To capture big gains prior to wide adoption and legalization in the marijuana space may require thinking a little outside the box or perhaps outside your geographical comfort zone. But it could certainly pay off. Many top pot stocks are on the rise and up hundreds of percent as the cannabis market is booming.

Another tact that could produce major returns in this sector is Pharmaceutical companies who are employing marijuana and its derivatives like GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPH). This large UK-based pharma is looking to use cannabinoids from the cannabis plant to effect positive biologic changes.

GW Pharmaceuticals Plc's stock jumped 5.30% Tuesday, to close the day at $103.73. The stock recorded a trading volume of 626,688 shares, which was above its three months average volume of 347,992 shares. In the last year, GW Pharmaceuticals Plc's shares have traded in a range of 92.65 - 137.88. The stock is currently trading 24.77% below its 52-week high. The company's shares are currently trading below their 200-day moving average. Moreover, the stock's 50-day moving average of $105.31 is below its 200-day moving average of $108.39. Shares of GW Pharmaceuticals have fallen approximately 7.18 percent year-to-date.

GW Pharmaceuiticals (GWPH)

GW Pharmaceuticals plc, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in discovering, developing, and commercializing cannabinoid prescription medicines using botanical extracts derived from the Cannabis plant. It operates through three segments: Commercial, Sativex Research and Development, and Pipeline Research and Development. The company markets Sativex, an oromucosal spray for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis. It is also developing Sativex in Phase II trials in neuropathic pain. In addition, the company's product pipeline includes Epidiolex, which is in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of dravet syndrome, lennox-gastaut syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, and infantile spasms, as well as other product candidates in Phase I and II clinical development for the treatment of glioma, adult epilepsy, and schizophrenia. It primarily operates Europe, the United States, Canada, and Asia.