Drake vs. Kanye. Jay-Z vs. Lil Wayne. Snoop Dogg vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs?

There’s nothing personal about the latest beef involving a famous rapper. It’s just business.

TSN reported in 2016 that the Leafs would oppose Snoop’s attempt to trademark “Leafs by Snoop” for use in a line of cannabis and related products.

Now, according to a report in The Independent, lawyers representing the Leafs have issued a filing elaborating on their concerns, claiming that the “unusual spelling of Leafs could lead to confusion.”

Few, if any, industries are growing as quickly as legal cannabis. According to a co-authored report from Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics, global marijuana sales rose to $12.7 billion in 2018, and they're on track to hit $16.9 billion this year, representing 38% growth. By 2022, worldwide revenue is forecast to top $31 billion.

Big Canadian marijuana stocks are hot. But are they too hot? Not according to Wall Street.

The biggest of them all, Canopy Growth (NYSE:CGC), has enjoyed a great ride so far in 2018, with shares soaring nearly 80%. Aurora Cannabis (NYSE:ACB) and Tilray(NASDAQ:TLRY) have been neck-and-neck for the No. 2 spot in terms of market cap. Aurora is up close to 40% year to date, while Tilray's share price is up around 10%.

The Quebec Poison Control Centre says the number of reported cases of cannabis poisoning has more than tripled in the province since the drug was legalized last fall.

Symptoms of cannabis poisoning include elevated heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, vomiting and in some cases psychosis, possibly necessitating hospitalization.

The centre says that from October through December, it recorded 89 cases. For the same period last year, the centre only recorded 25 cases.

Canadian medical professionals are moving away from the term "cannabis overdose" because of the close association with critical drug overdose causing death.

The World Health Organization recommended the re-scheduling of cannabis and some of its main components, recognizing the plant’s medical potential and acknowledging the need for further research around it, only days after Israel approved a plan to export cannabis. On the markets front, Slang Worldwide Inc (CNSX: SLNG) started trading in Canada.

Now that the Israeli government has approved cannabis exports, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange may be getting a new crop of medical-marijuana companies seeking a listing. In contrast to most of the speculative companies already trading on the exchange, the newcomers have a real industry track record.

The cannabis market has begun 2019 with a big rally following a horrible Q4. The Global Cannabis Stock Index, managed by New Cannabis Ventures, gained over 44% in January after having dropped over 44% in the 4th quarter. With the bullish tone in the market, many investors are looking for new issues, specifically initial public offerings (IPOs), which we are seeing with increasing frequency as the capital markets have opened to cannabis companies.

Under Canada’s new impaired-driving laws, it’s a criminal offence to have “any detectable amount” of cocaine, methamphetamine, magic mushrooms, LSD, ketamine or PCP in your blood.

For decades, it has been a criminal offence to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs or both. Last December, when Bill C-46 came into force, the Department of Justice added specific limits for particular drugs.

“People just have no earthly idea about these regulations,” said Victoria criminal defence lawyer Michael Mulligan. “If police can detect it, you’re committing a crime. Any detectable amount, you’re guilty.”

It seems as if the ship has sailed for many top marijuana stocks. Canopy Growth. for example has seen its stock climb to the $70 range, only to plummet by half. Fast-forward to today and those shares are closing in on that $70 price tag yet again. That leaves those wanting to get into the marijuana industry in a pickle: which is the next Canopy Growth? And which stock should I not waste my time with? Today we’ll be looking at Aurora Cannabis Inc.  (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB) and Aphria Inc.  (TSX:APHA)(NYSE:APHA) to see if you should double down, or dump it.

Marijuana stocks have seen some darker days as the end of last year showed some signs of bearish sentiment from various investors. The beginning of this new year, however, is characterized by a complete shift from this, allowing for companies to see bullish returns and move toward the future of the industry. With so many changes affecting the growth of the market such as legislation and the public opinion of the substance, many companies have become standouts amongst the market.