Hi5

May 19, 2022

Theory Wellness' Brand Hi5 Launches New, Fast-Acting, Cannabis-Infused Energy Drink Starting on Friday, May 20, Hi5 Energy will be exclusively available for purchase at Theory Wellness dispensary locations across Massachusetts. STONEHAM, Mass., May 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Theory Wellness, Inc. , an independently owned and operated vertically integrated cannabis company in Massachusetts and Maine, announced the expansion of its industry-leading Hi5 beverage brand with the launch of Hi5 Energy : a new, fast-acting, cannabis-infused energy beverage. Starting on Friday, May 20, the newest addition of the Hi5 family will be exclusively available for purchase at Theory Wellness Massachusetts locations in Bridgewater, Chicopee, and Great Barrington in regular and sugar-free citrus varieties. Later this spring, Hi5 Energy is also expected to roll out to the company's partner dispensaries in Massachusetts, as well as to its locations in South Portland, Bangor and Waterville, Maine. Formulated using the same fast-acting, nano-emulsified cannabis as its predecessor, Hi5 Seltzer , the new cannabis-infused energy drink delivers a rapid onset of euphoric and therapeutic effects, helping to eliminate the waiting game that's characteristic of traditional edibles. Each can of Hi5 Energy contains 5mg of THC and approximately 80mg of caffeine, which is consistent with traditional energy drinks and roughly equivalent to a cup of coffee. Brandon Pollock, CEO and co-founder of Theory Wellness, said, "Hi5's initial reception was very positive, met with a welcoming audience looking for a tasty, healthier alternative to alcohol. But after surveying customers and asking what they wanted to see in this space next, we consistently heard the same answer: energy drinks. For a wide range of consumers, the demand for cannabis-infused energy drinks continues to grow, and we're excited to answer that call." The consumers' recommendations aren't surprising given the recent growth and trajectory of the energy drink market, which is forecasted to reach soaring highs of nearly $100B with a 7.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) by the year 2027. This coincides with the tremendous growth in the infused cannabis beverage market, which is projected to reach $2B with a 16.9% CAGR by the year 2026. The cannabis beverages market was estimated at around $915M in 2021. At its launch in March 2021, Hi5 seltzers represented a new product category in the East Coast cannabis market with the introduction of Theory's all-natural, zero-calorie, fast-acting product. One year later, the brand has seen rapid growth, selling more than 1 million cans in Massachusetts in less than nine months. Lantern Expands Cannabis Delivery in Massachusetts to the North Shore On-demand delivery is available in Lynn, Salem, Swampscott and Marblehead through a partnership with Insa and Olde World Remedies. BOSTON, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE --  Lantern , an on-demand cannabis e-commerce marketplace and home delivery platform in the U.S., announced plans to expand its delivery zone to Massachusetts' North Shore in partnership with local dispensaries, Insa and Olde World Remedies. Customers over the age of 21 living in Lynn, Salem, Beverly, Swampscott and Marblehead are now able to order cannabis products of their choosing through the Lantern marketplace. Lantern launched in May 2020 as Massachusetts' first medical delivery platform and became the first adult-use delivery marketplace to serve the Greater Boston area one year later. In February, Lantern expanded its delivery operations to the South Shore by partnering with economic empowerment and delivery licensee South Shore Buds and adult-use retail dispensaries Health Circle and Commonwealth Alternative Care. Now, North Shore residents can place on-demand delivery orders for a variety of Insa and Olde World Remedies offerings including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, vapes, concentrates and more. Flexible delivery times are offered, including same-day delivery on most products. "Lantern's latest expansion into the North Shore reaffirms the company's commitment to building lasting relationships with local innovative businesses while striving to provide an effortless, convenient cannabis experience for all consumers," said Meredith Mahoney, co-founder and CEO of Lantern. "Insa and Olde World Remedies are the perfect partners to work with as we bring a diverse product selection to North Shore residents in the comfort of their homes. We are proud to work with two companies that always keep the consumer first as we expand the cannabis marketplace in the great city of Boston and beyond." LAS VEGAS (May 18, 2022) – PRESS RELEASE – Deep Roots Harvest opened the doors of its new, 8,400-square-foot flagship dispensary today, marking the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by company and community leaders. Located at a prime Las Vegas location at the intersection of Cheyenne and Jones, the new dispensary is the largest Deep Roots Harvest dispensary in the Las Vegas area. “Deep Roots Harvest is committed to Nevada and grateful for the thousands of consumers who have put their trust in us as their preferred dispensary,” said Jon Marshall, chief operating officer of Deep Roots Harvest. “Our beautiful new dispensary is one of the larger dispensaries in Las Vegas. It reaffirms our community commitment to bring Nevada citizens the best opportunities in the cannabis industry, as well as the best products and customer service.” The culmination of months of rapid expansion over the past year, the newest Deep Roots Harvest dispensary is located at the intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and Jones Boulevard, slightly more than a mile from the US-95 and Cheyenne interchange and just east of the popular community of Summerlin. The new store will serve as the company’s Las Vegas flagship and is expected to employ as many as 40 new employees once fully staffed. A future build-out at the facility will add administrative offices for marketing, wholesales, retail and security, along with a drive-thru window offering a safe and convenient pick-up option. “Deep Roots has demonstrated that it supports the diverse community of Las Vegas and actively works to ensure that diversity is represented in its hiring practices, from entry-level to more senior positions,” said Ken Evans, president of the Urban Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas . “Deep Roots is a great example of a local business that really works to be a part of the communities where they are located. They are a real Nevada company, and we are glad to have them as a member of the Urban Chamber family.” The new Deep Roots Harvest flagship store is located at 5991 W. Cheyenne Ave. in Las Vegas and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Job seekers should visit https://deeprootsharvest.com/careers for information on current and future employment opportunities. A recent study released by Validcare directly addresses the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) safety concerns regarding CBD's effects on the liver, testosterone levels and drowsiness. The FDA's safety concerns state that CBD in self-dosing individuals could cause liver injury, male reproductive toxicity, or damage males' fertility, and increase the risk of sedation and drowsiness when mixed with alcohol or other drugs that slow brain activity. The study, completed March 22, 2022, observed the effects of daily consumption of CBD on the liver, testosterone and daytime drowsiness. According to the abstract , the study included 1,061 adults ranging from 18-75 years old from across the U.S. The adults were divided into two cohorts. Both cohorts followed the same methods and took CBD orally for a minimum of 30 days. The adults "were recruited from 17 individual CBD product companies in this decentralized, observational study and sent their standard CBD regimen from the company of their choice," the abstract states. The first cohort of the study (cohort 1)—which was peer-reviewed and published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Medicine last year—involved 839 individuals who took CBD produced by 12 companies. Cohort 2 added 222 individuals who took CBD from an additional five companies. Cohort 1 used liver function as the primary endpoint. In addition to liver function, cohort 2 focused on testosterone levels and daytime drowsiness. The combined results of each cohort found that CBD "is not associated with an increased prevalence of LFT [liver function tests] elevation, testosterone deficiency, nor daytime drowsiness," according to the study. The results suggest that CBD may help reduce testosterone deficiency in men, "which may be related to CBD reducing the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in older individuals," the abstract states. Daytime drowsiness was measured using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), which measures sleepiness on a seven-point scale. The study found that the oral self-administration of CBD for 30 days caused significantly less drowsiness based on the SSS. It also found that it "significantly improves daily SSS in individuals who have difficulty with daytime sleepiness and rarely causes daytime drowsiness in those not having daytime drowsiness," the abstract states. "The data in this study looks really good; it's highly significant, and the chances of it being wrong are very, very small," Robert Kaufmann, Ph.D., Validcare director of research and former professor of medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, said in a press release from the U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR). "I am very hopeful that this data will allow the FDA to regulate these popular CBD products." "This study reaffirms the safety of Charlotte's Web hemp-derived CBD extracts and are proof of the hemp CBD industry working cooperatively to support rigorous scientific research to inform regulators, the FDA, and the U.S. Congress," said Tim Orr, Charlotte's Web senior vice president of innovation. "With 1,061 participants in two cohort studies, [the] industry stepped up and delivered the requested science for hemp CBD, again, by providing evidence outcomes in liver safety, drowsiness, testosterone impact and diabetes prevalence."