A buddy of mine — a part-time preacher — says Jesus was actually born in September. The real miracle of Christmas, he says, was the conception of Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary about this time of the year.
Today, I’m seeing another ‘miracle’ play out …
I’m talking about the epic resurrection of the cannabis industry.
OK, you might think it’s odd — maybe even sinful — to mention cannabis and Christmas in the same breath. But consider what my friend told me recently …
“I think cannabis is just another part of God’s good creation. While the marijuana plant can be abused, I believe He means for us to take advantage of its medicinal properties.”
You might be surprised to hear that THC — the compound that produces the “high” in cannabis — offers real health benefits …
IF taken in moderation — as St. Paul said to the disciple Timothy (referring to a common medicine of that time), “Use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities”.
You may ALSO be surprised to hear that marijuana use is especially strong among those 55 and older.
A big reason is that THC is great at managing pain and reducing inflammation. In fact, it has 20 times the anti-inflammatory strength of aspirin … and it’s way safer than opioids! (When’s the last time you heard of someone overdosing on pot?)
It’s also been shown to decrease nausea and stimulate appetite. (Great for those undergoing chemotherapy.)
And THC is actually considered a neuroprotectant that may help manage symptoms of several severe medical conditions.
Plus, microdosing — taking very small amounts of THC — could be the perfect solution for folks reluctant to get “stoned”.
The Cannabis Concerto
You may not realize it, but humans make their OWN cannabinoids — called endocannabinoids.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an amazing network of cell-level receptors situated throughout our entire bodies.
Maine’s Dr. Dustin Sulak describes the ECS as “perhaps the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human health.”
Happily, cannabis and hemp plants produce over 113 “phytocannabinoids” … that also interact with these receptors.
The one you’ve probably heard about (and that doesn’t make you high even at high doses) is CBD — short for Cannabidiol.
In fact, Uncle Sam and other governments have sponsored extensive research that focuses on CBD’s potential as a treatment for a wide range of maladies, including:
- Autoimmune diseases (inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Neurological conditions (Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury)
- Metabolic syndrome (diabetes, obesity)
- Neuropsychiatric illness (autism, ADHD, PTSD)
- Gut disorders (colitis, Crohn’s disease)
- Skin disease (acne, dermatitis, psoriasis)
There are even physicians who are experimenting with CBD in treating some forms of cancer.
I DO NOT believe CBD is the cure-all that some hype would have you believe. But, for some things, it works …
Americans are getting more stressed all the time. That tells me CBD is going to get even more popular.
In fact, the CBD market is growing EVEN FASTER than THC. According to an estimate from analysts at the Brightfield Group, the hemp-CBD market alone could hit $22 billion by 2022.
And unlike marijuana (for now), hemp is legal at the federal level.
There is a world of new health products coming down the pike from CBD and other cannabinoids. And biotech and pharmaceutical companies are working furiously to bring those new products to market.
So, as an investor, yeah, I’d be interested.
Two exchange-traded funds you may want to consider are the AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (NYSE: YOLO), which has more than half its holdings in the United States …
… or the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (NYSE: MJ), which emphasizes Canadian stocks. (Marijuana IS legal nationwide in Canada.)
Either of these funds continues to rise into the clouds.
All the best,
Sean
