To say there's a difference between Canadian marijuana stocks Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) and Organigram Holdings Inc.(NASDAQOTH:OGRMF) is putting it mildly. The difference really shows up when you look at recent performance. Organigram jumped more than 50% in just the last month. That gain looks paltry, though, when you consider that Tilray has skyrocketed close to 350% in the same period.

But which of these marijuana stocks is the better pick for investors? The arguments for Tilray and Organigram aren't as different as you might think.

The school year may be two weeks old, but there's still a buzz at one college in southern Ontario over a program not available anywhere else in the country.

"I never thought five years ago, maybe even two years ago, that we'd be here in this classroom starting a course on commercial cannabis production," said professor Bill MacDonald.

MacDonald is the head of Niagara's College's new cannabis program. On the first day of school, he not only had students huddled around him, but also reporters and cameras.

The root of the excitement is that Canada is just over a month away from making pot legal for recreational use, and licensed cannabis producers across the country are hiring greenhouse staff as they ramp up operations.

The big Canadian marijuana stocks get a lot more press than HEXO Corp. (NASDAQOTH:HYYDF) and Auxly Cannabis (NASDAQOTH:CBWTF). However, both HEXO and Auxly have intriguing stories. 

So far in 2018, HEXO definitely has the more positive story for investors. The stock is up more than 70%, while Auxly Cannabis' share price has plunged close to 30%. But anyone who follows the cannabis industry knows that what goes up can come down, and vice versa.

Which of these two marijuana stocks is the better pick for investors now? Here's what you need to know about the reasons to consider buying HEXO and Auxly Cannabis.

Legalization of marijuana in Canada is right around the corner, and Canadian investors who have bought into this mania and are sitting pretty are anxiously awaiting and expecting amazing results from the cannabis sector this upcoming quarter, one which should prove the viability of the recreational cannabis market and prove bears like me wrong.

October 17 is the official date the Canadian government has set to legalize the green commodity, and with provincial government-run stores and a small number of private stores beginning to open, expectations are that revenue and profitability will shoot through the roof in the coming months.

Health Canada will continue operating the medical marijuana system after recreational use of cannabis is legalized next month, but it will be reviewed within five years. 

The announcement came in response to a call last month from the Canadian Medical Association — which represents doctors in this country — asking that the medical marijuana system be phased out post-legalization.

Dr. Jeff Blackmer, vice-president of medical professionalism for the CMA, said at the time that many physicians are uncomfortable prescribing marijuana, citing the lack of research and evidence of its effectiveness, along with a general lack of knowledge around dosing.

Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQOTH:ACBFF) generated revenue over the past 12 months of less than $50 million. Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE:SMG) generated revenue of more than $2.6 billion during the same period. Which stock do you think has the higher market cap? 

The answer is that Aurora's market cap is now roughly $2.4 billion greater than Scotts' market cap. The gap is due to a big surge in Aurora's stock price starting in late July. Before that, Scotts Miracle-Gro claimed the higher market cap.

But which of these stocks is the better pick for investors now? Here's how Aurora and Scotts compare against each other. 

Which stock wins in a matchup between a U.S. marijuana retailer and a Canadian cannabis grower?

Marijuana stocks aren't all alike. MedMen Enterprises Inc.(NASDAQOTH:MMNFF) and CannTrust Holdings Inc. (NASDAQOTH:CNTTF) prove the point. Their business models are very different. MedMen is a U.S.-based company, while CannTrust is headquartered in Canada.

So far this year, CannTrust has turned in a better stock performance than MedMen has. But which of these two marijuana stocks is the better pick for investors now? Here's how MedMen and CannTrust stack up against each other.

A favourite of do-it-yourself stock pickers, Canadian cannabis firms are trying to bolster their institutional investor base by boosting efforts to woo European funds as countries across the region approve marijuana for medical use.

For some time, companies including Canopy Growth Corp., Aurora Cannabis Inc. and Tilray Inc. have been signing export deals with European governments, buying local companies and opening production facilities in the region.

This year, they have also stepped up pitching their businesses to European funds at conferences and road shows, betting their size and first-mover advantage will help replace fickle retail investors with more stable institutions.

Canada’s largest licensed producer of medical marijuana says a work stoppage at Canada Post could leave many of its customers without their medications, resulting in some looking for unregulated, black market sources of cannabis to fill the void.

“What ends up happening is that people either go without their medicine or they find an alternative source,” said Jordan Sinclair, vice president of communications at Canopy Growth Corp.

“Those are the choices people have. There is no other legal means of getting cannabis in Canada, aside from through the mail.” The company has written to Canada Post and federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor as it prepares contingency plans for a possible strike or lockout at the Crown agency.

Brace for 'scary down days' in cannabis stocks, marijuana fund manager warns.

The manager of the first Canadian mutual fund focused exclusively on marijuana has some advice for investors: Get ready for some more “scary down days.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a steep, sharp pullback, which will scare all the people that got in late, have a little bit of consolidation and then we start the next phase up,” said Bruce Campbell, founder of StoneCastle Investment Management Inc., which has about $150 million (US$115 million) in assets.