Cannabis Regulations Continue to Thaw Throughout the World

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In recent years, the cannabis industry has witnessed immense support from countries across the world. Numerous national governments have their own unique perspective regarding the plant, however, most still have not moved to legalize cannabis because of the stigma surrounding its psychoactive nature. Nonetheless, cannabis has already tapped into several of the largest global markets. For instance, Canada became the first and only G-7 nation to legalize cannabis entirely in late 2018. Meanwhile, among the other G-7 nations, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the U.S. have all adopted partial or full medical cannabis legislation. The only G-7 nation to not have adopted any form of cannabis legislation is currently Japan. Overall, many Asian countries enforce stricter regulations, which result in severe consequences if violated. As such, cannabis companies have not had much luck tapping into the Asian markets. However, South Korea and Thailand are two Asian nations that decided to take steps forward and dive into the cannabis industry. South Korea’s medical cannabis program launched in early March and paved the way for select THC and CBD-based medication imports. In particular, Canopy Growth Corporation is among the several Canadian multinational firms looking to enter the South Korean market. Similarly, Thailand has moved to legalize medical cannabis, with many expecting the legislation to be implemented next year after Thailand’s military-appointed National Legislative Assembly voted 166 to 0 in favor of legalizing medical cannabis. The profound movement stirring throughout Asia further highlights the impact that cannabis is making on a global scale. Moreover, ongoing international legalization efforts are expected to accelerate and further bolster the market in the near future. According to data compiled by MarketsandMarkets research, the cannabis market was valued at USD 10.3 Billion in 2018. By 2023, the market is expected to reach USD 39.4 Billion while registering a CAGR of 30.7% during the forecast period. Pasha Brands Ltd. (OTC: CRFTF) (CSE: CRFT), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON), Aphria Inc. (NYSE: APHA) (APHA.TO), HEXO Corp. (NYSE-A: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO)

Data Points to Cannabis Emergence as a Viable Part of Cancer Treatment

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The burden of symptoms associated with medical conditions has ravaged millions of people around the globe. Every day, people suffering from medical conditions are distraught by the harsh effects of the symptoms derived from their ailments. For instance, patients receiving cancer therapy can face a plethora of side effects such as nausea and severe pain. Generally, patients may take other medicines in order to subdue these side effects, and in particular, cancer patients suffering from chronic pain may be prescribed opioids from their physician. The major downside of these treatments is that opioids have life-threatening consequences. Overall, cancer patients suffer from side effects associated with cancer therapies as well as the treatments used to control their side effects. As a result, more medical institutions are beginning to recommend cannabis as an alternative to treat the adverse associated with cancer. The American Cancer Society has cited studies that determined that marijuana can be helpful in treating the side effects of cancer chemotherapy. A few studies have even uncovered that inhaled (smoked or vaporized) marijuana can help with the treatment of neuropathic pain. And more recently, scientists have also reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD can slow the growth of and possibly eliminate cancer cells, ultimately reducing the spread of certain forms of cancer. Other studies have suggested that cannabinoids can be safe for humans in treating cancer, which has led to the wide spread of medical cannabis around the world. As more global government agencies collect positive data from clinical trials, more countries will move towards legalizing medical cannabis because of its valuable therapeutic effects. And as a result, the global legal marijuana market is expected to reach USD 146.4 Billion by 2025 while registering a CAGR of 34.6%, according to data compiled by Grand View Research. Pasha Brands Ltd. (OTC: CRFTF) (CSE: CRFT), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO).

Toxic, Low-Quality CBD Products Putting Consumers at Risk

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When the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) made cannabidiols (CBD) legal for medical use in November 2018, the health and wellness applications put in place for the benefit of British consumers seemed nearly boundless. With the rapid growth of the CBD product market, it’s becoming more and more important that consumers avoid poor quality products from unregulated, and often unreputable, sources. This means that trusted industry producers such as StillCanna (CSE:STIL) (OTCPK:SCNNF), OrganiGram Holdings (TSXV:OGI) (NASDAQ:OGI), Canopy Growth Corp (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC), Aleafia Health (TSX:ALEF) (OTCQX:ALEAF), and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings (TSX:TGOD) (OTCQX:TGODF) are set to be forerunners in the market.
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Top Cannabis Stocks to Watch as Europe’s CBD Market Grows 400%

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The European market is on course to grow 400% over the next four years, according to the Brightfield Group. “CBD is just starting to take hold in Europe, with both product availability and consumer awareness still quite limited. This is a great opportunity for developed brands to enter and expand through Europe with far less competition than we’re seeing in the U.S.” That’s opening a wide range of opportunity for companies including The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS) (OTCQB:BOSQF), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE:CGC) (TSX:WEED), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE:ACB), Wayland Group Corp. (CSE:WAYL) (OTCQB:MRRCF), HEXO Corporation (NYSE:HEXO) (TSX:HEXO), and ICC International Cannabis Corp. (CSE:WRLD-U) (OTCPK:WLDCF).

The Top Companies Giving Investors Exposure to CBD-Rich Hemp

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With the U.S. Farm Bill, hemp has seen a significant catalyst for growth. In fact, demand for CBD products has exploded, and farmers are rushing to keep pace with supply. “There’s a lot of excitement in the farming community because hemp is seen as a high-return crop. There are many farmers around the country who are struggling to make ends meet and they’re looking for an alternative like hemp to boost revenue,” said Eric Steenstra, president of VoteHemp, as quoted by CBD Magazine. That’s opening a wide range of opportunity for companies including MYM Nutraceuticals Inc., (CSE:MYM)(OTCQB:MYMMF), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE:CGC)(TSX:WEED), Westleaf Inc. (TSX-V:WL)(OTCQB:WSLFF), Fire & Flower Holdings Corporation (TSX-V:FAF)(OTCPK:FFLWF), and Crop Infrastructure Corp. (CSE:CROP)(OTCPK:CRXPF).

Shifting Trends Guide Consumers Towards Function Cannabis Beverages

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Consumers across the world enjoy drinking beverages packed with flavors and sweetened sugars like fructose and glucose. In 2011 to 2014, 63% of the U.S. youth and 49% of U.S. adults had consumed a sugary beverage on a daily-basis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also mentioned that adults and adolescents who smoke, don’t get enough sleep, don’t exercise as much, and eat fast food regularly tend to be more frequent consumers of sugary beverages. However, people are now beginning to become more conscious about what they consumer. According to a survey by Nielsen, 83% of North Americans changed their diet and 74% engage in physical activity to lose weight. And now, more consumers are putting sugary beverages aside and drinking healthier and more functional drinks instead. Notably, the cannabis-infused beverage market has gained traction among consumers because of its therapeutic benefits. Specifically, most cannabis infused beverages are CBD based because the compound does not induce psychoactive effects on the consumer. Research conducted has also linked CBD to successfully treating of a variety of health concerns such as acne and anxiety. Moreover, CBD is also being leveraged in the healthcare and medical industry to alleviate symptoms associated with conditions such as chronic pain, cancer, arthritis, and epilepsy. In particular, CBD-infused beverages are quickly gaining popularity in North America, largely due to the legal markets prevalent in the region. Nonetheless, more and more countries around the world are also beginning to adopt CBD for medical applications. As a result, the CBD-infused beverage market is positioned to become a thriving segment within the broader cannabis industry. And according to data compiled by Zion Market Research, the global cannabis beverage market was valued at approximately USD 1.61 Billion in 2018. By 2025, the market is expected to reach USD 4.46 Billion while registering a CAGR of 15.6% throughout the forecast period from 2019 and 2025. BevCanna Enterprises Inc. (CSE: BEV), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO), New Age Beverages Corporation (NASDAQ: NBEV), The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER)

CBD Companies Quickly Expanding Their Global Footprint

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Demand for CBD is on the rise all over the world. All as cannabis-infused products find their way onto the shelves of major retailers, with analysts believing the trend provide a significant catalyst. Piper Jaffray, for example, believes the CBD market alone could be worth up to $100 billion. In addition, according to Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics, global spending on cannabis could reach $57 billion by 2027. All as people around the world wake up to the health benefits of cannabis, including the treatment of insomnia, stress, anxiety, pain, and even chronic issues. That’s opening a wide range of opportunity for companies including The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS) (OTCQB:BOSQF), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE:CGC)(TSX:WEED), The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX:FIRE) (OTCQX:SPRWF), Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE:GGB)(OTCQB:GGBXF), and Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE:ACB) (TSX:ACB).

U.S. and Canada Lead the Cannabis Industry Despite Differing Regulations

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As of late 2018, it was legal to cultivate marijuana in the homes of 21 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. However, some states such as Rhode Island and Oklahoma strictly stated that home growers can only cultivate cannabis for medical purposes. On the other hand, states such as California and Colorado allow their residents to grow cannabis for both recreational and medical applications. In particular, Colorado allows its residents to grow up to six plants per person, but if a household has two or more people, it is limited to 12 plants maximum per householder. Before the prohibition era, many growers cultivated cannabis outdoors, largely for medicinal purposes. However, once former President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, a large influx of indoor and greenhouse facilities began to emerge. Therefore, cultivators were able to hide their grow houses from government officials. But now legalization has gained momentum across the world, resulting in more outdoor facilities once again. Indoor and greenhouse facilities are still popular, but outdoor facilities provide growers with a more natural end product. On the contrary, indoor and greenhouse facilities allow cultivators to control the growing environment, allowing them to manipulate the growing process of the plant and potentially grow more potent cannabis buds and obtain a substantially higher yield per harvest. Nowadays, greenhouse and outdoor facilities are much more popular because they’re built to produce on a large scale. However, the major drawback of these facilities is that the quality of the buds can be diminished as cultivators go for quantity over quality. Whether cultivators are choosing a more natural or a more controlled approach, it is still tapping into various consumer markets. For instance, a frequent consumer may prefer a more potent strain, while a first time user might be more attracted to the organic and natural aspect of outdoor-grown cannabis. Generally speaking, cultivators can market to different consumer trends based on their growing methods and techniques. According to data compiled by Grand View Research, the global legal marijuana market is expected to reach USD 146.4 Billion by 2025 while registering a CAGR of 34.6%. Canopy Rivers Inc. (OTC: CNPOF) (TSX-V: RIV), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (OTC: CURLF) (CSE: CURA), iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (OTC: ITHUF) (CSE: IAN)

Cannabis is One of the Fastest Growing Catalysts for Retailers

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Demand for CBD has been explosive. All as cannabis-infused products find their way onto the shelves of major retailers, with analysts believing the trend provide a significant catalyst. Piper Jaffray, for example, believes the CBD market alone could be worth up to $100 billion. All as people around the world wake up to the health benefits of cannabis, including the treatment of insomnia, stress, anxiety, pain, and even chronic issues. That’s opening a wide range of opportunity for companies including The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE:BOSS) (OTCQB:BOSQF), Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE:GGB)(OTCQB:GGBXF), Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. (CSE:CWEB)(OTCQX:CWBHF), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE:CGC)(TSX:WEED), and Sugarmade Inc. (OTCQB:SGMD).