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EX-32.2 - American Cannabis Company, Inc.f2ssammj10k122218ex32_2.htm
EX-32.1 - CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, - American Cannabis Company, Inc.f2ssammj10k122218ex32_1.htm
EX-31.2 - I, MICHAEL SCHWANBECK, CERTIFY THAT: - American Cannabis Company, Inc.f2ssammj10k122218ex31_2.htm
EX-31.1 - I, TERRY BUFFALO, CERTIFY THAT: - American Cannabis Company, Inc.f2ssammj10k122218ex31_1.htm

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)    

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

Or

 

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period From                          to                     

 

Commission File Number 000-26108

 

(american cannabis company logo)

 

AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  90-1116625
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     

5690 Logan Street, Unit A
Denver, Colorado
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

80216
(Zip Code)

 

(303) 974-4770
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

None

Title of each class

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Common Stock, $0.00001 Par Value

(Title of each class)

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐    No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☒    No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒    No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒    No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K ((§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐   Accelerated filer ☐   Non-accelerated filer ☐
 (Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company ☒

         

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐    No ☒

 

The aggregate market value of common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of December 26, 2018 was approximately $14,406,677.

 

As of December 26, 2018, 51,513,064 of common stock, par value $0.00001, were issued and outstanding.

 

1

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART 1
     
ITEM 1. BUSINESS 3
     
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 6
     
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 6
     
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 6
     
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 6
     
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 6
     
PART II
 
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES MARKET INFORMATION AND HOLDERS 6
     
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 7
     
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 7
     
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK 12
     
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 13
     
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 25
     
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 25
     
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION 25
     
PART III
     
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 26
     
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 27
     
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 29
     
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 30
     
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES 30
     
PART IV
     
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 30

 

2

 

 

PART I.

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

This annual report on Form 10-K (including, but not limited to, the following disclosures regarding our Business) contains forward-looking statements regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 10-K. Additionally, statements concerning future matters such as the development of new products, enhancements or technologies, sales levels, expense levels and other statements regarding matters that are not historical are forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 10-K reflect our good faith judgment based on facts and factors currently known to us. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this annual report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this annual report on Form 10-K. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in this annual report on Form 10-K, which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Company Background

 

American Cannabis Company, Inc. and subsidiary is a publicly listed company quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol “AMMJ”. We are based in Denver, Colorado and operate a fully-integrated business model that features end-to-end solutions for businesses operating in regulated cannabis industry in states and countries where cannabis is regulated and/or has been de-criminalized for medical use and/or legalized for recreational use. We provide advisory and consulting services specific to this industry, design industry-specific products and facilities, and manage a strategic group partnership that offers both exclusive and non-exclusive customer products commonly used in the industry.

 

We are a Delaware corporation formed on September 24, 2001 with the name Naturewell, Inc., which became Brazil Interactive Media, Inc. (“BIMI”) on March 13, 2013 pursuant to a merger transaction that resulted in the Company becoming the owner of a Brazilian interactive television technology and television production company, BIMI, Inc. We became American Cannabis Company, Inc. on September 29, 2014, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 15, 2014 (the “Merger Agreement”) between the Company, Cannamerica Corp. (“Merger Sub”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BIMI, and Hollister & Blacksmith, Inc. d/b/a American Cannabis Consulting (“American Cannabis Consulting”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, which was consummated and became effective on September 29, 2014, Merger Sub was merged with and into American Cannabis Consulting through a reverse triangular merger transaction (the “Reverse Merger”), we changed our name to “American Cannabis Company, Inc.”, and our officers and directors in office prior to the Merger Agreement resigned and American Cannabis Consulting appointed new officers and directors to serve our Company. In concert with the Merger Agreement, we consummated a complete divestiture of BIMI, Inc. pursuant to a Separation and Exchange Agreement dated May 16, 2014 (the “Separation Agreement”) between the Company, BIMI, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Brazil Investment Holding, LLC (“Holdings”), a Delaware limited liability company. On October 10, 2014, we changed our stock symbol from BIMI to AMMJ.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement and Separation Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the terms of such agreements, which are filed as exhibits to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 3, 2014.

 

Industry and Regulatory Overview

 

The Company is not engaged in the direct growth, cultivation, harvesting and distribution of cannabis. However, we do offer consulting services to licensed operators and applicants for state offered cannabis licenses, who seek to engage in the medical and/or recreational cannabis business in those state jurisdictions where cannabis has been legalized. We also sell ancillary products which are used in the legalized cannabis industry.

 

As of the date of this filing, thirty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws broadly legalizing cannabis in some form for either medicinal or recreational use governed by state specific laws and regulations. Although legalized in some states, cannabis is a “Schedule 1” drug under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 811), and is illegal under federal law.

 

On August 29, 2013, The Department of Justice set out its prosecutorial priorities in light of various states legalizing cannabis for medicinal and/or recreational use. The “Cole Memorandum” provided that when states have implemented strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems to control the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis, conduct in compliance with those laws and regulations is less likely to threaten the federal priorities. Indeed, a robust system may affirmatively address those priorities by, for example, implementing effective measures to prevent diversion of cannabis outside of the regulated system and to other states, prohibiting access to cannabis by minors, and replacing an illicit cannabis trade that funds criminal enterprises with a tightly regulated market in which revenues are tracked and accounted for. In those circumstances, consistent with the traditional allocation of federal-state efforts in this area, the Cole Memorandum provided that enforcement of state law by state and local law enforcement and regulatory bodies should remain the primary means of addressing cannabis-related activity. If state enforcement efforts are not sufficiently robust to protect against the harms set forth above, the federal government may seek to challenge the regulatory structure itself in addition to continuing to bring individual enforcement actions, including criminal prosecutions, focused on those harms.

 

On January 4, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memorandum for all United States Attorneys concerning cannabis enforcement under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Mr. Sessions rescinded all previous prosecutorial guidance issued by the Department of Justice regarding cannabis, including the August 29, 2013 “Cole Memorandum”.

 

In rescinding the Cole Memorandum, Mr. Sessions stated that U.S. Attorneys must decide whether or not to pursue prosecution of cannabis activity based upon factors including: the seriousness of the crime, the deterrent effect of criminal prosecution, and the cumulative impact of particular crimes on the community. Mr. Sessions reiterated that the cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana continues to be a crime under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.

 

On March 23, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed into law a $1.3 trillion-dollar spending bill that included an amendment known as “Rohrabacher-Blumenauer,” which prohibits the Justice Department from using federal funds to prevent certain states “from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical cannabis.”

 

3

 

 

Business Overview

 

We primarily operate within two divisions within the regulated cannabis industry: (i) consulting and professional services; and, (ii) the sale of products and equipment commonly utilized in the cultivation, processing, transportation or retail sale of cannabis. We are not licensed to produce and/or sell cannabis. We do not directly sell, cultivate, manufacture, or transact cannabis.

 

Consulting Services

 

We offer consulting services for companies associated with the cannabis industry in all stages of development. Our service offerings include the following:

 

Cannabis Business Planning. Our commercial cannabis business planning services are structured to help those pursuing state based operational licensing to create and implement effective, long-range business plans. We work with our clients to generate a comprehensive strategy based on market need and growth opportunities, and be a partner through site selection, site design, the development of best operating practices, the facility build-out process, and the deployment of products. We understand the challenges and complexities of the regulated commercial cannabis market and we have the expertise to help client businesses thrive.

 

Cannabis Business License Applications. Our team has the experience necessary to help clients obtain approval for their state license and ensure their company remains compliant as it grows. We have crafted successful, merit-based medical marijuana business license applications in multiple states and we understand the community outreach and coordination of services necessary to win approval. As part of the process for crafting applications, we collaborate with clients to develop business protocols, safety standards, a security plan, and a staff training program. Depending on the nature of our clients’ businesses and needs, we can work with our clients to draft detailed cultivation plans, create educational materials for patients, or design and develop products that comply with legal state guidelines

 

Cultivation Build-out Oversight Services. We offer cultivation build-out consulting as part of our Cannabis Business Planning service offerings. We help clients ensure their project timeline is being met, facilities are being designed with compliance and the regulated cannabis industry in mind, and that facilities are built to the highest of quality standards for cannabis production and/or distribution. This enables a seamless transition from construction to cultivation, ensuring that client success is optimized and unencumbered by mismanaged construction projects.

 

Cannabis Regulatory Compliance. Based on our understanding of regulated commercial cannabis laws nationwide, we can help client cultivation operations, retail dispensaries and/or infused-product kitchen businesses to meet and maintain regulatory compliance for both medical and recreational markets. We partner with our clients to establish standard operating procedures in accordance with their state’s regulation and help them implement effective staff hiring and training practices to ensure that employees adhere to relevant guidelines.

 

Compliance Audit Services. Our regulatory compliance service offerings include compliance auditing. The regulated cannabis industry is developing rapidly with evolving laws and regulations and navigating through current and new regulations and systems can be tedious and daunting. To assist our clients in addressing these challenges, we offer compliance audits performed by our experienced and knowledgeable staff; our team members maintain comprehensive oversight of the cannabis industry while staying up-to-date on current and new laws and regulations. Our compliance audits assess various regulatory topics, including: (1) licensing requirements; (2) visitor intake procedures; (3) seed-to-sale inventory tracking; (4) proper waste disposal procedures; (5) recordkeeping and documentation requirements; (6) cannabis transportation procedures; (7) packaging and labeling requirements; (8) security requirements; (9) product storage; (10) mandatory signage; and (11) preparedness for state and local inspections.

 

Cannabis Business Growth Strategies. Our team shares its collective knowledge and resources with our clients to create competitive, forward-looking cannabis business growth strategies formulated to minimize risk and maximize potential. We customize individual plans for the unique nature of our client businesses, their market and big-picture goals, supported with a detailed analysis and a thorough command of workflow best practices, product strategies, sustainability opportunities governed by a core understanding or regulatory barriers and/or opportunities.

 

Cannabis Business Monitoring. The regulated commercial cannabis industry is constantly growing and shifting, and the ongoing monitoring of a cannabis business allows it to remain responsive to evolving consumer demands and state regulations as well as potential operations problems. We offer fully-integrated business analysis solutions. Our monitoring services include sales tracking, market assessment, loss prevention strategies, review of operational efficiency and workflow recommendations. Additionally, our services include Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (“SWOT”) analysis, where we analyze client operations to pinpoint strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Our SWOT analyses allow clients to focus their efforts and resources on the most critical areas along these dimensions.

 

Equipment and Supplies

 

In addition to professional consulting services, we operate an equipment and supplies division for customers in the cannabis industry. Our Group Purchasing Organization, American Cultivator CO., enables customers to procure commonly used cultivation supplies at competitive prices. Our major product offerings include the following:

 

The Satchel™. The Satchel was invented in response to regulatory changes in Colorado and elsewhere that require child-proof exit containers. The Satchel is a pouch-like case designed as a high-quality, child-proof exit package solution for the regulated cannabis industry. The Satchel meets child-safety requirements of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (“CPSC”), making it compliant in all states. There are few products meeting regulatory standards, and even fewer that offer distinctive quality. The Satchel meets all current exit packaging regulations, featuring a child-proof closure that completely conceals the contents inside. On February 23, 2016, we announced our receipt of notice from the U.S. Patent Office that our application for patent protection for the Satchel were deemed allowable by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. On March 29, 2016, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued patent number 9,296,524 B2 for the Satchel.

 

4

 

 

SoHum Living Soil™. The right grow methodology is critical to the success of any cannabis cultivation operation, and SoHum Living Soil™ is our solution to ensure that our customers can implement an optimal methodology that will maximize quality and yields while simplifying the cultivation process and reducing risk of operator error and test failure. The SoHum medium is a fully amended “just-add-water” soil that contains none of the synthetic components found in other potting mixes and requires no chemical additives to spur growth. Compared with comparable methodologies, SoHum Living Soil™ offers a number of key advantages, including: (1) consistent Pyto-pharmaceutical-grade product quality; (2) improved plant resistance to disease; and (3) reduced operator error.

 

High Density Racking System. A key metric in the success of a cultivation operation is the maximization of available space to grow. Our High Density Racking System is a solution designed to ensure that space is used in the most efficient manner possible. The system takes advantage of the existence of vertical space, with racks installed vertically and placed on horizontal tracking to eliminate multiple isles, and creates multiple levels of space with which to grow plants. The High Density Racking System allows customers to increase production capacity without the need to add additional square footage to the operation.

 

The Cultivation Cube™. The Cultivation Cube™ is a self-contained, scalable cultivation system that is compliant with regulatory guidelines. The Cultivation Cube™ allows commercial cannabis cultivation operations to maximize space, yield and profit through an innovative design that provides a fully integrated growing solution. The Cultivation Cube utilizes more lights per square foot than traditional grow systems, which translates to profit increases per square foot. The Cultivation Cube™ is also stackable, which allows customers to achieve vertical gains and effectively doubles productive square-footage. It is an ideal solution for commercial-scale cultivation within limited space, with numerous advantages over other traditional grow systems, including: (1) flexibility to fit customer build-out sites; (2) efficient speed-to-market with fast delivery and set-up; (3) increased security with limited access units; (4) risk mitigation through precision environmental controls; and, (5) is compatible with lean manufacturing principles and operations.

 

Other Products. We offer our clients a diverse array of commonly utilized product offerings from across all areas of the regulated cannabis industry, including cultivation operations, medicinal and recreational cannabis dispensary operations, and infused-products. Examples of products available through American Cultivator Co. include HID Ballasts, reflectors, MH and HPS bulbs, T5 fixtures, mediums, nutrients and fertilizers, growing containers, flood tables, reservoirs, and various other supplies, including cleaning products and office supplies. We also offer a Group Purchasing Organization (“GPO”) focused on disposables to creates purchasing power by leveraging groups of businesses to obtain discounts from vendors based on the collective buying power of the GPO.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

We sell our services and products throughout the United States in states that have implemented regulated cannabis programs as well as Canada. We intend to expand our offerings as more new countries, states and jurisdictions as they adopt state-regulated or Federal programs.

 

Research and Development

 

As a component of our equipment and supplies offerings, from time-to-time we design and develop our own proprietary products to meet demand in markets where current offerings are insufficient. These products include, but are not limited to: The Satchel™, Cultivation Cube™, So-Hum Living Soils™ and the HDCS™. Costs associated with the development of new products are expensed as occurred as research and development operating expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2017, our research and development costs were $2,403 as compared to $2,553 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Significant Customers

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, three customers accounted 48.95% or more, respectively of the Company’s total product sales revenues, and four customers accounted for 40.18% or more respectively of the Company’s total service based revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2016, three customers accounted for 45.66% of the Company’s total revenues.

 

Intellectual Property

 

On March 29, 2016, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued patent number 9,296,524 B2 for The Satchel™, our child-proof exit package solution for the regulated cannabis industry. We also have pending trademark applications pending to protect our branding and logos. These pending applications included trademarks for American Cannabis Company (stylized and/or with design logo), American Cannabis Consulting (stylized and/or with design logo), the design and colors used in our leaf logo, the Cultivation Cube (stylized and/or with design logo), our slogan (“Growing the Next Frontier”), and two-word marks and the logo associated with So-Hum Living Soil™.

 

Competition

 

Our competitors include professional services firms dedicated to the regulated cannabis industry, as well as suppliers of equipment and supplies commonly utilized in the cultivation, processing, or retail sale of cannabis. We compete in markets where cannabis has been legalized and regulated, which includes various states within the United States, it’s territories and Indian Country therein and Canada. We expect that the quantity and composition of our competitive environment will continue to evolve as the industry matures. Additionally, increased competition is possible to the extent that new states and geographies enter the marketplace as a result of continued enactment of regulatory and legislative changes that de-criminalize and regulate cannabis products. We believe that by being well established in the industry, our experience and success to date, and our continued expansion of service and product offerings in new and existing locations, are factors that mitigate the risk associated with operating in a developing competitive environment. Additionally, the contemporaneous growth of the industry as a whole will result in new customers entering the marketplace, thereby further mitigating the impact of competition on our operations and results.

 

5

 

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2017, we have 6 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee, all of whom are U.S based, primarily in Colorado at our Denver headquarters. None of our U.S employees are represented by a labor union.


 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

Our headquarters are located in Denver, Colorado, where we lease office space under a contract effective July 28, 2015, expiring on July 31, 2020.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not Applicable.

 

PART II.

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.MARKET INFORMATION AND HOLDERS

 

Our common stock trades on the OTC Markets under the ticker symbol “AMMJ”. As of December 31, 2017, there were 481 holders of record of our common stock. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing sales prices of our common stock:

 

2017   High   Low 
Quarter ended December 31   $1.36   $0.51 
Quarter ended September 30   $1.26   $0.45 
Quarter ended June 30   $0.76   $0.35 
Quarter ended March 31   $1.05   $0.62 

 

2016   High   Low 
Quarter ended December 31   $0.97   $0.88 
Quarter ended September 30   $0.29   $0.26 
Quarter ended June 30   $0.11   $0.01 
Quarter ended March 31   $0.18   $0.15 

 

6

 

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid, and do not anticipate declaring or paying, any cash dividends on our common stock. Instead, we currently anticipate that we will retain all of our future earnings, if any, to fund the operation and expansion of our business and to use as working capital and for other general corporate purposes. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on then-existing conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects, and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

 

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The statements contained in this report that are not statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements containing the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates” and similar words, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. From time to time we may make other forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to an inherent risk that actual results may materially differ as a result of many factors, including the risks discussed from time to time in this report, including the risks described under “Risk Factors” in any filings we have made with the SEC.

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an on-going basis, we evaluate these estimates, including those related to useful lives of real estate assets, cost reimbursement income, bad debts, impairment, net lease intangibles, contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates.

 

Background

 

American Cannabis Company, Inc. and subsidiary is a publicly listed company quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol “AMMJ”. We are based in Denver, Colorado and operate a fully-integrated business model that features end-to-end solutions for businesses operating in the regulated cannabis industry in states and countries where cannabis is regulated and/or has been de-criminalized for medical use and/or legalized for recreational use. We provide advisory and consulting services specific to this industry, design industry-specific products and facilities, and sell both exclusive and non-exclusive customer products commonly used in the industry.

 

The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware on September 24, 2001 under the name “Naturewell, Inc.” On March 13, 2013, the Company completed a merger transaction whereby it acquired Brazil Interactive Media, Inc. (“BIMI”), a Brazilian interactive television company and television production company. The Company’s Articles of Incorporation were amended to reflect a new name: Brazil Interactive Media, Inc. On May 15, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Cannamerica Corp. (the “Merger Sub”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BIMI, and Hollister & Blacksmith, Inc. doing business as American Cannabis Consulting (“American Cannabis Consulting”). The merger was completed on September 29, 2014, resulting in American Cannabis Consulting being merged with and into the Merger Sub (the “Reverse Merger”). The Company subsequently amended its Articles of Incorporation to change its name to “American Cannabis Company, Inc.” Upon the closing of the Reverse Merger, all of the Company’s officers and directors appointed designee officers and directors from American Cannabis Consulting and resigned. Consistent with the Merger Agreement, the Company consummated a complete divestiture of BIMI, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to a Separation and Exchange Agreement dated May 16, 2014 (the “Separation Agreement”) between the Company, BIMI, Inc., and Brazil Investment Holding, LLC (“Holdings”), a Delaware limited liability company. On October 10, 2014, the Company changed its stock symbol from BIMI to AMMJ.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement and Separation Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the terms of such agreements, which are filed as exhibits to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 3, 2014.

 

7

 

 

Results of Operations

 

Year ended December 31, 2017 compared to year ended December 31, 2016

 

The following table presents our operating results for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016:

 

AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
   For the year ended
December 31,
   2017  2016
Revenues      
     Consulting Services  $2,054,484   $943,563 
     Product and equipment   388,571    613,535 
     Product and equipment, related party   —      3,768 
Total Revenues   2,443,055    1,560,866 
           
Cost of Revenues          
     Cost of consulting services   463,298    145,849 
     Cost of products and equipment   342,522    545,732 
Total Cost of Revenues   805,820    691,581 
           
Gross Profit   1,637,235    869,285 
           
Operating expenses          
     General and administrative   1,042,889    1,099,900 
     Investor Relations   34,554    37,919 
     Selling and marketing   278,542    88,047 
     Research and development   2,403    2,553 
Total Operating expenses   1,358,388    1,228,419 
           
Income (Loss) from Operations   278,847    (359,134)
           
Other Income (expense)          
     Loss on debt extinguishment   —      (7,640)
     Interest Income (expense)   9,288    (87,314)
     Change in Derivative Liability   —      14,449 
     Stock Based Compensation (expense)   (893,857)   (30,208)
     Bad Debt (expense)   89,715    (118,641)
     Settlement (expense)   (118,450)   (25,000)
     Warrant (expense)   (895,860)   —   
     Other Income   41,844    9,806 
Total Other Income (expense)   (1,767,320)   (244,548)
           
Net Income (Loss) before taxes   (1,488,473)   (603,682)
Income Tax expense (benefit)   —      —   
           
NET INCOME (LOSS)  $(1,488,473)  $(603,682)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share  $(0.029)  $(0.01)
           
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding   51,336,522    46,389,474 

 

8

 

 

Revenues 

Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, were $2,443,055 and $1,560,866, respectively, an increase of $882,189. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the demand for consulting services. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, consulting services revenue was $2,054,484 and $943,563, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, products and equipment revenue were $388,571 and $617,303, respectively.

 

Costs of Revenues 

Costs of revenues primarily consist of labor, travel, marketing and other costs directly attributable to providing services or offering products. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, our total costs of revenues were $805,820 and $691,581, respectively. The increase was primarily due to higher operating expenses related to providing consulting services. For the year ended December 31, 2017, consulting related costs were $463,298 or 18.96% of total revenues, and costs associated with products and equipment were $342,522 or 14.02% of total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2016, consulting related costs were $145,849 or 9.3% of total revenues, and costs related with costs associated with products and equipment were $545,732 or 34.96% of total revenues.

 

Gross Profit

For the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, gross profit was $1,637,235 and $869,285, respectively. This increase was primarily due to growth in our client base and volume of operations including consulting services. As a percentage of total revenues, gross profit was 67.02% and 55.69% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. This increase was primarily due to the year ended December 31, 2017 having a higher proportion of total revenues from consulting services as compared to product and equipment sales, as consulting services have a higher profit margin as compared to product and equipment sales.

 

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $1,358,388 and $1,228,419, respectively. This increase of $129,968 was primarily due to an increase in selling and marketing expenses of the Company.

 

Other Income (Expense) 

Other income (expense) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 included expense of ($1,767,320) and ($244,548), respectively. This decrease was due to an increase in stock based compensation and warrant expense, and an increase in settlement expense, attributed to interest due under our financing arrangement with Tangiers.

 

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

We did not have any income tax expense or benefit for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Although our tax status changed from a non-taxable pass-through entity (S-Corporation) to a taxable entity (C-Corporation) during the year ended December 31, 2014, due to cumulative losses since we became a C-Corporation, we recorded a valuation allowance against our related deferred tax asset which netted our deferred tax asset and benefit for income taxes to zero. We were an S-Corporation throughout the period from Inception (March 5, 2013) through December 31, 2013, and accordingly, no provision or benefit for income taxes was applicable. The years 2010 to 2016 remain subject to examination by the Company’s major tax jurisdictions.

 

Net Income (Loss)

As a result of the factors discussed above, net income for the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was a loss of ($1,488,473) and ($603,682), respectively. For December 31, 2017 our net income was 60.93% of total revenues. For December 31, 2016, our net losses represented a 38.68% of total revenues for the respective periods.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, our primary internal sources of liquidity were cash and cash equivalents of $ 1,648,087 and $751,038, respectively. We also have the ability to raise additional capital as needed through an external equity financing transaction. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had a source (use) of cash from operations of $180,906 and ($784,879), respectively.  For December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we generated non-cash expenses of $1,789,717 and $30,208, respectively related to stock-based compensation and depreciation which contributed to our net cash derived from operating activities. Due to this factor and considering that our fixed overhead costs are relatively low, we have the ability to issue stock and stock equivalents to compensate employees and management, and the level of future revenue we expect to generate from executed client contracts, we believe our liquidity and capital resources to be adequate to fund our operational and general and administrative expenses for the next 12 months.

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $180,906. Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 was ($784,879) which consisted of a net loss for the period of $1,488,473 which was offset by an increase in stock based compensation of $893,857, an increase in warranty expense of $893,857and account receivables of $107,363.

 

Investing Activities

 

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, net cash used in investing activities was $5,000 and $3,360, respectively.

 

Financing Activities

 

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, financing activities were a source of cash of $721,138 and $983,497, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company received $721,143 from the sale of registered common stock to Tangiers Global, LLC under an amended and restated Investment Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement dated August 4, 2016.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 we had cash and cash equivalents of $1,648,087 and $751,038, respectively. We believe our liquidity and capital resources to be adequate to fund our operational and general and administrative expenses for the next 12 months.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

9

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

We use Adjusted EBITA, a non-GAAP metric, to monitor our overall business performance. We define Adjusted EBITA as net income (loss) before interest expense, net, provision for (benefit from) income taxes, stock-based compensation and certain non-recurring expenses, which for the year ended December 31, 2014 were limited to costs associated with the Reverse Merger. We believe that such adjustments to arrive at Adjusted EBITA provides us with a more comparable measure for managing our business. We also believe that it is a useful measure for securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of our Company.

 

A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITA is provided below.

 

Adjusted EBITA Reconciliation  

For the Year Ended

December 31, 2017

 

 

For the Year Ended

December 31, 2016

 

Net Gain (Loss)   $ (1,488,473)     $ (603,682 )
Interest Expense, Net   $ (9,288)     $ 87,314  
Tax Expense (benefit)   $     $
Stock Based Compensation expense   $ 893,857     $ 30,208  
Adjusted EBITA   $ (603,904)     $ (486,160 )

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect amounts reported in those statements. We have made our best estimates of certain amounts contained in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. However, application of our accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties, and, as a result, actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Management believes that the estimates, assumptions, and judgments involved in the accounting policies described below have the most significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

We cannot predict what future laws and regulations might be passed that could have a material effect on our results of operations. We assess the impact of significant changes in laws and regulations on a regular basis and update the assumptions and estimates used to prepare our financial statements when we deem it necessary.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are held in operating accounts at a major financial institution.

 

Inventory

Inventory is primarily comprised of products and equipment to be sold to end-customers. Inventory is valued at cost, based on the specific identification method, unless and until the market value for the inventory is lower than cost, in which case an allowance is established to reduce the valuation to market value. As of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, market values of all of our inventory were greater than cost, and accordingly, no such valuation allowances was recognized.

 

Deposits

Deposits is comprised of advance payments made to third parties, primarily for inventory for which we have not yet taken title. When we take title to inventory for which deposits are made, the related amount is classified as inventory, then recognized as a cost of revenues upon sale (see “Costs of Revenues” below).

 

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets is primarily comprised of advance payments made to third parties for independent contractors’ services or other general expenses. Prepaid services and general expenses are amortized over the applicable periods which approximate the life of the contract or service period.

 

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the net value of face amount less any allowance for doubtful accounts. On a periodic basis, we evaluate our accounts receivable and, based on a method of specific identification of any accounts receivable for which we deem the net realizable value to be less than the gross amount of accounts receivable recorded, we establish an allowance for doubtful accounts for those balances. In determining our need for an allowance for doubtful accounts, we consider historical experience, analysis of past due amounts, client creditworthiness and any other relevant available information. However, our actual experience may vary from our estimates. If the financial condition of our clients were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability or unwillingness to pay our fees, we may need to record additional allowances or write-offs in future periods. This risk is mitigated to the extent that we collect retainers from our clients prior to performing significant services.

 

The allowance for doubtful accounts, if any, is recorded as a reduction in revenue to the extent the provision relates to fee adjustments and other discretionary pricing adjustments. To the extent the provision relates to a client's inability to make required payments on accounts receivables, the provision is recorded in operating expenses. As of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016 our allowance for doubtful accounts was $21,581 and $31,421, respectively. For December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we recorded bad debt expense of ($89,715) and $118,641, respectively, which is reflected as a component of other income (expense) section on the consolidated statement of operations.

 

Property and Equipment, net

Property and Equipment is stated at net book value, cost less depreciation. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation of owned equipment is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from two to seven years. Depreciation of capitalized construction in progress costs, a component of property and equipment, net, begins once the underlying asset is placed into service and is recognized over the estimated useful life. Property and equipment is reviewed for impairment as discussed below under “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.” We did not capitalize any interest as of December 31, 2017 and as of December 31, 2016.

 

10

 

 

Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Upon such an occurrence, recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to forecasted undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. For long-lived assets held for sale, assets are written down to fair value, less cost to sell. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows, appraised values or management's estimates, depending upon the nature of the assets. We have not recorded any impairment charges related to long-lived assets during the year ended December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016.

 

Beneficial Conversion Feature

If the conversion features of conventional convertible debt provides for a rate of conversion that is below market value at issuance, this feature is characterized as a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”).  We record a BCF as a debt discount pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ACF”) Topic 470-20 Debt with Conversion and Other Options. In those circumstances, the convertible debt is recorded net of the discount related to the BCF, and we amortize the discount to interest expense over the life of the debt using the effective interest method. 

 

Revenue Recognition

For annual reporting periods after December 15, 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) made effective ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” to supersede previous revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP. Revenue is now recognized in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue Recognition. The guidance presents a single five-step model for comprehensive revenue recognition that requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Two options are available for implementation of the standard which is either the retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach. The guidance becomes effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. We determined to implement the cumulative effect adjustment approach to our implementation of FASB ASC Topic 606, with no restatement of the comparative periods presented. We intend to apply this method to any incomplete contracts we determine are subject to FASB ASC Topic 606 prospectively. As is more fully discussed below, we are of the opinion that none of our contracts for services or products contain significant financing components that require revenue adjustment under FASB ASC Topic 606.

 

In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue Recognition, we will recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of a significant financing component exists in our consulting and product sales contracts. We examine and evaluate when our customers become liable to pay for goods and services; how much consideration is paid as compared to the cash selling price of the goods or services; and, the length of time between our performance and the receipt of payment.

 

Product Sales

 

Revenue from product and equipment sales, including delivery fees, is recognized when an order has been obtained from the customer, the price is fixed and determinable when the order is placed, the product is shipped, title has transferred and collectability is reasonably assured. Generally, our suppliers’ drop-ship orders to our clients with shipping-point or destination terms. For any shipments with destination terms, the Company defers revenue until delivery to the customer. Given the facts that (1) our customers exercise discretion in determining the timing of when they place their product order; and, (2) the price negotiated in our product sales contracts is fixed and determinable at the time the customer places the order, we are not of the opinion that our product sales indicate or involve any significant financing that would materially change the amount of revenue recognized under the contract, or would otherwise contain a significant financing component for us or the customer under FASB ASC Topic 606. During the year ended December 31, 2017, sales returns were $21,249 comprised of a cancelled contract and product returns and replacement.

 

Consulting Services

 

We also generate revenues from professional services consulting agreements. These arrangements are generally entered into: (1) on an hourly basis for a fixed-fee; or, (2) on a contingent fee basis. Generally, we require a complete or partial prepayment or retainer prior to performing services.

 

For hourly based fixed fee service contracts, we utilize and rely upon the proportional performance method, which recognizes revenue as services are performed. Under this method, in order to determine the amount of revenue to be recognized, we calculate the amount of completed work in comparison to the total services to be provided under the arrangement or deliverable. We segregate upon entry into a contract any advances or retainers received from clients for fixed fee hourly services into a separate “Advances from Clients” account, and only recognize revenues as we incur and charge billable hours, and then deposit the funds earned into our operating account. Because our hourly fees for services are fixed and determinable and are only earned and recognized as revenue upon actual performance, we are of the opinion that such arrangements are not an indicator of a vendor or customer based significant financing, that would materially change the amount of revenue we recognize under the contract or would otherwise contain a significant financing component under FASB ASC Topic 606.

 

Occasionally, our fixed-fee hourly engagements are recognized under the completed performance method. Some fixed fee arrangements are for completion of a final deliverable or act which is significant to the arrangement as a whole. These engagements do not generally exceed a one-year term. If the performance is for a final deliverable or act, we recognize revenue under the completed performance method, in which revenue is recognized once the final act or deliverable is performed or delivered for a fixed fee. Revenue recognition is affected by a number of factors that change the estimated amount of work required to complete the deliverable, such as changes in scope, timing, awaiting notification of license award from local government, and the level of client involvement. Losses, if any, on fixed-fee engagements are recognized in the period in which the loss first becomes probable and reasonably estimable. FASB ASC Topic 606 provides a practical expedient to disregard the effects of a financing component if the period between payment and performance is one year or less. As, our fixed fee hourly engagements do not exceed one year, no significant customer-based financing is implicated under FASB ASC Topic 606. During the year ended December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we have incurred no losses from fixed fee engagements that terminate prior to completion. We believe if an engagement terminates prior to completion, we can recover the costs incurred related to the services provided.

 

We occasionally enter into arrangements for which fixed and determinable revenues are contingent and agreed upon achieving a pre-determined deliverable or future outcome. Any contingent revenue for these arrangements is not recognized until the contingency is resolved and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Our arrangements with clients may include terms to deliver multiple services or deliverables. These contracts specifically identify the services to be provided with the corresponding deliverable. The value for each deliverable is determined based on the prices charged when each element is sold separately or by other vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) or estimates of stand-alone selling prices. Revenues are recognized in accordance with our accounting policies for the elements as described above (see Product Sales). The elements qualify for separation when the deliverables have value on a stand-alone basis and the value of the separate elements can be established by VSOE or an estimated selling price.

 

11

 

 

While assigning values and identifying separate elements requires judgment, selling prices of the separate elements are generally readily identifiable as fixed and determinable as we also sell those elements individually outside of a multiple services engagement. Contracts with multiple elements typically incorporate a fixed-fee or hourly pricing structure. Arrangements are typically terminable by either party upon sufficient notice and do not include provisions for refunds relating to services provided.

 

Reimbursable expenses, including those relating to travel, other out-of-pocket expenses and any third-party costs, are included as a component of revenues. Typically, an equivalent amount of reimbursable expenses is included in total direct client service costs. Reimbursable expenses related to time and materials and fixed-fee engagements are recognized as revenue in the period in which the expense is incurred and collectability is reasonably assured. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented in the statement of operations on a net basis.

 

Costs of Revenues

Our policy is to recognize costs of revenue in the same manner in conjunction with revenue recognition. Cost of revenues include the costs directly attributable to revenue recognition and includes compensation and fees for services, travel and other expenses for services and costs of products and equipment. Selling, general and administrative expenses are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Advertising and Promotion Costs

Advertising and promotion costs are included as a component of selling and marketing expense and are expensed as incurred. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, these costs were $278,542 and $88,047, respectively.

 

Shipping and Handling Costs

For product and equipment sales, shipping and handling costs are included as a component of cost of revenues.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

Restricted shares are awarded to employees and entitle the grantee to receive shares of restricted common stock at the end of the established vesting period. The fair value of the grant is based on the stock price on the date of grant. We recognize related compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite vesting period of the award, which to date has been one year from the grant date. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, stock-based compensation expense for restricted shares was $893,857 and $36,750, respectively. Compensation expense for warrants and options is based on the fair value of the instruments on the grant date, which is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model and are expensed over the expected term of the awards. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, compensation expense for warrants and options was $0, respectively.

 

Income Taxes

Our corporate status changed from an S-Corporation, which it had been since inception, to a C-Corporation during the year ended December 31, 2014. As provided in Section 1361 of the Internal Revenue Code, for income tax purposes, S-Corporations are not subject to corporate income taxes; instead, the owners are taxed on their proportionate share of the S-Corporation’s taxable income. Accordingly, we were only subject to income taxes for a portion of 2014. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns in accordance with applicable accounting guidance for accounting for income taxes, using currently enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. We record a valuation allowance when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.  For the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, due to cumulative losses since our corporate status changed, we recorded a valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset that reduced our income tax benefit for the period to zero. As of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we had no liabilities related to federal or state income taxes and the carrying value of our deferred tax asset was zero. The years 2010 to 2015 remain subject to examination by the Company’s major tax jurisdictions.

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

We report net income (loss) per common share in accordance with FASB ASC 260, “Earnings per Share”. This statement requires dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings with a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the earnings per share computations. Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and excludes the effects of any potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net income (loss) per share gives effect to any dilutive potential common stock outstanding during the period. The computation does not assume conversion, exercise or contingent exercise of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings.

 

Related Party Transactions

We follow FASB ASC subtopic 850-10, “Related Party Transactions”, for the identification of related parties and disclosure of related party transactions.

 

Pursuant to ASC 850-10-20, related parties include: a) affiliates of the Company; b) entities for which investments in their equity securities would be required, absent the election of the fair value option under the Fair Value Option Subsection of Section 825–10–15, to be accounted for by the equity method by the investing entity; c) trusts for the benefit of employees, such as pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of management; d) principal owners of the Company; e) management of the Company; f) other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests; and g) other parties that can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or that have an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests.

 

Material related party transactions are required to be disclosed in the consolidated financial statements, other than compensation arrangements, expense allowances, and other similar items in the ordinary course of business. However, disclosure of transactions that are eliminated in the preparation of consolidated or combined financial statements is not required in those statements. The disclosures shall include: a) the nature of the relationship(s) involved; b) a description of the transactions, including transactions to which no amounts or nominal amounts were ascribed, for each of the periods for which statements of operation are presented, and such other information deemed necessary to an understanding of the effects of the transactions on the financial statements; c) the dollar amounts of transactions for each of the periods for which statements of operations are presented and the effects of any change in the method of establishing the terms from that used in the preceding period; and d) amounts due from or to related parties as of the date of each balance sheet presented and, if not otherwise apparent, the terms and manner of settlement.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are a smaller reporting Company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

 

12

 

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

 

19720 Jetton Road, 3rd Floor

Cornelius, NC 28031

Tel: 704-897-8336

Fax:704-919-5089

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

American Cannabis Company, Inc. and Subsidiary

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of American Cannabis Company Inc. and Subsidiary (“the Company”) as of June 30, 2018 and the related consolidated statement of operations, stockholders’ deficit and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”) for the year ended December 31, 2017. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017, and the results of its operations, changes in stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ L&L CPAS, PA

L&L CPAS, PA

Certified Public Accountants

Cornelius, NC

The United States of America

December 24, 2018

We have served as the Company's auditor since August 2018.

 

www.llcpas.net

 

13

 

 

AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                

 

    December 31,    December 31, 
    2017    2016 
ASSETS          
Current Assets          
Cash and Equivalents  $1,648,087   $751,038 
Accounts Receivable, net (see note 3)   146,804    164,451 
Inventory   35,757    42,500 
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets   11,327    9,825 
Total Current Assets   1,841,975    967,814 
           
Property and Equipment - net (see note 5)   11,782    11,639 
Other Assets   4,500    4,500 
TOTAL ASSETS  $1,858,256   $983,953 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY          
Current Liabilities          
Accounts Payable   28,002    55,782 
Accounts Payable, related party   —      14,325 
Advances from Clients   100,587    222,188 
Warrant Liability   895,860    —   
Accrued and Other Current Liabilities   52,352    36,724 
Total Current Liabilities   1,076,801    329,019 
           
Shareholder's Equity          
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively   —      —   
Common stock, $0.00001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 51,434,050 and 49,847,593 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively   514    498 
Additional paid-in capital   7,004,363    5,389,384 
Accumulated deficit   (6,223,422)   (4,734,948)
Total Shareholder's Equity   781,455    654,934 
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY  $1,858,256   $983,953 
           

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements

 

14

 

AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

   For the Year ended
   December 31,
   2017  2016
Revenues      
Consulting Services  $2,054,484   $943,563 
Product & Equipment   388,570    613,535 
Product & Equipment, related party   —      3,768 
Total Revenues   2,443,054    1,560,866 
           
Cost of Revenues          
Cost of Consulting Services   463,298    145,849 
Cost of Products and Equipment   342,522    545,732 
Total Cost of Revenues   805,820    691,581 
           
Gross Profit   1,637,234    869,285 
           
Operating Expenses          
General and Administrative   1,042,889    1,099,900 
Investor Relations   34,554    37,919 
Selling and Marketing   278,542    88,047 
Research and Development   2,403    2,553 
Total Operating Expenses   1,358,388    1,228,419 
           
Income (Loss) from Operations   278,846    (359,134)
           
Other Income (expense)          
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment   —      (7,640)
Interest (expense)   9,288    (87,314)
Change in Derivative Liability   —      14,449 
Stock Bassed Compensastion (expense)   (893,857)   (30,208)
Bad Debt (expense)   89,715    (118,641)
Settlement (expense)   (118,450)   (25,000)
Warrant (expense)   (895,860)   —   
Other Income   41,843    9,806 
  Total other income (expense)   (1,767,320)   (244,548)
           
Net Income (Loss) before taxes   (1,488,474)   (603,682)
Income Tax Expense (benefit)   —      —   
           
NET INCOME (LOSS)  $(1,488,474)  $(603,682)
           
Basic and diluted net loss per common share  $(0.029)  $(0.013)
           
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding   51,336,522    46,389,474 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements

 

15

 

 

AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016

           

         Additional     Total
   Common Stock  Paid-In  Accumulated  Stockholder's
   Shares  Amount  Capital  Deficit  Equity
Balance, December 31, 2015   44,808,731   $448   $4,268,708   $(4,131,266)  $137,890 
Shares issued for services   195,260    2    13,966    —      13,968 
Shares issued for Cash   2,370,039    23    858,224    —      858,247 
Stock-based compensation granted to employees   152,500    2    16,238    —      16,240 
Recension and cancellation of common shares   2,321,063    23    232,248    —      232,271 
Net loss   —      —      —      (603,682)   (603,682)
Balance, December 31, 2016   49,847,593   $498   $5,389,384   $(4,734,948)  $654,934 
APIC Cashless Warrants   —      —      228,250    —      228,250 
Shares issued for PY conversion of debt and interest   237,885    2    (2)   —      —   
Shares issued for Cash   909,390    9    602,684    —      602,693 
Shares issued for services   430,227    4    391,698    —      391,702 
Shares issued for legal settlement   8,955    1    5,999    —      6,000 
Shares return to treassury on settlement   (100,000)   (1)   1    —      —   
                          
Shares issued on settlement   100,000    1    112,449    —      112,450 
Options issued for Settlement             273,900         273,900 
Net (Loss)   —      —      —      (1,488,474)   (1,488,474)
Balance, December 31, 2017   51,434,050   $514   $7,004,363   $(6,223,422)  $781,455 
                          

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements

 

16

 

 

AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016 

 

   2017  2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES          
Net (Loss)  $(1,488,474)  $(603,682)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) to net cash (used in) operating activities:          
Bad Debt Expense   (89,715)   118,641 
Depreciation   4,487    5,173 
Amortization of discount on convertible notes payable   —      41,578 
Interest Converted to Common Stock   —      12,000 
Change in Value of Derivative Liability   —      (14,449)
Stock-based compensation to employees   893,857    16,240 
Stock-based compensation to service providers   —      13,968 
Shares and warrants issued on settlement          
Warranty Expense   895,860    —   
Loss on debt extinguishment   —      7,640 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   107,362    (234,807)
Deposits   —      9,345 
Inventory   6,743    24,935 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (1,502)   22,292 
Advances from Clients   (121,601)   1,222 
Accrued and other current liabilities   15,628    (56,744)
Accounts Payable   (27,780)   (162,556)
Accounts Payable, Related Party   (14,325)   14,325 
Net Cash provided by (used in) Operating Activities   180,541    (784,879)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Purchase of property and equipment   (4,629)   (3,360)
Net cash used in Investing Activities   (4,629)   (3,360)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Proceeds from convertible notes   —      305,250 
Principal payments of convertible debt   —      (180,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares   721,138    858,247 
Net cash Provided by Financing Activities   721,138    983,497 
           
NET INCREASE IN CASH   897,049    195,258 
           
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD   751,038    555,780 
           
CASH AT END OF YEAR  $1,648,086.95   $751,037.56 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:          
Non-Cash Investing and Financing          
Convertible Debt Converted to Common Stock  $—     $220,271.00 
           
Cash paid during the period for interest  $—     $33,840.00 
Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net  $—     $—   

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements

 

17

 

 

AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY, INC. AND SUBISIDIARY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Note 1. Principles of Consolidation.

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of American Cannabis Company, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hollister & Blacksmith, Inc., doing business as American Cannabis Company, Inc. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

Note 2. Description of Business.

 

American Cannabis Company, Inc. and its subsidiary Company, Hollister & Blacksmith, Inc., doing business as American Cannabis Consulting (“American Cannabis Consulting”), (collectively “the “Company”) are based in Denver, Colorado and operate a fully-integrated business model that features end-to-end solutions for businesses operating in the regulated cannabis industry in states and countries where cannabis is regulated and/or has been de-criminalized for medical use and/or legalized for recreational use. We provide advisory and consulting services specific to this industry, design industry-specific products and facilities, and sell both exclusive and non-exclusive customer products commonly used in the industry.

 

Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The Company has elected a fiscal year ending on December 31.

 

Use of Estimates in Financial Reporting

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically and the effects of revisions are reflected in the financial statements in the period they are deemed to be necessary. Significant estimates made in the accompanying financial statements include but are not limited to following: those related to revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts and unbilled services, lives and recoverability of equipment and other long-lived assets, contingencies and litigation. The Company is subject to uncertainties, such as the impact of future events, economic, environmental and political factors, and changes in the business climate; therefore, actual results may differ from those estimates. When no estimate in a given range is deemed to be better than any other when estimating contingent liabilities, the low end of the range is accrued. Accordingly, the accounting estimates used in the preparation of the Company's financial statements will change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company's operating environment changes. Changes in estimates are made when circumstances warrant. Such changes and refinements in estimation methodologies are reflected in reported results of operations; if material, the effects of changes in estimates are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are held in operating accounts at a major financial institution. Cash balances may exceed federally insured limits. Management believes the financial risk associated with these balances is minimal and has not experienced any losses to date. As of December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Company had cash balances in excess of FDIC insured limits of $1,398,087 and $453,691, respectively.

 

Inventory 

Inventory is comprised of products and equipment owned by the Company to be sold to end-customers. Inventory is valued at cost, using the first-in first-out and specific identification methods, unless and until the market value for the inventory is lower than cost, in which case an allowance is established to reduce the valuation to market value. As of December 31, 2017, market values of all of the Company’s inventory were greater than cost, and accordingly, no such valuation allowances was recognized.

 

Research and Development

As a component of our equipment and supplies offerings, from time-to-time we design and develop our own proprietary products to meet demand in markets where current offerings are insufficient. These products include, but are not limited to: The Satchel™, Cultivation Cube™, So-Hum Living Soils™ and the HDCS™. Costs associated with the development of new products are expensed as occurred as research and development operating expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2017, our research and development costs were $2,403 as compared to $2,553 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Deposits

Deposits is comprised of advance payments made to third parties, primarily for inventory for which the Company has not yet taken title. When the Company takes title to inventory for which deposits are made, the related amount is classified as inventory, then recognized as a cost of revenues upon sale (see “Costs of Revenues” below).

 

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets is primarily comprised of advance payments made to third parties for independent contractors’ services or other general expenses. Prepaid services and general expenses are amortized over the applicable periods which approximate the life of the contract or service period.

 

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the net value of face amount less an allowance for doubtful accounts. On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates its accounts receivable and, based on a method of specific identification of any accounts receivable for which it deems the net realizable value to be less than the gross amount of accounts receivable recorded, establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts for those balances. In determining its need for an allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company considers historical experience, analysis of past due amounts, client creditworthiness and any other relevant available information. However, the Company’s actual experience may vary from its estimates. If the financial condition of its clients were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability or unwillingness to pay the Company’s fees, it may need to record additional allowances or write-offs in future periods. This risk is mitigated to the extent that the Company receives retainers from its clients prior to performing significant services.

 

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The allowance for doubtful accounts, if any, is recorded as a reduction in revenue to the extent the provision relates to fee adjustments and other discretionary pricing adjustments. To the extent the provision relates to a client's inability to make required payments on accounts receivables, the provision is recorded in operating expenses. As of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016 our allowance for doubtful accounts and was $21,581 and $31,421 respectively. For December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we recorded bad debt expense of $89,715 and $118,641, respectively, which is reflected as a component of general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statement of operations.

 

Significant Customers

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, three customers accounted 48.95% or more, respectively of the Company’s total product sales revenues, and four customers accounted for 40.18% or more respectively of the Company’s total service based revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2016, three customers accounted for 45.66% of the Company’s total revenues.

 

Property and Equipment, net

Property and Equipment is stated at net book value, cost less depreciation. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation of owned equipment is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from two to seven years. Depreciation of capitalized construction in progress costs, a component of property and equipment, net, begins once the underlying asset is placed into service. Property and equipment is reviewed for impairment as discussed below under “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.” The Company had not capitalized any interest as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Upon such an occurrence, recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to forecasted undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. For long-lived assets held for sale, assets are written down to fair value, less cost to sell. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows, appraised values or management's estimates, depending upon the nature of the assets. The Company did not record any impairment charges related to long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

Beneficial Conversion Feature

If the conversion features of conventional convertible debt provide for a rate of conversion that is below market value at issuance, this feature is characterized as a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”). A BCF is recorded by the Company as a debt discount pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ACF”) Topic 470-20 Debt with Conversion and Other Options. In those circumstances, the convertible debt is recorded net of the discount related to the BCF, and the Company amortizes the discount to interest expense over the life of the debt using the effective interest method.

 

Embedded Conversion Features

 

The Company evaluates embedded conversion features within convertible debt under ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” to determine whether the embedded conversion feature(s) should be bifurcated from the host instrument and accounted for as a derivative at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. If the conversion feature does not require derivative treatment under ASC 815, the instrument is evaluated under ASC 470-20 “Debt with Conversion and Other Options” for consideration of any beneficial conversion features.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Fair value accounting requires bifurcation of embedded derivative instruments such as conversion features in convertible debt or equity instruments, and measurement of their fair value for accounting purposes. In determining the appropriate fair value, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. In assessing the convertible debt instruments, management determines if the convertible debt host instrument is conventional convertible debt and further if there is a beneficial conversion feature requiring measurement. If the instrument is not considered conventional convertible debt, the Company will continue its evaluation process of these instruments as derivative financial instruments.

 

Once determined, derivative liabilities are adjusted to reflect fair value at each reporting period end, with any increase or decrease in the fair value being recorded in results of operations as an adjustment to fair value of derivatives. In addition, the fair value of freestanding derivative instruments such as warrants, are also valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

For annual reporting periods after December 15, 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) made effective ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” to supersede previous revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP. As a smaller reporting company, the Company elected to not adopt FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue Recognition as of December 31, 2017. Currently, revenue is now recognized in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 606. The guidance presents a single five-step model for comprehensive revenue recognition that requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Two options are available for implementation of the standard which is either the retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach. The guidance becomes effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. We determined to implement the cumulative effect adjustment approach to our implementation of FASB ASC Topic 606, with no restatement of the comparative periods presented. We intend to apply this method to any incomplete contracts we determine are subject to FASB ASC Topic 606 prospectively. As is more fully discussed below, we are of the opinion that none of our contracts for services or products contain significant financing components that require revenue adjustment under FASB ASC Topic 606.

 

In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue Recognition, we will recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of a significant financing component exists in our consulting and product sales contracts. We examine and evaluate when our customers become liable to pay for goods and services; how much consideration is paid as compared to the cash selling price of the goods or services; and, the length of time between our performance and the receipt of payment.

 

19

 

 

Product Sales

 

Revenue from product and equipment sales, including delivery fees, is recognized when an order has been obtained from the customer, the price is fixed and determinable when the order is placed, the product is shipped, title has transferred and collectability is reasonably assured. Generally, our suppliers’ drop-ship orders to our clients with shipping-point or destination terms. For any shipments with destination terms, the Company defers revenue until delivery to the customer. Given the facts that (1) our customers exercise discretion in determining the timing of when they place their product order; and, (2) the price negotiated in our product sales contracts is fixed and determinable at the time the customer places the order, we are not of the opinion that our product sales indicate or involve any significant financing that would materially change the amount of revenue recognized under the contract, or would otherwise contain a significant financing component for us or the customer under FASB ASC Topic 606. During the year ended December 31, 2017, sales returns were $21,249 comprised of a cancelled contract and product returns and replacement.

 

Consulting Services

 

We also generate revenues from professional services consulting agreements. These arrangements are generally entered into: (1) on an hourly basis for a fixed-fee; or, (2) on a contingent fee basis. Generally, we require a complete or partial prepayment or retainer prior to performing services.

 

For hourly based fixed fee service contracts, we utilize and rely upon the proportional performance method, which recognizes revenue as services are performed. Under this method, in order to determine the amount of revenue to be recognized, we calculate the amount of completed work in comparison to the total services to be provided under the arrangement or deliverable. We segregate upon entry into a contract any advances or retainers received from clients for fixed fee hourly services into a separate “Advances from Clients” account, and only recognize revenues as we incur and charge billable hours, and then deposit the funds earned into our operating account. Because our hourly fees for services are fixed and determinable and are only earned and recognized as revenue upon actual performance, we are of the opinion that such arrangements are not an indicator of a vendor or customer based significant financing, that would materially change the amount of revenue we recognize under the contract or would otherwise contain a significant financing component under FASB ASC Topic 606.

 

Occasionally, our fixed-fee hourly engagements are recognized under the completed performance method. Some fixed fee arrangements are for completion of a final deliverable or act which is significant to the arrangement as a whole. These engagements do not generally exceed a one-year term. If the performance is for a final deliverable or act, we recognize revenue under the completed performance method, in which revenue is recognized once the final act or deliverable is performed or delivered for a fixed fee. Revenue recognition is affected by a number of factors that change the estimated amount of work required to complete the deliverable, such as changes in scope, timing, awaiting notification of license award from local government, and the level of client involvement. Losses, if any, on fixed-fee engagements are recognized in the period in which the loss first becomes probable and reasonably estimable. FASB ASC Topic 606 provides a practical expedient to disregard the effects of a financing component if the period between payment and performance is one year or less. As, our fixed fee hourly engagements do not exceed one year, no significant customer-based financing is implicated under FASB ASC Topic 606. During the year ended December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, we have incurred no losses from fixed fee engagements that terminate prior to completion. We believe if an engagement terminates prior to completion, we can recover the costs incurred related to the services provided.

 

We occasionally enter into arrangements for which fixed and determinable revenues are contingent and agreed upon achieving a pre-determined deliverable or future outcome. Any contingent revenue for these arrangements is not recognized until the contingency is resolved and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Our arrangements with clients may include terms to deliver multiple services or deliverables. These contracts specifically identify the services to be provided with the corresponding deliverable. The value for each deliverable is determined based on the prices charged when each element is sold separately or by other vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) or estimates of stand-alone selling prices. Revenues are recognized in accordance with our accounting policies for the elements as described above (see Product Sales). The elements qualify for separation when the deliverables have value on a stand-alone basis and the value of the separate elements can be established by VSOE or an estimated selling price.

 

While assigning values and identifying separate elements requires judgment, selling prices of the separate elements are generally readily identifiable as fixed and determinable as we also sell those elements individually outside of a multiple services engagement. Contracts with multiple elements typically incorporate a fixed-fee or hourly pricing structure. Arrangements are typically terminable by either party upon sufficient notice and do not include provisions for refunds relating to services provided.

 

Reimbursable expenses, including those relating to travel, other out-of-pocket expenses and any third-party costs, are included as a component of revenues. Typically, an equivalent amount of reimbursable expenses is included in total direct client service costs. Reimbursable expenses related to time and materials and fixed-fee engagements are recognized as revenue in the period in which the expense is incurred and collectability is reasonably assured. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented in the statement of operations on a net basis.

 

Costs of Revenues

The Company’s policy is to recognize costs of revenue in the same manner in conjunction with revenue recognition. Cost of revenue includes the costs directly attributable to revenue recognition and includes compensation and fees for services, travel and other expenses for services and costs of products and equipment. Selling, general and administrative expenses are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Advertising and Promotion Costs

Advertising and promotion costs are included as a component of selling and marketing expense and are expensed as incurred. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, these costs were $278,542 and $88,047, respectively.

  

Shipping and Handling Costs

For product and equipment sales, shipping and handling costs are included as a component of cost of revenues.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

Restricted shares are awarded to employees and entitle the grantee to receive shares of common stock at the end of the established vesting period. The fair value of the grant is based on the stock price on the date of grant. We recognize related compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite vesting period of the award, which to date has been one year from the grant date. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, stock-based compensation expense for restricted shares for Company employees and service providers was $893,857 and $30,208, respectively. Compensation expense for warrants and options is based on the fair value of the instruments on the grant date, which is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model, and are expensed over the expected term of the awards.

  

20

 

 

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns in accordance with applicable accounting guidance for accounting for income taxes, using currently enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. We record a valuation allowance when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.  For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we recorded a valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset that reduced our income tax benefit for the period to zero. As of December 31, 2017, and, we had no liabilities related to federal or state income taxes and the carrying value of our deferred tax asset was zero.

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

The Company reports net income (loss) per common share in accordance with FASB ASC 260, “Earnings per Share”. This statement requires dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings with a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the earnings per share computations. Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and excludes the effects of any potentially dilutive securities. Diluted earnings per share is equal to basic earnings per share because there are no potential dilutable instruments that would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings. Diluted net income (loss) per share gives effect to any dilutive potential common stock outstanding during the period. The computation does not assume conversion, exercise or contingent exercise of securities since that would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings.

 

Related Party Transactions

The Company follows FASB ASC subtopic 850-10, Related Party Disclosures, for the identification of related parties and disclosure of related party transactions. Related parties include: a) affiliates of the Company; b) entities for which investments in their equity securities would be required, absent the election of the fair value option under the Fair Value Option Subsection of Section 825–10–15, to be accounted for by the equity method by the investing entity; c) trusts for the benefit of employees, such as pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of management; d) principal owners of the Company; e) management of the Company; f) other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests; and g) other parties that can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or that have an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests.

 

Material related party transactions are required to be disclosed in the consolidated financial statements, other than compensation arrangements, expense allowances, and other similar items in the ordinary course of business. However, disclosure of transactions that are eliminated in the preparation of consolidated or combined financial statements is not required in those statements. The disclosures shall include: a) the nature of the relationship(s) involved; b) a description of the transactions, including transactions to which no amounts or nominal amounts were ascribed, for each of the periods for which statements of operation are presented, and such other information deemed necessary to an understanding of the effects of the transactions on the financial statements; c) the dollar amounts of transactions for each of the periods for which statements of operations are presented and the effects of any change in the method of establishing the terms from that used in the preceding period; and d) amounts due from or to related parties as of the date of each balance sheet presented and, if not otherwise apparent, the terms and manner of settlement.

 

Reclassifications

Certain balance sheet reclassifications have been made to prior period balances to reflect the current period’s presentation format; such reclassifications had no impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows and had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15 “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU 2014-15”). By incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards, ASU 2014-15 requires management to assess whether there is substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Specifically, ASU 2014-15 (1) provides a definition of the term substantial doubt, (2) requires an evaluation every reporting period including interim periods, (3) provides principles for considering the mitigating effect of management’s plans, (4) requires certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans, (5) requires an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and (6) requires an assessment for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). ASU 2014-15 is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The Company has not elected to early adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-15, and accordingly, the requirements of ASU 2014-15 will apply beginning with the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effects, if any, that the application of ASU 2014-15 will have on disclosures associated with its consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-9 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-9”), which provides a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires revenue to be recognized in a manner to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. This guidance is effective for annual reporting and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017and allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective application, with early adoption not permitted. Accordingly, the standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued its new lease accounting guidance in Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Under the new guidance, the following will be required to be recognized for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) as of the commencement date:

 

A lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and

A right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.

Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Certain targeted improvements were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

The new lease guidance simplified the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Lessees will no longer be provided with a source of off-balance sheet financing.

 

Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2016-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2019, for a calendar year entity). The Company is currently evaluating the effects, if any, that the application of ASU 2016-02 will have on disclosures associated with its consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Compensation —Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The amendments are intended to improve the accounting for employee share-based payments and affect all organizations that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. Several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions are simplified, including: (a) income tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; and (c) classification on the statement of cash flows. For public companies, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. For private companies, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for any organization in any interim or annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the effects, if any, that the application of ASU 2016-09 will have on disclosures associated with its consolidated financial statements.

 

21

 

 

In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. The amendments clarify the following two aspects of Topic 606: (a) identifying performance obligations; and (b) the licensing implementation guidance. The amendments do not change the core principle of the guidance in Topic 606. This guidance is effective for annual reporting and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017and allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective application, with early adoption not permitted. Accordingly, the standard becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2018.

 

In January 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, clarifying the definition of a business. The amendments affect all companies and other reporting organizations that must determine whether they have acquired or sold a business. For public companies, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. The Company is currently evaluating the effects, if any, that the application of ASU 2017-01 will have on disclosures associated with its consolidated financial statements.

 

Note 3. Accounts Receivable, net

 

Accounts receivable, net, was comprised of the following:

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Gross accounts receivable  $168,385   $195,872 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts   (21,581)   (31,421)
Accounts receivable, net  $146,804   $164,451 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had bad debt expense of ($89,715) and $118,641 and respectively.

 

Note 4 Inventory

 

Inventory as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 

   December 31, 2017  December 31, 2016
Raw materials  $—     $16,614 
Finished goods   35,757    25,886 
Total  $35,757   $42,500 

 

Note 5. Property and Equipment, net

 

Property and equipment, net, was comprised of the following:

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Office equipment  $8,482   $7,472 
Furniture and fixtures   7,240    8,777 
Machinery and equipment   7,336    4,938 
Property and equipment, gross   23,058    21,187 
Less: accumulated depreciation   (11,276)   (10,148)
Property and equipment, net  $11,782   $11,639 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company recorded depreciation expense of $4,487 and $5,173, respectively.

 

Note 6. Accrued and Other Current Liabilities

 

Accrued and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

  

   December 31, 2017  December 31, 2016
Accrued legal fees  $—     $8,835 
Accrued payroll liabilities   8,323    12,903 
Other Accrued Expenses & Payables   44,029    14,986 
Accrued and other current liabilities  $52,352   $36,724 

  

Note 8. Related Party Transactions

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Company incurred $66,000 and $34,250 of expenses respectively to Prince & Tuohey CPA, LTD, an accounting firm in which, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, was a partner. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $5,000 due to this related party.

 

Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies

 

On July 28, 2015, the Company entered into a 5-year lease for 6,500 square feet of office space to house its corporate offices. Under the terms of the lease, payments are $4,500 per month for the first 36 months of the lease and escalate thereafter. As part of this lease, the Company paid a $4,500 deposit, which is classified as an Other Asset.

 

22

 

 

Rent expense was $54,000 and, $54,084 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s future lease obligations:

 

Year   Amount 
2017   $54,000 
2018    54,000 
2019    56,320 
2020    33,610 
Total   $143,930 

 

Note 10. Stock-based Compensation

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company issued stock-based compensation for employees and service providers pursuant to its 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2017, the Company determined to issue employees and services providers warrants instead of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company’s expense for restricted shares to Company employees and service providers was $893,857 and, $30,208, which was the result of the following activity:

 

Restricted Shares

 

From time to time, the Company grants certain employees restricted shares of its common stock to provide further compensation in-lieu of wages and to align the employee’s interests with the interests of its stockholders. Because vesting is based on continued employment, these equity-based incentives are also intended to attract, retain and motivate personnel upon whose judgment, initiative and effort the Company’s success is largely dependent. There were 430,227 shares granted as of December 31, 2017. The fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the quoted closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted share award activity during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

  Restricted Shares     Weighted Average  
  Common Stock     Grant Date Fair Value  
Outstanding unvested at December 31, 2015     164,981     $ 0.21  
Granted     267,172       0.11  
Vested restricted shares     (323,553 )     0.15  
Forfeited            
Outstanding unvested at December 31, 2016            
Granted     430,227       0.92  
Vested restricted shares     430,227       0.  
Forfeited            
Outstanding unvested at December 31, 2017     430,227     $ 0.92  


During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company granted 430,227 restricted shares to Company employees and service providers and recognized $391,702 in associated stock-based compensation expense. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company granted 152,500 restricted shares and recognized $16,240 in associated employee stock-based compensation expense.

 

Warrants

 

In connection with his appointment to the Company’s board of directors, the Company granted its independent board member, Vincent “Tripp” Keber, warrants to purchase up to two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) shares of common stock at an exercise price of sixty-three cents ($0.63) per share, exercisable within five (5) years of the date of issuance on November 19, 2014 with a value of $228,250,

 

On August 31, 2017, the Company issued Anthony Baroud warrants to purchase up to fifty thousand (50,000) shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.93 in a cashless transaction. The warrants expired on March 1, 2018.

 

The Company used the Black-Scholes valuation model to determine the fair value of warrants as of the grant date. Assumptions used in this calculation for the warrant award to purchase 250,000 shares  of common stock include expected volatility of 144.2%, based on an average of historical data of the Company’s stock price and the stock prices of three comparable companies that are also included in the marijuana index, a risk-free rate of 1.23%, based on U.S. Treasury yields as published by the Federal Reserve, a dividend yield of 0.0%, as the Company has not historically paid dividends nor does it have any plans to do so in the foreseeable future, and an expected term of five years. The grant date fair value of the warrants, as calculated based on these assumptions, was $0.91 per share.

 

During 2017 and 2016, the Company had the following warrant activity:

 

     Common Stock Warrants    Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2014    250,000    $ 0.91  
Granted           
Exercised           
Expired or forfeited           
Outstanding at December 31, 2015    250,000    $ 0.91  
Granted           
Exercised           
Expired or forfeited           
Outstanding at December 31, 2016    250,000    $ 0.91  
Granted    790,000      1.13  
Exercised         
Expired or forfeited          
Outstanding at December 31, 2017    1,040,000     $1.13  
Vested at December 31, 2017    1,040,000   $    

 

23

 

 

As of December 31, 2017, the price per share exceeded the exercise price per share of our common shares, resulting in an aggregate intrinsic value of $895,860  of the outstanding warrants.

 

Options

 

On January 22, 2018, the Company awarded Mr. Keber an option to purchase   three hundred thousand (300,000) shares of common stock at an exercise price of sixty-three cents ($0.63) per share valued at $273,900. The options are effective January 22, 2018 and terminate on November 19, 2019.

 

Note 11. Income Taxes

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Legislation) in the United States enacted on December 22, 2017 significantly revised the United States corporate income tax by, among other things, lowering the corporate income tax rate to 21% effective January 1, 2018, implementing a modified territorial tax system and imposing a one-time repatriation tax on deemed repatriated earnings and profits of U.S.-owned foreign subsidiaries (the Toll Charge). As a fiscal-year taxpayer, certain provisions of the Tax Legislation impacted us in fiscal 2018, including the change in the corporate income tax rate, while other provisions will be effective starting at the beginning of fiscal 2019. Accordingly, our federal statutory income tax rate for fiscal 2018 reflected a blended rate of approximately 21%.

 

The following table displays a reconciliation from the U.S. statutory rate to the effective tax rate and the provision for (benefit from) income taxes   for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively:

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Tax benefit at the US statutory rate of 34%  $506,081   $205,253 
State income tax benefit   68,916    27,951 
Non-deductible expenses including non-deductible pre-merger losses        
Change in valuation allowance   (574,997)   (233,204)
Total income tax benefit  $   $ 

 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities) consisted of the following:

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Net operating loss carryforwards  $1,354,949   $1,141,773 
Beneficial conversion feature accumulated amortization   13,791    13,791 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts   7,855    13,727 
Valuation allowance   (1,376,595)   (1,169,291)
Total deferred tax assets  $   $ 

 

The Company determined that it is not more likely than not that its deferred tax asset would be realizable. Accordingly, the Company recorded a valuation allowance for the full amount of its deferred tax asset, resulting in a zero carrying value of the Company’s deferred tax asset and no benefit from or provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. Federal and state operating loss carry forwards of $1,354,949 and $1,141,773 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, begin expiring on 2034. The years 2010 to 2015 remain subject to examination by the Company’s major tax jurisdictions.

 

Utilization of the net operating loss carry forwards and credits may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to ownership change limitations provided by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and similar state provisions.

 

Note 12. Stockholders’ Equity

 

Preferred Stock

 

The American Cannabis Company, Inc. is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock at $0.01 par value.

 

No shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

Common Stock

 

The American Cannabis Company, Inc. is authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock at $0.00001   par value. As of December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Company had 51,434,050 and 49,847,593, shares issued and outstanding, respectively.

 

On January 4, 2017, the Company issued a total of 430,227 shares of restricted common stock to 9 employees and consultants pursuant to consulting contracts and the Company’s 2015 Employee Incentive Plan.

 

On January 10, 2017, pursuant to the amended and restated Investment Agreement with Tangiers, the Company sold 588,841 shares of registered common stock to Tangiers in exchange for $414,538.

 

24

 

 

On February 22, 2017, pursuant to the amended   and restated Investment Agreement with Tangiers, the Company sold 320,549 registered common shares to Tangiers in exchange for $188,146.

 

On June 12, 2017, pursuant to a written agreement, the Company issued 8,955 common shares to Jesus Quintero.

 

On August 31, 2017, pursuant to a written agreement, the Company issued Anthony Baroud 100,000 shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase up to 50,000 shares valued at $0.76 per share, expiring on March 1, 2018.

 

On January 22, 2018, pursuant to a written agreement with Vincent “Tripp” Keber, the Company issued Mr. Keber an option to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock for a price of $0.63 per share. The option expires on November 19, 2019.

 

Note 13. Subsequent Events

 

Effective January 18, 2018, Mr. Vincent “Tripp” Keber, III resigned as a director. On March 13, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed Tad Mailander as a director.

 

On April 24, 2018, the Company terminated the engagement of its Chief Financial Officer, J. Michael Tuohey. On April 24, 2018, the Registrant appointed R. Leslie Hymers, III as its Chief Financial Officer.

 

On June 18, 2018, R. Leslie Hymers, III, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer resigned his position. Concurrently, the Company engaged Michael Schwanbeck as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.

 

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The Company is a smaller reporting Company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and is not required to provide the information required under this item.

 

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Management of the Company is responsible for maintaining disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that financial information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the timeframes specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, consistent with Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K.

 

In addition, the disclosure controls and procedures must ensure that such financial information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial and other required disclosures.

 

As of December 31, 2017, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13(a)-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other persons carrying out similar functions for the Company. Based on the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, the Company concluded that during the period covered by this report, such disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

The Company continues to employ and refine a structure in which critical accounting policies, issues and estimates are identified, and together with other complex areas, are subject to multiple reviews by accounting personnel. In addition, the Company evaluates and assesses its internal controls and procedures regarding its financial reporting, utilizing standards incorporating applicable portions of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s 2009 Guidance for Smaller Public Companies in Auditing Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting as necessary and on an on-going basis.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of the prevention or detection of misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

 

The Company has no reportable changes to its internal controls over financial reporting for the period covered by this report.

 

The Company will continually enhance and test its internal controls over financial reporting on a continuing basis. Additionally, the Company’s management, under the control of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, will increase its review of its disclosure controls and procedures on an ongoing basis. Finally, the Company plans to designate, in conjunction with its Chief Financial Officer, individuals responsible for identifying reportable developments and the process for resolving compliance issues related to them. The Company believes these actions will focus necessary attention and resources in its internal accounting functions.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

25

 

 

PART III.

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Our Board of Directors

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our current directors and each director as of December 31, 2017.

 

Name   Principal Occupation   Age   Director Since
Corey Hollister(1)   Chairman of the Board, American Cannabis Company, Inc.   42   2014
Ellis Smith   Chief Development Officer, American Cannabis Company, Inc.   41   2014
Vincent “Tripp” Keber(2)   Chief Executive Officer, Dixie Brands, Inc.   49   2014
Terry Buffalo(3)   Director, Principal Executive Officer   53   2017
Tad Mailander(4)   Director, Principal, Mailander Law Office, Inc.   62   2018

  

Corey Hollister served as a director from May 2014 until May 30, 2017. In March 2013, Mr. Hollister co-founded American Cannabis Company, Inc. (“ACC”), and from March 2013 to May 2014, Mr. Hollister served as a Managing Director of ACC. From September 2010 to July 2013, Mr. Hollister co-owned and was director of Colorado Kind Care LLC d/b/a The Village Green Society, a Colorado-based Medical Marijuana Center. From October 2007 to September 2009, Mr. Hollister owned and operated Built-to-Last Fitness, a private health and wellness company focused on exercise and nutritional guidance for individuals, companies and schools. Prior to this, Mr. Hollister was based in Boston, MA and worked in Marketing and Advertising.

 

Ellis Smith from June 2014 to the present; Ellis Smith has served as our Chief Development Officer and as a director since September 2014. In March 2013, Mr. Smith co-founded ACC, and from March 2013 to May 2014, Mr. Smith served as a Managing Director of ACC. From September 2010 to July 2013, Mr. Smith co-owned Colorado Kind Care LLC d/b/a The Village Green Society, a Colorado-based Medical Marijuana Center, where he was responsible for managing the operations and protocols supporting the growth and production of medical marijuana. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Smith founded and operated The Happy Camper Organics Inc., a medical marijuana company focused on the growth of wholesale cannabis for sale to medical marijuana businesses. From 2005 to 2010, Mr. Smith founded and operated Bluebird Productions, a video production company. Mr. Smith has been published and recognized for his horticultural experience and organic gardening in the cannabis industry, and he is known for assisting in identifying the Hemp Russet Mite and working with SKUNK magazine to educate the industry. Our Board believes Mr. Smith’s qualifications to serve as an executive of the Company and as a member of our Board include his past success in founding and operating businesses, his unique experience in horticultural and organic gardening, and his recognized qualifications in the emerging medical cannabis markets.

 

Vincent “Tripp” Keber served as a member of our board of directors from November 2014 until January 18, 2018. Mr. Keber is a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dixie Elixirs & Edibles, a Colorado licensed medical marijuana infused products manufacturer. He is a founding director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, and, since 2013, has served as a director of the Marijuana Policy Project. He is also an advisory board member of the Medical Marijuana Industry Group in Colorado. In his current role as CEO of Dixie, Mr. Keber is responsible for the overall strategy, licensing, marketing, branding and expansion efforts related to the Dixie brand, both domestically and internationally. Mr. Keber has been featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes and CNBC. Since June 2014, Mr. Keber has also served as a Director of MassRoots, Inc. Prior to joining Dixie, Mr. Keber served as Chief Operating Officer for Bella Terra Resort Development Company, and EVP of Business Development for Sagebrush Realty Development. Mr. Keber has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Villanova University. Mr. Keber is involved in several charitable organizations located within the Aspen and Denver communities, and assists in the research and development of cannabis support for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

Terry Buffalo from June 1, 2017 to present; Mr. Buffalo is an executive in the financial services industry, with extensive experience including managing a hybrid FINRA broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor firm. Mr. Buffalo is regarded as an expert in these fields with publications in Financial Advisor Magazine and NAIFA’s Advisor Today, as well as being a featured interview in Boomer Market Advisor. Prior to founding Buffalo Financial Solutions, Mr. Buffalo was the Chief Executive Officer of a regional broker dealer for over 10 years, where he took an underperforming firm and revamped the business model from a corporate to an independent structure, with an emphasis on attracting brokers with established clienteles. While there, the firm consistently produced net profits of 7%, compared to industry average among peers that ranged between negative to 1.5%, while expanding the firm’s overall assets from $400 million to over $2 billion.

 

Tad Mailander is an attorney licensed to practice before all of the Courts in the State of California. Mr. Mailander has been in practice since 1991 and is a member of the State Bar of California, the bars of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit.

 

(1) Effective May 30, 2017, Corey Hollister resigned his position as Director of the Company and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors.

 

(2) Effective January 18, 2018, Vincent “Tripp” Keber resigned his position as Director of the Company.

 

(3) Effective June 1, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed Mr. Terry Buffalo as a Director of the Company.

 

(4) Effective March 13, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed Mr. Tad Mailander as a Director of the Company.

 

Our Executive Officers

 

We designate persons serving in the following positions as our named executive officers: our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief development officer, chief operating officer and chief technology officer. The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of December 31, 2017.

 

Name   Principal Occupation   Age   Officer Since
Terry Buffalo   Principal Executive Officer   53   2016
Ellis Smith   Chief Development Officer   41   2014
J. Michael Tuohey1   Chief Financial Officer   55   2016
R. Leslie Hymers, III2   Chief Financial Officer   35   2018
Michael Schwanbeck3   Chief Financial Officer   26   2018

  

26

 

 

Ellis Smith’s biographical summary is included under “Our Board of Directors.”

 

Terry Buffalo’s biographical summary is included under “Our Board of Directors.”

 

J. Michael Tuohey, Chief Financial Officer, is a graduate of the College of William and Mary. He is currently a partner in the firm of Prince and Tuohey, CPA LTD in Hot Springs AR and a partner in Bolmgren Retireplan, a Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Chicago IL. He has served in the role of CFO for several firms in the investment industry. He holds a license as a Certified Public Accountant and a Series 66 certification from the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

 

R. Leslie Hymers, III, Chief Financial Officer, is a licensed CPA in the state of California. During his career as a tax professional at Ernst & Young, LLP, Mr. Hymers provided tax services to several prominent entertainment and real estate companies. His extensive experience with Entertainment and Private Equity industries together with his prolonged involvement with public companies in different roles makes him a key asset to the Registrant. Mr. Hymers currently serves as a director and Chief Financial Officer of Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) and also previously served as the CFO of Global Hemp Group (OTC: GBHPF). Mr. Hymers is the Managing Partner of Pinnacle Tax Services, LLC, and holds a Master of Science in Taxation degree and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Accountancy from California State University, Northridge. He is the founding managing editor of the University's: "Tax Development Journal." Mr. Hymers is one of nine professionals appointed to a newly formed Cannabis Advisory Taxation Taskforce (CATT) to help the California state legislature develop and enhance new cannabis tax laws and regulations.

 

Michael Schwanbeck, Chief Financial Officer, worked as a tax professional preparing and managing income tax returns for corporations, s-corps, partnerships, and individuals. Mr. Schwanbeck also has experience in auditing business organizations, and managing business taxes including sales tax, payroll tax, and property tax returns. Mr. Schwanbeck graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in December of 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and a minor in Mathematics. Mr. Schwanbeck was certified as a college business and math tutor though the College Reading & Learning Association. Mr. Schwanbeck is pending issuance of his certified public accountancy license in Colorado.

 

(1) On April 24, 2018, the Company terminated Mr. Tuohey’s engagement as Chief Financial Officer.

 

(2) On April 24, 2018, the Company engaged R. Leslie Hymers, III as Chief Financial Officer.

 

(3) On June 18, 2018, Mr. Hymers resigned as Chief Financial Officer and the Company engaged Michael Schwanbeck as Chief Financial Officer.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock to file initial reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership with the SEC. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms filed by such persons.

 

Based solely on our review of such forms furnished to us, and written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that all filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 were satisfied.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and each of our other executive officers during 2017.

 

                   Non-Equity        
               Stock   Incentive Plan  All Other     
       Salary   Bonus   Awards   Compensation  Compensation   Total 
Name and Principal Position  Year   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)  ($)   ($) 
Corey Hollister, Principal Executive   2017    30,115    1,116              31,231 
Officer(1)   2016    87,000                  85,846 
    2015    84,346    1,500              75,513 
                                  
J. Michael Tuohey, Chief Financial   2017    66,000                  66,000 
Officer(4)   2016    34,250                  34,250 
    2015                       
                                  
Ellis Smith, Chief Development   2017    85,000    23,732          12,030    120,762 
Officer   2016    86,949                     86,949 
    2015    79,808    1,500                   
                             81,308 
                                  
Terry Buffalo, Principal Executive   2017    80,000    7,522               87,522 
Officer(5)   2016    62,152        3,330          65,452 
    2015            1,590          1,590 

  

(1)Mr. Hollister resigned as our Principal Executive Officer effective January 1, 2017.

(2)Mr. Buffalo was our Chief Operations Officer during 2016. Effective January 1, 2017, Mr. Buffalo was appointed our Principal Executive Officer.

(3)Mr. Tuohey was appointed our Chief Financial Officer on November 28, 2016.

 

27

 

 

Retirement Benefits

 

We do not currently provide our named executive officers with supplemental or other retirement benefits.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2017

 

As of December 31, 2017, we had not granted any stock-based compensation awards to any of our named executive officers.

 

28

 

 

Compensation of Directors

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned during 2017 by each individual who served as a non-employee director at any time during the fiscal year:

 

2017 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Name

 

Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)

  

Stock Awards(1) ($)

  

Total ($)

 
Vincent “Tripp” Keber   30,000    0    30,000 

 

(1)In connection with Mr. Keber’s appointment to the board of directors, on November 19, 2014, he was awarded warrants to purchase up to two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) shares of our common stock at an exercise price of sixty-three cents ($0.63) per share exercisable within five (5) years of the date of issuance.

 

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The following table sets forth information known to us regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of December 31, 2017 by (1) each stockholder who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock, (2) each of our directors, (3) each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above, and (4) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

 

   Number of     
   Shares     
   Beneficially     
Beneficial Owner(1)  Owned(2)   Percent(3) 
Named Executive Officers and Directors:          
Corey Hollister   11,864,654    23.067%
Ellis Smith   11,816,741    22.974%
Terry Buffalo   230,000    0.4471%
J. Michael Tuohey        
Vincent “Tripp” Keber, III        
Tad Mailander        
-          
All executive officers and directors as a group (6 persons)   23,911,395    46.489%

  

(1)

 

Except as otherwise indicated, the persons named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable and to the information contained in the footnotes to this table.

 

 (2)

Under SEC rules, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of shares that can be acquired by such person within 60 days upon the exercise of options or the settlement of other equity awards.

 

 (3) Calculated on the basis of 51,434,050 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017, plus any additional shares of common stock that a stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days after December 31, 2017.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan Category

 

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights(1) 

  

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights(2)

  

Number of securities remaining available for issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))(3) 

 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders            
                
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders   250,000   $0.63     
    300,000   $0.63     
Total   550,000   $0.63     

 

(1)Historically, the Company has granted restricted shares that are subject to forfeiture. Pursuant to SEC guidance, these RSUs are not reportable in the table above.

 

(2)Historically, the Company has granted restricted shares that are subject to forfeiture. Pursuant to SEC guidance, these RSUs are not reportable in the table above. Restricted shares subject to forfeiture have a weighted average exercise price of $0.00.

 

(3)The Company equity compensation grants to date have been approved on a grant-by-grant basis, as opposed to under an umbrella equity compensation plan establishing a total number of grants available.

 

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Since Inception on March 5, 2013, there has not been, and there is not currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were or will be a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 and in which any of our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities or any member of the immediate family of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. We believe that we have executed all of the transactions described therein on terms no less favorable to us than we could have obtained from unaffiliated third parties.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to us for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 by Malone Bailey, LLP, and L&L, CPAs:

  

   Year Ended   Year Ended 
   December 31,   December 31, 
   2017   2016 
Audit fees(1)   39,000    30,000 
Audit-related fees(2)        
Tax fees(3)       5,000 
All other fees(4)        

  

(1)Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, the review of the interim financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by Malone Bailey, LLP and L&L, CPAs in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, consultations in connection with acquisitions and issuances of auditor consents and comfort letters in connection with SEC registration statements and related SEC and non-SEC securities offerings.

(2)Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit fees.”

(3)Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (domestic and international). These services include assistance regarding federal, state and international tax compliance, acquisitions and international tax planning.

(4)All other fees consist of fees for products and services other than the services reported above.

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)(1) Financial Statements

 

The following consolidated financial statements of American Cannabis Company, Inc. are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

Notes to Consolidated Statements

 

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

None.

 

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(a)(3) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No

Exhibit Title

Filed Herewith 

Form

Filing Date 

2 Plan of Acquisition, Reorganization, Arrangement, Liquidation or Recession   14A 5/16/2000
2.1 Plan of Acquisition, Reorganization, Arrangement, Liquidation or Recession   14c 4/16/2013
2.2 Plan of Acquisition, Reorganization, Arrangement, Liquidation or Recession   14c 9/09/2014
3(i) Articles of Incorporation   SB-2 10/12/1995
3(i)(a) Amendment to Articles of Incorporation   14A 5/16/2000
3(i)(b) Amendment to Articles of Incorporation   14c 4/16/2013
3(i)(c) Amendment to Articles of Incorporation   14c 9/09/2014
3(i)(c) Amendment to Articles of Incorporation   8-K 10/3/2014
3(ii) By Laws   SB-2 10/12/1995
10 Material Contracts   14c 9/09/2014
16 Letter RE Change in Certifying Public Accountant   8-K 02/17/2015
17 Disclosures on Departures of Directors  

8-K

 

14c

 

10/03/2014

 

9/09/2014

 

31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) X    
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) X    
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. X    
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. X    

 

 

 

* In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the information in these exhibits is furnished and deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date:  December 26, 2018 AMERICAN CANNABIS COMPANY, INC.
   
 
By:

/s/Terry Buffalo

    Terry Buffalo
    Principal Executive Officer

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Corey Hollister and Jesus M Quintero and each of them, with full power of substitution and re-substitution and full power to act without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file, any and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their and his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature Title Date
     
/S/ Terry Buffalo Principal Executive Officer and Director December 26, 2018
Terry Buffalo    
     
/S/ Michael Schwanbeck Principal Financial Officer December 26, 2018
Michael Schwanbeck    
     
/S/ Ellis Smith Chief Development Officer and Director December 26, 2018
Ellis Smith    
     
/S/ Tad Mailander Director December 26, 2018
Tad Mailander    

 

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