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Is history going to repeat itself with a new beverage sector – cannabis-infused drinks - that saw a stock like Monster Beverage Corp. (Nasdaq:MNST) go up 82,485% from $0.0688/share in August of 2002 to its closing price last Friday of $57.81/share (and a very respectable +843% in the past 10 years)? Might similar "monster" gains be made by early entrants into this rapidly emerging market in the coming years? 

I say "rapidly emerging market in the coming years" because experts predict that the global cannabis-infused beverage market will jump from its current value of $89M to $1.4B by 2023 and to over $4.4B by 2025.

Established major alcoholic beverage companies such as Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP), Anheuser-Busch InBev SA (NYSE:BUD) and Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE:STZ) have either bought stakes in, or entered into joint ventures with, the likes of HEXO Corporation (NYSE:HEXO; TSX:HEXO), Tilray Inc. (Nasdaq:TLRY) and Canopy Growth Inc. (TSX:WEED; NYSE:CGC) but it’s usually innovative, early mover, smaller companies that benefit the most in these market breakouts.

Below are the 6 fledgling cannabis companies currently vying to become that next "monster":

1. Sproutly Canada Inc. (CSE:SPR: OCT: SRUTF) is working on formulating the first natural, completely water-soluble cannabis solution.
2. The Tinley Beverage Company Inc. (CSE:TNY: OTC:TNYBF) has the only patent-pending liquid supplement that contains certifiable phyto-constituent-rich hemp oil.
3. New Age Beverages Corp. (Nasdaq:NBEV) has renewed its 10-year licensing agreements with Bob Marley’s family.
4. BevCann Enterprises Inc. (CSE:BEV; OTC:BVNNF) is bottling beverages using THC and CBD from both cannabis and hemp.
5. Zenabis Global Inc. (TSX:ZENA; OTCM: ZBISF) has entered into an agreement with a Canadian beverage company that will supply Zenabis with cannabis-infused inputs.
6. Dixie Brands Inc. (CSE: DIXI.U; OTCQX:DXBRF) has partnered with drink-maker AriZona to create a line of THC-infused beverages.

While the above 6 cannabis-infused beverage companies may be hoping to become the next "monster' stock but they all have a long way to go, however, as the price direction of each company's stock has been going down, not up, in recent months and September (as of Sept. 27th) was no exception:

• Sproutly dropped 7.1% in September and has declined 58.9% from its peak earlier this year.
• Tinley declined 11.9% in September and is down 41.6% from its high.
• New Age was down 7.6% in September, down 61.7% from its peak.
• BevCan was down 9.3% in September and is down 37.2% from its peak.
• Zenabis dropped 7.5% in September and is now down 84.9% from its earlier peak price.
• Dixie declined by 33.8% in September and has declined 61.9% from its peak.

The above stock performances are certainly not very impressive but, as poor as they are, on average their decline of 10.8% was slightly less than the 12.5% decline in the total marijuana sector.

Conclusion

With the December 16th legalization of edibles (which includes cannabis-infused beverages) in Canada, the above stocks, however, could be ideally positioned - and priced - to take full advantage of this new market when that occurs. Time will tell.