Cheddar's weekly series "CannaBiz" focuses on the business of marijuana, and market opportunity in this space. Cheddar Anchor's Brad Smith and Baker Machado dive into the latest trends in this space.
This week Vermont became the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana. It's also the first state to enact this through legislation. Marijuana Policy Project's Director of Communication Morgan Fox explains the state of regulation, and how his organization is pushing for greater legalization.
"If you look at polling in every state, and nationally there is majority support for making marijuana legal," said Fox. In October 2017, a Gallup poll found 64 percent of Americans support making marijuana legal.
Several marijuana companies are kicking off 2018 strong in the public market. Green Market Report's CEO and Editor-in-Chief Debra Borchardt explains the companies she see's capitalizing on the growing cannabis market.
Toronto-based Med Releaf is up nearly 20 percent in 2018. Borchardt says this company stands apart by being one of the lowest cost cannabis producers. "This is where we are seeing the real race in the marijuana community," says Borchardt.
Two other companies on Borchardt's watch list are Kush Bottles, and Aurora Cannabis.
Cheddar News' Courtney Sturgeon reports live from the options trading floor to break down the busy earnings week ahead for big tech, and the launch of Cboe's 1-Day Volatility Index (VIX1D).
Haley Sacks, founder and CEO of Finance Is Cool, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on when hiring a financial planner is needed. "They will help you figure out exactly how to maximize your personal situation," she said. "They're going to think about your long-term plans, consider your goals and incorporate all of that into the structure that they create for you."
Scott Wren, senior global market strategist with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, joined Cheddar News to discuss Monday's market trading as earnings continue to trickle in and ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting next week.
