CBD Wellness News: BoxScore Pivots To CBD, Shineco, Datong JV, More

Endo Water researches Kansas; CannAmerica new packages, gummy flavors shipping; Profile's Elite brand blooms CBD Flower; NeutriSci, Falcon plan sublingual CBD tablet; Aleafia distributed metered-dose cannabis spray; Plus launches Classic Mint, makes CFO switch; BoxScore Brands pivots to CBD focus with new CEO; and Shineco, Datong JV for hemp supplement chain, DBD development.

Shineco, Datong JV for supply chain, product development

US-incorporated Chinese herbal medicines firm Shineco Inc. and Chinese advertising firm Shenzhen Datong Industrial Co. Ltd. are investing up to RMB1bn ($149bn) in a joint venture to integrate and expand the industrial hemp industry chain and develop cannabidiol products for domestic and overseas sales. Shineco, which is based in Beijing and markets organic agricultural produce, specialized textiles and other plant-based health care products in China, is investing in the JV, Datong NewHemp LLP, through its subsidiary, Tenjove NewHemp Biotech Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Datong has extensive technology and experience in the research, development and application of blockchain technology, including jointly establishing a blockchain technology application innovation and information security laboratory with the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Shineco and Shenzhen Datong plan to establish separate subsidiaries or designate existing subsidiaries as general partners of the partnership. "This advantageous plan for cooperation marks another important milestone for NewHemp in the industrial hemp field, laying a solid foundation for further deepening the industrial hemp industry and accelerating the integration of the entire industry chain," said CEO Shineco Yuying Zhang in an April 18 release.

BoxScore Brands pivots to CBD focus with new CEO

BoxScore Brands Inc. appoints consumer goods industry veteran Michael Flanagan CEO and starts a new strategic direction focused on opportunities with cannabidiol and other alternative wellness products. “Cannabis and other alternative wellness products today resemble the tech industry 25 years ago. The opportunities are broad and consumer adoption is expanding," said Flanagan in the Las Vegas firm's April 22 release. BoxScore launched in 2007 to provide ice cream and frozen snack products for single-serving sales in vending machines and at retailers, but in March sold part of its operation to reposition its product offerings and focus on alternative wellness products including CBD. It is developing a CDB edibles offerings in the frozen and non-frozen categories and other product categories to leverage its vending assets. It plans to ship nationally as the regulatory environment evolves and utilize online sales for non-THC wellness products.

Founder and Chairman Raymond Meyers said 2019 "will be an exciting year for our company both strategically and through the addition of new personnel who have deep experience in the Cannabis category as well as new products and branding on a national level.” The firm noted New Frontier Data and MJ Freeway data show the top three reasons consumers use cannabis are relaxation (66%), stress relief (59%) and reduce anxiety (53%). Other reasons include improving sleep, treatment of medical conditions and to enjoy social experiences.

Plus Products extends its low-dose cannabis edibles line with Classic Mint.

Plus adds  Class Mint, makes CFO switch

Plus Products Inc. extends its low-dose cannabis edibles selection with a line of mints, launching with Classic Mint flavor. The San Mateo, Calif., which appointed chief financial and strategy officers, on April 18 said mints work to deliver low-dose cannabis for consumers who may not want something as sweet or potent as a higher milligram gummy. Plus Classic Mint flavored tablets, available in 40-count tins, contain 2.5 mg tetrahydrocannabinol and less than 0.1 mg cannabidiol each. Plus Products has distributed the mints to licensed retailers across California and will launch the product market-wide at the Hall of Flowers cannabis trade show on April 30 in Santa Rosa. “Mints are a logical extension to the Plus product family as more customers seek out unique taste experiences and low-dose products they trust,” said CEO Jake Heimark.

On April 2, Plus Products said it appointed Jon Paul CFO and that Craig Heimark, Jake Heimark's father and company co-founder, resigned as CFO immediately and moved to chief strategy officer while continuing as chairman, secretary and a director. Paul has more than 30 years' experience in senior financial management, including roles as CFO and senior financial consultant at private and public companies across industries including consumer products, health care, and telecom. 

NeutriSci, Falcon plan sublingual CBD tablet

NeutriSci International Inc. and Falcon Technologies Inc. plan to jointly develop a sublingual cannabidiol tablet. Vancouver, B.C.-based NeutriSci on March 25 said it agreed to enter a letter of intent with Falcon to create sublingual tablets with more efficient absorption rates than other CBD products. Falcon, based in Sacramento, Calif., and dba Eco-Growth Strategies Inc., launched in March to focus on marketing and sales of topical, high-strength applications of CBD and plans to launch its first products before May. In the firms' release, Falcon Chief Executive Officer William Delgado said sublingual tablets won't be Falcon's first products available for sale. " If all goes according to plan, this CBD sublingual tablet will be available for sale" the third quarter, Delgado said. "As we have previously announced, we plan on meeting early core goals including initial product introduction by the end of April 2019,” he said.

Aleafia's Symbl Atmosphere provides a precise dose with each spray for easy usage tracking and adjustments and is available in three formulations.

Aleafia distributes metered-dose cannabis spray

Aleafia Health Inc. begins distributing it first adult-use oral metered-dose cannabis spray, Symbl Atmosphere, with the first customer order from the BC Liquor Distribution, the only cannabis wholesale distributor and operator of public retail stores in British Columbia, Canada’s third largest province. The Toronto-based firm on April 18 said Symbl Atmosphere provides a precise dose with each spray for easy usage tracking and adjustments and is available in three formulations. “The Symbl Atmosphere brand and format extension for the adult-use consumer reinforces Aleafia Health’s commitment to delivering unique products to health and wellness conscious consumers, whether they are medical patients or purchasing OTC,” said CEO Geoffrey Benic.

Aleafia makes at makes Symbl Atmosphere at its Paris, Ontaria, facility, which is currently undergoing expansion to support an additional 50,000 kg in annual extraction capacity needed for adequate extraction for cannabis sourced from Aleafia Campus indoor, greenhouse and outdoor cultivation operations along with cannabis secured via existing wholesale supply agreements.

Profile's Elite brand blooms CBD Flower

Profile Solutions Inc.'s Elite Products International Inc. subsidiary adds CBD Flower to its product line, offered in 1-g Mylar child-resistant, smell-proof bags and 7-g clear glass screw-cover bottles. The Sunrise, Fla., firm on April 18 said inhalation is one of the fastest delivery methods of the CBD Flower as the delivery puts CBD it in direct contact with users' lung alveoli, which then transfer the ingredient into the bloodstream. It says the onset of effects usually occurs within five to 10 minutes and can last for up to two hours. But for consumers who want to avoid smoke inhalation, a dry herb vaporizer is also an option. Vaporizing the terpenes and cannabinoids without carbonizing the flower delivers all the entourage effects of the residual cannabinoids and terpenes and other compounds gassing off without the harshness of inhaling smoke from combusted plant matter, according to Profile.

CannAmerica new packages, gummy flavors shipping

CannAmerica Brands Corp.'s first shipment of redesigned packaging and new flavor profile for gummies goes to its licensee in Colorado, Winkanda LLC, 15,000 units for sale in local dispensaries. The Vancouver, B.C.-based firm on April 18 announced it has nearly a year to creating gummy flavor profiles with high-quality ingredients and a packaging solution that is not only bold in its aesthetic qualities but instantly recognizable as a CannAmerica product. "We've gone to great lengths to provide consumers with a package that not only keeps the product fresh but is also a smaller footprint for storage with portability by design," said CEO Dan Anglin.

CannAmerica also announced it has shipped ingredients to Flower One Holdings Inc. under an agreement announced in February. Flower One has ordered 50,000 units for cannabis-product fulfillment in Nevada available in May, with the purchase to be distributed into 10- and three-piece bags throughout Colorado and Nevada dispensaries. It has created a process for edible printing that allows it to enter its food products into any legal market that allows confections, regardless of stamping image requirements, by utilizing edible printing to create the image on the gummies that provide consumers with the knowledge that the product contains cannabis.

Endo Water reaches Kansas

Right On Brands Inc.'s cannabidiol-based Endo Water will be distributed in Kansas by Worldwide Beverage Group to retail, restaurant and bar accounts throughout the state. The Los Angeles-based firm launched Endo Water in February 2018 and also has extended distribution to Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas. “Adding an additional distribution point in the Kansas City area represents huge opportunities for the company,” said Vic Morrison, executive vice president of corporate development, in Right On Brand's April 9 release. The firm specializes in brand development of cannabis-based food and beverage products and markets Endo Water as a pH-balanced, micro-clustered beverage for antioxidant protection that is oxygenated for improved performance and energy. Endo Water is available in pure, lemon-lime, cucumber and watermelon flavors and in still or sparkling formats.