of U.S. Patent #6,630,507, “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants”, to research and develop novel cannabinoid-based therapeutics to treat hepatic encephalopathy (HE); and the second, a non-exclusive license under the same patent to treat chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Further, Kannalife has developed its own patented molecules led by KLS-13019 and was recently awarded U.S. Patent #9,611,213, “Functionalized 1,3-benzene diols and their method of use for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.” These cannabidiol-derived new chemical entities (NCEs) are intended to advance some of the clinical benefits of CBD while improving upon some of the pharmacokinetic limitations of CBD. According to a February 10, 2016 publication in the American Chemical Society, KLS-13019 was found to be 50-fold more potent as a neuroprotectant and >400-fold safer than CBD.
Worldwide Cannabis, Health, and Business Events
Attending, participating in, hosting, and sponsoring events is an incredibly important part of our family of companies’ mission to promote the safe and responsible use of cannabinoids by consumers around the world.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. CEO Dr. Stuart Titus participated in the CBD Outlook held at the University of Denver in October. The conference featured 25 experts, 9 panels, and numerous networking events for leaders within the industry.
Later in the year, Dr. Titus was invited to speak at the CBD Symposium on November 6, hosted by SUCCESS Partners® and Direct Selling News. The CBD Symposium, held at the SUCCESS Partners Headquarters, focused on the many cannabis and CBD market opportunities as well as the medical research behind cannabis’ many therapeutic uses. The event also addressed the current opportunities and challenges of market entry, and industry experts shared their insights on the many different aspects of CBD in the direct selling market, including the legal landscape, regulatory provisions, product development, and manufacturing.
In March, HempMeds® hosted a booth at the first ever Wellness Expo at the 2018 SXSW festival. The two day expo featured companies like HempMeds® in the wellness landscape, as well as the SXSW Wellness Expo Stage and other areas with programming that included workshops, demos, fitness classes, speakers, readings, relaxation activities, and more.
Then, in April, the company was a Gold Sponsor of the three-day 2018 World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo, a conference dedicated to serving the growing national medical cannabis market, held from April 12-14 in Pittsburgh, PA. Medical Marijuana, Inc. CEO Dr. Stuart Titus was a featured speaker at the event, discussing the body’s endocannabinoid system and the potential to tap into it to promote wellness.
The company next traveled to New York City to participate in the 5th Annual Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo (CWCBE). The company demonstrated its award-winning line of CBD products to attendees on the expo floor. Dr. Titus spoke at the event, dispelling myths about CBD and educating attendees on the benefits of using CBD daily.
Next, in September HempMeds® participated in the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Maryland. At the event, HempMeds® sponsored a booth to exhibit the company’s portfolio of trusted and reputable CBD products. Medical Marijuana, Inc. CEO Dr. Stuart Titus was also in attendance to connect with other industry leaders to educate them on the benefits of CBD.
Shortly after, the company traveled to Los Angeles for the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo (CWCBE) September 27-29. There, the company hosted a booth on the expo floor where company spokesperson and UFC fighter Liz Carmouche was available for interviews. HempMeds® representatives were also on hand to answer questions and demonstrate the company’s line of CBD products.
HempMeds® participated in the final CWCBE event of the year in Boston from October 17-20. The company once again hosted a booth on the event’s expo floor, meeting with consumers and business owners to share the advantages of CBD from HempMeds®. Dr. Titus once again appeared at the Boston CWCBE, joining Dr. Chanda Macias for a panel discussion exploring the evidence behind the therapeutic uses of cannabis and clinical studies that are currently in progress throughout the world.
HempMeds® next headed to SupplySide West in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort from November 7-10 to share its bulk CBD oil and CBD isolate as a potential wellness ingredient for a wide range of products. SupplySide West brings together thousands of ingredient buyers and suppliers from the dietary supplement, beverage, personal care, nutrition and cannabis industries. This year’s event will include over 1,300 exhibitors and 16,000 attendees.
Days later, HempMeds® was back in Las Vegas for the Marijuana Business Conference (MJ Biz Con) on Nov. 14-16. MJ Biz Con, the largest cannabis conference in the world, is the preeminent conference to drive business deals and forge valuable connections with cannabis professionals in business today. The event attracted more than 20,000 cannabis professionals and 1,000 exhibitors. HempMeds® Spokesperson Nick Fishenden, a former pro-golfer who has been in the industry for over half a decade, was in attendance to offer media interviews on the company’s products and the many benefits of CBD.
HempMeds® Brasil was a premier sponsor at the CannX Brazil Conference in São Paulo on Nov. 12-14. HempMeds® Mexico President Raul Elizalde has been invited to be a featured speaker at the conference to present on the benefits of CBD hemp oil and the evolving legal landscape of cannabis in Latin America. The conference brought together some of the most important leaders in the cannabis industry from around the world, including leading industry experts from Brazil and Latin America, as well as local healthcare and government authorities. The goal of the conference was to collaborate and find new ways to enhance the research and medical support of cannabis in Latin America and gain support for future cannabis legislation.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. subsidiary Kannaway hosted series of regional events this year in the U.S. and Europe leading up to its two major events of 2018, the Empower National Convention and the company’s official Europe Grand Opening event.
The Empower National Convention was held April 14-15 in Las Vegas. The event’s attendees learned first-hand about the latest developments from Kannaway, were first to experience the company’s newest products, and celebrated the company’s unprecedented growth in 2018, a trend that began in April of 2016.
Then, in November, Kannaway hosted its Europe Grand Opening Event in Prague. The buildup to this grand opening came from a year of effort expanding its market base in the European Union. CBD in Europe is already a booming market and, with predicted growth of $135 billion by 2028, is on track to be the largest in the world.
Educating Doctors in Brazil
To help increase access to CBD by patients in the country, HempMeds® Brasil hosted a series of educational events across Brazil in 2018 with the aim of arming doctors with the information they need to confidently prescribe CBD products to their patients.
In 2014, the company became the first ever to legally ship CBD oil products to patients in Brazil with a doctor’s prescription and authorization from the country’s health authority. Since then, the company has worked with doctors throughout Brazil to ensure that patients around the country have access to CBD as a treatment option.
Launched New Pet Subsidiary
Medical Marijuana, Inc. introduced its newest subsidiary. Featuring a dedicated CBD brand exclusively for pets and livestock animals, Phyto Animal Health captures the advantages of hemp-derived CBD for cats, dogs, horses, and more. The company features full-spectrum and THC-free CBD products, as well as CBD-infused dog treats and all-natural hemp pet and livestock bedding and litter.
Since its launch, Phyto Animal Health has worked on its grassroots campaign to spread awareness of the benefits of CBD for animals. The company’s founder and CEO Ian Quinn regularly held Q&As at pet stores, spoke at national animal health and medical cannabis events, and volunteered at animal rescue facilities throughout 2018.
In February, Phyto Animal Health announced its Veterinarian Advisory Board. Phyto Animal Health’s Advisory Board is comprised of recognized experts in veterinary medicine and animal sciences. The Board’s mandate is to create animal-safe products and build upon the company’s industry-leading standards to continue to ensure substantive, in-depth, science-based standards of practice.
In March, Phyto Animal Health exhibited at the WVC 90th Annual Conference at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from March 4-8. During this five-day conference, veterinary professionals had the opportunity to participate in more than 1,000 continuing education (CE) hours and meet with over 500 exhibitors. Past WVC conferences have brought in an average of 14,000 attendees each year from 50 states, six continents and 43 countries.
Phyto Animal Health closed out 2018 by signing a pair of distribution agreements. The first was with LIIV Organics. Liiv Organics will no longer sell any other brand’s CBD pet products, besides their own “Pet Calming Blend”, and will exclusively sell Phyto Animal Health products.
Then, in November, the company partnered with national distribution leader Mr. Checkout to distribute its CBD oil pet products to thousands of members of the Independent Pet Retailer Association. Its distribution network services over 35,000 retailers across the United States, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean.
Introduced New Products
To keep our product line fresh and competitive in a growing CBD market, Medical Marijuana, Inc. and our family of companies regularly introduce new products to the hemp and CBD markets.
In March, Medical Marijuana, Inc. CBD brand Dixie Botanicals® added two new fruit flavors – Sour Apple and Citrus Mango – to their Kicks CBD-infused energy chew line. The Sour Apple flavor follows the traditional formula, including 100 mg of caffeine. For those who want to avoid caffeine, Citrus Mango replaces the caffeine with 60 mcg of vitamin D for a natural energy boost.
This year, Dixie Botanicals® also introduced the brand’s first CBD vape cartridge. Vaping is a quick and efficient way to add CBD to your system. Each pre-filled cartridge contains 250 mg of high-quality CBD distillate and features natural terpenes that give users flavor notes of pine and citrus. The vape cartridge is made with twin atomizers for a smooth, full vapor with every puff and can be screwed into any standard 510 thread battery. The Dixie Botanicals® Vape Cartridge is slim and compact, great for storing in a pocket, backpack, or purse.
In August, the brand added its new CBD Gel Caps. Dixie Botanicals® CBD Gel Caps are each filled with the company’s award-winning full-spectrum hemp oil containing 25 mg of CBD and MCT oil derived from wholesome coconut oil to boost absorption. Dixie Botanicals® CBD Gel Caps come in compact 30-count packs, making them a convenient, pre-measured, on-the-go product. These gel capsules eliminate the need to measure servings, don’t require refrigeration, and are easy to incorporate into an already-existing wellness routine.
Finally, Dixie Botanicals® launched its CBD Vape Liquid in three delicious flavors in November. Dixie Botanicals® CBD Vape Liquid (link to website) is an exclusive CBD product line that gives users the opportunity to consume CBD in a quick and efficient way. Each pre-filled 30ml dropper bottle contains 1000 mg of high-quality CBD isolate and is available in 3 flavors: Blackberry Lemonade, Vanilla Caramel and Sour Watermelon. Dixie Botanicals® CBD Vape Liquids can be used with most liquid-compatible vape pens on the market.
In April, HempMeds® launched its Active Relief CBD roll-on at the World Medical Cannabis Conference and Expo in Pittsburg. HempMeds® Active Relief Roll-On is formulated with natural herbal extracts, menthol and 10 mg of hemp extract. It features a quick dry formula and a light menthol scent. HempMeds® Active Relief Roll-On cooling effects help soothe tired, overworked muscles and address the joint stiffness and discomfort that come with everyday exertion.
After Mexico loosened restrictions on hemp products in the country, HempMeds® Mexico was granted five new import permits for HempMeds® products in the country. The products available in the HempMeds® Mexico now include RSHO™ CBD Capsules, RSHO™ Blue Label CBD Liquid, RSHO-X™ THC-free CBD Liquid, RSHO™ Salve, and HempMeds® Active Relief roll-on. HempMeds® Mexico is one of the first companies in Mexico to receive these permits just shortly after COFEPRIS released new importation guidelines in October.
Also in April, Kannaway expanded its product line to include its new Power Protein meal replacement shake, Chews By Dante CBD-infused dog treats, and Dante’s Eco Hemp Rope chew toy. These new products expand on the company’s popular line of CBD oil products to capture other potential hemp and CBD markets. The company would also launch a THC-free CBD oil specifically designed for pets, Dante’s Pure Hemp Oil.
The company also introduced Hempy’s® all-natural hemp clothing and accessories to its online store. Hempy’s® products are for the environmentally conscious consumer and are created by using responsibly sourced hemp and organic cotton textiles. Available Hempy’s® hemp products include:
- Hemp Beanies and Hats
- Hemp Belts
- Hemp Wallets
- Hemp Shirts
- Hemp Jeans
- Hemp Leggings
- Hemp Lip Balm
- Hemp Candles
In October, Kannaway launched its new 5-Day Sample Packs. Featuring tear off single serving samples of either the company’s full-spectrum Pure Gold or CBD isolate product Pure CBD. These packs also include a travel size of the company’s best selling CBD topical salve. 5-Day Sample Packs are a great tool for Kannaway’s team of brand ambassadors to share the benefits of CBD with potential customers.
Finally, for the holidays, Kannaway introduced its new Holiday Trio CBD tincture set. Kannaway® Pure Liquid Flavored Trio adds a fresh set of festive flavors to the company’s expansive portfolio of CBD products. Each Pure Liquid Flavored Trio includes three 1 oz. bottles with 100 mg of CBD each. The three flavors included are: Pumpkin Spice, infused with baking spices and sweet pumpkin; Gingerbread, with delicious cinnamon, clove, and ginger flavors; and Chocolate Mint, which combines decadent chocolate and refreshing mint for a perfectly flavored treat.
Major Media Hits
As a leader in the cannabis landscape, the media often turns to Medical Marijuana, Inc. in their coverage of our rapidly growing industry. This past year, Medical Marijuana, Inc. and our family of companies was included in hundreds of local, national, and international media outlets, big and small.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. and several of our portfolio and investment companies were highlighted in a segment on the History Channel show Innovations with Ed Begley, Jr. The show typically looks at the most recent breakthroughs and developments from a wide range of industries. Medical Marijuana, Inc. and our family of companies were featured on the show dedicated to the cannabis industry. Watch the full segment below:
Here are more of our most noteworthy headlines of 2018.
- U.S. News & World Report
- Forbes
- Washington Post
- Reuters
- CNN
- Men’s Health
- Today
- CNBC
- Dateline NBC
- Buzzfeed
- Shape Magazine
- CBS Sports
- MSN
- The Daily Mail
- American Veterinarian
- The Street
- Yahoo Finance
- Los Angeles Times
- MarketWatch
- Westword
- Breitbart
- ABC 10 News
- Bustle
- CBS News
- Entrepreneur
- Benzinga
- Fox 7 Austin
- High Times
- Fox 5 Las Vegas
- Romper
- VICE Mexico
- Nylon
You can find more media coverage of the Medical Marijuana, Inc. family of companies here.
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