Canada's fourth-largest ETF provider is the first in the world aiming to capitalize on the growing medical marijuana industry. Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. today launched Horizons Medical Marijuana Life Sciences ETF, which trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol HMMJ.
With the North American medical marijuana market generating US$6.7 billion in revenues in 2016, up 30% from the year before, Horizons sees "strong growth potential" for diversified industry exposure. Its portfolio consists of "publicly listed life sciences companies with significant business activities in the marijuana industry," according to HMMJ's product sheet. These companies will generally have a market capitalization of at least $75 million.
HMMJ tracks the North American Medical Marijuana Index, created by German index provider Solactive. This index tracks 16 companies, including Vancouver's Aurora Cannabis (ACB), Ottawa's CannaRoyalty (CRZ) and Aphria Inc. (APH) of Leamington, Ontario.
The index does not track any North American companies that produce or distribute recreational marijuana, which is illegal under Canadian and U.S. federal law. Should Horizons become aware of any of the companies it holds engaging in illegal business activity, that company will be removed from the ETF, whether it remains in the index or not.
HMMJ is available to investors with a management fee of 0.75%.