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VANCOUVER, Dec. 13, 2018 /CNW/ – Village Farms International, Inc. (“Village Farms” or the “Company”) (TSX:VFF) (OTCQX:VFFIF) today announced that, following yesterday’s passage by U.S. Congress of the 2018 Farm Bill, it will aggressively pursue opportunities to become a vertically integrated leader in the legal hemp industry, including significant opportunities in the cannabidiol (CBD) market. The 2018 Farm Bill is still to be signed into law by President Trump, which is expected to occur next week.
The 2018 Farm Bill includes the Hemp Farming Act 2018 which federally legalizes hemp and hemp products in the U.S., including extracts, derivatives and cannabinoids, and permanently removes hemp from the U.S. federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). CBD has become increasingly popular among consumers seeking to improve their general health and wellness. According to Brightfield Group, with the full federal legalization of hemp-derived CBD in the U.S., the global hemp CBD market is estimated to grow nearly 40-fold in the next four years to US$22 billion in 20221, driven to a large degree by what it believes could be “the next major nutraceutical phenomenon”.
“The full and unambiguous legalization of hemp, and especially hemp-derived CBD products, creates a tremendous global opportunity and Village Farms intends to be a leader in this nascent industry,” said Michael DeGiglio, Chief Executive Officer, Village Farms. “With one of the largest existing greenhouse footprints in the U.S. and a 30-year proven track record as a large-scale, low-cost grower of high-value crops, Village Farms has a formidable platform to capitalize on the hemp and CBD opportunity. In anticipation of the passage of this landmark legislation, over the last several months, we have undertaken broad and extensive foundational work to ensure Village Farms can move quickly, aggressively and profoundly.”
Mr. DeGiglio added, “Village Farms is proud to be a member of the board of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, who advocated passionately and unremittingly for the passage of this historic legislation, and we congratulate the organization on its success.”
Upon U.S. federal legalization, cultivation of hemp and the sale of hemp and hemp products, including hemp-derived CBD products, remains subject to state law. State governments may impose separate restrictions or requirements on the cultivation and the sale of hemp and hemp products. Village Farms will pursue hemp and CBD opportunities with strict adherence to applicable laws. Village Farms is currently working with lobbyists in Texas to have hemp removed from Texas’ controlled substance list in the upcoming early-2019 legislative session. Management believes early indications for the removal of hemp from Texas’ controlled substance list are favorable. Village Farms is also working with other parties to have hemp removed from the controlled substance lists of other U.S. states to enable the Company to pursue opportunities outside Texas.
“We are optimistic that state authorities will follow the federal government’s lead in permitting the cultivation and sale of hemp and hemp products and, accordingly, Village Farms will continue to advance its current hemp initiatives to ensure we are ready to move quickly and decisively as soon as relevant state laws permit,” said Mr. DeGiglio. “This is a unique and special opportunity for our Company, completely independent of our successful cannabis joint venture in Canada, to create significant, additional, long-term value for our shareholders.”
Village Farms’ potential hemp and CBD business opportunities may include, but are not limited to, the conversion of a portion of its 5.7 million square feet of existing, high-tech greenhouse operations in West Texas (one of the best growing climates for hemp in the U.S.) should the state of Texas remove hemp from its controlled substance list. Village Farms is also pursuing opportunities for both greenhouse and outdoor growing in other states where hemp is expected to be legalized. In addition, the Company believes the development of hemp strains to treat specific ailments, conditions and diseases, as well as an understanding of the health and wellness benefits of individual strains, will be critical to success in this industry and Village Farms also intends to aggressively pursue the advancement of both, independently and through collaborations.
“It is our belief that there will be significant demand for both greenhouse-grown and outdoor-grown hemp to address what is expected to be a vast array of CBD products spanning multiple categories from food and beverage to nutraceuticals to pharmaceuticals, including propagation services,” added Mr. DeGiglio. “Village Farms has a long and proud history of successfully developing large-scale agricultural projects in multiple states across the U.S. and around the world and will pursue both greenhouse and outdoor opportunities. Moreover, our deep experience, extensive relationships, and flawless agricultural product safety record as a vertically integrated grower serving most major food retailers in the U.S. and Canada provide an exceptional foundation to enable Village Farms to play a leading role in the birth and development of this industry.”
No assurance can be given as to whether hemp will ultimately become federally legal in the U.S. and legal in the State of Texas or elsewhere. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to pursue or implement the hemp-related business initiatives contemplated herein.
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