Here’s the blurb…
New Cannabidiol-Rich Product Line to Help Native American Tribes Across U.S. Develop Hemp and Cannabis-Based Economies to Protect Sovereignty; Cannabis Restoration by Sovereign Nations Larger Opportunity Than Multi-Billion Dollar Native American Gaming Industry
SAN DIEGO, CA–(Marketwired – August 15, 2016) – Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC PINK: MJNA) and its subsidiary HempMeds® announced today a partnership with CannaNative™, LLC (“CannaNative™”) to produce the first-ever cannabis product line for the Native American marketplace. CannaNative™” is the premiere Native American-owned and operated company that uses cannabis to develop opportunities for economic development on American Indian lands.
Through the partnership, Medical Marijuana, Inc. and HempMeds® will produce health and wellness cannabidiol (CBD) products derived from industrial hemp for the CannaNative™-branded line, which will be distributed to tribal wellness centers on reservations and native doctor’s offices, pharmacies and dispensaries. The partnership and products are intended to help the more than 560 U.S. tribal nations develop hemp and cannabis-based economies to protect their sovereignty.
“Medical Marijuana, Inc. is a company of ‘firsts’ and we are honored to produce this historic product line for CannaNative™, which will be the first legal cannabis-based product line for the Native American marketplace, including industrial hemp and hemp-botanical CBD products,” said CEO of Medical Marijuana, Inc. Dr. Stuart Titus. “The Company and its Native American owners and leaders are paving the way for indigenous tribes to restore cannabis use, research, commerce, banking and cultivation, which includes industrial hemp, on tribal lands. We’re also excited to help tribal nations once again take advantage of some of the 50,000-plus known uses for industrial hemp that are 100 percent sustainable and renewable. The potential to grow and research medical marijuana and non-psychoactive CBD on native lands also brings a tremendous amount of possibilities for tribes and the overall cannabis, hemp industries.”
CannaNative™ is run by co-founder and CEO Anthony Rivera, a Harvard University graduate who led the Acjachemen Nation in Southern California for nearly a decade; co-founders Cedric Black Eagle, a former chairman of the Crow Tribe of Montana, and Andy Nakai, a member of the Navajo Nation who also serves as vice chairman of the board for the Navajo Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Rivera spoke about the new CannaNative™-branded, cannabis-based product line during his opening keynote speech on Aug. 6 at the Southern California Cannabis Conference and Expo.
“We believe that every Native American tribe should have the opportunity to establish and grow a responsible, cannabis-based economy to sustain all future generations, which this product line will help us achieve,” said Rivera. “In fact, cannabis restoration by sovereign nations represents a unique advantage that is larger than the multi-billion dollar Native American gaming industry. Our goal is to help tribal leaders focus on building their nations with sustainable cannabis-based solutions, as well as protecting tribal sovereignty through strict regulations and collaboration with legal authorities.”
Hemp has a robust history with Native Americans, dating back to 17th century America when farmers in Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut were ordered by law to grow “Indian hemp.” In 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice opened the door for tribes to legalize marijuana for medicinal, agricultural and recreational use the same way individual states can. Today, CannaNative™ believes that full restoration of cannabis cultivation and developing a cannabis-based economy is an inherent right of all 566 tribes located throughout the U.S.
In Nov. 2015, CannaNative™ entered into a strategic partnership with America’s first Indian-focused marijuana trade organization the National Indian Cannabis Coalition (NICC), which was formed after the U.S. Department of Justice granted tribes the ability to legalize and regulate on-reservation marijuana with the 2014 Wilkinson memo. However, uncertainty still pervades the industry, with federal and state authorities raiding and shutting down marijuana operations on three different reservations in California.
Together, CannaNative™ and the NICC are actively educating tribal leaders on the emerging regulated cannabis markets from an entrepreneurial and operations perspective to help them develop successful cannabis-based economies within their sovereign nations and to prevent disruptive and costly incidents such as crop destruction.
CannaNative™ is also at the forefront of providing solutions for the U.S.-based cannabis industry’s lack of banking alternatives. Lack of banking in a cash-and-carry industry is creating a public safety issue, which CannaNative™ is addressing by modeling the highly regulated and successful cash-based gaming industry by Native American tribes to provide banking solutions for the U.S. cannabis industry.
CannaNative™ was formed to spearhead the restoration of cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and distribution of products for health and wellness initiatives, medical research, banking and more.
For more information on CannaNative™, visit the Company’s website at www.CannaNative.com.
About CannaNative LLC.
The CannaNative™ goal is to help tribes to develop hemp and cannabis-based economies on Native American lands throughout the United States. We believe that every tribe should have the opportunity to establish and grow a responsible, cannabis-based economy to sustain all future generations. For more information on CannaNative, visit the Company’s website at www.CannaNative.com.
About HempMeds®
HempMeds® offers mainstream marketing, sales, customer service, and logistics for the cannabis industry. HempMeds® is a corporate portfolio company of Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC PINK: MJNA) and the Company’s exclusive master distributor and contracted marketing company.
About Medical Marijuana, Inc.
Our mission is to be the premier cannabis and hemp industry innovators, leveraging our team of professionals to source, evaluate and purchase value-added companies and products, while allowing them to keep their integrity and entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to create awareness within our industry, develop environmentally-friendly, economically sustainable businesses, while increasing shareholder value. For details on Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s portfolio and investment companies, visit www.medicalmarijuanainc.com.
To see Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s video statement, click here. Shareholders are also encouraged to visit the Medical Marijuana, Inc. Shop for discounted products.
