Is it safe to invest in marijuana?

Marijuana stocks can be highly risky and volatile. It's not fully safe to invest in marijuana, even with marijuana ETFs.

Do marijuana ETFs deserve a place in your portfolio?

Marijuana ETFs won't be a good fit for every investor. Risk-averse investors will probably want to steer clear of these funds. However, aggressive investors could find marijuana ETFs an attractive long-term investment option.

Can marijuana ETFs pay dividends?

Many marijuana ETFs don't pay dividends. However, some exceptions have paid dividends in the past, including the Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF.

How can I evaluate the performance of a marijuana ETF?

Key things to consider in evaluating the performance of a marijuana ETF include the total returns over varying time periods (for example, one year, three years, five years, and total returns since inception). Investors should also look at annual expense ratios relative to total returns.

How do marijuana ETFs differ from investing in individual marijuana stocks?

Marijuana ETFs offer a convenient way to invest in a large number of individual marijuana stocks, providing more diversification than buying them individually. Choosing a marijuana ETF can also significantly reduce the amount of research required compared to investing in individual marijuana stocks. The primary downside of marijuana ETFs is their costs, which can be compared by looking at the funds' annual expense ratios.

Who is the biggest marijuana grower in the U.S.?

The largest publicly traded marijuana grower in the U.S. by market cap is Curaleaf.

Best Cannabis ETFs to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest

Here's what you need to know about the top marijuana ETFs.

By Keith Speights – Updated May 8, 2026 at 11:47 AM EST | Fact-checked by Margo Winton Parodi

Key Points

Marijuana ETFs offer diversification by investing in a range of cannabis stocks, reducing risk.
The global cannabis market is estimated to reach $1.4 trillion by 2034, showing high growth potential.
Investor access to marijuana ETFs is easy; they can be purchased via brokerage accounts.

Investing in marijuana ETFs (exchange-traded funds), which are funds that own stakes in multiple cannabis companies, is one way to potentially profit from the cannabis industry's growth. For some investors, marijuana ETFs could be a better fit than investing in individual marijuana stocks.

The cannabis industry is poised for strong growth. Cannabis is projected to be a $1.4 trillion global market by 2034, according to Forbes Business Insights. The industry is expected to grow by an impressive compound annual growth rate of 34%.

The main benefit of buying marijuana ETFs is that your money is spread across a basket of stocks, which can lower your risk compared to investing in only a few individual stocks. Here's what you need to know about the top marijuana ETFs on the market.

5 top cannabis ETFs for 2026

Below are five of the top marijuana exchange-traded funds with their assets under management and net expense ratios.

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Data source: Yahoo! Finance and ETF websites. Data current as of May 7, 2026.
ETF	Assets Under Management	Net Expense Ratio
AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF (NYSEMKT:MSOS)	$1.1 billion	0.78%
Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF (NYSEMKT:MJ)	$137 million	0.75%
Global X Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF (OTC:HMLSF)	CAD$45 million	1.00%
AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (NYSEMKT:YOLO)	$38 million	0.51%
Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF (NYSEMKT:CNBS)	$98 million	0.76%

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1. AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF

NYSEMKT: MSOS

AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF

Today's Change

(-3.69%) $-0.17

Current Price

$4.44

Key Data Points

Day's Range

$4.37 - $4.62

52wk Range

$2.06 - $7.25

Volume

4.7M

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The largest marijuana ETF based on assets under management is the AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF (MSOS -3.69%). It's the first ETF to focus exclusively on the U.S. cannabis market.

This ETF had more than 25 holdings in May 2026, including U.S. marijuana stocks and swaps (derivative contracts, where the values or cash flows of one asset are exchanged for another). Its top positions included swaps for Curaleaf Holdings (CURLF -4.68%), Trulieve Cannabis (TCNNF -3.37%), Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF -2.63%), Verano Holdings (OTC:VRNOF), Glass House Brands (OTC:GLAS.F), and Cresco Labs (CRLBF -5.77%).

It's possible that the ETF's focus on the U.S. market could give investors greater growth opportunities than other ETFs. Although marijuana remains illegal at the federal level in the U.S., many states have legalized marijuana for medical and/or recreational use.

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2. Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF

NYSEMKT: MJ

Amplify ETF Trust - Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF

Today's Change

(-1.59%) $-0.40

Current Price

$24.79

Key Data Points

Day's Range

$24.39 - $24.82

52wk Range

$16.50 - $46.75

Volume

42K

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In 2015, Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ -1.59%) became the first U.S. ETF to target the global cannabis market. This ETF was established even before the Canadian cannabis industry took off after the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2018.

Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF owned 10 individual stocks in May 2026. Its top stock holdings included Tilray Brands (TLRY +0.96%), Cronos Group (CRON +0.76%), Canopy Growth (CGC -1.29%), SNDL (SNDL +0.00%), and Village Farms International (VFF +0.20%).

These five positions combined made up around 35% of the ETF's total assets. Roughly 57% of the ETF was also invested in its sister fund, Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF (CNBS -2.96%).

Canadian cannabis producers weigh heavily in the ETF's portfolio. This could hurt the ETF's performance while current U.S. federal cannabis laws remain in effect. The Canadian companies can't enter the U.S. cannabis market and retain their listings on major U.S. stock exchanges as long as marijuana is illegal at the federal level.

3. Global X Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF

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OTC: HMLSF

Global X Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF

Today's Change

(0.00%) $0.00

Current Price

$5.42

Key Data Points

Day's Range

$5.42 - $5.42

52wk Range

$4.00 - $7.05

Volume

200

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Although Global X Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF (HMLSF +0.00%) isn't listed on a major U.S. stock exchange, U.S. investors can buy the ETF on over-the-counter (OTC) markets. Its 2017 inception makes it one of the oldest marijuana ETFs.

The ETF's top holdings include Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ +3.72%), Cronos Group, Canopy Growth, Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR -0.37%), and SNDL. Together, these five stocks account for approximately 51% of the ETF's total portfolio.

Global X Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF became the first ETF to target the global cannabis market. The ETF was established even before the Canadian cannabis industry took off after the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2018.

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4. AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF

NYSEMKT: YOLO

AdvisorShares Trust - AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF

Today's Change

(0.17%) $0.01

Current Price

$2.88

Key Data Points

Day's Range

$2.80 - $2.96

52wk Range

$1.75 - $4.53

Volume

18K

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AdvisorShares operates two marijuana ETFs. One focuses exclusively on the U.S. cannabis market, but the AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (YOLO +0.17%) doesn't limit itself to the U.S. Instead, it focuses on the global cannabis market.

The ETF had 13 stock holdings in May 2026. Almost 58% of its assets were invested in the AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF. The top five individual stocks in its portfolio were Village Farms International, High Tide (HITI +2.14%), Charlotte's Web Holdings (CWBHF +0.00%) , Organigram Global (OGI +0.00%), and SNDL. The stocks made up more than 30% of the ETF's total holdings.

The AdvisorShares ETF could be an attractive alternative for investors who want exposure outside the U.S. but still want a heavier weighting to U.S. stocks.

5. Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF

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NYSEMKT: CNBS

Amplify ETF Trust - Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF

Today's Change

(-2.96%) $-0.80

Current Price

$26.08

Key Data Points

Day's Range

$25.85 - $26.54

52wk Range

$13.96 - $43.94

Volume

14K

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Benefits and risks of investing in cannabis ETFs

The benefits of investing in cannabis ETFs include:

The potential for significant long-term gains
Diversification across multiple marijuana stocks
Exposure to some U.S. multi-state cannabis operators that can't list their shares on U.S. stock exchanges

However, there are also risks associated with investing in marijuana ETFs, such as:

High risk and volatility
Relatively high expense ratios
Marijuana ETFs could own some marijuana stocks that investors would prefer to avoid

Should you invest in cannabis ETFs?

Investing in cannabis ETFs isn't for everyone. Although these ETFs offer several advantages over buying individual cannabis stocks, they can still be highly volatile. Risk-averse investors will be better off looking for other assets to buy.

On the other hand, aggressive investors could find these funds attractive alternatives. Patience may be needed, though. Cannabis ETFs could underperform over the short term.

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FAQ

Marijuana ETFs FAQ

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About the Author

Keith Speights is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering publicly traded companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, technology, and marijuana. Prior to The Motley Fool, Keith was CEO of Constant Care Technology, a healthcare technology company; vice president of American HealthTech, a healthcare software company; and a director of operations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, a health insurer. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.

TMFFishBiz

Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cronos Group, High Tide, and Organigram Global. The Motley Fool recommends Cresco Labs, Green Thumb Industries, Innovative Industrial Properties, SNDL, and Tilray Brands. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Cannabis ETFs to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest

Here's what you need to know about the top marijuana ETFs.

Key Points

5 top cannabis ETFs for 2026

1. AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF

Key Data Points

2. Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF

Key Data Points

3. Global X Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF

Key Data Points

4. AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF

Key Data Points

5. Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF

Key Data Points

Benefits and risks of investing in cannabis ETFs

Should you invest in cannabis ETFs?

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FAQ

Marijuana ETFs FAQ

Is it safe to invest in marijuana?

Is it safe to invest in marijuana?

Do marijuana ETFs deserve a place in your portfolio?

Do marijuana ETFs deserve a place in your portfolio?

Can marijuana ETFs pay dividends?

Can marijuana ETFs pay dividends?

How can I evaluate the performance of a marijuana ETF?

How can I evaluate the performance of a marijuana ETF?

How do marijuana ETFs differ from investing in individual marijuana stocks?

How do marijuana ETFs differ from investing in individual marijuana stocks?

Who is the biggest marijuana grower in the U.S.?

Who is the biggest marijuana grower in the U.S.?

About the Author

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5 top cannabis ETFs for 2026

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Benefits and risks of investing in cannabis ETFs

Should you invest in cannabis ETFs?

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Marijuana ETFs FAQ

Is it safe to invest in marijuana?

Is it safe to invest in marijuana?

Do marijuana ETFs deserve a place in your portfolio?

Do marijuana ETFs deserve a place in your portfolio?

Can marijuana ETFs pay dividends?

Can marijuana ETFs pay dividends?

How can I evaluate the performance of a marijuana ETF?

How can I evaluate the performance of a marijuana ETF?

How do marijuana ETFs differ from investing in individual marijuana stocks?

How do marijuana ETFs differ from investing in individual marijuana stocks?

Who is the biggest marijuana grower in the U.S.?

Who is the biggest marijuana grower in the U.S.?

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

How to buy cannabis ETFs

3. Global X Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF

5. Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF