Nextleaf Solutions Ltd (CSE:OILS) (OTCQB:OILFF) (FRA:L0MA) has added another patent to its already expanding US portfolio, with the latest for a technology, which can improve the economics of processing hemp into high-purity CBD extracts.
The new patent covers a method for separating cannabinoid-rich trichomes from lower potency cannabis biomass, including most approved industrial hemp cultivars, which Nextleaf uses to increase the concentration of CBD in hemp biomass, the company said in a statement.
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Nextleaf is a cannabis processor that owns one of the largest portfolios of US patents for the extraction, distillation, and delivery of cannabinoids. It has 14 US patents and has been issued with over 70 globally.
In Thursday's statement, the company also highlighted that the first half of 2021 had been defined by M&A and consolidation activity in the cannabis industry.
"On March 11, 2021, British American Tobacco acquired a 19.9% stake in an Atlantic Canada-based cannabis producer Organigram. As part of the investment, British American Tobacco and Organigram agreed to establish a Centre of Excellence to collaborate on intellectual property and product development. This week, the Boston Beer Company, maker of Samuel Adams beer announced it is establishing a subsidiary in Canada to serve as a dedicated research and innovation hub for non-alcoholic cannabis beverages," it noted.
Nextleaf Solutions CEO Paul Pedersen added: "Global tobacco and alcohol giants have been investing in Canadian marijuana producers to understand regulated cannabis and generate IP to deploy into U.S. markets upon federal legalization.
"As one of the largest cannabis patent holders globally, Nextleaf Solutions is excited to see big tobacco and alcohol validate our intellectual property-focused strategy. We have been building a moat around our technology, protecting the most efficient methods for producing standardized cannabinoids within a regulated market.
"With this latest issued US patent, Nextleaf has protected competitively-advantaged technology vital to the low-cost production of high-purity CBD extracts."
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com