Certain marijuana stocks in 2019 could skyrocket thanks to the potential for exports from the next powerhouse in the legal cannabis industry.
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here has been a massive shift overseas that will be a catalyst for certain marijuana stocks in 2019. This new move will serve as a giant leap forward in the legal cannabis industry.
As you're about to see, events are unfolding in other countries this year, and one change in particular could be big news for investors of cannabis stocks.
Specifically, we're talking about the creation of the first cannabis-exporting superpower.
This is a country that already leads the globe in marijuana research activity, and now it's going to turn that knowledge into profits...
A Massive Market That Requires a Major Player as a Leader
The marijuana export market is starting to heat up thanks to the wave of legalization sweeping the globe.
Already, Canada has been a trailblazer when it comes to legal marijuana, and other countries, states, and cities have been doing everything possible to follow that country's example.
This generally plays out the same everywhere.
First, there is a total and complete prohibition of pot, which then loosens to allow limited medical use.
More widespread medical use gets the go-ahead, and policymakers begin to see the potential for tax revenue and other economic stimulation through new businesses.
THREE STOCKS: Any one of these cannabis companies could potentially deliver a 1,000% windfall. Click here to learn more...
Finally, full legalization for adults becomes a reality, and everyone profits.
Taking this a step further, the next frontier in the legal cannabis market is exporting.
In December 2018, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) announced it was going to supply legal pot to Mexico.
This is always one of the top pot stocks to watch, but there is an even bigger catalyst on the horizon.
It is something that is going to transform the industry while creating billions of dollars' worth of opportunities.
The best news is that few investors know about it yet.
This Will Be the Top Exporter of Cannabis in 2019
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Already an international force in the legal marijuana market, as a top researcher, Israel has decided to get more involved in legal cannabis as an export.
Money Morning has access to a variety of sources, including the head of the Israeli Ministry of Health's General Medical Division, Dr. Michael Dor, who says this change could happen in 2019.
In fact, the ball started rolling forward on Dec. 25, 2018. This is when the legislature, the Knesset, agreed that Israel could join Canada and the Netherlands as nations that would allow the legal export of cannabis.
This legislation has been lobbied for since 2017, where the CEOs of marijuana companies have pushed to make exporting legal.
This past November, the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environmental Committee approved the legislation. Its announcement said the bill would provide the Israel Police the supervisory authority required to allow the opening of the medical marijuana market while also protecting public safety.
The major reasons for this change of heart in Israel aren't a shock. They are similar to other countries and states that make similar choices - money.
While Israel stands to bring in a revenue windfall from opening up its markets to marijuana exports, it has something else going for it as well.
You see, because it is a global leader in cannabis research, Israel has some of the highest-quality cannabis in the world. For research purposes, scientists require marijuana that is pristine and precisely meets their requirements regarding ratios of CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids.
The tradition of cannabis research is longstanding in Israel and something that is completely lacking in the United States. In that country, the research is government-backed, but in the U.S., marijuana remains illegal at the federal level.
In fact, Israeli researcher Dr. Raphael Mechoulam was the first scientist to discover that THC was the psychoactive component in marijuana. Mechoulam is also known for the discovery of anandamide, which is a cannabinoid that is produced naturally by humans. His work also assisted with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system.
These discoveries are some of the reasons that Mechoulam is referred to as "the Father of Cannabis Research."
One of Money Morning's sources, Dr. Dor, has worked alongside Dr. Mechoulam in cannabis research.
Dr. Dor was not only confident that Israel would begin exporting marijuana, but he believes it could lead to a financial windfall, too...
What Cannabis Exporting Could Mean in 2019
Israel is going to be a world leader in supplying high-quality, research-ready medical marijuana on a global scale. It currently estimates that its share of the global market will be roughly $2.6 billion annually, but Dr. Dor believes those estimates are too low.
The cannabis produced by Israel has many medical applications, but it can also be used for pet medicines, cosmetics, and food supplements.
Other ways to use imports include industrial hemp applications for environmentally friendly plastic, clothing, and furniture.
As Israel goes into 2019, it will no doubt become another template that other majors markets will want to replicate. Even if the United States moves toward full legalization, it doesn't have ideal growing conditions, and the labor costs are too high to make large-scale production profitable.
With the appetite for legal pot exploding around the globe, it only makes sense that some of the cultivation will take place in other countries where conditions are more favorable - like Israel.
America's Green Gold Rush Is Just Getting Started - Claim Your Stake Now
At this very moment, big investment firms and members of the Fortune 500 are building enormous war chests.
They're preparing to push billions upon billions of dollars into the cannabis market - and they could strike at any moment. So right here - right now - you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to beat them to the punch and stake your claim.