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Mexico & Paraguay Embrace the Potential for Cannabis-Based Medicines

Ryan Allway

July 27th, 2016

News, Top Story

A growing body of research suggests that cannabinoids from both hemp and marijuana such as cannabidiol (CBD) could be beneficial for a large number of different medical indications. According to Google Scholar, more than 1,250 clinical studies of CBD have been published in 2016 alone. The United States and many developed countries seem “slow to adopt” when it comes to embracing CBD’s medical potential, but several Latin American countries have stepped up their acceptance of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid.

In this article, we will take a look at Medical Marijuana Inc.’s (OTC Pink: MJNA) expansion into Mexico and Paraguay with its Real Scientific Hemp Oil™ (RSHO™) product line.

Historic Expansion – Legal Cannabis into Mexico

Mexico’s War on Drugs took on new significance in 2006 with a nationwide goal of reducing drug-related violence. While Mexican drug cartels have existed for several decades, the decline of Colombian cartels at this time had dramatically expanded the reach of Mexican drug cartels by expanding their market share (which had been growing since the 1990s).

Former Mexico President Felipe Calderon’s rampage against the cartels led to at least 60,000 Mexican deaths between 2006 and 2012, but illicit earnings still ranged from $13.6 to $49.4 billion each year from the black market marijuana and cocaine trade. Most of this revenue came from export to the US underground markets.

The world has more recently been re-thinking how it views marijuana, cannabis and cannabis products — especially those derived from hemp. On November 4, 2015, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that marijuana for recreational use could be decriminalized. The ruling only then applied to four citizens that had filed a legal complaint, but experts agreed that the court’s decision created a legal pathway towards marijuana legalization throughout the country.

Cannabis legalization would put Mexico on the same path as many other countries in the Americas and could represent a multibillion-dollar market over the next ten years.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. had been following many families and their efforts to access CBD oil products similar to those legalized in other Latin American countries, especially in Brazil, which in April 2014 began allowing botanical CBD products for special import into the country to assist certain medical conditions.

The lawyers representing several Mexican families mentioned that if Medical Marijuana, Inc. could come up with a fully THC-free version of the Company’s flagship RSHO™ product – that they thought this would pass the high-level testing and scrutiny of the Mexico regulatory authority, COFEPRIS.

Leveraging the innovation that has made Medical Marijuana, Inc. known throughout the industry, the Company developed Real Scientific Hemp Oil-X™ (RSHO-X™). On Feb. 1, 2016, Mexico’s War on Drugs saw a stunning reversal, as COFEPRIS found that RSHO-X™ contained “non-detectable” THC, and was the first-ever federally approved cannabis product allowed for import from the U.S. into Mexico for medical purposes.

After a massive press conference in Mexico City on Feb. 2, Medical Marijuana, Inc. announced that it secured two of the country’s first permits to export RSHO-X™ from the U.S. into Mexico. (Also see the documentary Crisis, which documented the events in Mexico leading up to the historic import permits.)

The enormous potential of CBD oil as a treatment for a large number of different medical indications could open the door to a potentially large and growing market south of the border.  Today, Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s RSHO-X™ remains the only legal cannabis product allowed to be imported into Mexico and, while the product can be driven across the border, a doctor’s prescription is required for legal import.

Ongoing Move Into Paraguay

Paraguay has been Latin America’s second-largest producer of illicit, black-market cannabis – after Mexico – and has been the primary supplier of illicit cannabis for Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.

In late-2014 and 2015, politicians in Paraguay became increasingly supportive of marijuana legalization as a way to reduce violence and increase national revenue. Senator Blas Llano’s support for legalization made him the highest-ranking official to suggest the move in early 2015, which could help set the stage for eventual cannabis legalization in Paraguay.

In the meantime, Paraguay followed in the footsteps of Brazil and Mexico in issuing a permit to import Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s RSHO™. The Dirreccion Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria allowed the import of RSHO™ Blue Label Liquid for the first patient in Paraguay – a teenager who has an intractable form of epilepsy, meaning that the condition was resistant to traditional pharmaceutical medications. The family had petitioned the Paraguay government for the right to import the CBD-rich hemp oil after hearing about CBD’s effectiveness in other countries.

Since the initial permit, Paraguay has issued a second CBD import permit for RSHO™, in a sign that restrictions are being further relaxed. Paraguay may not be a large-end market itself, but the move to legalize non-psychoactive cannabinoids could have a profound impact on the region.

Looking Ahead

Medical Marijuana, Inc. has been instrumental in expanding awareness of CBD oil and the expansion of new markets that can potentially help millions across Latin America. While the legalization of recreational marijuana could still be several years away – with the exception of Uruguay, the legalization of non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD has already arrived. The company’s RSHO™ product lines have been at the forefront of this expansion across Latin America and around the world.

Investors may want to take a closer look at the publicly traded company’s stock given these expanding distribution channels around the world. With four divisions dedicated to nutraceutical sales and two divisions in pharmaceutical development, the company’s commercial-stage products address a large and growing end market.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.medicalmarijuanainc.com.

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.

Disclaimer: Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC dba TDM Financial, which owns CannabisFN, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC dba TDM Financial, which owns CannabisFN, may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and will increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice and that of their own professional advisers. Emerging Growth LLC dba TDM Financial, which owns CannabisFN, may be compensated for its Services in the form of cash-based and/or equity- based compensation in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: https://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/.

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CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN) owns and operates CFN Media Group, the premier agency and financial media network reaching executives, entrepreneurs and consumers worldwide. Through its proprietary content creation, video library, and distribution via www.CannabisFN.com, CFN has built an extensive database of cannabis interest, assisting many of the world’s largest cannabis firms and CBD brands to build awareness and thrive. For more information, please visit www.cfnenterprisesinc.com.

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