Investing in cannabis stocks is a wise move for anyone who wants to earn sizable returns. Among the top-trading stocks on the market right now, Israeli medical cannabis stocks make up a big portion of them.

Israel is constantly being mentioned in the news for its involvement in the cannabis industry. The country is home to some of the world’s leading scientists and cannabis researchers, putting Israel in a prime position for global ganja domination.

Pharmaceutical companies across the country are constantly developing new medicines in a bid to stop the opioid crisis that has claimed countless lives. Slowly but surely, cannabis-based medicines are going mainstream. As a direct result of this, patient demand is increasing, sales are soaring and investment returns are skyrocketing.

Israeli medical cannabis stocks to watch this year

By the end of the year, the cannabis stock market will likely be bulging, even more so than it is now. However, the following three medical cannabis stocks look set to remain prominent in a maturing industry.

1. Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB:CNBX) – Established back in March 2016 by a group of Israelis, this pharmaceutical company is headquartered in Maryland. Within the space of a few months, shares rose from a few pennies to just over $1, proving how shareholders are cashing in with this cannabis stock. The company is responsible for developing a delayed-release pill that can enhance the quality of life for cancer patients, so anyone who invests in Cannabics Pharmaceuticals is onto a winner. The average daily trade volume is 300,000 shares and CNBX has a 52-week range of $0.6/$3.205.
2. One World Cannabis (OTCQB: OWCP) – A R&D specialist company, One World Cannabis is making cannabis therapy mainstream. From topical creams to a capsule that can be used for treating psoriasis, chronic pain and fibromyalgia, OWCP is excelling in pharmaceutical-based cannabis. Shares were selling for a mere 10 cents in March 2016, but last year they increased to an impressive $3.23. Although shares have dropped to around 65 cents, the price appears to be holding well. The average daily trade volume is just above 300,000 shares and OWCP has a 52-week range of $0.2/$1.37.

1. Intec Pharmaceuticals based in Jerusalem (NASDAQ: NTEC) – A drug development company that was founded 18 years ago, Intec Pharma is working hard to improve drug delivery solutions. The company created a gastric retention technology known as The Accordion Pill™. Once the capsule dissolves in the stomach, it unfolds and retains the dosage for up to 12 hours. What’s more, NTEC technology is being widely used to treat Parkinson’s patients. A patent was issued for the AP platform technology in 2017 and it will remain active until 2031. The 52-week high/low stock price is $9.80/$4.80 and as of March 22, 2018, shares were being sold for $6.3. If things keep going the way they are, NTEC might hit its one-year target of $14.

Israeli scientists are paving the way for cannabis pharmaceutical companies

Regarded as the leaders in cannabis medicine, Israeli scientists know what they are talking about when it comes to green pharmaceuticals. Medical cannabis research and development is on the up in Israel, with a great deal of R&D taking place inside university laboratories.

In fact, the endocannabinoid system was discovered by Hebrew University’s professor, Raphael Mechoulam. The university even launched a Multidisciplinary Center on Cannabinoid Research to continuously broaden this field of medicine.

Pharmacist and chief executive of iCAN, Saul Kaye, claims that Israel is a decade ahead of other countries in terms of cannabis industry innovation. In January, the Israeli government declared that it will invest $2.13 million in 13 separate research projects, one of which will focus on cannabis’ effect on metabolic syndrome.

“The only way to make cannabis an FDA drug and prescribe it as a pharmaceutical product is to isolate each one of the cannabinoids and purify it to almost 100 percent,” says an Israeli pharma-cannabis CEO.

With ongoing research, new discoveries can be made and scientists can work towards the ultimate goal of matching all 142 cannabinoids with their specific biological function. Once this happens, Israel is expected to develop even more breakthrough cannabis technologies.