VIVO Cannabistm announces Health Canada approval for Napanee expansion, doubling production capacity in Ontario

NAPANEE, ON, March 21, 2019 /CNW/ - VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX-V: VIVO, OTCQX: VVCIF) ("VIVO" or the "Company") today announced that the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, ABcann Medicinals Inc., has received approval from Health Canada to begin cultivation in the expansion of its Vanluven Road facility in Napanee, resulting in a doubling of the Company's Ontario cultivation capacity. Cultivation in the expanded area will commence immediately.

The expansion includes production and product development space built to GMP standards. A supercritical CO2 extraction suite for production of concentrates has been incorporated into the facility and is expected to be brought on-line mid 2019. VIVO's current production capacity is now over 5,000 kilograms and is anticipated to further increase to 11,000 kilograms later in 2019 following the completion and licensing of on-going, fully-funded expansion projects in Hope, B.C. and Napanee, Ontario. This capacity will be augmented by several thousand additional kilograms sourced from third-party cultivators that meet VIVO's rigorous quality standards.

"Through our internal expansion projects (including indoor facilities, seasonal greenhouses and outdoor growing) and certified third-party partners, we are well-positioned to increase our offering of premium products in Canada's medical and adult-use markets, including launching new formats such as edibles, concentrates and precisely-dosed medical products when they are permitted by regulations," said Barry Fishman, Chief Executive Officer of VIVO.

Mr. Fishman added, "The GMP certification of our Vanluven expansion, expected later this year, will enable us to service the growing international medical cannabis market. We are excited to build on our success by introducing new high-margin, value-added products which leverage our increased production capabilities and tap into the user insights gained from our vast Harvest Medicine Clinic patient network."

About VIVO Cannabistm

VIVO, based in Napanee, Ontario, is recognized for trusted, high-quality products and services. It holds production and sales licences from Health Canada and operates world-class indoor cultivation facilities with proprietary plant-growing technology. VIVO has a collection of premium brands targeting unique customer segments, including Beacon Medicaltm, FIRESIDEtm, Canna Farmstm and Luminatm. In August 2018, VIVO acquired Canna Farms, a premium cannabis company based in Hope, British Columbia. Canna Farms was B.C.'s first Licensed Producer and has several years of craft cultivation experience and expertise, as well as a significant patient base and positive cash flow. The Company is significantly expanding its production capacity and pursuing partnership and product development opportunities domestically, as well as in select international markets, including Germany and Australia. VIVO also operates Harvest Medicine, a patient-centric and highly scalable network of specialty medical cannabis clinics as well as a free telemedicine app. VIVO has a healthy balance sheet and is well-positioned to accelerate its growth in Canada and internationally.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are statements that are not purely historical, regarding the beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions of the Company and its management regarding the future, and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: the expected amount and timing of realization of increased production capacity as a result of the Vanluven expansion and the sourcing of product from third party cultivators; the expected timing of completion of the next phase of the Vanluven expansion; and the Company's international growth plans. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including: mechanical or crop failures at the Vanluven facility that cause the Company to fail to attain its expected production targets; failure of the Company to agree on acceptable terms with third party cultivators; construction or regulatory delays with respect to the next phase of the Vanluven expansion; potential delays in producing saleable finished products or bringing new product lines to market; and other factors beyond the Company's control. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company appears in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017 and other continuous disclosure filings, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events, or for any other reason, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE VIVO Cannabis Inc.