Top Marijuana Stocks on the NASDAQ

Although the majority of U.S.-based cannabis companies and many foreign ADRs trade over-the-counter, a few marijuana companies are traded on the NASDAQ. Some investors prefer stocks that are listed on the NASDAQ to other exchanges due to their increased liquidity and tighter spreads than the OTC markets. Indeed, as the cannabis industry has grown in recent months and years, uplisting from an OTC market to a reputable U.S. exchange has become a banner achievement for many rising marijuana companies.

The NASDAQ was the first electronic exchange and has long been synonymous with technology and biotechnology. The cannabis companies on the NASDAQ reflect this, with the majority of them operating in the biotech area of the industry. Here are the NASDAQ-listed marijuana stocks, in alphabetical order, as of April 16, 2019, with a breakdown of their total returns.

Arena Pharmaceuticals is a biotech company involved in the manufacturing of medical marijuana drugs. Research and development around Arena's APD371 is the primary focus of its cannabis biotech initiatives.

Atlantic Alliance Partnership Corp. is a blank check company that is currently in a merger agreement with Kalyx Development Inc. Kalyx is a leading real estate investment trust in the regulated cannabis industry in the U.S.

Cara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities for the indications of pain and pruritus (itching). Although all of their clinical-stage products target opioid receptors, Cara is currently conducting preclinical research on cannabinoids for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. is a cannabis biotech company. Its research, development, and manufacturing are based around cannabis drugs that seek to treat chronic, inflammatory, fibrotic and other diseases.

Cronos Group Inc. is a Canadian cannabis company. It owns and seeks cannabis related subsidiaries and licensed producers. In December of 2018, Marlboro maker Altria announced plans to invest $1.8 billion in Cronos. The investment has provided Cronos not only with additional cash to finance its continued expansion, but also with a well-established partner experienced in the process of marketing consumer brands.

GW Pharmaceuticals is developing a portfolio of cannabinoid medicines, including Sativex for the treatment of spasticity related to multiple sclerosis and cancer pain, and Epidiolex for the treatment of childhood epilepsy. Sativex is commercialized in more than a dozen countries outside the U.S. and has received regulatory approval in several more countries. Epidiolex received FDA approval as a treatment for Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, two forms of severe, early onset epilepsy without good existing treatment options. Other indications show that GW Pharmaceuticals is developing cannabinoid products for autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia and glioma.

Insys Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes innovative drugs and novel drug delivery systems. Though the company is more widely known for its Subsys fentanyl spray, Insys has received FDA approval for a dronabinol (synthetic THC) oral solution for the treatment of nausea caused by chemotherapy and anorexia in patients with AIDS. Insys is also developing cannabinoid-based treatments for epileptic disorders, Prader-Willi Syndrome (a genetic disorder) and amphetamine addiction among other indications.

Intec Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing drugs based on its proprietary Accordion Pill technology. Intec's product pipeline includes cannabinoid-based drugs being developed for the indications of low back pain and fibromyalgia.

Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. develops and distributes environmentally responsible bio-based pest management and plant health products. Just recently, Marrone Bio Innovations announced that three MBII active ingredients are now legal for use on cannabis crops in the California cultivation market.

Psychemedics Corporation operates in the enforcement sector. Its business operations support drug testing through hair samples.

Therapix Biosciences Ltd. is a specialty clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of cannabinoid-based drugs. Therapix's current pipeline includes products targeted for the treatment of Tourette syndrome and mild cognitive impairment.

Tilray Inc. was the first marijuana-related company to IPO in the U.S. The Nanaimo, Vancouver Island-based company focuses on medical cannabis products.

Village Farms International is the most recent cannabis stock to begin trading on the NASDAQ. VFF shares became available for trade on February 21, 2019. The company has a decades-long history in greenhouse produce growing and has only recently shifted some of its focus toward cannabis production.

Zynerba Pharmaceuticals is focused on the development of synthetic cannabinoid treatments for transdermal (through the skin) delivery. Their pipeline currently includes two drugs being developed for indications including epilepsy, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathic pain and Fragile X syndrome.