Two ETFs launch this week focused on U.S. cannabis

A pair of ETFs focused on U.S.-based cannabis companies — one fund actively managed, the other passive — is set to begin trading on NEO Exchange this week.

On Tuesday, Evolve Funds Group Inc. announced it had filed its final prospectus to launch the Evolve U.S. Marijuana ETF, an actively managed fund investing in the U.S. cannabis industry set to begin trading on Wednesday.

Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. issued a release on Monday, announcing it had filed a final prospectus for the Horizons U.S. Marijuana Index ETF, set to begin trading on Thursday.

Evolve’s ETF will trade under the ticker USMJ and invest in equity securities of companies with business activities in the U.S. recreational and/or medical cannabis industry. In its release, Evolve said “active management is essential in the burgeoning cannabis space given the ongoing regulatory environment and the significant volatility of the cannabis sector.”

Horizons’ ETF will trade under the ticker HMUS (and HMUS.U in U.S. dollar units) and provide unitholders with exposure to an index of U.S.-based companies that serve as producers, developers or suppliers of cannabis or hemp-based products.

Unlike Canada, the U.S. hasn’t legalized recreational or medical cannabis, although a number of individual states have. Both Evolve and Horizons expressed optimism that the U.S. cannabis industry will continue to grow as legalization becomes more widespread.

“We believe there are significant near-term catalysts that will cause the U.S. market to expand rapidly,” Raj Lala, president and CEO of Evolve, said in a statement. “There are several laws currently making their way through Congress that would expand legalization of recreational cannabis and give those companies better access to banking and capital.”

In a statement, Steve Hawkins, president and CEO of Horizons ETFs, said “As the U.S. continues to further liberalize its marijuana regulations, we anticipate that more investors will be looking to invest in companies with significant business operations in the U.S. market, and HMUS will provide a diversified and liquid way to gain that exposure in one ETF.”

Staff

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