Steve's note: If you're interested in speculating in cannabis stocks, I want to make sure you're paying attention to the ONLY guy out there I'd trust on the subject. That's our newest analyst, Thomas Carroll. And tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern time, he's going on camera to share some unique predictions about this emerging market. Read on for more details...
It's time to rethink everything you believe about cannabis.
If you've been attentive at all to the news for the past few years, you have undoubtedly heard something about the "biggest thing" to impact medicine, health and wellness, and happy hour. The cannabis plant is rapidly becoming deregulated, decriminalized, and much better understood by people across all walks of life. Entrepreneurs are taking their companies from startups to the real deal.
From our Canadian neighbors to the north, to Mexico in the south, to Europe and Asia, governments are rapidly recognizing the benefits of cannabis for medicinal and other purposes.
This will change the way many people live their lives. And importantly, it is also a huge new product market where we can invest.
Today, I'll cover just how big that market could get... and the five major milestones that set the stage for a cannabis boom in 2019...
Imagine having new options to try for managing that nagging back pain. Or being able to get more than four hours of sleep a night. Or taking the edge off after a stressful week. And you can do all this without getting drunk or high.
The decriminalization and legalization of cannabis often draws comparison to the end of Prohibition of alcohol in the 1930s, which sanctioned an irreplaceable source of tax revenues and economic activity. But it's much, much bigger.
The Prohibition analogy sells the cannabis revolution short of its true potential.
Cannabis lets users relax and unwind in different ways – ways that don't leave you with a hangover or feeling groggy the next day. So the markets it will disrupt are much bigger than simply alcohol, which measures more than $100 billion annually.
For example, maybe you smoke a cigar, or pipe, or use cigarettes to take a break. Tobacco itself is another $100 billion annually.
How about health and wellness? In the U.S., it is estimated that we will spend $88 billion for "nutraceuticals" by 2021. This is the collective name for vitamins, lotions, creams, powder, and other products that are not specifically medicine.
And speaking of medicine, folks in the U.S. spent an estimated $360 billion in 2018 at retail pharmacies... filling the pockets of drug companies and pharmacy benefit managers. Cannabis will take a part of this market as well.
Humans have been using this plant no matter its legal status for more than 1,000 years.
I believe legalization will be a game-changer – both in our lives and for our wealth.
We are not late to the party. It is only getting started. Specifically, five major milestones occurred in 2018 that won't be undone...
- First, Canada legalized cannabis for recreational adult use nationwide.
- Then the Farm Bill in the U.S. was signed into law. This legalized the hemp industry, a cousin of the cannabis plant, nationwide.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a cannabinoid-derived medication, for use in people with two forms of rare epilepsy.
- Five cannabis companies listed their shares for trading on major U.S. exchanges: two on the Nasdaq and three on the New York Stock Exchange.
- And finally, adult-use cannabis sales exceeded medicinal sales for the first time.
All this took one year... and most of it happened toward the end of the year.
Now we are in 2019, and the cannabis market is ready to hit the gas pedal.
But there are still plenty of reasons to be cautious before investing in any cannabis companies. Many have been overly promoted by unknown managements with questionable backgrounds. In Canada, many began as mining companies turned cannabis companies.
So please, do your homework before buying in.
My team and I have combed through all kinds of information. We've interviewed management teams and other entrepreneurs in this new industry. The market is huge, the companies are becoming "real," and support for full legalization in the U.S. is gaining traction.
If you're interested in learning how to profit from this new industry, I'm going on-camera TONIGHT to release many of my findings at the first-ever Cannabis Investing Summit...
To be clear, this event is tonight-only – there will be no replays available. So make sure you tune in to get all the details. You can RSVP for free by clicking here.
Good investing,
Thomas Carroll
Editor's note: At tonight's event, you'll find out how to position yourself for the biggest potential gains in cannabis stocks... before the opportunity slips away. Plus, just for attending, you'll learn the name of a cannabis company Thomas believes could soar 500% or more over the next few years. But there will be no replays of this event... You must tune in TONIGHT at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Click here to join the guest list now.
Further Reading
"Medical marijuana has been both applauded and criticized across the country," Thomas says. Learn more about its effect on the health care sector – and three other changes to watch – right here.
"Right now, 10 states and Washington, D.C. allow recreational use of marijuana," C. Scott Garliss writes. "And more states are coming around." Get his take on why full legalization is only a matter of time – and what it means for cannabis stocks – right here.
Like we could see in the marijuana industry, triple-digit gains are common in gold mining companies. And this royalty business is one of the best ways to take advantage of higher gold prices...
YOUR GREAT-GRANDKIDS WILL KNOW THIS ELITE BRAND
Today, we're checking in on a "Global Elite" chocolate maker...
Regular readers know we like investing in industry leaders. Porter Stansberry and his team call these businesses the Global Elite. They have fortress-like balance sheets and enjoy a global reach, with strong customer loyalty. And sure enough, folks can't stay away from today's company...
Hershey (HSY) is a $24 billion snack and candy giant. It boasts popular brands like its Hershey's name-brand chocolate and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. People have enjoyed these treats for generations... And they will continue to for years. This customer loyalty is great for sales... Last year, Hershey reported sales of roughly $7.8 billion, nearly a 4% increase over the year before.
As you can see in today's chart, HSY shares are grinding higher. The stock is up about 15% over the past year, and just hit a fresh 52-week high. As long as people keep coming back for the chocolate they love, Hershey should continue higher...
