Ending a tobacco addiction can be tough. While many smokers may think that e-cigarettes are a quit-smoking product, the American Lung Association is reminding people that e-cigarettes are a tobacco product and that switching to vaping is not the same as quitting.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not found any e-cigarette to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit. In one study, only 10.1 percent of the smokers who used e-cigarettes quit smoking after six months, while 26.6 percent of smokers who did not use e-cigarettes quit. Another study found 80 percent of the smokers given e-cigarettes did not quit, but switched, and instead became addicted to e-cigarettes, which produce a number of dangerous chemicals including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde, causing irreversible lung damage, lung diseases — and even death.

Advocates say that it’s critically important that the FDA crack down on these false claims, but in the meantime, those seeking to quit smoking should talk to their healthcare providers about developing a quit plan. To learn more about the American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking Plus program, visit lung.org/stop-smoking.

Deciding you want to quit smoking is the first step toward a healthier future. For the best possible chance of success in breaking your addiction for good, seek out methods with proven results.

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From private companies to public, there are numerous ones out there to look at and consider.  Investment managers have built portfolios of cannabis companies that are stated to expand diversification and reduce risks.  Sectors of the economy expanding into Cannabis include medical, food and beverage, tobacco, security, transportation, processing, automation, real estate, chemical and fertilizer, and manufacturing. A new world has opened up and embraced Cannabis as a multi-billion-dollar industry to start. 

An investor can directly invest in a cannabis company that cultivates, manufactures, and sells its wares.  Another option is to indirectly invest in the industry through companies that support cannabis producers.  Mentioned earlier, this could be new plastic bags, or the RFID used to track-and-trace that states require.  There is a hub of businesses that are in the business but not in the business.  When building a position or selecting a company to invest in it is important to understand that you may already have exposure through an existing position.  For example, Constellation Brands (STZ), an alcohol company with operations worldwide that produces brands like Corona, Modelo, and Ballast Point, is in the business.  Constellation owns 38% of Canopy Growth, a Canadian Pot Producer.  The same is true for many companies.  It is hard for them not to push into a new high growth area.  After all there are two congressional bills moving through the Hill right now to allow cannabis companies to bank with FDIC institutions and to move it from a Class 1 to a Class 3 drug.  With the illegal becoming legal, a new opportunity has arisen and isn’t likely to go up in smoke.

Take GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPH), a British company known for its multiple sclerosis treatment product Nabiximols, which was the first natural cannabis plant derivative to gain market approval in every country, even ours.  Their latest drug treats pediatric seizures.  Breakthroughs are happening in every facet.   The key is to not jump into any company before you understand what you are buying their price movements. 

Concerns about the cost of cannabis and related products and where it is headed is a risk.  The cost will most likely be driven down and so may be margins as larger producers and market efficiencies occur.  This will force consolidations in the industry and sharp barriers to entry too.  What I have noticed is there is substantial volatility in pricing of these companies.  By being patient, you can pick up what you wish to buy on the dip and you shouldn’t have to wait long to get the opportunity. 

Pot’s passé and Cannabis is open for business.

Andrew F. Kotyuk, CIMA* is CEO and Principal of Alpha Wealth Management LLC

For questions or investment topics, please email me afkotyuk@alpha-wealth.com.

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