Names to watch ahead of California marijuana legalization

As recreational use of marijuana is set to become legal in California on the first day of the year, the space seems to be getting more and more attention, with a new marijuana ETF starting to trade this week and Constellation Brands (STZ) taking a stake in a Canadian medical marijuana producer earlier this year.

CANNABIS IN CALIFORNIA

For people residing in California, the New Year means they will able to buy recreational marijuana as it is set to become legal in the state starting January 1, a date that dispensaries and consumers have had in their sights on since Proposition 64 made it the official opening of the adult-use market in California.

In keeping with state rules, retailers will be able to sell or deliver cannabis between 6am and 10pm.

NAMES TO WATCH

Among the publicly traded names in the space is Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR), a REIT that owns dispensary properties.

Last year, NYSE became the first major exchange to list a cannabis company with its acceptance of Innovative Industrial Properties’ initial public offering.

Constellation Brands seems to also be interested in the blossoming cannabis industry as the company bought a minority stake in a Canadian medicinal marijuana producer.

In October, Constellation announced it paid C$245M for a 9.9% interest in Canopy Growth, a Canadian provider of medicinal cannabis products.

Constellation, which is looking to develop cannabis products that don’t contain alcohol, does not expect to sell products in the U.S. before marijuana is nationally legalized but may begin to sell products in Canada, where such products are expected to be legalized by 2019.

Earlier this week, ETF Managers Group announced that MJX, the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF, was live and available for trading on the NYSE Arca.

This fund is one of the first of its kind available to U.S. investors and is designed to replicate the Prime Alternative Harvest Index, which tracks companies likely to benefit from the increasing global acceptance of various uses of the cannabis plant.

This includes treatments from innovative medicinal breakthroughs involving the plant’s unique properties.

PRICE ACTION

In Wednesday’s trading, shares of Constellation Brands are fractionally down to $224.95, while Innovative Industrial Properties is up nearly 5% to $27.24.

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This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility.