Buds & Duds: Cannabis stocks lag as multistate operator Curaleaf cautioned for unsubstantiated claims

Cannabis indices were down on Tuesday after news that the largest multistate operator in the US could face legal action after allegedly claiming that its CBD products are an effective cancer treatment.

The North American Marijuana Index, which tracks the top cannabis stocks in the US and Canada, sank 3.2% to hit 209.3 points. Elsewhere, the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF was also down, losing 0.8% to C$16.54. The OTCQX Cannabis Index shed 3.5% to 686.5 points.

Buds

ICC International Cannabis Corp (CSE:WRLD.U) was a standout on Tuesday after announcing a cannabinoid pharmaceutical advisory agreement with Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Biogen advisor and cannabinoid expert Dr. Alexandros Makriyannis.

The company is poised to develop, alongside some very big names in the drugs world, the first cannabinoid biosynthesis platform to mass produce cannabis compounds in a cheaper way than conventional growing and extraction processes.

Investors sent ICC shares soaring 19.1% higher at US$0.13 at the midway point of Tuesday’s trading.

Elsewhere, shares of The Flowr Corporation (CVE:FLWR) continued to rise on the back of its Monday announcement that it is planning to raise C$43.5 million to fund the acquisition of global cannabis company Holigen Holdings.

Flowr currently owns 19.8% of Holigen and is seeing to acquire 100% ownership.

Shares of Flowr were up 2.5% in Toronto at C$4.10.

WeedMD Inc (CVE:WMD) also saw its shares nudge higher in morning trading after announcing it has launched CX Industries Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary that will specialize in extraction, toll processing and third-party product formulation.

In a statement, the company said CX Industries will have the capacity to process more than 200,000 kilograms of biomass at its peak production in 2020 from WeedMD’s facility in Aylmer, Ontario.

Duds

Market watchers were shocked on Tuesday to learn that marijuana giant Curaleaf Holdings Inc (CSE:CURA) was cautioned by the US Food and Drug Administration for allegedly illegally selling unapproved products containing CBD online with unsubstantiated claims that the products treat cancer.

Shares of Curaleaf plummeted 8.5% by midday Tuesday at C$9.60.

The FDA requested a response from Curaleaf within 15 days to correct the violations or else face legal action, including seizure and injunction.

Also down on Tuesday was TerrAscend Corp (CSE:TER), which lost 5.8% at C$6.04 after its partner PharmHouse secured a cannabis cultivation license on Monday.

Story by ProactiveInvestors