The Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund shows that its fifth largest holding is Canopy Growth Corp. Some sort of real estate holding company? Wikipedia: “Canopy Growth Corporation, formerly Tweed Marijuana Inc., is a cannabis company based in Smiths Falls, Ontario, …”
I don’t like this purported “industry” (see https://philip.greenspun.com/blog/2015/06/08/legal-marijuana-questions-1-why-does-it-cost-more-than-spinach/) because I can’t see any sustainable competitive advantage in growing marijuana (any more than spinach). As a mutual fund investor, though, am I doomed to be a shareholder?
[Separately, this fund has a 0.25% annual expense ratio. The equivalent ETF, also from Vanguard, charges 0.13%. Wouldn’t they actually prefer people to hold the fund rather than trade in and out of the ETF?]
I think the competitive advantage may come from the license because I doubt that anyone is permitted to grow the stuff and market it — anymore than anyone can set up a still and then sell their home brew to the public. The ETF is less costly to administer (record keeping, tax compliance, statements, that sort of thing, which explains the difference in fee.
Ray Blanco and the Motley Fool are telling me that there’s a lot to be made by watching 90 second videos and investing in the one pot stock that’s going to be worth miiiiiiiiiillllllions, so maybe you should visit St. Paul Street in Baltimore (quoth the Raven: Nevermore!) but let’s be honest here.
Wouldn’t they be stupid to not inadvertently gamble you into this phenomenon?
You should take a trip close to Western MA and see what’s really going on with poor people. They think this is the answer to their prayers.
I hesitate to make it simple for you but my answer is: “Yes.” You’re going to be an inadvertent investor in weed whether you want to be or not, unless you have a whole lot of money and can opt out of everything. You can always ask me how I know, maybe you want to get in on the initial investment.
There is no sustainable advantage on making gin or vodka or whisky. There is nothing magic about fermenting stuff. But there are dozens of high value companies that make the liqueurs and make lots of money selling it. Lots of those companies have built moats by brand distinction and good marketing. And names like Kennedy and McCain make a lot of money transporting and distributing the products. Governments make a ton taxing the stuff. MJ is just a new product in this space. I expect there will be a lot of winners and losers in this space. So investing in these new small companies is just smart investing. I am sorry you don’t want to invest in these companies. Sin and related goods is good business.
People aren’t too picky about their spinach quality. Wine would be a better comparison. eg there will be very real quality differences, but price will be set by effective marketing.
I see a better analogy with Tobacco as in, there is not much profit in growing tobacco, th ereal industry is based on the commercialization of the refined products. Very few people currently roll up their own cigarretes. I can see a huge growth market in this direction, where companies will introduce filters, blends, packaging, additives and marketing to improve the delivery mechanism.
Which companies will be the ones that manage to becomoe the leaders?. Maybe the tobacco companies will be the ones to profit from the market or one of the growing companies will be able to make the transition and capitalize on their experience. Either way, there are going to be some very clear winners in this market.