TORONTO -- Nuuvera Inc. is entering into a joint partnership with Globalive Technology Partners (GTP) to bring blockchain technology to the global cannabis market.

Following the joint development of the blockchain technology, both Nuuvera and GTP will license the software around the globe to help increase the safety and security of records as well as help supply chain management globally.

The first-of-its-kind partnership will see Nuuvera and GTP developing proprietary blockchain technology that will help validate the integrity and grade of cannabis products, from source to consumer.

“We’re extremely excited to partner with Anthony Lacavera and GTP on this disruptive global cannabis technology. In applying blockchain technology to this emerging industry, we will continue to shape the global cannabis market, and set an incredibly high bar for safety and consistency that will benefit patients everywhere,” said Nuuvera CEO Lorne Abony.

“Nuuvera’s mission is to lead the emerging cannabis industry by developing safe, consistent, and effective products for patients. We are already leveraging the capabilities of our global network with an aim of becoming the most innovative cannabis company in the world. Through this partnership with GTP, we can use blockchain technology to ensure the integrity and grade of our products – from source to retail. This demonstrates our deep commitment to leading the global cannabis industry in a positive and meaningful way,” Lorne continued.

GTP – who announced last week they will go public in 2018 -- is forming partnerships with a very select group of leading companies across a variety of sectors who recognize the strategic advantage of incorporating blockchain into their sectors. GTP have selected Nuuvera as the sole partner for the emerging and burgeoning global cannabis market.

Anthony Lacavera, Founder and CEO of GTP stated, “At GTP we share Nuuvera’s vision to help build an innovative and safe global cannabis market. We also want to see consumers receive the safest, highest quality products. That’s why we are delighted to choose Nuuvera as our sole partner to bring machine intelligence and blockchain technology to the cannabis industry.” 

DAVIE, Fla. - Green Roads, a leading manufacturer and supplier of cannabidiol (CBD) finished goods in the U.S., has announced the addition of Treyous Jarrells as the company’s new athletic consultant, according to a press release.

Jarrells, an entrepreneur and former Colorado State University running back, will develop, head and maintain Green Roads Athletics, the sports division of Green Roads. His expertise in both the sports industry as well as the cannabis and hemp industries make him the natural selection for the position.

“Treyous has a tremendous depth of industry knowledge and will be an asset for Green Roads. We couldn’t be more excited for him to join our team as an advocate for the medicinal benefits of CBD and Green Roads,” said Laura Fuentes, RPh, CEO and co-founder of Green Roads and Green Roads’ Wellness product line specifically designed for health care providers.

In 2016, Jarrells made headlines by sharing the story of his transition away from football.

Shortly after beginning his senior season with the Colorado State University football team, Jarrells left the program due to concerns that he would fail a drug test and put his education in jeopardy. Injuries and the onset of chronic pain caused by 16 years of playing football led him to use marijuana for relief, rather than addictive painkillers prescribed by team doctors.

Medical and recreational marijuana was legal in Colorado during the time; however, it remained on the NCAA’s list of banned substances. A failed drug test could have caused Jarrells' financial aid to be revoked.

In the time after he left the team, Jarrells received his college degree, utilized his business acumen to successfully establish himself in the budding medical marijuana industry and is focusing on recovering his body from the damage he sustained during his football career.

"Despite landing in the industry on the THC side, I have grown to love and support cannabidiol (CBD) as a huge component of enhancing and maintaining the human endocannabinoid system. Green Roads tinctures, as well as the topical creams, have assisted me with bringing my body to homeostasis, which allows me to function at a high level on the daily," said Treyous Jarrells.

“Treyous’ story is powerful, because there are so many who can relate to it. Chronic pain and the dangers of opioid painkillers is a major issue and people are looking for relief, without becoming addicted,” said Fuentes. “CBD can be a viable solution for many people dealing with health issues, and it is readily available in all 50 states, because it does not contain any THC.”

Green Roads products are manufactured from 100-percent-certified industrial hemp, not marijuana, and are in full compliance with the U.S. Farm Bill. Green Roads products contain zero THC, and they do not fall under the purview of the medical marijuana laws thereby making them legal in all 50 states.

Green Roads utilizes strict screening protocols to ensure quality and purity. All raw compounds are lab tested by the company and by a third-party lab during the manufacturing process.

For more information on Green Roads, the company’s retail products, and medical CBD studies, visit https://www.greenroadsworld.com and https://www.greenroadswellness.com.

Ever since U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions repealed the Obama-era policies hat shielded state-legal marijuana operators from federal prosecution, there’s been a great deal of public debate over what, precisely, that move will mean for the cannabis industry. Last week, we chronicled the statements from U.S. attorneys in states were marijuana is legal for medical or recreational purposes. Those attorneys hedged their words and agreed to follow U.S. Department of Justice guidance.

In more specific remarks, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein spoke earlier this month at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. Among many topics, Rosenstein answered a question about U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent repeal of the Cole Memo.

This C-SPAN clip covers the relevant portions of Rosenstein's speech. We’ve transcribed the audio below.

How does the DOJ plan to criminalize state-sanctioned marijuana dispensaries? How is that going to change now?

"So that’s a very topical question. Somebody’s been reading the news. There was an announcement yesterday about a change in public policy, and let me explain: This, for us, is a rule of law issue. The attorney had made it very clear that he personally believes that marijuana is a dangerous substance. That’s a very common view. There are differences of opinions about it, but that’s a decision about the merits—whether you think marijuana should or should not be legal. You’re free to have an opinion about that.

"But I talked earlier about the difference between facts and opinions; the facts are that the United States Congress has decreed that marijuana is unlawful—throughout these United States of America, every one of these 50 states. And no state or local government has the authority to overrule federal law. And so, although there are states that have decriminalized marijuana for certain purposes and purport to be regulating it for medical purposes or what they call recreational purposes – whatever purposes—it has never been the case that it’s legal. It’s very confusing. It’s confusing for my teenage daughters when I try to explain this to them.

"But, you know, consider, for example, if the federal government decreed that the speed limit is 65 mph, and the authorities in Palm Beach didn’t like that and they said that in our portion of the highway, the federal highway coming through Palm Beach, the speed limit shall be 85. We won’t pursue anybody who goes up to 85 mph. You can say whatever you like, you know, but the federal law still rules. That’s a rule of law question.

"Now, somebody’s clapping because they agree with me on the policy question, but I’m speaking to you about the rule of law issue. That’s the fact. And so that’s the challenge for us. The thing that the attorney general’s done—and while it’s consistent with his view and mine that it’s bad as a moral matter, bad as a practical matter to use marijuana—the issue here is that it’s simply illegal to do it.

"What the attorney general has done is simply to say that the Department of Justice has full discretion to enforce the law. It doesn’t say which cases we’re going to prosecute, it says we’re going to treat marijuana just like every other substance.

"An analogy you might consider is gambling, where Congress has decided to leave it to the states to make individual decisions about whether or not to allow gambling—and that’s fine. Each state is free to make their decision. They have not made that decision regarding marijuana. They decided that it’s illegal everywhere.

"And so, what the attorney general said … the policy doesn’t dictate that our U.S. attorneys are going to go out and prosecute people for using marijuana. In fact, there are almost no federal prosecutions for mere use or personal possession of marijuana. Our federal prosecutors are busy prosecuting larger-scale cases. But what the attorney general’s done in this new policy is simply to say—there have been a number of memos written about this by department officials who are trying to grapple with this issue, and they were misinterpreted to suggest somehow that the Department of Justice has overruled the Congress. And what the attorney general’s said is that’s not the case—our U.S. attorneys are free to prosecute violations of the law involving marijuana just like all other substances. And what they’re going to do is what they do in all cases: evaluate the facts and circumstances and decide whether a particular case warrants prosecution. And so, as I said, it’s important to distinguish, whether you agree with the policy result—marijuana should or shouldn’t be legal—our job in the department is to respect the fact that it is unlawful under federal law."

Top image courtesy of C-SPAN

Last week, U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Don Young (R-AK) introduced a bill that would effectively restore the protections granted to state-legal marijuana operators under the Cole Memo. The immediate impact would be to counter a U.S. Department of Justice policy shift announced by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier this month – namely, the very repeal of the Cole Memo.

HR 4779, titled “the REFER Act,” would bar the federal government from spending any money on the prosecution of operators or business owners in states where marijuana has been legalized for medical or recreational purposes. (“REFER” stands for Restraining Excessive Federal Enforcement and Regulations.) The bill also prevents the federal government from going after banking institutions simply because they provide a financial service to a business involved with marijuana.

The spirit of the bill mirrors the Cole Memo, which was published in 2013 by then-deputy U.S. Attorney General James Cole.

“The federal government should respect the will of the voters in states that have voted to decriminalize cannabis. It’s time to stop wasting taxpayer money on the failed War on Drugs,” Lee said in a public statement. “I’m proud to introduce the REFER Act, which would prevent the Attorney General and others in the Trump Administration from stifling the budding cannabis industry. If the federal government chooses to interfere in these state matters, it’s up to Congress to prevent this harmful overreach.”

Lee, whose district includes the city of Oakland, pointed to the growing number of Americans living in states that have approved a legal marijuana program. In California, the adult-use retail market went live on Jan. 1.

“The cannabis industry is moving forward, despite the best efforts of the Trump Administration to hamper this progress,” she said. “One in five Americans resides in a state where cannabis use has been legalized. By passing the REFER Act, Congress can end the federal government’s wrongful targeting of this industry and ensure that the will of the American people is respected.”

Prior to any in-depth debate on that subject, though, the marijuana industry will be watching the U.S. Congress this week as its next spending bill deadline looms on Jan. 19. In that bill lies the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, which extends specifics protections to legal medical marijuana programs (including CBD-only programs). That amendment is similar to the Cole Memo and HR 4779 in that its method is to bar the DOJ from funding the prosecution of any state-legal medical marijuana operator.

See the full bill here:

HR 4779, the REFER Act by sandydocs on Scribd

Top photo courtesy of Wikipedia