Cannabis Stocks by Exchange

Browse cannabis stocks by stock exchange

Cannabis companies trade on a variety of stock exchanges across North America, and the exchange on which a company lists can tell investors a great deal about its size, regulatory standing, and institutional accessibility. In the United States, NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) impose strict listing requirements around market capitalization, share price, and corporate governance. Because cannabis remains federally illegal in the U.S., most plant-touching American operators cannot list on these major exchanges and instead trade on OTC Markets, where listing standards are more permissive but liquidity and analyst coverage tend to be lower.

In Canada, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) serves as the senior board for larger licensed producers and holding companies, while the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has become the primary home for U.S. multi-state operators that need a public listing but cannot access TSX due to the conflict with American federal law. The CSE has lighter listing fees and reporting requirements, making it popular with earlier-stage companies.

For investors, exchange choice affects bid-ask spreads, settlement times, and whether a stock can be held in certain retirement or margin accounts. Stocks on major exchanges generally attract more institutional capital and analyst attention. The cards below group every cannabis company by its primary exchange, showing the total count, combined market capitalization, and the largest listed name in each venue.

NASDAQ

NASDAQ

Companies24
Total Market Cap$15.83B
LargestJAZZ

NYSE

New York Stock Exchange

Companies11
Total Market Cap$7.82B
LargestSMG

OTC

OTC Markets

Companies65
Total Market Cap$8.73B
LargestCURLF

Frequently Asked Questions

What stock exchanges list cannabis companies?+
Cannabis companies are listed across several stock exchanges including NASDAQ, NYSE, OTC Markets, the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). In the US, most cannabis operators trade on OTC Markets due to federal prohibition restrictions. Canadian companies with no US plant-touching operations can list on the TSX or NASDAQ. Ancillary cannabis companies that don't directly handle cannabis can also list on major US exchanges.
What is the difference between NYSE, NASDAQ, and OTC for cannabis stocks?+
NYSE and NASDAQ are major US exchanges with strict listing requirements including minimum market cap, share price, and revenue thresholds. They also require companies to comply with federal law, which effectively bars US cannabis operators. OTC Markets (Over-the-Counter) has lower listing requirements and allows US cannabis companies to trade publicly. OTC stocks typically have wider bid-ask spreads, lower liquidity, and less institutional coverage than NYSE/NASDAQ-listed stocks. The trade-off is that OTC is the only viable US market for most cannabis operators.
Why do most cannabis stocks trade on OTC Markets?+
Most US cannabis companies trade on OTC Markets because major exchanges like NYSE and NASDAQ require companies to comply with federal law. Since cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under federal US law, companies that directly grow, process, or sell cannabis cannot meet this requirement. OTC Markets does not have the same federal compliance restriction, making it the primary venue for US multi-state operators (MSOs). This situation may change if cannabis is federally legalized or rescheduled.
Can Canadian cannabis companies trade on US exchanges?+
Canadian cannabis companies can trade on US exchanges (NASDAQ, NYSE) only if they do not have direct US plant-touching cannabis operations. Companies like Canopy Growth (CGC), Tilray (TLRY), and Aurora Cannabis (ACB) are listed on NASDAQ because their cannabis operations are in Canada and other countries where it is legal. However, Canadian companies with US cannabis operations (like Curaleaf or Green Thumb) trade on the CSE and OTC Markets instead, as NYSE and NASDAQ would delist them for US cannabis activity.
What are the listing requirements for cannabis stocks?+
Listing requirements vary by exchange. NYSE requires a minimum $4 share price, $40M market cap, and 400+ shareholders. NASDAQ requires a minimum $4 share price, $15M market cap, and 300+ shareholders. The CSE has lower thresholds with a C$0.05 minimum price and simplified reporting. OTC Markets has three tiers: OTCQX (highest standards, audited financials), OTCQB (SEC-reporting companies), and Pink Sheets (minimal requirements). Most major US cannabis companies trade on OTCQX, which provides the most credibility within the OTC marketplace.
Does the exchange affect cannabis stock liquidity and pricing?+
Yes, the exchange significantly affects liquidity and pricing. Stocks on NYSE and NASDAQ typically have tighter bid-ask spreads (often just a penny), higher daily volume, and more institutional investor participation. OTC-traded cannabis stocks often have wider spreads (sometimes 2-5% of share price), lower volume, and are more susceptible to price manipulation. CSE-listed stocks fall somewhere in between. Higher liquidity generally means better price execution and lower trading costs. This is one reason investors closely watch potential uplisting catalysts for OTC cannabis stocks.
What happens to cannabis stocks if federal legalization passes?+
If cannabis is federally legalized in the US, the most significant change would be that US cannabis companies could potentially uplist from OTC Markets to NYSE or NASDAQ. This would likely increase institutional investment, improve liquidity, tighten bid-ask spreads, and potentially drive significant stock price appreciation. Companies would also benefit from elimination of Section 280E tax burdens and access to traditional banking and capital markets. However, uplisting would also bring increased regulatory scrutiny and reporting requirements.