On this episode of Cannabis Business Minds, we hear from Matt Markiewicz about cannabis stocks and insider tips for business owners. Matt brings 22 years of financial industry experience to his current role in running Innovation Shares, the firm behind The Cannabis ETF (NYSE: THCX). Most recently he spent over six years spent at BlackRock as a Director within the iShares ETF business.  During his tenure at iShares, the firm launched 150 ETFs in the US supporting a global ETF franchise with AUM that exceeded $1 trillion. Prior positions involved various roles in equity research and institutional sales with VDM Specialists, a NYSE market- making firm, as well as with the global investment bank, UBS Warburg. Matt is a graduate of Boston College’s Wallace E. Carroll School of Management. THCX holdings and portfolios are listed and current every day and weights are updated daily. The fund isn't just plant-touching businesses but also includes ancillary and hemp companies.   What we talk about on the show:   If cannabis stocks make a worthy investment for investors The breakdown of institutional investors in the cannabis industry The traits investors look for in businesses   The advantage of going public for a cannabis business (The costs of maintaining a public company are high) The investment landscape in Canada What businesses should be preparing for during a time of crisis   Behind the Scenes Interview   What is the best thing that is going on in your career right now?  The opportunity to speak with financial advisors in order to educate them about the investment opportunity in the global legal cannabis industry. There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding out there and it feels good to bring some clarity to the cannabis investment landscape. Why are you part of the cannabis industry?  It is exciting to be part of something that is emerging from legal and regulatory shadows and be able to promote the industry through a New York Stock Exchange-listed portfolio.    What is one entrepreneurial story or experience you'd like to share?  When we were going through the registration process of our cannabis ETF, THCX, there was a lack of understanding at the SEC as to what made hemp and marijuana different and why it mattered and how the products were used. It was quite shocking actually.    What is one piece of insight you'd like to share with the listeners  Not all publicly-traded cannabis companies are created equally so do your homework when investing.    What's the biggest challenge you've faced as a business owner that you can share with our audience?  Cannabis stocks have crashed since we launched THCX in July 2019. This unfortunate timing has made it very tough to market a fund with a negative performance especially in the face of a stronger broader US stock market. However, financial advisors are still interested in hearing "why cannabis and why now?"