How to Invest in Marijuana: Everything You Need to Know

Marijuana is big business.

The once-shadowy industry has transformed into a highly commercialized and profitable sector, spanning biotech and research companies as well as marijuana growers and consumer retailers.

By 2028, the global legal marijuana market is expected to reach $70.6 billion, according to a May 2021 report by Grand View Research.

Buying into a burgeoning industry poised for moonshot growth is enough to make any investor's mouth water.

But the cannabis business isn't like other cash crops. It's still illegal at the federal level, which can make investing in marijuana stocks tricky.

Marijuana investments involve risk â€" but is the potential upshot worth it?

In this guide, we'll explore the different types of marijuana companies, pros and cons of investing in the industry, top cannabis stocks and more.

Current Marijuana Legislation in the United States

States began legalizing medical marijuana more than 20 years ago. By October 2021, 35 states plus the District of Columbia now permit the sale of medical weed.

Recreational use is also booming. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana for adult use. Just nine years later in 2021, 18 other states plus D.C. have joined the ranks, further expanding the legal cannabis industry.

In 2018, the production of hemp and, by extension, CBD oil was legalized at the national level. (The U.S. government defines hemp as any cannabis plant containing less than 0.3 percent of THC, the psychoactive substance that gets users high.)

Legal marijuana sales in the U.S.  â€" both medical and recreational â€" are expected to top $84 billion by 2025, according to New Frontier, a Washington D.C.-based cannabis research firm.

But the future of legalization at the federal level is still unknown.

A current bill in the U.S. Congress called the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE Act, would de-schedule cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and enact marijuana-related criminal justice reforms. In June 2021, the bill was reintroduced in the House of Representatives and as of Sept. 30, the House Committee on the Judiciary referred the MORE Act for a vote by the House.

Still, recent rumblings in Washington D.C. aren't likely to result in full legalization anytime soon. Most policy experts agree that marijuana simply isn't a priority for the federal government right now, forcing cannabis companies and investors to linger in legal limbo.

Types of Marijuana Products and Companies

Cannabis may be booming but there are still only a few dozen publicly-traded companies.

Because Canada became the first G20 country to legalize recreational weed in 2018, most cannabis stocks are headquartered there. U.S. companies that directly handle marijuana are barred from listing on U.S. stock exchanges.

Before you invest in marijuana, it's important to understand different aspects of the industry.

First, there are two broad categories of cannabis products.

Medical Marijuana  

Medical cannabis, which is grown and used to treat various medical conditions such as chronic pain, is legal in 35 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. It's also legal in more than 30 countries. A patient needs a prescription from an authorized health care provider to obtain medical marijuana.

Recreational Marijuana  

Eighteen U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia, have legalized recreational marijuana for adults. Recreational use is also legal in several countries, including Canada, Mexico and South Africa. Because states have been slower to adopt recreational marijuana laws, the recreational sector accounts for a much smaller share of revenue within the legal cannabis market.

Numerous products are made from cannabis plants, including marijuana flower, CBD oils, edibles and hemp, as well as concentrates used in vaping and other items.

The marijuana industry supply chain is extensive, spanning manufacturing to marketing.

4 Main Types of Marijuana Businesses

Marijuana Growers  

Cannabis growers cultivate the plant. Some also own production facilities.

Retailers

These companies own dispensaries where people can purchase cannabis products.

Biotech and Research

These pharmaceutical companies develop prescription drugs with cannabis ingredients.

Providers of Ancillary Products and Services 

These companies facilitate the legal marijuana industry with services like distribution, marketing, hydroponic technologies, lighting systems and packaging.

Because the drug is still federally illegal, investing in U.S. marijuana stocks can be tricky. Buying shares of ancillary firms is one option.

Ancillary firms are listed on U.S. stock exchanges because these publicly traded companies don't deal with the plant itself.

For example, Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) is an industrial real estate investment trust that specializes in leasing property to cannabis growers and other companies in the medical marijuana market.

Risks and Rewards of Investing in Marijuana Stocks

The marijuana industry is ripe for growth â€" but plenty of roadblocks remain, especially for U.S. companies and investors.

Before you jump into the cannabis industry, it's important to understand what makes these stocks so exciting â€" and so risky.

Rewards

Marijuana is a nascent industry. Getting in on the ground floor is one of the biggest potential rewards for marijuana investors.

By getting in early, you might be able to capture larger-than-average returns as the cannabis industry expands and evolves.

Marijuana stock prices ramped up at the start of 2021, but have declined since February. The plunge is due, in part, to a lack of progress on national legalization.

But with a majority of Americans in favor of legalizing marijuana, industry supporters say it's only a matter of time before the U.S. government gives weed the green light.

People looking to invest in cannabis could buy cheap shares during the current market lull, and hold their stocks until prices rise.

Some investors may see this as a prime buying opportunity. Once the federal government legalizes weed, institutional investors are likely to pour money into the marijuana industry and send cannabis stock prices soaring.

Marijuana stocks aren't a good fit for conservative investors who hate the idea of losing money. But if you can stomach risk, devote time to researching companies and hold these assets for a few years, marijuana investing may be a profitable pick for your portfolio.

Risks

Investing always involves risk. An asset can lose value as market conditions change. This holds true for any industry â€" not just marijuana companies.

But pot stocks can be particularly volatile.

Yes, weed is still illegal at the national level, but it's more than that.

Investing in marijuana stocks is risky because:

• The industry is still young and rapidly changing.
• There's less publicly available research for potential investors.
• Major price fluctuations and market swings are common.
• Would-be investors must be aware of scams and investment fraud in the industry.
• Some financial advisors and investment professionals won't give you advice about the best marijuana stocks to buy.

Like any budding industry, the cannabis market has seen its share of bad actors. Companies poised for tremendous growth potential can suddenly underperform, get acquired by another company or even go bankrupt.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued several alerts over the years regarding marijuana stocks, warning consumers about unlicensed sellers, unsolicited offers, market manipulation and fake press releases meant to influence share prices.

In short, taking a chance on inexperienced and obscure companies can devastate your investment returns.

Another risk is investing in companies that exist simply because marijuana is still prohibited under federal law. Businesses that cropped up to solve a problem â€"  like alternative banking systems for marijuana dispensaries â€" could suddenly disappear once national legalization occurs.

We'll discuss ways to mitigate risks associated with cannabis investing when we delve further into how to invest in marijuana.

Best Cannabis Companies to Invest In

Below is a list of the top marijuana stocks to consider. Our list only includes companies with market capitalization of at least $200 million with figures current as of October 2021.

Top 10 Marijuana Stocks to Consider

Company Name	Type	Market Cap
Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ: CGC​)	Grower	$8.8 billion			VISIT SITE
Curaleaf Holdings (OTC: CURLF)	Grower and retailer	$9.8 billion			VISIT SITE
Green Thumb Industries (OTC: GTBIF)	Grower and retailer	$7.8 billion			VISIT SITE
Tilray (NASDAQ: TLRY​)	Grower and retailer	$7.1 billion			VISIT SITE
Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON)	Grower and retailer	$2.9 billion			VISIT SITE
Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ: ACB​)	Grower and retailer	$1.6 billion			VISIT SITE
Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: JAZZ​)	Biotechnology	$11.2 billion			VISIT SITE
Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE: IIPR​)	Ancillary provider	$4.9 billion			VISIT SITE
GrowGeneration (NASDAQ: GRWG)	Ancillary provider	$2.7 billion			VISIT SITE
Sundial Growers (NASDAQ: SNDL​)	Grower	$1.6 billion			VISIT SITE

How to Invest in Marijuana

It's always important to do your homework before purchasing individual stocks â€" especially in the marijuana industry.

You'll need to assess your investing goals, risk tolerance and current portfolio holdings. Research and due diligence is a must.

Make sure you understand the company's growth strategy, and scrutinize its financial statements and business partners. Brush up on recent business developments and market data, including acquisitions, mergers and changes in company leadership.

Canadian vs. United States Marijuana Companies

Marijuana's illegal status at the federal level makes it harder for U.S. companies to get listed on a mainstream stock exchange.
Typically, shares of Canadian companies are the easiest pot stocks to buy in the U.S. So long as Canadian companies don't sell marijuana in America, they can be listed on the Nasdaq or New York Stock Exchange.

But experts are mixed about the growth potential of Canada's marijuana industry.

In 2018, our neighbors to the north legalized recreational marijuana, spurring a boom of global investment. Stock prices soared, crashed, soared and crashed again.

Since February 2021, share prices of major Canadian companies, like Canopy Growth Corporation and Cronos Group, have declined. Experts say overexpansion is to blame. In short, the Candianan industry burned through too much money, grew too much weed and rolled out retail dispensaries too slowly.

The result: Canadian cannabis companies are struggling to turn a profit, leading some investment experts to suggest the biggest areas of growth lie in the U.S. cannabis market.

The United States has a much larger and more lucrative marijuana market than Canada. But American-based cannabis businesses can't list on U.S. stock exchanges.

This leaves U.S. cannabis companies two options: Get listed on a Canadian exchange or trade over-the-counter.

What Are Over-the-Counter Stocks?

Stocks purchased on over-the-counter exchanges are very speculative because they aren't required to disclose certain financial information to the public, making it nearly impossible to conduct a true analysis of a stock's value.

It's also tricky for the average investor to even buy and sell OTC stocks. Many traditional brokerage accounts restrict or bar trading marijuana stocks on OTC exchanges.

You may need to use a special brokerage account to purchase shares of U.S. marijuana companies, although a few well-known discount brokers carry OTC stocks, including Fidelity and TD Ameritrade. Charles Schwab also lets you buy your own over-the-counter shares using the Schwab One brokerage account.

However, be cautious of trading fees. Some online brokerage firms charge a fee or trading commission on these stocks â€" even if the investment platform offers free trades on other securities.

How to Invest in Marijuana ETFs

There are two primary ways to invest in marijuana: individual stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

ETFs are typically a good way to diversify your portfolio because they spread your investment dollars among several companies at once.

Marijuana ETFs can be less risky than investing in individual stocks because they diversify you across every vertical of the cannabis industry, from product conception to consumption.

It may also be easier for the average investor to buy a marijuana ETF because several are listed on U.S. exchanges.

Most Popular Marijuana ETFs

• AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF (MSOS)
• AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (YOLO)
• Global X Cannabis ETF (POTX)
• The Cannabis ETF (THCX)
• ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ)
• Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF (CNBS)

Going with an actively managed ETF, like Amplify Seymour Cannabis (CNBS) or AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis (MSOS) is probably your best bet.

Passively managed ETFs, like Horizons US Marijuana Index (HMUS) and the Cannabis ETF (THCX), are only rebalanced and tweaked once a quarter. A lot can happen in three months, especially in this industry.

In contrast, actively managed funds are more responsive to industry shake-ups, like mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies. Portfolio managers of actively managed ETFs are more nimble, allowing them to take advantage of dips in stock prices and divest from problematic companies.

If you're trying to find the best marijuana ETF to buy, peek under the hood and look at the specific companies inside the fund. Also make sure to examine the fund's recent price movements along with its one-year and five-year returns.

What to Look for in Cannabis Stocks and Ways to Reduce Risk

The best marijuana companies share a few similarities. Here's what to look for when picking cannabis investments that can help you mitigate (some) of the industry's inherently risky nature.

• Look at the company's management teams and executive board. Identify the seasoned executives with successful track records, not overnight start-ups with big promises and little capital.
• Time in the market beats timing the market. Weed stocks are already extremely volatile, so selling at the first price drop can be costly. If you buy into this industry, plan to hold your investments for at least a few years.
• Consider the company's market cap. Businesses with bigger caps are more likely to have the financial stability to survive over the long haul. More established companies with higher market capitalization are less likely to go out of business.
• Look at a company's press releases and its financial reports. Financial reports provide insight into a company's activity and bottom line. It can be tough for a beginning investor to wade through these reports, but some key measures to look at include the company's profit and loss (P&L), price-to-book (P/B) ratio, price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio.
• Explore companies with non-marijuana revenue streams. As the cannabis industry grows, well-established companies â€" including Scotts Miracle-Gro (better known for lawn and garden products) and pharmaceutical company Abbvie Inc. â€" have entered the space, while still maintaining their non-marijuana business lines. These companies are typically considered less risky because marijuana-related services comprise only a portion of their revenue.

Rachel Christian is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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