Will Big Tobacco Become Big Marijuana? USA Today Asks; Bud Genius Answers

While some cannabis companies seemed concerned about big tobacco’s entry into the cannabis industry, Bud Genius says to embrace the inevitable

LOS ANGELES--()--Bud Genius, Inc. (www.bgmedtech.com) (OTC: RIGH), a leading laboratory for cannabis testing and profiling, developer of data-driven rating systems for marijuana strains, brand and retail development specialist, and licensee of celebrity-endorsed marijuana-related merchandise, commented today on an article in USA Today, which examined the potential role of major tobacco companies in the cannabis industry.

“Many fear that tobacco companies, with their deep pockets, longstanding experience dealing with heavy government regulation, and relationships with generations of farmers will jump into the burgeoning marijuana market,” the article stated. “At marijuana business conventions and in private conversations, it sometimes seems like everyone has heard a rumor about Big Tobacco getting in.”

Angel Stanz, CEO of Bud Genius says the corporate giants are inevitable and very few companies will survive the incursion regardless of whether they are publicly traded or privately held. “The one thing that the big tobacco companies will need is data, which they do not have and currently cannot collect. Multinational corporations base their marketing, brand positioning, and product management on data. This includes detailed demographics of their consumers and how attributes of each product appeal to them,” he said. “As the company with the largest combination of quantitative and qualitative data regarding cannabis strain composition and specific consumer interests, I believe that the day the tobacco companies enter the cannabis market is the day that our company value soars.”

In a June 2014 paper titled, "Waiting for the Opportune Moment: The Tobacco Industry and Marijuana Legalization,” researchers Rachel Ann Barry, Heikki Hiilamo and Stanton Glantz wrote: "Since at least the 1970s, tobacco companies have been interested in marijuana and marijuana legalization as both a potential and a rival product… As public opinion shifted and governments began relaxing laws pertaining to marijuana criminalization, the tobacco companies modified their corporate planning strategies to prepare for future consumer demand.”

Stanz thinks this level of competition will be good for the cannabis industry and will keep businesses innovating. “Big tobacco will cause a catastrophic thinning of the herd. Smart companies are acting now to position themselves with unique intellectual property. For example, the tobacco industry is built on brands -- Are you the cowboy or the jazz guy? However, these outdated brands will not work in the cannabis industry,” Stanz commented. “The three biggest brand names in the marijuana industry, one of which we recently announced, are beginning down the path of carving out market share and creating market dominance,” he added. “We view the eventual competition from the tobacco industry as building immense value in our data and stimulating the value of name brands – an area where we hold the industry’s brightest star.”

For more information on Bud Genius, call (855) 723-3283, or visit BGMedtech.com

About Bud Genius:

An early leader in the cannabis industry, Bud Genius is one of the first established analytical cannabis laboratories in the United States. Bud Genius launched to bring vendors together with doctors, patients, and dispensaries that require certified products held to demanding standards. Bud Genius’ mission is to expand across the US and abroad, serving as the beacon of quality for medical cannabis and adult-use marijuana through the formation of regional laboratories, strain certification, data collection, online reporting, and product development.

For more information please visit: www.BGMedtech.com
Visit the cannabis showroom at: www.BudGenius.com

Connect:

Website: www.BGMedtech.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/BudGenius
Cannabis Showroom: www.BudGenius.com

Forward Looking Statements:

This press announcement includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements that can be identified by such terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. In particular, management's expectations could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties relating to our success in completing acquisitions, financing our operations, entering into strategic partnerships, competitive factors, and other matters. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

Contacts

Bud Genius, Inc.
Randall Huft, 855-723-3283
Public Relations
Randall@BudGenius.com

Release Summary

Will Big Tobacco Become Big Marijuana? While some cannabis companies seem concerned about big tobacco’s entry into the cannabis industry, Bud Genius says to embrace the inevitable.

Contacts

Bud Genius, Inc.
Randall Huft, 855-723-3283
Public Relations
Randall@BudGenius.com