According to Stats Canada, about one in five Canadians (aged 15 or older) reported using cannabis or derivative products in the last three months of 2020.
It’s remarkable, considering cannabis was legalized in 2018 and marijuana derivates in 2019.
It’s a market with potential, so check out my list of the best marijuana stocks in Canada below.
Why Did Marijuana Stock in Canada Dropped So Much?
Canadian marijuana stocks have experienced a significant drop in value due to a combination of factors. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Market Sentiments: Marijuana stocks flatlined in 2021, making investors skeptical about them now.
- Federal Legislation in the US: Little progress has been made on federal legislation in the US, which has contributed to the selloff in the increasingly competitive marijuana market.
- Weak Retail Pricing: Cannabis producers in the US and Canada are struggling with weak retail pricing, scarce capital, and persistent US federal restrictions.
- Competition: Market share continues to shrink for big Canadian marijuana stocks like Canopy Growth and Tilray.
Despite the drop in value, some analysts believe that cannabis stocks are a bargain right now and that state-licensed cannabis companies will continue growing revenue as more states join the ones that allow recreational sales.
However, the path of federal cannabis decriminalization bills in the US Senate is unclear, and even if the US passes full federal legalization, the implications for Canada’s pot producers are uncertain.
All of this outlines the need for caution when investing in any marijuana stocks, as it is inherently a risky sector.
Best Marijuana Stocks In Canada
Canada has one of the largest numbers of marijuana companies in the world. Here are some of the top picks:
- Tilray (TLRY)
- Canopy Growth (WEED.TO)
- Aurora Cannabis (ACB)
- Village Farms International (VFF)
- OrganiGram Holdings (OGI)
- InterCure (INCR)
- Auxly Cannabis Group (XLY.TO)
- PharmaCielo (PCLO.V)
1. Tilray Stock (TSX/NASDAQ)
- Ticker: TLRY
- Forward Dividend Yield: N/A
- Market Cap: $1.34 Billion
- Forward P/E Ratio: -22.13
Tilray has become one of the most promising global marijuana players after its merger with Aphria and has the largest global footprint. It has products and brand recognition in both the adult-use and medical marijuana markets.
The company has regional subsidiaries focused on Europe, Latin America, and Australia, and it’s rapidly expanding its US presence with acquisitions like its MedMan, a major cannabis retailer in the US.
Tilray has 20 different brands, and its geographic reach makes it ideally poised for growth as the global wave of cannabis legalization hits more countries and opens up new avenues for Tilray to leverage its presence.
2. Canopy Growth Stock (TSX)
- Ticker: WEED.TO
- Forward Dividend Yield: N/A
- Market Cap: $430.06 Million
- Forward P/E Ratio: -3.75
While it has fallen a long way from its glory days valuation, Canopy Growth is still one of the most formidable marijuana stocks currently trading on TSX. And one of the strongest points in its favour is its resilience.
The stock has managed to survive catastrophic falls, but the company is still in business, and the acquisitions and investments it has made so far are likely to pay off well in the future as the industry matures.
By 2021, most of the company’s revenue was generated in Canada, but it has its eyes set on the US, and it’s already in the process of acquiring the most well-known edibles brand in the country.
Canopy’s financial future and, consequently, the stock’s potential are tied quite heavily to the US market.
3. Aurora Cannabis Stock (TSX/NASDAQ)
- Ticker: ACB
- Forward Dividend Yield: N/A
- Market Cap: $213.90 Million
- Forward P/E Ratio: -13.07
Aurora Cannabis is another marijuana giant you should consider investing in. The company went through a rough phase when it diluted its shares for its aggressive acquisition spree.
However, what it has acquired in the process will most likely help it rise to or even beyond its glory-days valuation as the demand for medical and recreational marijuana rises in North America.
The company has four medical marijuana brands under its name and six adult-use recreational cannabis brands.
These brands offer a wide range of products, including edibles and vapes, for both mainstream market segments and premium customers. The company has an impressive local and US presence, but Israel is the extent of its global reach (so far).
4. Village Farms International Stock (TSX/NASDAQ)
- Ticker: VFF
- Forward Dividend Yield: N/A
- Market Cap: $85.66 Million
- Forward P/E Ratio: -15.54
Village Farms is quite different from most other marijuana stocks in Canada, and this difference has been in the stock’s favour so far, i.e., it hasn’t fallen as hard as other marijuana companies yet.
The difference is that it’s primarily a greenhouse company, the largest one of its kind in North America. But the company has reoriented its expertise and resources (greenhouse facilities) to enter the cannabis space.
One of its brands is Quebec-exclusive growers. One offers derivative products like vapes and edibles. Two brands focus on Hemp (low THC products).
And the fifth brand under its banner is a clean energy company, endorsing Village Farm’s commitment to sustainability.
5. OrganiGram Holdings Stock (TSX/NASDAQ)
- Ticker: OGI
- Forward Dividend Yield: N/A
- Market Cap: $174.59 Million
- Forward P/E Ratio: -13.21
OrganiGram is one of the newer players, especially compared to old giants like Aurora and Canopy. The company started out in 2013 and indoor cannabis growth.
That’s a different business and marketing approach and a stark comparison from many companies that boast more natural production facilities, but OrganiGram’s unique 3-level indoor cultivation (with finer control using micro-climates) approach gives them an edge in both yield (per area) and quality.
It started out as a medical marijuana company which is still its international focal point (in Israel and Australia), but it has also grown its presence in the adult-use business segment and now has five brands under the banner, with three value-focused and one premium brand.
6. InterCure (TSX/NASDAQ)
- Ticker: INCR
- Forward Dividend Yield: N/A
- Market Cap: $75.65 Million
- Forward P/E Ratio: -1.12
If you are interested in a company currently trading on the TSX but with international origins, InterCure is one of the few “non-US” choices there are.
This Israeli company has been around since 1994 and is one of the largest cannabis companies in Israel (if not the largest). It only started trading on the TSX in early 2021, and so far, it has managed to maintain a reasonable valuation.
The stock is cyclical at best, and if it keeps performing at its current pace, it might become a better choice for making some quick profit in the short term rather than getting amazing returns in the long run.
7. Auxly Cannabis Group Stock (TSX)
- Ticker: XLY.TO
- Forward Dividend Yield: N/A
- Market Cap: $20.10 Million
- Forward P/E Ratio: -2
Auxly is an Ontario-focused adult-use cannabis company with the number one market share when it comes to vapes. It’s also growing its market share of edibles, flowers, and oils.
The company has an impressive online presence, including its presence on the OCS – Ontario’s only legal online retailer/platform. The company has five brands under its name.
It has a minimal focus on medical marijuana, with just one brand focused on the wellness aspect of cannabis with six over-the-counter products in its portfolio.
The stock showed enormous potential in the beginning, growing over 8,000% between Jan 2017 and Jan 2018, and while that may not be a repeatable feat, the stock is still worth considering.
8. PharmaCielo Stock (TSXV)
- Ticker: PCLO.V
- Forward Dividend Yield: N/A
- Market Cap: $30.44 Million
- Forward P/E Ratio: -3.6
This medical-oriented cannabis producer is headquartered in Toronto with a production facility in Colombia, which gives it access to different growing conditions, soil nutrients, and low-cost labour.
Despite its relatively small size, the company has the largest turnkey cultivation footprint in the world.
It also has a diverse range of products, divided into psychoactive products based on THC and non-psychoactive ones using CBD.
It’s a relatively small player but with a different yet promising operational approach that has the potential to pay off big, especially if the company starts preparing more than just THC and CBD extracts.
US-based Marijuana Stocks
There are several US-based marijuana companies that are available to Canadian investors either directly from the US stock exchanges or via Canadian National Stock Exchange (CNSX). Three of them are:
Curaleaf Holdings has a market capitalization of about $7.9 billion and is based in Massachusetts, US. It’s primarily a wellness-oriented company with 22 cultivation and 30 operation sites and over a hundred local dispensaries.
It already operates in 23 US states, and if the federal legalization bill passes, the company is expected to grow a powerful national presence.
Illinois-based Green Thumb Industries is another wellness-oriented cannabis company with a market cap of about $6.3 billion and seven brands under its banner. It also has retail stores/dispensaries under nine different brands, each with its own regional presence.
Another Illinois-based cannabis company is Verano Holdings. With five consumer-use, two retail brands, 12 production and processing facilities, and 93 retail sites, Verano is one of the largest players in the US cannabis industry. It currently operates in 15 states.
History Of Marijuana Stocks In Canada
Marijuana – While not technically the newest asset class in Canada, it rose to prominence in 2018 when the federal government legalized it. Marijuana companies that had to follow stringent guidelines regarding the cultivation, development, and distribution of even medical marijuana finally got free rein.
The stocks went through the roof within a year, but the hopeful speculation that triggered this rise soon turned to dismay as real-life logistics and distribution issues of legal cannabis products started arising, especially in the presence of the new, more emboldened black market.
Many giants fell and started trading at a fraction of their peak valuations just a few years ago. The second phase of legalization (dubbed Cannabis 2.0), which focused on a whole range of derivative products, including beverages and edibles, stirred the market a bit but not enough to reinvigorate it.
However, the tide is turning, though quite slowly. In 2020, the legal cannabis market size grew to about $2.6 billion, and it’s expected to grow more than three times by 2026.
How To Buy Marijuana Stocks In Canada
The cheapest way to buy marijuana stocks is from discount brokers. My top choices in Canada are:
| Image | Product Title | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Editor's Choice  |
| $25 Signup Bonus | |
Reliable Pick  |
| $50 Free Stock Trades |
To learn more, check out my full breakdown of the best trading platforms in Canada here.
