The last week of 2018 was a bit slower than most, but this didn't stop the news cycle completely, as Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marijuana for medicinal and research purposes, and the Israeli Parliament passed a law allowing for medical cannabis exports.

On the markets front, the biggest news item was on Aphria Inc (NYSE: APHA), which received an all-stock hostile takeover bid from Xanthic Biopharma Inc (OTC: GGBXF) (doing business as Green Growth Brands) valued at $2.1 billion.

“The Aphria takeover bid from Green Growth is interesting on many levels. It would combine traditional retail experience with cannabis cultivation experience and some international assets," said Evan Eneman, CEO of MGO/ELLO Alliance. "However, it touches on some interesting dynamics with the exchanges between Canada and the U.S. given where both companies operate.”

For Eneman, this means it’s unclear how the listings would be resolved and if the result would be ideal: “Ultimately the success of the deal will be based on whether or not both feel good about the valuation, management team, direction from leadership and if the experience lends itself well to the emerging cannabis market.”

Timing is also interesting in Eneman’s view, due to recent allegations against Aphria and the resulting share price fluctuations.

“I’m sure that’s played into the decision for the bid as well,” he said. “We are going to see continued consolidation, leveraging existing assets with deep domain experience, although cannabis and cannabis retail is not the same as traditional retail, at least not for the near term.”

Marijuana Indexes & ETFs

Over the last five trading days, the United States Marijuana Index, which tracks most of the largest marijuana stocks in the U.S., lost roughly 1.6 percent, while the North American Marijuana Index, which also includes Canadian stocks, slipped approximately 1.4 percent.

Over the same period – including last Friday, the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF (OTC: HMLSF) (TSE:HMMJ) gained 3.5 percent, while the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (NYSE: MJ) rose roughly 4.2 percent of its value. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY) closed the week up 2.8 percent.

Stock Moves

Here are some of the top marijuana stocks (market cap above $300 million) in U.S. exchanges and how the performed over the last five trading days:

• Acreage Holdings (OTC: ACRZF): up 55.4 percent

• Aphria Inc (NYSE: APHA): up 29.5 percent

• Aurora Cannabis Inc (NYSE: ACB): up 7.2 percent

• CannTrust Holdings Inc (OTC: CNTTF): up 12 percent

• Canopy Growth Corp (NYSE: CGC): up 4.6 percent

• Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON): up 2.15 percent

• Curaleaf Holdings Inc (OTC: CURLF): up 9.9 percent

• Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd (OTC: TGODF): up 4.1 percent

• Green Thumb Industries Inc (OTC: GTBIF): down 4.7 percent

• GW Pharmaceuticals PLC- ADR (NASDAQ: GWPH): down 0.9 percent

• Hexo Corp (OTC: HYYDF): up 9 percent

• iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc (OTC: ITHUF): up 7.15 percent

• Marimed Inc (OTC: MRMD): up 12.8 percent

• MedMen Enterprises Inc. (OTC: MMNFF): up 0.15 percent

• OrganiGram Holdings Inc (OTC: OGRMF): up 8.75 percent

• Scotts Miracle-Gro Co (NYSE: SMG): up 2 percent

• Tilray Inc (NASDAQ: TLRY): up 0.3 percent

In Other News

Cynthia Salarizadeh, a serial cannabis entrepreneur and managing partner at KCSA Strategic Communications, shared some end-of-the-year comments:

“2018 has been a year a major ups and downs for cannabis stocks. A rush of U.S. companies listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange and it became the year of public offerings in cannabis. These developments placed cannabis on the map in the finance world and soon we hope to see the U.S. exchanges follow suite. Tilray has acted as a beacon for what potential cannabis public offerings can yield. 2019 will be the year that formerly ushers in industrial hemp and CBD. This will finally catapult the industry into a global commodities market. This will help provide a more sustainable future. As an industry, we look forward to massive investment into the hemp industry overall. This will be the greatest economic driver to come from the plant.”

MagicalButter donated 420 MagicalButter MB2e machines to medical cannabis patients in Puerto Rico during the 2018 Puerto Rico MedCann.Biz Conference, as part of the company’s annual Cheers to Goodness campaign. The Cheers To Goodness Foundation is a natural outgrowth of MB founder and CEO Garyn Angel’s impulse to give critically ill kids and military veterans a fighting chance and educate the world about the astonishing medical benefits of cannabis.

“The first day of MedCannBiz brought in thousands of new medical cannabis patients—an innovative project that assembled 10 certified Puerto Rican physicians to provide onsite evaluations for MMJ recommendations. New patients left with their medical cannabis card in hand. MagicalButter was able to donate 420 MB2e machines to the new patients of Puerto Rico. The MedCannBiz Conference was a brilliant effort that we were honored to be a part of, greatly improving patients access,” said Garyn Angel, CEO of MagicalButter.com.

Weekend Unlimited Inc. (CSE: YOLO) named Paul Chu to the role of President and CEO. Chu brings over 25 years of success across a variety of industries. He has co-founded and held leadership positions at companies in the cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis industry, including HEY MARY and Canna Candys.

“I am optimistic about the prospects and opportunities of launching innovative high-quality products and services throughout our existing and new markets. Based on our successes to date, Weekend Unlimited has an unparalleled opportunity to create demand for a consumer-focused portfolio of recreational cannabis brands," said Chu.

Green Thumb Industries was awarded a New Jersey license for cannabis cultivation and processing, as well as a dispensary. This marks GTI's first entry into the state. The company also received four retail dispensary licenses in Pennsylvania that will enable it to open 12 additional RISE stores.

Green Thumb's Chief Strategy Officer Jennifer Dooley told Benzinga, “It’s incredibly humbling to receive two big license wins in the same week... GTI’s ability to win licenses has been key to our organic growth and speaks to the expertise of our license application team as well as our demonstrated commitment to community initiatives, an important aspect of the application process. Our focus is firmly on building out these facilities and exploring M&A opportunities that will continue to increase shareholder value.”

Direct Cannabis Network had the courtesy of sharing a video for our #PotStocksRecap. Watch CEO Adelia Carillo, co-host of Wonder Women of Weed, sit down with Troy Dayton of the Arcview Group and discuss cannabis investments.

More From Benzinga’s Cannabis Newsdesk

Over the week, Benzinga also reported on:

How stocks moved after the Food and Drug Administration suggested hemp-derived cannabidiol, or CBD, is mostly illegal.

Oregon’s decision to allow medical marijuana deliveries.

How a lot of cannabis stocks were upgraded to the OTCQX this year.

KushCo Holdings Inc (OTC: KSHB)’s global ambitions.

And more!

Interesting Data & Information

Goldleaf released The Cooking Journal, featuring blank templated recipe pages for both cannabis infusions and traditional cooking; a series of terpene flavor pairings by Jamie Evans, The Herb Somm; helpful dosing calculations to plan your dishes, and more. The Cooking Journal is designed to help you track your cannabis culinary adventures. With so many variables in the kitchen and the many varieties of cannabis available, small changes can make a big difference. The Cooking Journal helps dial-in your cannabis recipes and encourage stress-free kitchen experimentation.

The journal also comes with a selection of recipe cards from some of the top cannabis chefs in the industry.

"The Blue Dream is a savory, tart and easy drinking Cannabis Margarita that gets its beautiful hue from Spirulina. On it's own, Spirulina can have an off-putting taste, but inside of this cocktail, you get all the various nutrients and antioxidants that benefit your body and brain, in a delicious concoction. This way when we imbibe, we do it with great intention,” said Jason Eisner, Mixologist.

For the first time ever, a cannabis ad will appear on Times Square on New Year's Eve. Celebrating new opportunities born from the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, Elixinol Global (OTC: ELLXF) subsidiary Elixinol will appear in multiple locations throughout Times Square.

“A year ago, we were denied advertising in Times Square. What a difference a year makes — we join the entire hemp community in celebrating what’s to come in 2019,” said Chris Husong, Director of Sales and Marketing for Elixinol. “Times Square on New Year’s Eve is one of the most iconic advertising spaces in the United States, with over a million in-person visitors and over a billion around the globe watching the festivities on TV. 2018 was a ground-breaking year for Elixinol in the U.S. and internationally — this placement reflects our optimism for 2019.”

Elixinol is joining other cannabis brands in Times Square including Cannabis Network Media, Curved Papers, My Bud Vase, MTracTech, Restorative Botanicals. The placements will run between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. in 15 second increments.

Events Calendar

Jan. 15-16: Benzinga will host its second Cannabis Capital Conference, this time on Miami Beach, Florida. This networking event for institutional capital and the leading cannabis companies will feature company presentations, panels and keynotes by Giadha Aguirre de Carcer, Danny Moses, Tim Seymour, Jon Najarian, Alan Brochstein and many others. Get tickets here.

Photo by Javier Hasse.