ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations. The occurrence of any of these known or unknown risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry

We have a limited history upon which an evaluation of our prospects and future performance can be made and have no history of profitable operations.

We were incorporated in April 2013 and have a limited operating history and our business is subject to all of the risks inherent in the establishment of a new business enterprise. Our likelihood of success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with development and expansion of a new business enterprise. We may sustain losses in the future as we implement our business plan. There can be no assurance that we will operate profitably.

Since we have a limited operating history, it is difficult for potential investors to evaluate our business.

Our limited operating history makes it difficult for potential investors to evaluate our business or prospective operations. As an early stage company, we are subject to all the risks inherent in the initial organization, financing, expenditures, complications and delays inherent in a new business. Investors should evaluate an investment in us in light of the uncertainties encountered by developing companies in a competitive and evolving environment. Our business is dependent upon the implementation of our business plan. We may not be successful in implementing such plan and cannot guarantee that, if implemented, we will ultimately be able to attain profitability.

We will need to obtain additional financing to fund our operations.

We will need additional capital in the future to continue to execute our business plan. Therefore, we will be dependent upon additional capital in the form of either debt or equity to continue our operations. At the present time, we do not have arrangements to raise all of the needed additional capital, and we will need to identify potential investors and negotiate appropriate arrangements with them. We may not be able to arrange enough investment within the time the investment is required or that if it is arranged, that it will be on favorable terms. If we cannot obtain the needed capital, we may not be able to become profitable and may have to curtail or cease our operations. Additional equity financing, if available, may be dilutive to the holders of our capital stock. Debt financing may involve significant cash payment obligations, covenants and financial ratios that may restrict our ability to operate and grow our business.

Cannabis remains illegal under Federal law.

Despite the development of a regulated cannabis industry under the laws of certain states, these state laws regulating medical and adult cannabis use are in conflict with the Federal Controlled Substances Act, which classifies cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance and makes cannabis use and possession illegal on a national level. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Federal government has the right to regulate and criminalize cannabis, even for medical purposes, and thus Federal law criminalizing the use of cannabis preempts state laws that regulate its use. Although the prior administration determined that it was not an efficient use of resources to direct Federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those lawfully abiding by state laws allowing the use and distribution of medical and recreational cannabis, on January 4, 2018, the current administration issued the Sessions Memo announcing a return to the rule of law and the rescission of previous guidance documents. The Sessions Memo rescinds the Cole Memo which was adopted by the Obama administration as a policy of non-interference with marijuana-friendly state laws. The Sessions Memo shifts federal policy from a hands-off approach adopted by the Obama administration to permitting federal prosecutors across the country to decide how to prioritize resources to regulate marijuana possession, distribution and cultivation in states where marijuana use is regulated. However, it is unclear at this time whether the Sessions Memo indicates that the Trump administration will strongly enforce the federal laws applicable to cannabis or what types of activities will be targeted for enforcement. A significant change in the federal government’s enforcement policy with respect to current federal laws applicable to cannabis could have a material adverse effect on our business. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that federal prosecutors will not prosecute and dedicate resources to regulate marijuana possession, distribution and cultivation in states where marijuana use is regulated which may cause states to reconsider their regulation of marijuana which would have a detrimental effect on the marijuana industry. Any such change in state laws based upon the Sessions Memo and the Federal government’s enforcement of Federal laws could cause significant financial damage to us and our stockholders.

As the possession and use of cannabis is illegal under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, we may be deemed to be aiding and abetting illegal activities through the services and data that we provide to government regulators, dispensaries, cultivators and consumers. As a result, we may be subject to enforcement actions by law enforcement authorities, which would materially and adversely affect our business.

Under Federal law, and more specifically the Federal Controlled Substances Act, the possession, use, cultivation, and transfer of cannabis is illegal. Our business provides services to customers that are engaged in the business of possession, use, cultivation, and/or transfer of cannabis. As a result, law enforcement authorities, in their attempt to regulate the illegal use of cannabis, may seek to bring an action or actions against us, including, but not limited, to a claim of aiding and abetting another’s criminal activities. The Federal aiding and abetting statute provides that anyone who “commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal.” As a result of such an action, we may be forced to cease operations and our investors could lose their entire investment. Such an action would have a material negative effect on our business and operations.

Federal enforcement practices could change with respect to services provided to participants in the cannabis industry, which could adversely impact us. If the Federal government were to expend its resources on enforcement actions against service providers in the cannabis industry under guidance provided by the Sessions Memo, such actions could have a material adverse effect on our operations, our customers, or the sales of our products.

It is possible that due to the Sessions Memo and the continuing uncertainty respecting enforcement of federal cannabis laws that our clients may discontinue the use of our services, our potential source of customers may be reduced and our revenues may decline. Further, additional government disruption in the cannabis industry could cause potential customers and users to be reluctant to use and advertise our products, which would be detrimental to the Company. We cannot predict the impact of the Sessions Memo, Attorney General William Barr’s interpretation of the Sessions Memo, or his willingness to enforce federal cannabis laws at this time nor can we predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications including the effect of such additional regulations or administrative policies and procedures, when and if promulgated, could have on our business.

We are subject to legislative uncertainty that could slow or halt the legalization and use of cannabis, which could negatively affect our business.

Continued development of the cannabis industry is dependent upon continued legislative authorization of cannabis at the state level, as well as the U.S. government’s continued non-enforcement of federal cannabis laws against state-law-compliant cannabis businesses. Further, progress, while generally expected, is not assured. Some industry observers believe that well-funded interests, including businesses in the alcohol beverage and the pharmaceutical industries, may have a strong economic opposition to the continued legalization of cannabis. The pharmaceutical industry, for example, is well funded with a strong and experienced lobby that eclipses the funding of the medical cannabis movement. Any inroads legalization opponents could make in halting the impending cannabis industry could have a detrimental impact on our business. While there may be ample public support for legislative action, numerous factors impact the legislative process. Any one of these or other factors could slow or halt use of cannabis, which would negatively impact our business.

Our business depends on continued purchases by businesses and individuals selling or using cannabis pursuant to state laws in the United States.

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia allow their citizens to use medical cannabis, and eleven states and the District of Columbia have regulated the sale of cannabis for adult use. In addition, several additional states have legalized low-THC/high-CBD extracts for select medical conditions (“CBD States”). Several CBD States are considering legalizing medical cannabis, and several medical states may extend legalization to adult-use.

The states’ cannabis programs have proliferated and grown even though the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis is considered illegal under U.S. federal law. Under the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), cannabis is a Schedule I drug, meaning that the Drug Enforcement Administration recognizes no accepted medical use for cannabis, and the substance is considered illegal under federal law.

In an effort to provide guidance to U.S. Attorneys’ offices regarding the enforcement priorities associated with cannabis in the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) has issued a series of memoranda detailing its suggested enforcement approach. During the administration of former President Obama, each memorandum acknowledged the DOJ’s authority to enforce the CSA in the face of state laws, but noted that the DOJ was more committed to using its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources to address the most significant threats associated with cannabis in the most effective, consistent, and rational way.

On August 29, 2013, the DOJ issued what came to be called the Cole Memo which gave U.S. Attorneys the discretion not to prosecute federal cannabis cases that were otherwise compliant with applicable state law that had legalized medical or adult-use cannabis and that have implemented strong regulatory systems to control the cultivation, production, and distribution of cannabis. Accordingly, the Cole Memo provided lawful cannabis-related enterprises a tacit federal go-ahead in states with legal cannabis programs, provided that the state had adopted and was enforcing strict regulations and oversight of the medical or adult-use cannabis program in accordance with the specific directives of the Cole Memorandum.

On January 4, 2018, Attorney General Jefferson Sessions issued a memorandum that rescinded previous DOJ guidance on the state-legal cannabis industry, including the Cole Memo. Attorney General Sessions wrote that the previous guidance on cannabis law enforcement was unnecessary, given the well-established principles governing federal prosecution that are already in place. As a result, federal prosecutors could and still can use their prosecutorial discretion to decide whether to prosecute even state-legal adult-use cannabis activities.

In November 2018, Attorney General Sessions resigned and left the DOJ. As a nominee, Attorney General William Barr testified before the U.S. Senate and wrote to Congress that, as Attorney General, he would not seek to prosecute cannabis companies that relied on the Cole Memorandum and are complying with state law. Although proposals have been introduced to Congress in favor of protection state-legal marijuana regulations, as of the date of this Annual Report, no federal law has been enacted.

Since December 2014, companies that are strictly complying with state medical cannabis laws have been protected against enforcement for that activity by an amendment (originally called the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, now called the Joyce Amendment) to the Omnibus Spending Bill, which prevents federal prosecutors from using federal funds to impede the implementation of medical cannabis laws enacted at the state level. Federal courts have interpreted the provision to bar the DOJ from prosecuting any person or entity in strict compliance with state medical cannabis laws.

While the protection of the Joyce Amendment prevents prosecutions, it does not make cannabis legal. Accordingly, if the protection expires, prosecutors could prosecute federally illegal activity that occurred within the statute of limitations even if the Joyce Amendment protection was in place when the illegal activity occurred. The protection of the Joyce Amendment depends on its continued inclusion in the federal Omnibus Spending Bill, or in some other legislation, and entities’ strict compliance with the state medical cannabis laws. That protection has been extended through September 30, 2020. While industry observers expect Congress to extend the protection in future Omnibus Spending Bills, there can be no assurance that it will do so.

Although several cannabis law reform bills are pending in the U.S. Congress, passage of any of them and ultimately the President’s support and approval remain uncertain. President Trump has stated that he would support federal legislation that would defer to states that have legalized cannabis (in other words, if a state legalized cannabis, cannabis in that state would not be federally illegal after the point at which the state legalized it).

Until the U.S. Government changes the law with respect to cannabis, and particularly if Congress does not extend the protection of state medical cannabis programs, there is a risk that federal authorities could enforce current federal cannabis law. An increase in federal enforcement against companies licensed under state cannabis laws could negatively impact the state cannabis industries and, in turn, our revenues, profits, financial condition, and business model.

Because our business is dependent, in part, upon continued market acceptance of cannabis by consumers, any negative trends will adversely affect our business operations.

We are dependent on public support, continued market acceptance and the proliferation of consumers in the legal cannabis markets. While we believe that the market and opportunity in the space continue to grow, we cannot predict the future growth rate or size of the market. Any downturns in, or negative outlooks on, the cannabis industry may adversely affect our business and financial condition.

New platform features or changes to existing platform features could fail to attract new users, retain existing users or generate revenue.

Our business strategy is dependent on our ability to develop platforms and features to attract new businesses and users, while retaining existing ones. Staffing changes, changes in user behavior or development of competing platforms may cause Users to switch to alternative platforms or decrease their use of our platform. There is no guarantee that companies and dispensaries will use these features and we may fail to generate revenue. Additionally, any of the following events may cause decreased use of our platform:

We are highly dependent on the services of key executives, the loss of whom could materially harm our business and our strategic direction. If we lose key management or significant personnel, cannot recruit qualified employees, directors, officers, or other personnel or experience increases in our compensation costs, our business may materially suffer.

We are highly dependent on our management team, specifically our Chief Executive Officer, Isaac Dietrich. While we have an employment agreement with Isaac Dietrich, such employment agreement permits Mr. Dietrich to terminate such agreement upon notice. If we lose key employees, our business may suffer. Furthermore, our future success will also depend in part on the continued service of our key management personnel and our ability to identify, hire, and retain additional personnel. We do not carry “key-man” life insurance on the lives of our executive officer, employees or advisors. We experience intense competition for qualified personnel and may be unable to attract and retain the personnel necessary for the development of our business. Because of this competition, our compensation costs may increase significantly.

Our monetization strategy is dependent on many factors outside our control.

There is no guarantee that our efforts to monetize the MassRoots Retail platform will be successful. Furthermore, our competitors may introduce more advanced technologies that deliver a greater value proposition to cannabis related businesses in the future. In addition, dispensaries may not be able to accept credit or bank cards due to banking regulations, which could significantly increase the cost and time required for us to generate revenue. All these factors individually or collectively may preclude us from effectively monetizing our business which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.

Changes in Amazon App Store, Apple App Store or Google Play Store policies could result in our mobile applications being de-listed. In addition, our third party service providers may decline to provide services due to their policies, or cease to provide services previously provided to us due to a change of policy.

On November 4, 2014, the MassRoots App was removed from Apple’s iOS App Store due to the Apple App Store review team changing their app enforcement guidelines to prohibit all social cannabis applications. After negotiation with Apple and the addition of certain restrictions, the MassRoots App returned to the Apple App Store in February 2015. Although Apple reversed its decision and included our app in the Apple App Store, we cannot provide any assurance that Apple’s policy will not change in the future or that our application will not once again be removed from the Apple App Store.

The Apple App Store is one of the largest content distribution channels in the world and management believes that it is the only way to effectively distribute our iOS application to users who own iPhones and iPads. The Apple App Store review team effectively operates as our iOS App’s regulator; they decide what guidelines iOS apps must operate under and how to enforce such guidelines. The Apple guidelines related to cannabis-related apps are not published, enforcement of such guidelines is difficult to predict, and the review and appeal processes are conducted without public oversight. Although we will continue advocating for a more open and transparent Apple App Store review process that will allow decisions that affect a significant portion of the United States smartphone owning population to be open to public scrutiny, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in these efforts.

MassRoots, along with other cannabis apps, regularly encounter issues with the Google Play Store review team in the normal course of business due to Google Play Store’s absence of clear guidelines regarding cannabis-related apps. In November 2016, the MassRoots App was removed from the Google Play Store due to a compliance review. However, on March 21, 2017, Google Play approved the MassRoots App for distribution to Android devices through the Google Play Store once again.

On December 1, 2016, MassRoots’ Android application received approval from the Amazon App Store for listing, and is currently available for download on the Amazon App Store.

In addition to challenges we face with respect to compliance with the Amazon App Store, Apple App Store and Google Play Store guidelines, service providers may refuse to provide services to us even if they previously provided such services due to our status as a cannabis related company. For example, in January 2016, after building a strong presence on Instagram and having previously used our Instagram account to grow our user count and highlight posts about our business, our account was suspended without warning by Instagram. While the account was reinstated on February 26, 2016, we cannot provide any assurance that our Instagram account will not be suspended in the future and if suspended that our account will be reinstated. Furthermore, we may face similar situations in the future with our other services providers that may cause disruptions to our business plan, all of which may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

Government actions or digital distribution platform restrictions could result in our products and services being unavailable in certain geographic regions which may harm our future growth.

Due to our connections to the cannabis industry, governments and government agencies could ban or cause our network or apps to become unavailable in certain regions and jurisdictions. This could greatly impair or prevent us from registering new users in affected areas and prevent current users from accessing our network. In addition, government action taken against our service providers or partners could cause our network to become unavailable for extended periods of time.

As discussed herein, as part of our agreement with Apple in connection with our application being returned to the Apple App Store, we agreed to limit registration of new members within our iOS application to the locations where cannabis is permitted under state law (medicinally or recreationally). This restriction prohibits users in several states and countries from accessing our network. Expansions of such policies by Apple, Google or Amazon may slow our user registration rate which may have a material adverse effect on our business and future prospects.

Failure to generate user growth or engagement could greatly harm our business model.

Our business model involves attracting users to our mobile application and linking their MassRoots account with their profile in MassRoots Retail. There is no guarantee that growth strategies used in the past will continue to bring new users to our network or that users will agree to link their MassRoots and MassRoots Retail profiles. Changes in relationships with our partners, contractors and businesses we retain to grow our network may result in significant increases in the cost to acquire new users. In addition, new users may fail to engage with our network to the same extent current users are engaging with our network resulting in decreased use of our network. Decreases in the size of our user base and/or decreased engagement on our network may impair our ability to generate revenue.

Failure to attract clients could greatly harm our ability to generate revenue.

Our ability to generate revenue is dependent on the continued growth of our platform. If we are unable to continue to grow our network or bring new clients to our network, our ability to generate revenue would be greatly compromised. There is no guarantee businesses will want to join our platform or that we will be able to generate revenue from our existing user base.

Historically, we have generated most of our revenue from advertising. The loss of clients or reduction in spending by advertisers may have a material adverse effect on our business.

Historically, we have generated most of our revenue from third parties advertising on our website. Some of our third party advertisers have included cannabis companies such as regulated cannabis dispensaries and mainstream brands such as Uber. As is common in the industry, our advertisers usually do not have long-term advertising commitments with us. It is possible that such advertisers may not continue to do business with us for several reasons including that they no longer believe that their advertisements on our website will generate a competitive return relative to other alternatives or in the alternative they may reduce the prices they are willing to pay to advertise their products and services on our website.

Our revenue could be adversely affected by a number of other factors including, but not limited to:

The occurrence of any of these or other factors could result in decreased traffic to our website which may result in less views of third party ads. If we are unable to generate traffic to our website and as a result third party advertisers no longer continue to do business with us, our business, financial conditions and results of operation may be materially affected.

User engagement and growth depends on software and device updates beyond our control.

Our mobile application and websites are currently available on multiple operating systems, including iOS and Android, across multiple different manufacturers, including Motorola, LG, Apple and Samsung and on thousands of devices. Changes to the device infrastructure or software updates on such devices could render our platforms and services useless or inoperable and require users to utilize our website rather than our mobile application which may result in decreased user engagement. Any decrease in user engagement may devalue our value proposition to third party advertisers who may no longer continue to do business with us which may have a material adverse effect on business, financial conditions and results of operation.

We may be unable to manage growth.

Successful implementation of our business strategy requires us to manage our growth. Growth could place an increasing strain on our management and financial resources. To manage growth effectively, we need to continuously:

If we fail to manage our growth effectively, our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially harmed.

We may not be able to compete successfully with other established companies offering the same or similar services and, as a result, we may not achieve our projected revenue and user targets.

We compete with both start-up and established technology companies. Our competitors may have substantially greater financial, marketing and other resources than we do and may have been in business longer than we have or have greater name recognition and be better established in the technological or cannabis markets than we are. If we are unable to compete successfully with other businesses in our existing market, we may not achieve our projected revenue and/or user targets which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Expansion by our well-established competitors into the cannabis industry could prevent us from realizing anticipated growth in users and revenues.

Competitors in the social network space, such as Twitter and Facebook, have continued to expand their businesses in recent years into other social network markets. If they decided to expand their social networks into the cannabis community, this could harm the growth of our business and user base and cause our revenues to be lower than we expect. In addition, competitors in the point-of-sale and compliance software space may expand their offerings into the cannabis space which could harm the growth of our business and user base and cause our revenues to be lower than we expect.

Government regulation of the Internet and e-commerce is evolving, and unfavorable changes could substantially harm our business and results of operations.

We are subject to general business regulations and laws as well as Federal and state regulations and laws specifically governing the Internet and e-commerce. Existing and future laws and regulations may impede the growth of the Internet, e-commerce or other online services, and increase the cost of providing online services. These regulations and laws may cover sweepstakes, taxation, tariffs, user privacy, data protection, pricing, content, copyrights, distribution, electronic contracts and other communications, consumer protection, broadband residential Internet access and the characteristics and quality of services. It is not clear how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales, use and other taxes, personal privacy apply to the Internet and e-commerce. Unfavorable resolution of these issues may harm our business and results of operations.

The failure to enforce and maintain our intellectual property rights could enable others to use trademarks used by our business which could adversely affect the value of the Company.

The success of our business depends on our continued ability to use our existing tradename in order to increase our brand awareness. As of the date hereof, MASSROOTS and TOKE are federally registered trademarks owned by us, ODAVA is a state registered trademark owned by us and RETAIL is a state registered trademark of Odava, Inc. The unauthorized use or other misappropriation of any of the foregoing trademarks could diminish the value of our business which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.

Due to our involvement in the cannabis industry, we may have a difficult time obtaining insurance coverage for our business which may expose us to additional risk and financial liabilities.

Insurance that may otherwise be readily available, such as workers compensation, general liability, and directors and officers insurance, is more expensive and difficult for us to obtain because we are a service provider to companies in the cannabis industry. If we are unable to obtain and maintain insurance related to our Company and business operations we will be exposed to additional risk and financial liabilities which may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

We and our customers may have difficulty accessing the service of banks, which may make it difficult for us and for them to sell our products.

Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by cannabis-related activities can form the basis for prosecution under the U.S. federal money laundering statutes, unlicensed money transmitter statutes and the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act. Guidance issued by  the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network clarifies how financial institutions can provide services to cannabis-related businesses consistent with their obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act. Furthermore, since the rescission by U.S. Attorney General Sessions on January 4, 2018 of the Cole Memo, U.S. federal prosecutors have had greater discretion when determining whether to charge institutions or individuals with any of the financial crimes described above based upon cannabis-related activity. As a result, given these risks and their own related disclosure requirements, some banks remain hesitant to offer banking services to cannabis-related businesses. Consequently, those businesses involved in the cannabis industry continue to encounter difficulty establishing banking relationships. While we do not presently have challenges with our banking relationships, should we have an inability to maintain our current bank accounts, or the inability of our customers to maintain their current banking relationships, it would be difficult for us to operate our business, may increase our operating costs, could pose additional operational, logistical and security challenges and could result in our inability to implement our business plan.

Our independent registered accounting firm has expressed concerns about our ability to continue as a going concern.

The report of our independent registered accounting firm expresses concern about our ability to continue as a going concern based on the absence of significant revenues, our significant losses from operations and our need for additional financing to fund all of our operations. It is not possible at this time for us to predict with assurance the potential success of our business. The revenue and income potential of our proposed business and operations are unknown. If we cannot continue as a viable entity, we may be unable to continue our operations and you may lose some or all of your investment in our securities.

In the past we have experienced material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, which if continued, could impair our financial condition.

As reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 due to material weaknesses regarding our controls and procedures. The Company did not have sufficient segregation of duties to support its internal control over financial reporting. Due to our small size and limited resources, segregation of all conflicting duties has not always been possible and may not be economically feasible in the near term; however, we do expect to hire additional accounting personnel in the near future. We have and do endeavor to take appropriate and reasonable steps to make improvements to remediate these deficiencies. If we have continued material weaknesses in our internal financial reporting, our financial condition could be impaired or we may have to restate our financials, which could cause us to expend additional funds that would have a material impact on our ability to generate profits and on the success of our business.

The spread of the COVID-19 outbreak has caused severe disruptions in the U.S. and global economy and financial markets and could potentially create widespread business continuity issues of unknown magnitude and duration. 

The outbreak of COVID-19 has severely impacted global economic activity and caused significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets. The global impact of the outbreak has been rapidly evolving and many countries, including the United States, have reacted by instituting quarantines and restricting travel. Many experts predict that the outbreak will trigger a period of global economic slowdown or a global recession. COVID-19 or another pandemic could have material and adverse effects on our ability to successfully operate due to, among other factors:

The rapid development of this situation makes it nearly impossible to predict the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19 on our business and operations. Nevertheless, COVID-19 presents material uncertainty which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. We continue to assess the potential impact of COVID-19, which remains uncertain at this time. 

Risks Relating to Use of New Technology

Government regulation of the Internet, blockchain technology and cryptocurrency is evolving, and unfavorable changes could substantially harm us and our subsidiary.

We are subject to federal and state regulations and laws governing the Internet, blockchain technology and e-commerce. Existing and future laws and regulations may impede the growth of the Internet, blockchain technology and e-commerce and/or other online services, and may increase the cost of providing online services. Changes in regulations and laws may effect sweepstakes, taxation, tariffs, user privacy, data protection, pricing, content, intellectual property rights, distribution, electronic contracts and other communications, consumer protection, broadband residential Internet access and the characteristics and quality of services. In addition, many governments and regulatory agencies have not established specific regulations pertaining to blockchain technology and other instruments that use such technology and no assurance can be given that such governments or regulatory authorities will not implement adverse changes to laws and regulations. Any such changes to federal and state regulations and laws may harm our and our subsidiary’s business and results of operations.

There are no assurances that we will be successful in developing blockchain-based solutions, that such solutions will be economically viable or that such solutions will be able to generate any revenue.

While we intend to continue to devote development resources to exploring the feasibility of developing block-chain based solutions, there can be no assurances that we will obtain additional funding to continue such development or that we will be successful in implementing such solutions, that they will be economically viable, or such solutions will generate any revenue.

The development and acceptance of digital instruments is subject to a variety of factors which are difficult to evaluate.

We may explore the use of digital instruments for use in connection with our platform or programs; however, there can be no assurance that we will adopt or use any such instruments, or be successful in doing so. The development and use of such instruments is subject to a variety of factors that are difficult to evaluate including, but not limited to:

The slowing or stopping of the development, general acceptance, adoption and usage of digital instruments or compliance with regulations by governmental and quasi-governmental agencies may deter or delay the acceptance of such instruments.

The potential application of U.S. laws with respect to traditional investment securities to digital instruments is unclear.

The use of digital instruments is novel and the application of U.S. federal and state securities laws is unclear in many respects. Specifically, regulation with respect to such instruments is currently undeveloped, likely to evolve, may vary significantly among international, federal, state and local jurisdictions and is subject to significant uncertainty. Various legislative and executive bodies in the United States and in other countries may in the future adopt laws, regulations, or guidance, or take other actions, which may severely impact the permissibility of the use of digital instruments, the technology behind them or the means of transaction in or transferring them. In the event that securities laws restrict the ability for digital instruments to be transferred in a manner similar to traditional investment securities, this would have a material adverse effect on the value of such instruments, which could result in a material impact on the use of such instruments as a possible means to provide rewards on the MassRoots platform.

Our failure to comply with any laws, rules and regulations, some of which may not exist yet or that are subject to interpretations that may be subject to change, could result in a variety of adverse consequences, including civil penalties and fines. The effect of any future regulatory change is impossible to predict, but such change could be substantial and materially adverse to the adoption and value our new technology, when and if developed, accepted and adopted.

Risks Relating to our Common Stock

Due to our connection to the cannabis industry, there can be no assurance that our common stock will ever be approved for listing on a national securities exchange.

Currently, shares of our common stock are quoted on the OTC Pink Tier of the OTC Markets and are not traded or listed on any securities exchange. Even if we desire to have our shares listed on a national securities exchange, the fact that our network is associated with the use of cannabis, the legal status of which is uncertain at the state and Federal level, may make any efforts to become listed on a securities exchange more problematic. While we remain determined to work towards getting our securities listed on a national exchange, there can be no assurance that this will occur. As a result we may never develop an active trading market for our securities which may limit our investors’ ability to liquidate their investments.

The market price of our common stock may be volatile and adversely affected by several factors.

The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly in response to various factors and events, including, but not limited to: our ability to execute our business plan; operating results below expectations; announcements regarding regulatory developments with respect to the cannabis industry; our issuance of additional securities, including debt or equity or a combination thereof, necessary to fund our operating expenses; announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors; period-to-period fluctuations in our financial results; and other events or factors, many of which may be out of our control, including, but not limited to, pandemics such as COVID-19.

In addition, the securities markets have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Our common stock is subject to the “penny stock” rules of the SEC and the trading market in the securities is limited, which makes transactions in the stock cumbersome and may reduce the value of an investment in the stock.

Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act establishes the definition of a “penny stock,” for the purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require: (a) that a broker or dealer approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks; and (b) the broker or dealer receive from the investor a written agreement to the transaction, setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased.

In order to approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must: (a) obtain financial information and investment experience objectives of the person and (b) make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks.

The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prescribed by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form: (a) sets forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination; and (b) confirms that the broker or dealer received a signed, written agreement from the investor prior to the transaction. Generally, brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the “penny stock” rules. This may make it more difficult for investors to dispose of our common stock and cause a decline in the market value of our common stock.

Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and about the commissions payable to both the broker or dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.

We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we decide to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, our common stock could be less attractive to investors.

For as long as we remain an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (“JOBS”) Act, we will have the option to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting and other requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We may take advantage of these and other exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company”. In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (1) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more, (2) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, (3) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt, and (4) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act (i.e., the first day of the fiscal year after we have (a) more than $700,000,000 in outstanding common equity held by our non-affiliates, measured each year on the last day of our second fiscal quarter, and (b) been public for at least 12 months).

Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements including exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

We do not anticipate paying dividends on our common stock, and investors may lose the entire amount of their investment.

Cash dividends have never been declared or paid on our common stock, and we do not anticipate such a declaration or payment for the foreseeable future. We expect to use future earnings, if any, to fund business growth. Therefore, stockholders will not receive any funds absent a sale of their shares of common stock. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on your investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates. We cannot assure stockholders of a positive return on their investment when they sell their shares, nor can we assure that stockholders will not lose the entire amount of their investment.

You could lose all of your investment.

An investment in our securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Potential investors should be aware that the value of an investment in the Company may go down as well as up. In addition, there can be no certainty that the market value of an investment in the Company will fully reflect its underlying value. You could lose your entire investment.

Because we can issue additional shares of common stock, purchasers of our common stock may incur immediate dilution and experience further dilution.

We are authorized to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of common stock of which 493,726,405 shares of common stock are issued and outstanding as of July 10, 2020. Our Board of Directors has the authority to cause us to issue additional shares of common stock without consent of any of stockholders. In addition, we are authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock of which 6,000 shares are designated as Series A Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, 2,000 shares are designated as Series B Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued and outstanding and 1,000 shares are designated as Series C Preferred Stock, of which 1,000 shares are issued and outstanding as of July 10, 2020. Consequently, our stockholders may experience further dilution in their ownership of our stock in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the trading market for our common stock. Furthermore, our Certificate of Incorporation gives our Board the right to create one or more new series of preferred stock. As a result, our Board may, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting, dividend, conversion, liquidation or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and equity interests of the holders of our common stock. Preferred stock, which could be issued with the right to more than one vote per share, could be used to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our Company, which could materially adversely affect the price of our common stock.

Our Certificate of Incorporation contains an exclusive forum provision with respect to all Internal Corporate Claims, which may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable and discourage lawsuits against us or our current or former directors or officers and/or stockholders in such capacity.

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that all Internal Corporate Claims (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) must be brought solely and exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, or, if such other court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware). All of our stockholders are subject to the exclusive forum provision of our Certificate of Incorporation. The exclusive forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes based upon Internal Corporate Claims, which may discourage lawsuits against us or our current or former directors or officers and/or stockholders in such capacity. In addition, if a court were to find this exclusive-forum provision to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.