Cannabis Critics Announce New Grow Competition

DENVER, April 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Jake Browne and Sohum J Shah, cannabis critics for The Denver Post's The Cannabist, announced the launch of a revolutionary new cultivation competition. The announcement, which coincides with the annual 4/20 celebration, includes event partners and sponsors Dark Horse Genetics, Cultivate Colorado, and Pazoo, Inc. (OTC: PZOOD), licensing partners to analytical laboratory, Steep Hill Colorado.

With local authorities in Adams County denying the annual High Times Cannabis Cup a permit in 2016, a unique opportunity to provide an alternative competition presented itself for the first time in years. Browne and Shah's revolutionary new grow competition is based on quantitative analysis as opposed to qualitative rating thanks to their strategic partner, Steep Hill Labs. Unlike other competitions, the inaugural Grow-Off is limited to licensed Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facilities in Colorado and will be fully compliant with state laws and regulations.

"Currently, grow competitions tend to be based on the opinions of enthusiasts as opposed to a handful of selectively-picked judges," said Browne, the first-ever marijuana critic for The Denver Post's cannabis coverage section, The Cannabist. "Other competitions have made great strides in bringing exposure to the different products available in various markets to consumers, but The Grow-Off focuses on the entire process, from start to finish."

In order to control variables and truly compare the skill of different cultivators, all entrants will be required to cultivate clones from the same "mother" plant, which are genetically identical. The resulting harvests will be judged and ranked based on a proprietary algorithm that accounts for a number of quantitative factors.

"Our goal is to shift the emphasis from qualitative judgement to quantitative analysis of phenotypical variance," added Sohum Shah, another Cannabist marijuana critic and CEO of the Cannabis Commodities Exchange. "By grading cannabis based on comprehensive laboratory analysis, we hope to improve end-consumer understanding of true product quality."

The Grow-Off is proud to partner with Dark Horse Genetics, the world-renowned breeding company responsible for the strain, Bruce Banner.  Dark Horse will provide clones of a previously unreleased and currently unidentified strain to competition entrants.

"We've spent two years developing this strain, and its first release outside our hands will be in this competition," Mitch Shenassa said. "We're proud, honored, and excited to see the results with hard numbers attached." Shenassa is the Chief Operations Officer of Dark Horse and operates out of the company's Colorado location.

In addition to securing a genetics partner, The Grow-Off has teamed up with Pazoo, Inc. for laboratory analysis of competition entries. Pazoo is a licensee of the national cannabis testing lab, Steep Hill Labs, who has helped pioneer the laboratory analysis and methodology for cannabis products. Steep Hill's suite of laboratory analysis includes cannabinoid and terpenoid profiles, as well as residual contaminant testing.

"We are very excited that Pazoo through Steep Hill Colorado are part of this new, ground-breaking cannabis competition. We truly feel that providing the safest and best quality product to the end user is a top priority," offered David Cunic, CEO of Pazoo, Inc. "As a medical professional for over 15 years, I feel it is very important you provide patients with the safest and most effective medicine possible. This competition is another pioneer moment in the cannabis industry, we are very lucky and proud to be part of it," Cunic continued.

The event organizers will begin accepting pre-registration entries on April 20, 2016. Competition entrants can expect to select their clones May 2016. For more information on The Inaugural Grow-Off, please visit thegrowoff.com.

About The Grow-Off
The Grow-Off is a revolutionary, disruptive competition exclusively for state-licensed cannabis cultivators. Created by cannabis critics as a means to bring legitimacy and awareness to the cultivation process, the fully compliant, invitation-only competition is intended to bring a scientific and qualitative analysis to the industry. The Grow-Off will be launched initially in Colorado and plans to quickly bring their innovative approach to other well-regulated states.

About Pazoo, Inc.
Pazoo, Inc. is a company focused on health, wellness and safety. Our focus is to provide best-in-class laboratory testing of cannabis and cannabinoids to protect consumers from impurities, contaminants and other irregularities. Through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Harris Lee and MA & Associates, Pazoo provides industry leading laboratory testing of cannabis. Pazoo is licensed to test cannabis in Nevada, with a focus on expansion into other states. Additionally, Pazoo delivers a comprehensive array of health and wellness information on its website www.pazoo.com, and features industry experts from both the health and wellness arena and the pet industry. Lastly, our newly formed wholly owned subsidiary CK Distribution LLC, provides the marketing and sales agent for the distribution of non-controlled hemp products throughout the USA. Non-controlled hemp products are the items utilized by the industry that support grow facilities, infusion companies and dispensaries.

Safe Harbor Statement:
This update includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Pazoo, Inc. or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statement.

About Dark Horse Genetics
18-time Cannabis Cup winning founder of Incredibowl Industries, former Managing Editor of KindReviews.com, High Times contributor, and author of The Cannabis Aficionado's Handbook, Mitch Shenassa is the COO of DarkHorse Genetics, one of the leading cannabis seed companies in the world.

About the Cannabis Commodities Exchange
The Cannabis Commodities Exchange (CCX), headquartered in Denver, is the premier online wholesale trading platform for licensed cannabis businesses in Colorado and beyond. Only verified businesses can buy and sell wholesale products, and CCX stores and recalls information in a unique way that separates state markets and medical and adult-use markets. CCX also provides its clients with logistics, quality control, and supply chain solutions.

SOURCE Pazoo, Inc.

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