Investing in Marijuana Stocks

The marijuana industry is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of at least 25% through 2030, and many investors are seeking to profit. As states and entire countries decriminalize or legalize cannabis and/or its components, there are growing opportunities for entrepreneurs and existing companies.

But, as in any nascent industry, there are also plenty of investment risks. Whether you're a first-time investor or a seasoned veteran, it pays to understand how this industry works. This guide will get you up to speed quickly and includes our picks for the top marijuana stocks.

Best marijuana stocks in 2022

1. Green Thumb Industries

Green Thumb Industries ranks as one of the largest U.S. multistate cannabis operators. It owns 77 retail cannabis stores in 15 states across the U.S. and operates 17 manufacturing facilities. Green Thumb holds licenses to roughly twice as many retail locations.

Since the legal recreational marijuana market in Illinois opened for business at the beginning of 2020, the company has benefited from tremendous growth in its home state. Green Thumb should have plenty of growth potential as cannabis markets expand in other large states, including New Jersey and New York.

2. Cresco Labs

Cresco Labs, like Green Thumb, is based in Illinois. It operates retail cannabis stores in 10 states, including six of the 10 most heavily populated states in the U.S. Cresco is the top wholesaler of branded cannabis products in the U.S.

The company is growing rapidly through acquisitions and opening new retail locations. Cresco’s pending acquisition of Columbia Care (OTC:CCHWF) will make it the largest multistate operator based on revenue. Once the deal closes, Cresco will operate in 18 U.S. markets, including 12 states with annual cannabis sales of more than $1 billion.

3. Innovative Industrial Properties

U.S. cannabis companies can’t easily secure capital from banks or financial institutions since marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Innovative Industrial Properties (IIP) helps to solve the cash shortage for growing marijuana companies. It buys properties owned by U.S. medical cannabis operators and leases the properties back to them. The property sale to IIP provides the cannabis operator with much-needed cash, and the lease agreements create a steady revenue stream for IIP.

Innovative Industrial Properties has grown significantly in recent years and now owns properties in 19 states. The company continues to generate strong revenue and earnings growth. Because Innovative Industrial Properties is organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT), IIP returns at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders.

4. GrowGeneration

GrowGeneration is another ancillary provider and the largest specialty retail chain focused on the cannabis market. The booming U.S. cannabis industry has created fast-growing demand for hydroponic supplies, which are used to grow plants in liquid nutrient solutions without soil and for organic gardening.

The market for hydroponics has been soft because of an oversupply of cannabis. This has caused headwinds for GrowGeneration. However, the company’s long-term growth prospects remain strong.

5. ScottsMiracle-Gro

ScottsMiracle-Gro is facing the same market dynamics as GrowGeneration. The company’s Hawthorne Gardening subsidiary ranks as a leading supplier of hydroponic gardening products to the cannabis industry. Hawthorne should have a significant growth runway over the long term despite some near-term challenges.

Although Hawthorne Gardening is a primary growth driver for Scotts, the company still generates the majority of its total revenue from consumer lawn and garden products. Higher commodity prices are currently squeezing margins for this business. However, the company’s consumer lawn and garden products give it a relatively steady counterbalance to its cannabis supply unit.

6. Jazz Pharmaceuticals

Ireland-based Jazz Pharmaceuticals acquired the cannabis-focused biotech company GW Pharmaceuticals in May 2021. GW’s drug Epidiolex is the first cannabis-based medicine to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Epidiolex, which treats two rare forms of childhood epilepsy and tuberous sclerosis complex, a rare disease where benign tumors grow on organs, has been a big commercial success, with sales of $658.3 million in 2021.

Jazz is also evaluating another cannabis candidate, nabiximols, in late-stage clinical studies for treating multiple sclerosis-related spasticity. In addition to its cannabis products, the company markets sleep-disorder and cancer drugs.

A brief overview of the marijuana industry

Let’s cover some of the basics you need to know before investing in marijuana stocks.

• The marijuana industry is divided into three broad categories: Marijuana growers and retailers cultivate and package cannabis products and sell them to consumers. Biotechnology companies develop and market cannabis-based pharmaceutical drugs. Ancillary marijuana businesses provide products and services to cannabis companies without touching the plant.
• Cannabis can be medical or recreational: Medical cannabis patients use cannabis or cannabis extracts to treat health conditions and have recommendations or cannabis prescriptions from physicians. Recreational cannabis users purchase marijuana or cannabis extracts purely for enjoyment and must be 18 and older and living in a jurisdiction where recreational use of the plant is legal.
• Geography matters: Medical cannabis is legal in many more countries than recreational cannabis. In the U.S., cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. However, a growing number of states have legalized medical and/or recreational cannabis. The rapid growth of the U.S. cannabis market is translating into impressive growth by U.S.-based cannabis companies, while marijuana companies in Canada -- where the plant is already fully legal nationwide -- are expanding more slowly. Canada is one of the global legal markets where supply is outpacing demand and leading to falling cannabis prices.

Impact of COVID-19 on marijuana stocks

The COVID-19 pandemic affected nearly every part of the global economy, including the cannabis industry. In many U.S. states, cannabis dispensaries were designated as essential businesses. Cannabis sales boomed in some states during the first few months of the coronavirus outbreak, driven in part by more time spent at home and increased anxiety. Marijuana growers and retailers benefited, as did ancillary providers selling gardening supplies and other products to these companies.

However, not all cannabis companies fared well in the pandemic. Recreational cannabis retailers in tourist destinations such as Las Vegas saw their customer traffic dwindle, causing some of these dispensaries to start focusing on home delivery. In the medical segment, people delayed doctor visits, causing new patient starts to drop. Biotech companies experienced logistical challenges that affected sales and research progress.

To a large extent, the worst appears to be over for the cannabis market with respect to COVID-19, but some effects are still being felt.

Related investing topics

Are marijuana stocks right for you?

Just because there's a trendy new sector with lots of press and potential growth doesn't mean you need to invest in it. If you buy broad-based index funds, you're covered no matter which sectors of the stock market do well. Conservative investors who prefer lower risk are likely better off avoiding investing in marijuana stocks.

Aggressive investors with high risk tolerances will probably find a lot to like about marijuana stocks. The cannabis industry is still in its early stages, and the market opportunities are enormous, especially as more U.S. states legalize cannabis. Investing in the stocks is a high-risk but potentially high-reward proposition.