You’ve waited in long lines… You’ve been forced to remove your shoes and walk barefoot on sticky floors… And you’ve probably been subject to the dreaded “pat-down.”
So it’s no wonder many Americans consider the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as the Gestapo of the airport. It’s the bane of every U.S. flyer.
Like the IRS, the TSA is one of the most disliked federal government agencies. Also like the taxman, the Blue Shirts recently made a big policy change about a major trend we’re following in the Daily.
As you may recall, we told you last month that the IRS will issue crypto tax guidance for the first time since 2014. That’s good news for crypto investors. It means the IRS has essentially acknowledged cryptos as a sustainable asset class.
Well, over Memorial Day weekend, the TSA made a similarly big—albeit much quieter—announcement: You can now bring legal cannabis aboard airplanes.
We’ll forgive you if you didn’t hear the news; the TSA updated its policy with little fanfare. But our crack team grabbed a screenshot from the agency’s website:
And in today’s Daily, I’ll tell you why PBRG guru Teeka Tiwari says this seemingly small change is big news for investors in the legal cannabis space.
But first…
Two Types of Cannabis
If you’re not a botanist, you probably don’t know the cannabis plant creates many types of products.
Most people are familiar with one: marijuana, which is also known as pot or weed. It contains tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. It’s the psychoactive compound that makes people feel “high.”
Now, the federal government lists marijuana as a Schedule I drug. So it gets the same treatment as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. And because it’s illegal, most big banks won’t touch financing for big marijuana deals.
Another type, though, is hemp. It produces a chemical called cannabidiol, or CBD. And unlike THC, CBD doesn’t make you feel intoxicated.
CBD and THC act differently with the receptors in the body and brain. So CBD provides many of the health benefits associated with cannabis—without making you feel “stoned.”
Previously, the TSA made no distinction between marijuana and hemp-derived products. And on its website, the agency warned flyers that they couldn’t take any cannabis products aboard planes in carry-on items or checked bags.
But a recent law signed by President Trump changed all that…
The Green Light to Invest
In December 2018, President Trump signed a farming bill legalizing industrial hemp as a crop. It lifted restrictions on the sale, transport, and possession of hemp-derived products.
And Teeka says this federal green light will allow hemp to become the most valuable crop on the planet. Here’s why…
The U.S. Hemp Crop Report shows acreage of hemp cultivation more than tripled from 2017 to 2018. And according to Grand View Research, the global industrial hemp market size will grow at an annual rate of 14% from now until 2025.
However, unlike marijuana, Teeka says you can invest in legal cannabis now:
Here’s what many people don’t know: “Non-stoner” hemp is already legal at the federal level. This is huge because I think the market for “legal marijuana”—hemp—will far eclipse the recreational market.
The global market is in the hundreds of billions of dollars. So while everyone else is waiting on federal marijuana legalization, we can benefit from the 100% legal cannabis market right now—no need to wait.
But timing isn’t the only reason to invest in the legal cannabis market…
How to Play the Trend
The TSA’s decision to allow hemp-based products on passenger planes is a step in the right direction. But it also highlights a clear distinction between hemp and marijuana: The feds are okay with one, but not the other.
Still, there are more reasons to play the legal cannabis boom.
According to Marijuana Business Daily, the recreational and medical marijuana market is only $6.6 billion right now. But Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates the global market for legal cannabis is about $166 billion—25 times bigger.
Here’s Teeka again:
As I said, medical marijuana is legal in 33 states. But the federal government is still years away from legalizing recreational marijuana.
So while many investors are excited about this growing trend… industry insiders are still waiting for the feds to catch up. That’s why I believe it’s still too early to get into the recreational marijuana space…
But here’s what many people don’t know: “Non-stoner” hemp is already legal at the federal level. This is huge because I think the market for “legal marijuana”—hemp—will far eclipse the recreational market.
And the best thing is, you don’t have to wait to play it.
So what’s the best way to play this trend? Well, Teeka has put together a presentation to show you how.
In it, he’ll tell you how legal cannabis is on pace to grow at least 400 times in the coming years… why pot stocks are the worst place to invest if you want to get rich from today’s cannabis boom… and why this new cannabis market is on track to become roughly 15 times bigger.
And you can watch his free presentation right here.
Regards,
Nick Rokke
Analyst, The Palm Beach Daily