The Company leases certain business facilities under operating lease agreements that specify minimum rentals. Many of these have renewal provisions. The Company’s net rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $1,383,033, $515,413 and $501,449, respectively.

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases having an initial or remaining term of more than one year are as follows:

Production Operating Agreement

On May 23, 2017, the Company entered into a one-year operating agreement with Panther Gap Farms pursuant to which Panther Gap Farms will grow up to approximately one metric ton of the Company’s IVXX cannabis annually. The operating agreement is renewable, upon mutual agreement between Panther Gap Farms and the Company, for up to three additional terms of one year each. The agreement requires the Company to issue common stock, with a value of $1,150,000, upon execution of the agreement, which the Company issued in August 2017 and held in escrow. In addition to the common stock, the Company is required to issue common stock, with a value of $785,500, for the profit share of the cannabis ultimately sold by the Company upon execution of the agreement. Panther Gap Farms has the right to receive up to $100,000 in cash in lieu of receiving the common stock related to the net profit share. If Panther Gap Farms requests such cash payment, the amount of common stock to be delivered will be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of such cash divided by the lower of the closing price or the 30 day VWAP of common stock on the date of the agreement. The shares to be received by Panther Gap Farms under the profit share agreement are dependent on the ultimate profit recognized by the Company when the cannabis product is sold.

The Company and Panther Gap Farms also entered into a lease agreement pursuant to which the Company leases the property on which the cannabis is grown. The lease agreement requires monthly payments of $30,000 for eight months and is also renewable for up to three additional terms of one year each.

California Operating Licenses

Effective January 1, 2018 the State of California allowed for adult use cannabis sales. California’s cannabis licensing system is being implemented in two phases. First, beginning on January 1, 2018, the state began issuing temporary licenses that will expire on May 1, 2018 for retail and distribution permits and May 20, 2018 for cultivation permits. The Company’s prior license obtained from the local jurisdictions it operated in have been continued by such jurisdictions and are necessary to obtain State licensing. The Company has received a temporary license for each local jurisdiction which it had active operations. The temporary permits may be extended for an additional period of time. The Company intends to submit its applications for the annual permits in April 2018. Although the Company believes it will receive the necessary licenses from the state to conduct its business in a timely fashion, there is no guarantee the Company will be able to do so and any failure to do so may have a negative effect on its business and results of operations.