Sure, 2018 isn't quite over yet. But it's not too soon to start looking back at what has been the most pivotal year for the Canadian cannabis industry ever. And 2018 was a topsy-turvy one for Canadian marijuana stocks.

However, three Canadian marijuana stocks clearly set the bar this year. While most of their peers are likely to finish 2018 with lower share prices than they had at the beginning of the year, these three stocks have delivered impressive returns.

The enthusiasm of investors in cannabis in 2018 matched the excitement over the rise of the information technology sector. Big tech stocks powered the longest bull run in stock market history. Prior to the effectivity of the Cannabis Act, nearly all cannabis stocks raced to new highs, including Aurora Cannabis  (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB).

But cannabis investors were mostly disappointed. What they saw was a cycle of price surges followed by sharp declines. It leaves a general impression that is the characteristic of the cannabis market. Volatility is a trademark that frightens investors. Even so, the evolution of the cannabis industry will definitely continue next year.

It's getting to be that time when everyone starts looking forward to the coming new year and all that it might bring. But even more fun (and more tricky) is to look beyond just the next year and instead try to envision what might happen five years from now.

With Wiz Khalifa being one of the greatest stoners in hip-hop, it’s only right he partners with a reputable cannabis company.

Supreme Cannabis, 7Acres & Khalifa Kush Enterprises (KKE) had developed an international partnership.

This agreement was built to develop and launch high-quality cannabis products for both Canada and international markets.

Supreme Cannabis will be the exclusive producer of KKE products in Canada, which includes launching a strain called Khalifa Kush.

Proponents of legal marijuana spent decades fighting a slow battle for mainstream acceptance. Now, with recreational use legal in Canada and many states in the United States, big business is suddenly swooping in.

Henrico County-based Altria, the maker of Marlboro and other cigarettes, announced plans in early December to pay $1.8 billion for almost half of Cronos Group, a cannabis company in Toronto.

In August, Constellation Brands, which owns Corona and other beers, paid $4 billion for a major stake in Canopy Growth, another Canadian marijuana company. That month, Molson Coors, another brewer, formed a joint venture with a cannabis company in Quebec.

The chart of Cronos Group Inc. (CRON) shows a double top with $11.13 target or 9.00 % above today’s $10.21 share price.

The 8 months chart pattern indicates low risk for the $1.82 billion company. It was reported on Dec, 23 by Finviz.com. If the $11.13 price target is reached, the company will be worth $163.53M more.

Double tops are rare but powerful chart patterns.

The stock decreased 8.27% or $0.92 during the last trading session, reaching $10.21. About 6.91 million shares traded. Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CRON) has risen 277.71% since December 23, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 277.71% the S&P500.

Marijuana stocks have been on a wild ride in 2018, and the pullback in the sector in the past two months has investors wondering which cannabis stocks might be the best buys heading into 2019.

Let’s take a look at HEXO (TSX:HEXO) and Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED)(NYSE:CGC) to see if one deserves to be in your portfolio right now.

Bruce Linton was in an ebullient mood on Thursday after Health Canada announced proposed rules that would allow Canadians to buy a wide range of cannabis products, including edibles and drinks.

Canopy is now building a 197,000-square-foot bottling plant next to the former chocolate factory that houses its Tweed marijuana grow-op.

Canopy has partnered with huge U.S. beer, wine and spirits company Constellation Brands to develop cannabis drinks. The draft regulations give a boost to those plans.

After the M&A wave died down in 2018, many analysts thought the so-called "Green Rush" was over, but we think they were wrong. With a combination of newcomers and veterans vying for market share, it's safe to say the competition is getting intense. And with competition comes innovation. Included in today's commentary are: Auxly Cannabis Group (OTC:CBWTF) (TSX.V:XLY), merald Health Therapeutics (OTC:EMHTF) (TSX.V:EMH), Curaleaf Holdings (OTC:CURLF) (CSE:CURA), OrganiGram Holdings (OTC:OGRMF) (TSX.V: OGI), CannTrust Holdings Inc. (OTC:CNTTF) (TSX:TRST). 

Aphria Inc. ("Aphria" or the "Company") (TSX: APHA and NYSE:APHA) announced that the Company has completed its second shipment of approximately 80 L (equivalent to approximately 20 kg of dried bud) of medical cannabis to its Australian-based partner Althea Company Pty Ltd.("Althea").