Last month I brought your attention to a new over-the-counter issue called Montalvo Spirits (TQLA). At the time, I noted that all stocks must start somewhere, and while newly traded over-the-counter plays like Montalvo rarely get the level of attention garnered by institutionally-backed issues, the company’s shares were attracting a notable level of trading volume. Since then, TQLA has managed to tack on a dime, weathering extremely volatile market conditions, closing at $0.91 per share in recent dealings, and is currently knocking on the door of new 52-week highs.

To refresh your memory, Montalvo Spirits, Inc. develops, markets and distributes premium alcoholic beverages, with its initial offering being the award-winning Montalvo Tequila. That product was launched in April 2012, with distribution deals in New York and California. Montalvo’s Plata varietal became a finalist at the prestigious Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2013, garnering a 93 rating out of a possible 100, and at the 2013 Spirits of the Americas Competition, Montalvo’s Reposado was named “Best of Class” in the Reposado Tequila category. In addition to Tequila, the company is focused on other artisanal spirit brands with a tradition of excellence and quality.

At the time of my original alert, Montalvo had confirmed that it was launching its first widespread ad campaign in the Robb Report, a well-known luxury-lifestyle magazine featuring products — including automobiles, real estate and watches — for affluent connoisseurs. The company was also in talks to further expand distribution throughout the United States and internationally, and had just landed a key placement of its products at Disney’s Epcot’s Mexican Pavilion in Orlando.

Several corporate developments have kept Montalvo shares in the spotlight since then. In early June, the company announced that it had entered into a Letter of Intent with Broken Heart Spirits Limited, a New Zealand-based company that produces a line of craft spirits including Broken Heart Gin, for the exclusive right to sell Broken Heart Gin in the United States. The company expects to enter into an Exclusive Master Distribution Agreement with Broken Heart following the approval of Broken Heart Gin‘s formula and labels by the U.S. Tax and Trade Bureau, and hopes to launch the brand in the United States in the fall of this year.

One week later Montalvo announced the formation of a newly established Advisory Board to assist management in developing distribution and operational strategies, and to help the company identify potential portfolio brands. The company plans to appoint and introduce the initial members of the Advisory Board in the upcoming weeks. According to the company, the Advisory Board will consist of respected members of the wine and spirits industry.

Finally, on Tuesday, Montalvo announced that it was on track to meet some of its expansion plans, having recently secured distribution in the states of Connecticut and Oregon. To continue its expansion into the Northeast, the company has registered the brand with the State of Connecticut and has appointed a distributor throughout the state, with plans to launch Montalvo Tequila in Connecticut on August 1^st.…

We’re all familiar with bad hair days—when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, and nothing seems to go your way.  Today I want to bring your attention to a publically-traded company that is focused on bringing people good hair days—with a hair loss prevention product that has shown promising trial results internationally, and is already penetrating markets outside of the United States. Its name is Biologix Hair, and it trades over-the-counter under the symbol BLGX.

Biologix Hair, Inc., which was acquired by T&G Apothecary Inc. in December, 2012,  together with its subsidiaries, develops and manufactures Biologix Hair Therapy System—a compound and delivery system to treat follicle nutrient deficiency syndrome (FNDS).  Its Biologix Hair Therapy System includes Biologix Revive, a hair formula administered as a series of shallow injections using a needle targeting the follicles starved by FNDS. The Revive formula is applied by Certified Biologix Hair Therapists through a network of Biologix Hair Therapy Centers.

Before discussing the company’s current initiatives to expand the footprint of its lead product, it’s worthwhile to take note of just how big the hair restoration market is. According to the International Society for Hair Loss Surgery, consumers worldwide spend about $2 billion on surgical hair restoration alone. IbisWorld, an independent market research firm, reports that non-surgical alternatives like Propecia and Minoxidil are part of a $7 billion per annum industry.

Biologix Hair has been tapping into that market since 2004. According to a company statement released last week, over the past 8 years more than 30,000 pre-clinical-trial treatments of Biologix Revive have been administered to more than 5000 patients in South America. Some of those patients were suffering with varying degrees of alopecia, a disease that causes extreme hair loss, while some were seeking preventive treatment.

In short, the results have been impressive. Participating clinicians subjectively observed and reported that virtually 100% of preventive care clients continued to retain their healthy hair.  An estimated 80-85% of the males, and more than 90% of the females treated for hair regeneration experienced significant regrowth of their own natural hair. Among alopecia areata patients, virtually total hair regrowth was observed in 100% of the cases. To date, no negative side effects have been reported.

Although Revive hasn’t been approved for use in the United States, Biologix has reported a substantial uptick in clinician interest internationally. In the two month period between March and April, the company’s worldwide Clinician Licensing Department has contracted on behalf of Biologix with 80 new medical services clinics in 26 new countries, bringing that total to 37. The company also stated that cumulatively, the number of contracted clinics have a patient population in excess of 3 million.

Donna Lieder, Biologix Vice President of Clinician Licensing, stated, “During the recent period we witnessed tremendous increase in interest by the global medical community seeking to become certified Biologix Hair Therapists and secure exclusive territorial purchasing and treatment rights for the Biologix Hair Therapy System.” She went on to say that Biologix will continue to actively pursue worldwide marketing opportunities.…

The emergence of a new stock sector is always exciting. Perhaps the most storied sector moves of all time came during the internet revolution, when almost any issue with even the most remote connection to the internet experienced stratospheric, but usually short-lived share price run-ups. Right now, regardless of your personal feelings about medical or recreational marijuana, we’re witnessing a giant sector move in marijuana-related stocks, most of which still trade for well under $1 per share.

So why now? Mainly, election results at the end of 2012, with Colorado and Washington State legalizing the drug, have permanently altered the landscape when it comes to marijuana’s legal status, and companies that were already well-positioned to benefit are reaping the rewards. As a result, the race is on among market participants to find – and invest in – the most promising companies in the sector. Currently, among the sub-dollar set, Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA) is the leader of the pack, both from a revenue standpoint, and among market participants – and shares of this young company may have a lot more run left in them in 2013 and beyond.

Medical Marijuana Inc. offers a diversified portfolio of products, services, technology and businesses focused on the cannabis and hemp industries. These products range from patented and proprietary based cannabinoid products, to whole plant or isolated high value extracts specifically manufactured and formulated for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries. The company’s services range from medical clinic management to the capitalization and development of existing industry business and product leaders. Services also include development of cannabinoid based health and wellness products, and medical grade compounds.

Less than a month ago, on January 22, the company released its latest earnings report and the numbers were nothing short of eye-catching. MJNA banked net income of approximately $3.2 million on record gross revenues of $5.2 million. This was a gross revenue increase of over 1100% percent quarter-over-quarter, and a sequential net income increase of over $2.0 million. Revenues for 2012 totaled $12.38 million and net income was $7.1 million. Looking at the company’s performance over the last five quarters, every key metric has been in an uptrend:

	Three months ended Dec. 31, 2011	Three months ended Mar. 31, 2012	Three months ended Jun. 30, 2012	Three months ended Sep. 30, 2012	Three months ended Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue	$430,140	$1,788,445	$2,403,624	$3,001,902	$5,193,654
Assets	$1,948,165	$6,356,301	$7,908,677	$8,131,147	$16,384,698
Debt	$26,785	$101,778	$156,778	$585,437	$84,800
Net Income	($62,711)	$1,208,136	$1,471,596	$1,193,937	$3,233,623

Although the company is currently listed on the pink sheets, it has retained the accounting firm of Anthony W. Imbimbo & Associates to perform the audit of its financial accounting records. The firm initially focused on auditing the fourth quarter results to meet the filing deadline of February 15, 2013. With that completed, the firm is turning its attention to auditing each prior quarter to obtain a full 24 months of audited financial statements. Significantly, Medical Marijuana Inc. has also completed and submitted all the necessary documentation for a market tier uplisting to the OTC.…