The industry is generally split into three categories based on their operational focus:

Investing in medical marijuana (cannabis) involves navigating a unique landscape of federal restrictions, international markets, and specialized stock exchanges. As of April 2026, while medical use is legal in , it remains a federally prohibited Schedule I substance. 1. Choose Your Entry Method

Because cannabis is federally illegal in the U.S., many major exchanges like the NYSE and NASDAQ cannot list "plant-touching" U.S. companies.

: Buying shares in specific companies. This offers high potential returns but carries significant company-specific risk.

: Investing in "pick-and-shovel" companies that support the industry but do not touch the plant directly, such as Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) (real estate) or Quest Diagnostics (DGX) (drug testing). 2. Identify the Types of Cannabis Companies

: Funds like AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis (MSOS) or AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis (YOLO) hold a basket of many cannabis companies, providing instant diversification.