I have been wondering how I would introduce the conversation on cannabis, marijuana stocks as an investment opportunity. I guess a quick overview of the plants infamous background would be about as grand a start as any.........
A Brief History of Marijuana/Cannabis:
Photo by Esteban Lopez on Unsplash
There's still a large misconception and it's short history of negative publicity surrounding "Grass, bud, weed, reefer, green, herb, 420, ganja, pot, chronic, dank, kush & blunts."
Yah or Nah on Legalization of Medical/Recreational Marijuana/Cannabis use?
Starting around the mid 1500's , the Spanish introduced hemp to the new lands. This plant was a major commodity, grown with the likes of tobacco and consumed as a source of fiber. Hemp was even traded as currency, as well as made into paper and clothing. One could even be fined for not producing/growing the plant.
It was around the late 1800's, that hemp plant began to be replaced with cotton.
The stigma associated with marijuana for years stems from an ambitous politician name Harry Anslinger. Anslinger headed what was essentially the nation’s first drug czar, the Commissioner to the Department Bureau of Narcotics from 1930 to 1962. Anslinger was clearly a racist and attempted to make big of his position in Department of Prohibition after the failed attempt at alcohol prohibition.
He had in fact, deemed the plant "Demon weed" in the 1930's. By creating a fear in the publics eyes. He tied marijuana use to an infamous murder of that time. (Victor Licata).
Excerpts from newspapers owned by one of Americas early media mogul William Hearst that helped fuel this negative campaign against marijuana usage.
“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.”“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”
“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”
“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”
“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
I think, 2018 will now become a most definitive time in the history of the plant.
There are now, 30 legal medical marijuana usage states & 8 recreational usage states. Each state having their own set of by-laws.
California was the first state to accept legalized medical marijuana in 1996. Not surprised, followed by.......
- 1998: Alaska, Oregon, & Washington
- 1999: Maine
- 2000: Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada
- 2004: Montana, Vermont
- 2006: Rhode Island
- 2007: New Mexico
- 2008: Michigan
- 2010: Arizona, D.C., New Jersey
- 2011: Delaware
- 2012: Connecticut, Massachusetts
- 2013: Illinois, New Hampshire
- 2014: Maryland, Minnesota, New York
- 2015: Louisiana
- 2016: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas
CLICK IMAGE
Our neighbors up stairs, Canada, will be fully legalizing the usage on the 1st of July 2018. They approved medical use back in 2017.
What does medical marijuana really do?
Though the FDA ~ The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has not yet approved many marijuana plants as medicine due to the lack of research. This is starting to change as more studies become readily available with promising results.
With the recent introduction of bill H.R. 3391: The Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2017. This bill amends the federal law so that scientist can facilitate clinical studies involving the use of cannabis and cannabis-derived products
- Alzheimer's Disease
- ALS
- Chronic Pain
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Dystonia
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- GI Disorders
- Gliomas/Cancer
- Hepatitis C
- HIV
- Huntington's Disease
- Hypertension
- Incontinence
- Migraine
- MRSA
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress
- Pruritus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sleep Apnea
- Tourette Syndrome
Even though man has been cultivating and consuming the potent tops of female cannabis plants since the beginning of known history. Scientists have found that ancient cultures cultivated marijuana for pharmaceutical and prophetic purposes.
Despite a long history ban on the use of the plant, that was first imposed by Congress under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 and then later classifying the cannabis plant as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
Drugs like cocaine & methamphetamine that can still be consumed under a doctor's supervision are classified as Schedule II drugs. Where alcohol & tobacco are unscheduled.
Recreational Marijuana:
Modern society continues to indulge in the recreational use of cannabis as more and more states deem to decriminalize and legalize the plant.
Those that support the legalization of cannabis believe through conducted studies that this negative attitude towards marijuana has been disastrous considering the nations incarceration numbers.
The "pro" side of legalized cannabis use include:
Legalization would also cut down the black market and money laundering aspect of this current mentality.
But this growing industry is facing a federal crackdown under Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has compared cannabis to heroin.
The "pro" side of legalized cannabis use include:
- Tax revenues
- Alcohol and Tobacco far more harmful
- The cost of enforcement is not cost efficient
- The laws are racially discriminatory
Legalization would also cut down the black market and money laundering aspect of this current mentality.
But this growing industry is facing a federal crackdown under Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has compared cannabis to heroin.
General requirements for recreational use are > 21 years of age, no public smoking, must be a licensed dispensary to buy or sell, can have anywhere from 1 ounce to as much as 10 ounces depending on the state.
Edibles and oils that can be used in vapor pens are becoming very popular in the recreational user circles.
Investing in the future of Marijuana/Cannabis Industry:
Edibles and oils that can be used in vapor pens are becoming very popular in the recreational user circles.
Investing in the future of Marijuana/Cannabis Industry:
As states increasingly allow the plant to be sold legally for medical & recreational use. It can be foreseen that investors would capitalize on this emerging industry. In 2017, the medical marijuana industry went up by 17% to about $6 billion. This industry is set to increase by another 25% this year alone. Estimates are charting $40 - $50 billion by 2025. It's a risky endeavor now yet, the future is on the right path to a very prosperous venture.
The tax revenues associated with the expansion of legalized use has proving fruitful in every state. Colorado saw a 57% increase between 2015 & 2016. Across the board, theses states are seeing much higher tax collection than from alcohol taxes. Even with the nasty history this plant has lived with. There is no denying that the benefits of legalization of marijuana/cannabis outweighs any past negativity. As I'm sure with most of the mentality in the political world........Money talks BS walks!
Millionaires are being made, industries are opening up, jobs are being added. Consumers as well as patients with medical conditions are much HAPPIER😉 Win-Win!
The Week's End Market Summary:
Millionaires are being made, industries are opening up, jobs are being added. Consumers as well as patients with medical conditions are much HAPPIER😉 Win-Win!
The Week's End Market Summary:
- DJI closed over 26K at $26,071.72 (+53.91 0.21%)
- Nasdaq $7,336.38 (+40.33 0.55%)
- S&P 500 $2,810.30 (+12.27 0.44%)
On the crypto front the word of the day is 'HODL"
- Bitcoin - $11,573.45 -9.65 (24 hr. Change)
- Bitcoin cash - $1,774.76 -11.48%
- Ethereum - $1,048.17 -8.73%
- Ripple - $1.38 -12.05%
- Litecoin -$190.32 -9.14
- Neo - $131.08 -11.50%
- Cardano - $0.615 -11.95
My next 5 of 20 companies that I am researching in 2018. These are not recommendation as stated, yet, are companies within industries that I feel are worthy of potential gains
| COMPANY | LAST | CHANGE | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMBA Ambarella Inc | $51.38 | -1.22 2.32% | |
| ACBFF Aurora Cannabis Inc | $10.77 | +0.30 2.88% | |
| AVAV AeroVironment Inc | $53.60 | +0.89 1.69% | |
| EXEL Exelixis Inc | $28.00 | +0.14 0.50% | |
| A Agilent Techn. Inc. | $73.07 | +0.89 1.23% | |
| HIMX Himax Techn. Inc. | $9.79 | +0.05 0.51% | |
| HTC HTC Corp | $71.10 | +0.00 0.00% | |
| RIOT Riot Blockchain Inc | $19.91 | +0.11 0.56% | |
| SIEB Siebert Financial Corp. | $13.10 | -0.38 2.82% | |
| STM STMicroelectronics | $25.06 | +017 0.68% | |
| ARE Alexandria Real Estate Equit | $125.95 | +0.55 0.44% | |
| SYNA Synaptics Inc. | $45.59 | +0.70 1.56% | |
| IBB iShare NASDAQ Biotech ETF | $112.00 | +0.73 0.66% | |
| TWMJF Canopy Growth corp | $37.48 | +0.52 1.41% | |
| KEYS Keysight Technologies | $46.33 | +0.55 1.19% | |
| VFFIF Village Farms International | $6.53 | -0.27 3.97% | |
| O A Orbital ATK Inc. | $132.49 | +0.74 0.56% | |
| VRTHF Veritas Pharma | $0.62 | -0.01 1.20% | |
| VTC Vertcoins | $4.84 | 12.59% | |
| VUZI Vuzix Corp. | $8.40 | -0.15 1.75% |
| COMPANY | LAST | CHANGE | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mattel Inc. | $16.14 | + 0.91 5.98% | |
| HanesBrands Inc. | $23.20 | + 1.20 5.45% | |
| Nike Inc. | $67.21 | +3.10 4.84% | |
| Kohls Corp | $67.54 | +2.69 4.16% | |
| Under Armours Inc. | $14.21 | +0.51 3.72% | |
| IBM Corp | $162.37 | - 6.79 4.01% | |
| CBS Corp | $57.75 | -2.25 3.75% | |
| McCormick & CO. Inc. | $99.19 | -3.70 3.60% | |
| Qorvo Inc. | $68.40 | -2.30 3.25% | |
| General Electric Co | $16.26 | -0.51 3.04% | |
"LET's DO THIS"
Copyright © 2018 Andrew Hayes All Rights Reserved
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