NAC granted permission to build, develop and operate ten retail cannabis stores in Manitoba



OTTAWA, July 3, 2018 /CNW/ - National Access Cannabis Corp. ("NAC" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: META) today announced that the government of Manitoba has awarded the Company permission to operate ten privately owned retail cannabis stores, as well as an e-commerce platform, in the Province.

The initial ten recreational cannabis retail stores are planned to operate under NAC's retail brand Meta Cannabis Supply Co.™ ("META") and are expected to be located throughout the Province, including a planned four in Winnipeg, one in Brandon and five in smaller Manitoba municipalities. These premium stores will be built around a model of customer education, immersive retail environments, technology and quality cannabis and cannabis-related product offerings, with a balanced range of pricing and product lines.

Additionally, the Company continues to develop its retail strategy to open cannabis retail locations in partnership with five Manitoban Indigenous First Nations (Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Long Plain First Nation, Peguis First Nation, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation). These partnerships are expected to establish retail cannabis distribution on First Nation lands under Indigenous and NAC leadership.

"We are excited about NAC's future in Manitoba's recreational cannabis market and I look forward to providing updates as we work with the regulators to be awarded additional locations," said Mark Goliger, Chief Executive Officer of National Access Cannabis. "With NAC's history operating nationwide cannabis-focused medical clinics, close First Nations and Licensed Producer relationships, and our strong consideration for safety, security and harm reduction, NAC is well positioned to provide recreational customers with special in-store experiences in an environment where education and access to quality products with a range of options and pricing are our top priorities."

"First Nations have the opportunity to acquire licenses to operate legal retail cannabis stores on our land. As we have publicly announced previously, we look forward to working with NAC, and opening META stores at our partnership locations. These locations will be in addition to the ten corporate sites that NAC has received permission from the Manitoba government, creating a strong retail network of META stores in Indigenous communities," said Onekanew Christian Sinclair of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and director of National Access Cannabis.

NAC is working closely with the Province of Manitoba to obtain the necessary permits for the META stores and will announce chosen locations soon.

About National Access Cannabis

National Access Cannabis is Canada's best practices leader in delivering secure, safe, and responsible access to legal cannabis. Through its Canada-wide network of care centres, pharmacies, NAC Bio's clinical research division, and Meta Cannabis Supply Co.™ recreational cannabis retail stores, NAC enables patients and the public to gain knowledge and access to Canada's network of authorized Licensed Producers of Cannabis. National Access Cannabis Corp. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol (TSXV: META). For more information, visit www.nationalaccesscannabis.com and www.nacbio.com and www.metacannabis.com

National Access Cannabis Corp. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol (TSXV: META).

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains forward looking statements and forward looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements concerning the completion, operation or location of cannabis retail stores and the ability of NAC to obtain additional licences or maintain existing licenses to retail cannabis products. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements and information because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those that are currently contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, risks relating to the ability to obtain or maintain licenses to retail cannabis products; future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; and the medical and potential cannabis industry in Canada generally. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive.

The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking statement or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the 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.

SOURCE National Access Cannabis Corp.

For further information: National Access Cannabis Corp., Mark Goliger, Chief Executive Officer, 1 (800) 411-1126, [email protected]; Media Relations, Matt Ryan, VP, Marketing, (647) 633-9330,[email protected]; Investor Relations, Jonathan Ross, CFA, LodeRock Advisors Inc., 416-283-0178, [email protected]