WASHINGTON -- Canadians who take part in the legal cannabis industry find themselves facing deep potholes on the road to entering the United States -- and immigration lawyers who specialize in border issues say the federal government needs to help them navigate a way through.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency sent tremors through the country's burgeoning cannabis sector last week with word that legalization in Canada won't change the fact that American laws treat marijuana as a banned substance, and industry insiders as drug traffickers.

Despite the fact that some jurisdictions in North America permit the use of medical and recreational marijuana, U.S. federal law continues to prohibit its sale, possession, production and distribution, an agency spokesperson said in a statement.

"Consequently, crossing the border or arriving at a U.S. port of entry in violation of this law may result in denied admission, seizure, fines, and apprehension," the statement said.

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Top photo by Mat Hayward

DENVER--(PRESS RELEASE)--MJardin Group, a North American cannabis facility management company, today announced that the Company has completed a strategic acquisition with F&L Investments LLC, the sole member of GreenMart of Nevada LLC, a licensed cannabis cultivation entity based in Las Vegas. The Acquisition represents MJardin’s inaugural flagship asset in Nevada for a combined consideration of cash and stock of approximately $22 million.

In connection with the Acquisition, MJardin has acquired a four-acre site containing two existing cultivation facilities, located in northeastern Las Vegas. One facility is currently operational and the second is expected to be operational by January 2019. At full capacity, the two facilities can produce more than 10,000 pounds (4,500 kilograms) of finished flower product annually through MJardin’s turn-key cannabis management system.

MJardin has plans to develop on-site extraction and packaging capabilities for innovative brands and product sets for the Nevada market. The Company is also negotiating supply agreements with various dispensary clients and will continue to pursue strategic opportunities in Nevada and other states.

“Our strategic transaction expands MJardin’s exposure to the promising Nevada market, which attracts nearly 43 million visitors annually,” said Joann Bailey, President of MJardin. “While MJardin has maintained service agreements in Nevada for years, this transaction provides us with a flagship location whereby we own the physical asset and can significantly expand its capabilities through MJardin’s proven cannabis management team.”

An experienced cannabis company, MJardin-managed facilities have collectively produced and sold more than 100,000 kg of cannabis to date. The Company has a proven track recordin 13 U.S. states, Canada and Australia, having designed and planned more than 100 legal cannabis facilities since inception with 30+ licensed facilities currently under management.

The Acquisition is comprised of a number of components, including a membership interest purchase agreement which is subject to a number of closing conditions including the receipt of regulatory approval by the Nevada Department of Taxation, and if applicable, other municipal authorities. There can be no assurance that the Department or the applicable municipal authorities will approve the contemplated investment. If certain regulatory approvals are not obtained, MJardin and F&L Investments have the right to terminate the Acquisition.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s highest court on Tuesday allowed the private use of marijuana, upholding a lower court’s ruling that found the criminalization of cannabis was unconstitutional.

Activists who include members of the Rastafarian movement and traditional healers greeted the ruling with loud applause. They have held marches over the years to demand that the law be changed to allow people to smoke ‘weed,’ which is called ‘dagga’ in South Africa.

Several government departments, including the health and justice ministries, oppose its legalization and warn of harmful effects.

But in a unanimous judgment read by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, the Constitutional Court decriminalized home consumption, saying “the use of cannabis must be for the personal consumption of the adult.”

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Georgia’s Finance Minister, Ivane Machavariani, has said that if the government implements the marijuana cultivation reform for export purposes, in the near future Georgia can expect to see at least GEL 1 billion in profit.

The Minister made the statement during an interview with Imedi TV, noting that Georgia could be a “significant player on this market,” as it is connected to new technologies.

“From year to year, the production of cannabis is growing rapidly and according to various forecasts, in 2024-2025, it will reach around $25 billion,” he said.

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