How to invest in marijuana stocks in Ireland

Five years ago, few investors took marijuana stocks seriously. However, today, as billions of dollars pour into the sector, there is little doubt that cannabis is one of the fastest-growing industries.

If you’re looking to invest in the cannabis boom, you can start here. Although there are no companies listed on the Euronext Dublin with exposure to the marijuana sector, here are some listed on US stock exchanges that do:

Listed cannabis sector stocks

Note: The above lists may not be fully representative of the global marijuana marketplace, and some companies may not directly deal in cannabis but have cannabis exposure.

Why invest in marijuana?

In the last couple of years, governments all around the world have become less stringent on the production and use of cannabis-derived products, paving the way for a wave of new businesses.

Recreational marijuana has only been legalised in four countries so far, and yet, the legal cannabis sector is already estimated to be worth US$150 billion, according to Euromonitor International . Between then and 2025, it predicts the sector will grow by 2,000% globally, with more countries slated to favour marijuana legalisation.

In fact, in 2019, the Irish government signed the Medical Cannabis Access Programme into law, allowing it to operate on a pilot basis for the next five years. The program allows a medical consultant to prescribe a cannabis-based treatment to patients, only if traditional medications are ineffective.

How to invest in marijuana

There’s more than one way to invest in marijuana.

• Marijuana stocks. This means buying the stocks of companies involved in or exposed to the production and sale of cannabis. Some of the biggest cannabis companies are listed on stock exchanges in overseas markets such as the US or Canada. It’s possible to invest in these if you use a broker that offers international stock trading.
• Marijuana ETFs. ETFs contain a bundle of stocks, usually hundreds, and these often track an index of stocks. There are a handful of cannabis ETFs listed in the US.

How do I buy cannabis stocks?

1. Choose a stock trading platform.
2. Open your account. You’ll need your ID and bank details.
3. Confirm your payment details. You’ll generally need to fund your account with a bank transfer.
4. Find the stocks you want to buy. Search the platform and buy shares of the companies or ETFs you like. It’s that simple.

Marijuana products

While smoking weed is perhaps the most well-known use of cannabis, there are many types of businesses that are set to benefit from the growing sector. In other countries, legalisation of many of these products is new and in some cases, still underway. These include the following:

• Medicinal products. Currently, medicinal cannabis is used in Ireland for the treatment of spasticity associated multiple sclerosis, intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and severe, refractory epilepsy.
• Science and research. The scientific study of marijuana has accelerated in recent years with the discovery of many other beneficial compounds besides the psychoactive THC.
• Recreational use. Marijuana as a recreational drug is still illegal or restricted in most countries and in some cases, carries serious punishment. However, legalisation is starting to occur in parts of the US and in all of Canada. It’s consumed to achieve feelings of relaxation or euphoria — however, there can be some risky side effects.
• Food products. Hemp is used as an ingredient in a range of products, including cooking oils, snacks, protein powder, cooking flour and more.
• Building materials. Hemp is used in insulation and building construction materials and has several names, including hempcrete, hemp masonry and hemplime.
• Clothing. Hemp is broadly recognised as one of the most sustainable materials available in the manufacture of clothing.
• Beauty products. Hemp is commonly used in various health and beauty products, such as moisturisers, lip balm, makeup and skin oils.

Bottom line

The legal cannabis sector is positioned to grow in the coming years and there are a number of ways to invest in it from Ireland. But keep in mind that past performance is not a guarantee of profit and all investments come with inherent risks.

Explore your investment options across trading platforms and commodities before you buy.