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Medical Marijuana Inc. – It’s All About the Marketing

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Charles_NMB Expo

2nd Annual Marijuana Business Conference & Expo in Seattle

There’s a very different tone taking shape in the mainstream media regarding the cannabis industry. What was once thought of as an illegal fad industry with little prospects for expansion is now starting to get the attention of politicians and mainstream news organizations. It’s well-deserved recognition as the growth of the industry is now commanding the attention of those that are focused on identifying the next wealth building cycle.

Institutional investors have long shunned investment opportunities in the space due to the risks associated with federal prohibition. However, with opposition to legalization softening, more eyes are turning toward this budding industry for investment opportunities. It’s not surprising that the viability of cannabis-related organizations is getting more attention. A recent Gallup poll found that 58% of Americans now favor the legalization of marijuana. This has, in all likelihood, gotten the attention of political leaders, some of whom are realizing the benefit of having the favor of this sizable base of constituents.

These shifting mores have created tremendous opportunities for cannabis businesses. But opportunity without effort is a missed opportunity. Businesses have to sell products, and for that they need a well-defined plan. Years ago, my martial arts instructor asked the school’s master (a true philosopher and supreme badass) what made his school so successful. My instructor wanted our class to hear the tenets of success from the revered man himself.

I waited with baited breath for his nugget of ancient wisdom to emerge. I imagined wise words about discipline and hard work.

The master turned towards the class, tilted his head slightly and said, very deliberately, in his thick accent, “It’s all about the marketing.”

Now, I must admit that at the time I didn’t fully grasp the wisdom in his response. I have since come to recognize and appreciate the astuteness of his words and how important marketing is to the success of any business. Whether selling self-defense classes or cannabis products, marketing is where the rubber meets the road. People won’t take your class or buy your product if they don’t know about it or don’t understand it.

This leads me to the efforts of Charles Vest, VP of Communications for HempMedPX™.  Charles is the “marketing master” (as analogies go) for HempMedsPX™ which is the exclusive master distributor and contracted marketing company for CannaVest Corp. (CANV) and Medical Marijuana, Inc (MJNA). When listening to Charles speak about the products he represents, it’s clear that he is a man on a mission.

As Charles puts it in a recent press release announcing the company as the exclusive Gold Sponsor of the 2nd Annual Marijuana Business Conference & Expo in Seattle, HempMedsPX™ is on a “…multi-phased approach of branding and awareness of hemp-based CBD products with open availability in all fifty states.” CBD is a non-psychoactive (no “high”) compound found in the cannabis plant that is showing promise in treating debilitating neurological diseases such as epilepsy.

The products showcased at the expo and mentioned in the press release include:

The Seattle expo received impressive coverage by FOX News and CNBC. Charles Vest is shown in both videos, but is most vocal in the Fox piece where he extols the benefits of being able to, “…get the benefits of cannabis without any of the high.” Tripp Keber, another well-known entrepreneur in the Medical Marijuana, Inc. family, was also highlighted in the CNBC video segment. His commentary was enlightening for many wondering about the validity of interest from the elites in the investment community.

Tripp revealed that, “Just yesterday, I met with a hedge fund, I met with institutional investors, and approximately half a dozen credit investors.” These types of investors have the ability garner political action through lobbying and donations to reelection campaigns. Combine this with the 58% will of the people in favor of marijuana legalization and you have a potential catalyst that should not be ignored.

The cannabis industry is in a transformational stage that is at its tipping point. The Huffington Post recently published an article and video segment titled, “Marijuana Market Poised To Grow Faster Than Smartphones”. It’s no wonder that media and politicians are now taking this industry seriously. If the Huffington Post is even close to being correct, HempMedsPX™ could propel Medical Marijuana, Inc. and CannaVest Corp. to extraordinary levels, creating the next wave of millionaire investors in its wake.

Disclosure: I am an investor in MJNA and this article was written on behalf of Medical Marijuana, Inc.

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New Product – CBD Simple, Wins High CBD Award at the US Cannabis Cup Seattle 2013

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Standing out among one’s peers in competition is a distinction that consumers and investors alike should always pay close attention to. Excellence is never an accident or the result of luck, but rather the result of hard work and dedication to craft. So when a HempMedsPXsubmission won the High CBD Award with the new product – CBD Simple – it reminded me of how new, superior products can quickly fuel brand recognition and growth.

The Medical Cannabis Cup is the result of High Times Magazine’s Editor-In-Chief Steven Hagar’s campaign to promote the personal use and cultivation of cannabis and is considered the “Academy Awards of Marijuana.” (Citation 1) To be nominated is a distinction, to win is an honor that recognizes and applauds superior performance. This analogy may seem a little heavy-handed, but when you consider the state of the cannabis industry – having finally crested the majority acceptance of the US population – this kind of public recognition could be a “tipping point” for the success of products offered by HempMedsPX.

This year’s US event was held during a two-day expo in Seattle, WA and included seminars, question-and-answer panels with industry leaders and, of course, lots of music and fun. But it was serious business for the many industry professionals in attendance. The High Times website posted a “Winner’s Gallery” (Citation 2) that highlighted this year’s winners.

HempMedsPX – a corporate portfolio company of Medical Marijuana Inc. and the exclusive master distributor and contracted marketing company for CannaVest Corp (CANV) and Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA.PK) – submitted four products for judging by industry experts: CanChew gum, Real Scientific Hemp Oil (RSHO), and two prototype products, CBD Gold and CBD Simple. But it was CBD Simple that ran away with the competition.

CBD Simple tested at a record 95.8% CBD – the highest CBD percentage ever documented at the Cannabis Cup – earning the company the “High CBD Award” in the concentrates category.

This is an incredible outcome, especially when you consider that second place was a DISTANT second place, and tested at around 54% CBD. Consumers should be pleased to know that the company offers pharmaceutical-grade CBD that is available from HempMedsPX right now – and it’s from a natural hemp source, not synthetic. There is even more good news for consumers and suppliers alike: because this CBD is made from hemp oil, it’s fully legal in all fifty states.

Winning the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup is certainly a significant milestone for product developers and cultivators. However, to do it with a new product is proof that the company’s focus on new and innovative products is bearing fruit and could place them on the fast-track for solid brand recognition and accelerated growth.

Disclosure: I am an investor in MJNA and (OTC: CANV) and this article was written on behalf of Medical Marijuana, Inc.

Citations

Citation 1 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Times

Citation 2 – http://www.hightimes.com/view/us-cannabis-cup-seattle-2013-winners-gallery

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