Looking for alternative ways to play speculative sectors such as the Canadian (soon to be legalized) cannabis space is something many investors have begun to explore. Whether it’s the potential to invest in cannabis suppliers that may see their volumes grow alongside the cannabis plants they supply to distribution companies or ways of playing government spending in this space, investors will certainly look to exploit every possible avenue as more details about how this commodity will be legalized emerge. I have stated before that valuations within the cannabis production space currently make no sense to me, so…

As marijuana legalization draws near and questions linger about what Canadians can expect at the U.S. border, the federal point-man on pot, Bill Blair, has some advice: Don’t lie.

This week, the Senate National Security and Defence Committee issued its report on the federal marijuana legalization legislation, Bill C-45. It offered several recommendations to the federal government relating to addressing Canada-U.S. border issues, including:

Q1/2018 could be the breakout quarter for cannabis licensed producer Cronos Group (TSXV:CRON, NASDAQ:CRON), says analyst Vaha Ajamian of Beacon Securities, who says that the cannabis space is going to take off during the months leading up to rec legalization, with Cronos leading the way.

In a note to clients on Friday, the analyst maintained his “Buy” rating but doubled his target price from $5.25 to $10.50 for CRON.

The Ontario government has contributed $300,000 to help a Toronto company work with Loyalist College in Belleville to develop what it says will be the world’s first beer brewed from cannabis.

The joint project will create a beer that is “highly intoxicating” but safer and healthier than alcohol, says Province Brands of Canada. The company chipped in $300,000 in cash and in-kind services.

Province Brands joins cannabis industry giant Canopy Growth Corp. in Smiths Falls in betting that drinks will become a dominant way that Canadians consume their marijuana when it’s legal. 

Creating dishes and culinary experiences that are as fun as they are unique, Chef Luke Reyes makes the art of the cannabis edible look easy.

Reyes, 34, is husky, tattooed, and focused on bringing on good food and a good time.

Green Relief is betting that aquaponics is the best method for growing medical cannabis that is healthy for both your body and the environment.

Inside a concrete bunker jutting out of a grassy hillside, magenta lights cast a neon glow above rows of plants. The glassy eyes of tilapia peer out of the windows of fish tanks the size of above-ground swimming pools. There’s the peaceful sound of bubbles surfacing. Then there’s the sweet, sharp scent of cannabis plants flowering, their branches slumping with orangish-purple buds.

Canada’s unloved energy stocks have switched places with its much-hyped pot stocks.

The energy index was the worst-performing sector in the S&P/TSX Composite Index in 2017, falling 10 per cent and winning the dubious distinction of being the only sector to end the year lower than it started.

Meanwhile, cannabis stocks led the health-care index to a gain of 33 per cent, making it by far the best-performing sector of 2017.That performance was upended in April, when the energy sector gained 9 per cent and health-care stocks slipped 0.1 per cent.

The opportunities aren’t only in alcohol-like products. You only have to look to states where cannabis is legal in the U.S. to see a range of products, from CBD-infused energy drinks to THC tea.

Picture yourself enjoying a bottle of cannabis beer after a long day, as you rub THC cream into your sore muscles and your spouse dozes off thanks to a marijuana-derived sleep aid.

It’s a vision of the future of legal cannabis consumption that may be closer to reality than many expect.

The North American Marijuana Index, comprised of the leading cannabis stocks in the U.S. and Canada, was on the rise.

The index was up nearly 2% this afternoon to 248.49.

Florida-based company mCig Inc (OTCMKTS:MCIG) was a big mover on the index after announcing that it received three licenses to cultivate, distribute, and manufacture recreational cannabis in the state of California. Shares jumped 5.4% to US$0.22.

The OTCMarkets were mixed on Thursday afternoon, with the OTCQX US and the OTCQB Venture slightly down.

Block One Capital Inc (OTCQB:BKPPF) announced the completion of a US$2mln non-brokered placement. The blockchain investment company plans to put the money towards its investment portfolio. Shares of the Vancouver-based company were up 5.4% in afternoon trading.