The pendulum of cannabis legalization in the US seems to have begun to swing back towards a positive stance over the first half of 2018. Legalization supporters have witnessed a massive shift from January’s hard stance by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions against State’s rights, now to more recently speculation by outlets such as the LA Times that congress may be now finally primed for legalization.
With the rise of cannabis legalization across North America, has come with it a rise in the prevalence of niche expertise in the sector. Experts are needed across the board, from cultivation experience, to safely steering companies through the remaining legal mine fields. As consultancies and forums continue to pop up across the continent, the industry as a whole is maturing and refining itself at a rapid rate.
New and more established companies are offering services, from financial, to growing space, to retail and trademarking expertise to this rapidly expanding market. These include a variety of players, including Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), MariMed Inc. (OTC: MRMD), Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE: IIPR), MedMen Enterprises Inc. (CSE: MMEN) (OTC: MTTPF), and CROP Infrastructure Corp. (OTC: CRXPF) (CSE: CROP).
While the sector includes behemoths like Canopy Growth, that can partner with or acquire pretty much any smaller player it sets their eyes on, other options for the emerging players are becoming available.
Canopy itself has a strategic partnership with private company Canopy Rivers, which has a lot of the same faces on its roster, but ultimately has a slightly different approach. Canopy Rivers is designed to pursue opportunities, through amassing a portfolio of cannabis industry investments, like licensed producers, late stage applicants, pharmaceutical formulators, branded developers & distributors, and technology & media platforms.
However, another platform is also emerging, that’s much like the real estate income trust (REIT). In fact, Innovative Industrial Properties is officially listed as an REIT, and has already paid out five rounds of dividends to its investors. Though not an REIT, junior company CROP Infrastructure Corp. is also real estate focused, and asset backed, as it’s aggressively building an empire of greenhouse spaces across multiple states, and has signed on an impressive slate of tenants for its facilities, equipment, and management expertise.
The cannabis sector is constantly evolving, as the industry as steadily improves, and weeds out the playing field. Through the business cooperation of experts within knowledgeable corporations with the up-and-comers, there’s plenty of growth to be spread around.
WHERE THE CANNABIS SECTOR IS HEADED
According Arcview Market Research and its research partner BDS Analytics, there’s to be expected much progress around the globe in the legal cannabis market over the next ten years. They collectively believe spending on legal cannabis worldwide will hit $57 billion by 2027.
Much of the growth is being credited to the expanding map of regions allowing for recreational use, and not just being restricted to medical cannabis. Two thirds of spending will come from the adult-use (recreational) market, while medical marijuana makes up the remaining third.
However, not every state has the openness for consumers to partake in the recreational market, yet. In the meantime, as each new market is added to the map, the experts in the sector will already have the experience to share, and the capital to help build out these jurisdictions.
CANNABIS SECTOR REAL ESTATE LEADERS
Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED)
Canopy Growth has emerged as a dominant leader in the cannabis space. Canopy’s footprint is easily one of the largest in the world, with operations through its subsidiaries producing and selling medical marijuana products in Canada, including dried, oil, and softgels. Canopy Growth recently signed a multi-year agreement with Neptune Wellness Solutions for an increase of capacity for Canopy’s extraction, refinement, and extract product formulation capacity. Canopy also works collaboratively with Canopy Rivers, an investment and operating platform structured to pursue opportunities in the emerging global cannabis sector, including licensed producers, late-stage applicants, pharmaceutical formulators, branded developers and distributors, and technology and media platforms.
MariMed Inc. (OTC: MRMD)
MariMed provides consulting services for the design, development, operation, funding, and optimization of medical cannabis cultivation, production, and dispensary facilities. In addition, it offers legal, accounting, human resources, and other corporate and administrative services. As of December 31, 2017, it developed and managed six operating cannabis facilities for clients in Delaware, Illinois, Nevada, and Maryland. They also develop and manage facilities for the cultivation, production, and dispensing of legal cannabis and cannabis-infused products under the Kalm Fusion brand name.
Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE: IIPR)
Maryland-based Innovative Industrial Properties is the first REIT corporation focused on the cannabis sector. The company recently announced its fifth consecutive quarterly dividend payable to common stockholders since its IPO in December 2016. IIPR also recently closed out the month of May by announcing an expansion of its partnership with PharmaCann with an acquisition and long-term lease on a property in Massachusetts.
MedMen Enterprises Inc. (CSE: MMEN) (OTC: MTTPF)
Cannabis distributors, MedMen only RTO’d at the end of May, with the expressed goal of becoming known as the Apple Store for pot. The RTO and listing, raised the company approximately US$110 million, through a private placement at an implied enterprise valuation of US$1.65 billion. The Culvert City company’s approach is to give customers a “comfortable, informative and non-threatening environment.” Recently MedMen opened a marijuana store on what GQ Magazine dubbed ‘The Coolest Block in America’.
CROP Infrastructure Corp. (OTC: CRXPF) (CSE: CROP)
Through a deal with tenant grower “HEMPIRE COMPANY LLC”, CROP received final approval to triple its growing space on its Humboldt Campus, located in Humboldt, California. The facility is already operational, with a 10,000 sq ft medicinal cannabis greenhouse facility. With the approval, HEMPIRE, through CROP’s facility will soon have access to an additional 20,000 sq ft of recreational licensed canopy space. CROP also recently acquired US distribution and Italian territory rights to 50 cannabis wellness products, expanding its footprint into Europe.
CROP’S POPULAR GROWING SPACES
By combining cannabis cultivation expertise with a steady business model influenced by real estate income trusts (REITs), CROP Infrastructure Corp. (OTC: CRXPF) (CSE: CROP) has already gained popularity within the sector. Across its 12 greenhouses that are either already built, or planned and underway, CROP has already signed a full slate of tenants who eagerly await growing their wares under CROP’s roof.
CROP is currently serving tenants and clients by operating its facilities in Washington, and in California, where it recently tripled its growing space capacity.
Since cannabis was legalized in Washington State, where CROP already has two significant greenhouse projects, total sales have grown exponentially: $31 million in 2015, $323 million in 2016, and $696 million in 2017. Today, Washington has roughly 1,284 producers/processors, and over 436 retailers. Consumer purchases hit $2.58 billion, driving up state revenue by an additional $709.6 million.
In California, where CROP’s has Humboldt Farms operation recently received approval to triple its size, the state had an estimated $1.5 billion in sales in 2015, $2.7 billion in 2016, and is forecast to hit approximately $5.1 billion in the first year since legalizing recreational use at the start of 2018.
CROP has been very clear that it plans an aggressive expansion in 2018. Demand is very high for what they’re offering, having already lured a respectable client base into agreements involving land expansion, turnkey state-of-the-art greenhouse facilities, brand positioning opportunities, specialized equipment, and access to approved nutrients for select licensed producers in legal growing regions.
The typical agreement for CROP with a tenant involves an injection of capital, and a 60% stake on all product until the initial loan is repaid. After repayment, CROP retains a 30% stake indefinitely. By using this model, CROP adds security to its earnings potential, along with management fees, branding and licensing. This model allows tenants and clients to focus on boosting their brands while CROP provides the needed expertise in whatever the client needs.
CROP has also acquired brands to license to its tenant growers, while also securing deals for their tenants to provide ingredients for other established brands and products. CROP is becoming a popular one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs looking to make it big in the cannabis sector.
For a more in-depth look into CROP Infrastructure Corp., visit the following report from USA News Group on the company - http://americannewsgroup.com/2018/09/10/theres-a-market-shift-happening-right-now-and-this-sector-is-taking-the-lead/
Article Source:
American News group
http://americannewsgroup.com
[email protected]
Legal Disclaimer/Disclosure: While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter/report/commentary piece/article is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment. Furthermore, it is certainly possible for errors or omissions to take place regarding the profiled company, in communications, writing and/or editing. Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under any securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. American News group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. (“MIQ”). MIQ has been paid a fee for CROP Infrastructure Corp. advertising and digital media from the company. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of CROP Infrastructure Corp. and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this newsletter as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ has purchased shares of CROP Infrastructure Corp. through a private placement and does not intend on selling any shares within 72 hours of this updated publication date after such point we reserve the right to buy and sell shares in the open market, no further notice will be given. By reading this communication, you agree to the terms of this disclaimer, including, but not limited to: releasing MIQ, its affiliates, assigns and successors from any and all liability, damages, and injury from the information contained in this communication. You further warrant that you are solely responsible for any financial outcome that may come from your investment decisions.
