The cannabinoids in marijuana not only assist in blocking nerve pain, but they limit the side effects of typical prescription drugs. 

Whether it’s after a long workout or a moving injury, soreness and stiffness can complicate anyone’s life, but they don’t have to. With the rise of opioid addiction, is it possible that marijuana and CBD can alleviate some of the symptoms of sports and back injuries? 

At this time one year ago, cannabis stocks were seated high on the mountain top overlooking nearly all other industries and sectors. The marijuana industry simply couldn't be stopped, with Canada becoming the first industrialized country in the world to legalize recreational pot on Oct. 17, 2018.

But my how the tables have turned.

The past few months have undoubtedly not been the kindest to pot stocks. For anyone who religiously watches the market, they know that there is a heightened level of volatility throughout the industry. This is something that is simply characteristic of pot stocks at this point. While there are many reasons for this, the two main ones are speculation and the infancy of the industry overall. Pot stocks are highly subjective to speculation due to the infancy of the market.

In an attempt to deter youth from vaping following growing health concerns, the Ontario government has decided to enforce a ban on the promotion of vapor products in convenience stores and gas stations.

The announcement was made Friday that the ban will officially take effect on January 1, 2020 and that ads for vape products will only be allowed in specialty shops where patrons must be at least 19 to enter.

“Restricting the promotion of vapour products will help prevent youth from being exposed and influenced by promotion in retail settings,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a news release.

The announcement comes after multiple consultations following research that states an increasing number of youth are using vape products.

Under-pressure Canadian producer Hexo has launched a new budget range of cannabis flower products as prices look set to crash.

Hexo, which recently downgraded its revenue projections and laid off 200 staff, says its  value brand – Original Stash – will retail at around $3.40 per gram – around half the average Canadian selling price.

Blame Mom and Pop.

That’s the increasingly common refrain from publicly traded cannabis companies and professional investors who have watched stock prices crater over the past several months.

With large institutions still reluctant to invest in pot, Canadian retail investors continue to dominate the public floats of many cannabis companies, especially those that operate in the U.S. where marijuana remains federally illegal.

Even with cannabis 2.0 easing into the rear view mirror, it’s worth paying attention to several new and noteworthy cannabis products.

Among the more innovative products to gain traction recently are the zero-waste carbon filters from the Toronto-based startup Blade Filters. Carbon filters are often used in grow rooms to eliminate odours and harmful organic compounds.

The three founders—Giancarlo Sessa, Aedan Fida and Joseph Fida—all recent graduates, have developed replaceable carbon cartridges for grow rooms as opposed to the current solution of replacing the entire filter.

During a year in which pot stocks have cratered, the outlook for earnings has become hazier than almost any other sector.

The average spread between the highest and lowest analyst estimate for full-year earnings per share is $1.15 (US$0.88) for the 10 largest cannabis stocks, wider than any other sector on the S&P/TSX Composite Index excluding financials, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

For example, full-year adjusted EPS estimates for Canopy Growth Corp., the largest pot company by market value, range from a loss of $5.47 to a loss of 44 cents. Cronos Group Inc.’s estimates range from a loss of $1.40 to a profit of $2.14.

By comparison, the average spread for consumer staples is 27 cents and the average spread for energy is 79 cents.

Though best known for its elevating properties, THC is medicinal at its core. Even in small doses, THC has been shown time and again to alleviate the symptoms of many ailments.

More than 30 U.S. states now have some sort of broad medical marijuana law that permits adults, and sometimes children, to utilize the multipurpose cannabis plant. That means that despite its Schedule I standing, which allows for no medical usages, people have made up their own minds, used their own eyes, ears and hearts to make decisions about their health.

The purported benefits of CBD have been spread far and wide, and there’s a growing amount of research to back it up. Studies have shown that CBD provides anti-inflammatory and seizure-suppressant properties, and has even demonstrated the ability to reduce social anxiety. 

Following the legalization of industrial hemp production, which transpired with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, and the massive influx of CBD products hitting the market, more and more people are starting to ponder: What is CBD used for?