Cannabis Sativa Inc (OTCMKTS:CBDS) Is About To Rollout A Big Value Driver

Cannabis Sativa Inc (OTCMKTS:CBDS) is a company that first drew our attention early last year. The company is a cannabis play that has drawn both positive and negative media attention in the period since our first highlighting it. While sentiment has fluctuated, however, share price hasn’t. The company was trading for $0.68 a share when we first tagged it as one to watch in February last year. At last close, Cannabis Sativa shares went for $6.30 a piece, down from late January highs at $8.70. Low to high, that's a close to 1,200% run. Post the recent correction, we're still looking at an 825% run.The company has managed to hold on to the value appreciation that many cannabis companies enjoyed, but subsequently gave back to the markets, in the wake of the November recreational legalization ballots.At heart, and for those new to Cannabis Sativa, the company is a web retail company that focuses on the sale of CBD products – water, snacks, that sort of thing. The large majority of the gains, however, as far as we see it, derive not from the retail operations, but from the strategic acquisition side of the company's operations.In October last year, we reported on the company's acquisition of iBudtender, a company that has developed an application that we highlighted as having the potential to become the Yelp of the recreational marijuana space. That's a big claim, and we're well aware of this, but it's not outlandish. The standard social and recreational applications, software, websites etc have essentially turned their backs on recreational cannabis. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and the likes won't advertise cannabis business to users. These are legitimate businesses, however, and need an outlet through which to advertise, and through which customers can rate and review various retailers and businesses.iBudtender fills this unmet need.It also accounts for the company's most recent release.At the end of last week, Cannabis Sativa reported that the application is ready for beta testing this week. It's under operation as part of a now-subsidiary of Cannabis Sativa, called iBudtender.We see this as a real value driver going forward, from an operational perspective longer term, but also from a market interest perspective near term. As the company rolls out the application, and the application picks up users, it offers Cannabis Sativa a great potential news stream drawing attention to growth, both internally and industry wide.Now, we know that a news stream shouldn’t underpin a long term buy thesis. With that said, at this end of the market, the ability to put out a consistent flow of communication is a real bonus. If the communication is able to publicize pertinent, positive updates, then that's even better. With the rollout of an application like this, that as we mentioned last time, offers Cannabis Sativa an opportunity to establish a presence in US states as and when said states give recreational cannabis a green light, this ability to publicize pertinent and positive updates is almost assured.User growth, business signups, industry adoption – all these things offer reportable metrics that Cannabis Sativa, by way of its iBudtender subsidiary, can play on across the coming six months and beyond.So, what are we looking for going forward?Well, there have been a couple of updates over the last few months relating to non-application operations, specifically with regards to some patent activity. While we see these as positive, they aren’t the key drivers for us. We're looking to iBudtender to really drive near term value on this stock, and we think management is doing the same. As such, we want to see this upcoming beta rollout run smoothly, and some degree of user acquisition that indicates a presence in the space. Keep in mind that these things generally start off slow, and then pick up pace once they gain some momentum. We'll be watching the stock carefully for signs that this momentum is materializing.We will be updating our subscribers as soon as we know more. For the latest updates on CBDS, sign up below!Disclosure: We have no position in CBDS and have not been compensated for this article.