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UK farming union urges growing hemp for building materials

5 years ago By Anonymous (not verified)

The UK’s National Farming Union (NFU) encourages British farmers to plant hemp for building materials in a new report that sets out a plan to make the agricultural sector carbon neutral by 2040.

The report, “Achieving Net Zero: Farming’s 2040 Goal,” urges farmers to grow hemp for the production of hemp hurd (shivs) for hempcrete construction. Hemp absorbs CO2 as it grows in the field, and continues the absorption process even after its straw is chopped up and installed in walls made of a hemp, lime and water mixture for hempcrete.

Coordination required

“Bio-based materials in construction and industry could deliver GHG savings of 0.5 MtCO2e/year,” NFU notes in the report. “This will also require the implementation of the Government’s Bioeconomy Strategy, as well as support from the Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for novel building and insulation materials.”

The report also recommends using farming bi-products such as methane to produce electricity, and planting more trees and hedgerows to increase carbon storage.

Speeding up progress

UK agricultural emissions have fallen by 16% overall since 1990, but there has been only “modest progress” since 2011, the report says. British farms are responsible for around 10% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, but only 10% of that total is carbon dioxide, while 40% is nitrous oxide from things such as fertilizers, and 50% is methane from cows and sheep.

NFU said improving farm efficiency and land management, changing land use to capture more carbon, and boosting renewable energy are all keys to meeting the 2040 goal.

Land management and the slow pace at which UK hemp farming is developing were cited as sector disadvantages in a recent report from UK’s Centre for Medicinal Cannabis.

Marijuana legalization continues: Wisconsin steps up!

5 years ago By Anonymous (not verified)

Marijuana laws are pretty strict in Wisconsin. Although cannabis is spreading its roots across US states, it’s still illegal at the federal level. President Trump and his administration want states to decide. Florida, New York, and Minnesota are all gearing up to legalize adult-use cannabis. Now, Wisconsin is pushing to legalize medical marijuana. Let’s see what’s happening in the state.

Wisconsin wants to legalize medical marijuana

Recently, lawmakers in Wisconsin introduced a bill to legalize medical cannabis. If the new bill is passed into law, it will allow patients to use cannabis if they’re registered with the state. Also, the bill will create a licensing system for growers.

The demand for marijuana legalization motivated lawmakers to pursue the bill. A Marquette University Law School poll in April showed that 59% of voters supported legalization. Also, around 83% of the voters supported medical cannabis legalization.

Cannabis is still illegal in Wisconsin. Marijuana is considered a Schedule I hallucinogenic substance under the Wisconsin Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Medical cannabis is allowed to a limited extent. The state legalized non-psychoactive CBD oil in 2014. However, the oil has tight controls. Non-psychoactive CBD oil is allowed for limited medical conditions under Wisconsin’s cannabis laws. In November 2017, Wisconsin legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp.

What does the new medical cannabis bill include?

For patients to use medical marijuana, they have to:

  • join a new state Department of Health Services registry
  • have a medical condition to qualify for the registry like AIDS, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, severe pain, or chronic disease
  • obtain approval from a doctor after diagnosis to qualify and join the registry
  • pay a registration fee of $250 and an annual fee of $250

The bill will also allow a new licensing system for medical marijuana growers. The criteria include:

  • growing more than a dozen marijuana plants
  • an initial fee of $250 and an annual fee of $5,000
  • not growing marijuana for personal or family use

Possible challenges in Wisconsin

Democratic Senator Jon Erpenbach, Democratic Representative Chris Taylor, and Republican Senator Patrick Testin introduced the new bill. According to them, the government shouldn’t decide whether a patient needs medical marijuana. Previously, I discussed how Democrats have always supported marijuana legalization. As the 2020 presidential election campaign heats up, Democratic candidates have stepped up for federal marijuana legalization. Recently, Beto O’Rourke boosted his election campaign with marijuana reforms.

Notably, Republicans haven’t always favored marijuana legalization. A Harvard study showed that 50% of Republicans oppose legalization. I think Republicans could be a challenge in Wisconsin. Notably, the Republican-controlled legislature will make it difficult for the bill to be passed.

Legalization in other states

Currently, 33 states have legalized cannabis for medical purposes. The states include Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Illinois. Meanwhile, 11 states and Washington DC have legalized marijuana for recreational use. California legalized medical cannabis in 1996 and recreational cannabis in 2016. Texas still doesn’t support legalization.

Also, Florida and Minnesota are ready to welcome cannabis. Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018. Recently, the state introduced new medical cannabis laws.

Cannabis players’ expansion plans

Major Canadian cannabis players are expanding into Europe and some US states. However, federal restrictions stop companies from expanding in the US.

Canopy Growth (CGC) (WEED) plans to expand its CBD business through its partnership with Martha Stewart. Together, they plan to launch a variety of CBD-based products for animal and human use. However, CBD products still face challenges from the FDA. As a result, we’ll have to see if Canopy Growth expands into the US market. The company will expand in the new edibles and beverages market after Cannabis 2.0. Canopy Growth could face challenges in the US. Aurora Cannabis (ACB) could also face the same hurdles. The company plans to expand into the US after edible legalization in Canada.

Cronos Group (CRON) could face similar problems. Recently, the company announced its entry into the US market. Cronos Group acquired Redwood Holding Group. Redwood manufactures, markets, and distributes hemp-derived CBD infused skincare products and other consumer products. Altria (MO) has a $1.8 billion investment in the company. Cronos Group has lost 9.0% in September, while Canopy Growth has gained 8.5%. Aurora Cannabis has lost 7.6% in September.

Isn’t it time for the US to legalize marijuana?

As the cannabis industry continues to grow, the federal government is losing out on tax revenues. Notably, the tax revenues are going to the states.

The Marquette University Law School poll in April showed how President Trump is losing his edge over Joe Biden and other presidential candidates. Around 51% of voters chose Biden over President Trump for the 2020 election.

President Trump needs to strike hard if he wants to stay in the White House. Attempting to legalize medical marijuana might be a good start. Read Marijuana: Will Trump Have an Edge over Biden? to learn more.

I discussed how cannabis has gained popularity in various countries. Mexico might be next. Read Marijuana Legalization: Mexico Will Seal the Deal! to learn more.

Should the US step up and legalize marijuana? Stay with us on more insights into the cannabis industry.

Last week, Delta Air Lines (DAL) CEO Ed Bastian told Bloomberg that the carrier is still hoping Boeing (BA) will build a new midmarket airplane, dubbed the Boeing 797. The optimism comes at a time when other airlines are battling thousands of cancellations amid the Boeing 737 MAX 8 crisis. Delta doesn’t hold any of the troubled planes, which have been grounded for over six months now. Since the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash on March 10, Delta Air Lines has gained 17.4%, outperforming the broader S&P 500 Index, which has returned 9.4%. Delta fell 1% yesterday, while Boeing lost 0.6%.

During the same period, Delta’s peer American Airlines (AAL) has lost 13.5%. American, which owns 24 MAX jets, canceled 7,800 flights in the second quarter alone. United Airlines (UAL) has pushed the 737 MAX 8 comeback to December 19. By then, it’s expected to have canceled 9,500 flights since the beginning of the grounding. American and United fell 1.75% and 1%, respectively, yesterday.

Delta Air Lines’ CEO points at replacement demand ​

Bastian added that Delta Air Lines could be looking at “200 aircraft over the next decade” while talking about demand for Boeing’s 797 from his airline. Most of this demand would come from the need to replace aging 757 and 767 models. Delta holds 127 units of 757s and 77 units of 767s. Both models are out of production.

Boeing’s European rival, Airbus (EADSY) recently forecast that over 14,000 aircraft would go in for replacement around the world by 2038. If built, the 797 would compete directly with Airbus’s A321XLR, which will start flying in 2023. Because Boeing has shelved the 797 project until the 737 MAX 8 flies again, any further delay in the 737 MAX 8’s comeback will give A321XLR a competitive advantage. Boeing has focused all its manpower and resources on getting the 737 MAX 8 back in the skies. American Airlines has already ordered 50 A321XLRs. JetBlue (JBLU) has also opted for A321XLRs to focus on flights to Europe. JetBlue is a loyal Airbus customer and doesn’t hold any Boeing planes.

Why Delta’s CEO is waiting for the Boeing 797

Delta Air Lines already has a fleet of over 200 Airbus planes. However, while talking about Airbus’s competing product, Bastian added, “We want to wait and see what Boeing can create.” The reason could be the trouble Delta is having with the A220s that were built in a joint venture between Airbus and Canada’s Bombardier (BDRBF). While the airlines only canceled less than 5% of A220 flights, Bastian wants to see that number below 1%.

Boeing’s long-range trouble

While Boeing has postponed the decision to build the 797, its 777X program is battling delays. One major issue is related to the plane’s General Electric GE9X engines. The troubled 737 MAX 8 is also powered by LEAP engines made in GE’s joint venture CFM International (the problems with the aircraft are not related to the engines). The 777X is also facing trouble in load tests, which it needs to pass before regulators will clear it for the skies. Because of the 737 MAX 8 safety concerns, Boeing is facing greater regulatory scrutiny.

Which cannabis stocks have lost more than 40% in 2019?

5 years ago By Anonymous (not verified)

The cannabis industry has been on a rollercoaster ride this year. Most of the cannabis companies have shown positive growth in 2019. CannTrust, Tilray, and KushCo stocks have fallen more than 40% in 2019. Meanwhile, Innovative Industrial Properties and Green Thumb excelled this year. Let’s see why.

Some cannabis stocks fell more than 40% 

So far, 2019 has been disastrous for CannTrust (CTST). The stock has fallen the most among all of the cannabis stocks. Notably, CannTrust has fallen 74% YTD (year-to-date) as of September 23. Tilray (TLRY) has fallen 57% YTD, while KushCo has fallen 42% YTD.

Tilray (TLRY) stock was impacted after it reported wide losses in the second quarter. The company reported a loss of $0.32 per share, which was higher than analysts’ estimates. The company attributed the losses to higher operating expenses related to growth initiatives. As a result, many analysts reduced the target price for the stock due to the company’s asset-light approach.

KushCo (KSHB) reported a negative EBITDA of $7.5 million in the third quarter. The company also reported a net loss of $0.12 per share. Meanwhile, Emerald Health (EMHTF), another medical cannabis company, has fallen 42% YTD.

What happened to CannTrust in 2019?

CannTrust stock took a hit after it violated Health Canada regulations in July. Health Canada accused the company of growing cannabis plants in five unlicensed rooms from October 2018 to March 2019. Health Canada seized all of the dried cannabis harvested in the unlicensed rooms. A special committee conducted the investigations. KPMG withdrew its audit report due to the scandals. Also, CannTrust fired its CEO.

Health Canada even suspended its license under the Cannabis Act. The suspended license brought CannTrust’s revenue growth to a standstill. As a result, the company’s potential is questionable right now. Stay with us to learn more about what went wrong with CannTrust. Now, we’ll discuss the top gainers in 2019.

Which Cannabis Stocks Have Lost More than 40% in 2019?

IIPR and Green Thumb were the winners 

So far, Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) has been a winner this year. The company has gained 110% YTD. Innovative Industrial Properties isn’t a conventional cannabis stock. The company is a specialized REIT. Innovative Industrial Properties provides real estate solutions to medical cannabis players. As a result, the company is a popular dividend payer. Innovative Industrial Properties’ connection to the cannabis industry makes it an attractive stock for investors.

The company makes acquisitions to drive growth. Innovative Industrial Properties reported stellar second-quarter results in August, which boosted the stock. Notably, the company earned a 155% increase in rental revenues to approximately $8.3 million, which beat analysts’ revenue estimates. The company’s earnings for the quarter were in line with the estimates but rose 76.4% year-over-year.

Innovative Industrial Properties’ operating performance is usually measured through its FFO (funds from operations) and AFFO (adjusted funds from operations). In the second quarter, the company reported an FFO of approximately $4.7 million and an AFFO of approximately $5.8 million. Notably, the AFFO determines the cash available to be paid out as dividends.

Recently, Jason Williams, a contributing editor for The Wealth Advisory, discussed why he thinks that Innovative Industrial Properties is a good portfolio addition. Usually, cannabis companies require financial support. Under federal law, banks aren’t allowed the help cannabis companies. Innovative Industrial Properties provides financing and helps small cannabis companies expand their businesses. Williams thinks that the stock could hit $200 per share before the end of 2019.

As a result, the banking bill needs to become a law in the US. Read to Cannabis: US House to Vote on Banking Bill to learn more.

Green Thumb saw a 228% YoY increase in its revenues in the second quarter. The stock has gained 25% YTD.

What else is happening in the cannabis industry?

Regulation scandals took a toll on the cannabis sector. However, strong fundamentals and analysts’ positive outlook for the sector drove the performance.

Aurora Cannabis (ACB) reported lower-than-expected fourth-quarter results. The company missed its revenue guidance and analysts’ estimate. However, the company’s segmental revenues rose for the quarter. Aurora Cannabis reported a negative EBITDA of 11.7 million Canadian dollars due to higher operating costs. However, the company expects to deliver a better performance after edibles’ expansion with Cannabis 2.0.

Canopy Growth (CGC) (WEED) reported disappointing results for the first quarter of 2020. The company missed the top-line and bottom-line estimates. Expansion costs in the US and globally impacted Canopy Growth’s performance.

Talking about the cannabis industry, Mike Philbrick, ReSolve Asset Management’s president, said that an industry with massive growth opportunities comes with some challenges and volatility. He thinks that investors who are willing to take the risk can cash in from the growth opportunities if they buy cannabis stocks in small doses.

Overall, most of the cannabis stocks have seen positive growth this year.

  • Canopy Growth rose 7%.
  • Aurora Cannabis rose 4%.
  • Aphria rose 6%.
  • Hexo rose 15%.
  • OrganiGram rose 16%.
  • Cronos Group rose 5%.
  • Supreme Cannabis rose 6%.

Overall, September has been good for the cannabis industry. Marijuana legalization made the sector a hot topic again. Many states like Florida and Minnesota are stepping up for legalization. Meanwhile, Canada is preparing for Cannabis 2.0. Mexico might be the next country to legalize cannabis. Read Marijuana Legalization: Mexico Will Seal the Deal! to learn more.

We’ll have to see how cannabis stocks end the year. Stay with us to learn more.

Medical marijuana users outnumber recreational consumers 2 to 1

5 years ago By Anonymous (not verified)

Twice as many Americans report using marijuana to alleviate medical conditions than for recreation, new study finds.

The days of cannabis being most associated with stoners and hippies are over. As research and legalization expands, so too does the reason why Americans consume marijuana. More Americans turn to cannabis for medical conditions than to get high, according to a new study.

Published in the JAMA Network Open, researchers polled nearly 170,000 marijuana users between 2016 and 2017. The survey found that about 46% of users consumed marijuana products to cope or alleviate various medical conditions. Meanwhile, 22% of respondents said they expressly smoked, vaporized, and ate edibles to get high.

“Adults with medical conditions, especially those with respiratory conditions, cancer, and depression, were more likely to use marijuana,” the study’s authors wrote. “At present, marijuana use prevalence decreases with age, even among people with medical conditions. Because public perceptions of marijuana are becoming more favorable and medical conditions increase with age, older adults might also become frequent consumers of marijuana.”

marijuana stronger than ever but doesn't mean what you think it does

Lead author Hongying “Daisy” Dai, an associate professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska, and her team conducted survey calls with 169,036 participants through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which provided a representative sample of U.S. adults across states. Among young adults between ages 18-24 with medical conditions, 25.5% reported current marijuana use while 11.2% said they consumed cannabis daily.

That current marijuana use for young adults was nearly 10 times the number those ages 65 and older reported (2.2%). Researchers concluded that decreased marijuana use among older age groups possibly stems from lingering stigmas, as adults ages 65 and older were more likely to view marijuana as highly addictive and harmful. However, researchers “the increase in public acceptance of marijuana use could lead older adults to start using marijuana for medical conditions.”

As research lingers in the United States due to its federally illegal status, Dai’s team found gaps between available scientific literature and the medical conditions patients listed as reasons they were using, which included anxiety, stress, chronic pain, cancer, and more.

“Adults with medical conditions have an increased risk of using marijuana, especially those with respiratory conditions, cancer and depression,” Dai told U.S. News & World Report. “Patients who are taking marijuana for a medical condition should be informed of evidence of efficacy and adverse effects for that condition.”

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