Agrima Botanicals Corp. Develops Methodology for Water-Soluble Cannabinoid Delivery

VANCOUVER, Sept. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Ascent Industries Corp. (CSE: ASNT) ("Ascent" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Agrima Botanicals Corp., the Company has developed a proprietary methodology for producing a variety of discrete, water-soluble cannabinoids, both in powder and liquid form. Cannabinoids in their natural state are oil-based and non-water soluble, making it challenging for beverage makers and edibles manufacturers to evenly suspend and standardize their product mixtures. Water-soluble cannabinoids emulsify evenly, allowing both beverage and edibles makers to completely standardize their product mixtures, giving end consumers a consistent, high quality product experience. Additionally, water-soluble cannabinoids have a faster activation time of approximately 10-15 minutes in the human body, compared to 30-45 minutes generally for oil-based delivery methods. These effects generally wear off within two hours compared to 4-6 hours with traditional oil-based products.

This development strengthens the Company's intellectual property footprint, providing the potential for Ascent to become a leading provider of cannabinoid formulates.  When the Company's large-scale production facility, Agrima Labs, is fully licensed and operational, the Company expects it will be able to provide large quantities of water-soluble formulate to beverage and edibles manufacturers as an input ingredient. The Company expects to provide a variety of discrete cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, CBN and CBG distillates, isolates and water-soluble formulates, to medical and adult-use product manufacturers globally.  The Company is in the process of adding this intellectual property to its patent portfolio.

Philip Campbell, CEO of Ascent, noted "With this significant development, Ascent continues to be at the forefront of cannabis extraction and formulation technology for new product formats. We are well positioned to be a leader in providing our water soluble and other bulk formulates to product manufacturers around the world including pharmaceutical, edibles and beverage makers."  

About Ascent Industries Corp.

In Canada, Ascent (through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Agrima Botanicals) is a Licenced Producer under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations of Health Canada, with licences to cultivate cannabis and produce cannabis extracts. In addition, the Company is a Licenced Dealer under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada), with the ability to produce, package, sell, send, transport and distribute medically focused cannabis products in Canada to other licenced entities and internationally in jurisdictions where medical cannabis is legal. In the United States, the Company holds licences in Oregon (for processing and for distribution of cannabis to any licenced entity in the state) and in Nevada (for cultivation and for production, processing and wholesale distribution of cannabis). In Europe, Agrima ApS, a Danish company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascent, has submitted licence applications for a Wholesaler Dealers Licence and Controlled Drug Licence in Denmark, and applications for the approval of eight products to the Danish Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. 

The Company's operations currently include licenced facilities in British Columbia, Canada, and in Oregon and Nevada in the United States. The Company is increasing its cultivation and production capacity from 50,000 square feet to 710,000 square feet in 2018, from which it expects to produce significantly higher amounts of cannabis and cannabis oil to support its expanding operations.

The Company offers a product suite of more than 40 unique products under several consumer-focused brands, including gel capsules, tinctures, medicinal oils, concentrates, vaporizer pens, pre-rolled joints, various edibles and raw flower. Through careful development of its sophisticated cannabis brands, Ascent is positioned to be a leader in branded, commercialized products in both medical and adult-use markets across North America and internationally.

In addition, the Company conducts cannabis-based research with Simon Fraser University, including in the area of unique cannabinoid formulations that produce targeted physiological outcomes.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: Ascent's expectations concerning its methodology for converting cannabinoids into water-soluble states, both in powder and liquid form. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, Ascent assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

SOURCE Ascent Industries

Philip Campbell, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]