Growing Like a Weed: Maryland’s New Cannabis Sales Numbers
One month after recreational cannabis became legal, sales exceeded expectations.
Legal sales of cannabis for recreational uses began in Maryland starting July 1st, 2023, and by the end of the month, sales had exceeded $87 million, averaging $2.8 million per day (1). In November 2022, voters approved of legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes (2). Medical cannabis was signed into law in Maryland in 2014 (3).
According to a chart published by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (4), sales of flower buds contributed the most to overall sales at over $51 million, followed by concentrate at $22 million with infused edibles, shake trim, and plants contributing making up the rest, all as of July 23rd. Medical cannabis sales last July totaled about $43 million (5).
Sales of recreational cannabis in July 2023 was double the sale of medical cannabis in June of this year (6). The Maryland Cannabis Administration also converted 95 medical cannabis dispensary licenses to allow them to sell to recreational users (5).
In addition to consuming cannabis for recreational purposes, the home growing of up to two cannabis plants for recreational purposes and four for medical purposes also became legal this year (2). According to their press release (7), Maryland Marijuana Justice (MDMJ), an organization promoting cannabis legal reform, hosted a giveaway of over 30,000 cannabis seeds on July 1st to boost home cultivation for citizens. The organization also stated that the current number of allowed plants is too limited (7).
“Two to four plants are simply inadequate for people who consume an average amount of cannabis,” said Steve Ellmore, founder of The Unprescribed nonprofit and MDMJ volunteer (7). “Plants have a life cycle from seed to vegetation to flower. If a plant fails, you have to start the whole process over, leaving patients without medicine for several months.”
Steve Ellmore will present his film Unprescribed at the Cannabis Science Conference Fall 2023 in Providence, Rhode Island. Learn more information and register here.
References
- Ward, D. Sales of recreational marijuana exceed expectations in first month of legalization in Maryland https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/sales-of-recreational-marijuana-exceed-expectations-in-first-month-of-legalization-in-maryland/3398444/ (accessed Aug 7, 2023).
- Shepherd, K.; Hilton, J.; Pérez-Moreno, H.; Dorsey, C. People line up as recreational marijuana becomes legal in Maryland https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/07/01/recreational-marijuana-legal-maryland/ (accessed Aug 7, 2023).
- Maryland medical marijuana law https://norml.org/laws/medical-laws/maryland-medical-marijuana-law/ (accessed Aug 7, 2023).
- Quintana, N. Maryland marijuana sales reach $87 million in July https://www.mymcmedia.org/maryland-marijuana-sales-reach-87-million-in-july/ (accessed Aug 7, 2023).
- Branfalt, T. First-month adult-use cannabis sales in Maryland near $85m - ganjapreneur https://www.ganjapreneur.com/first-month-adult-use-cannabis-sales-in-maryland-near-85m/ (accessed Aug 7, 2023).
- Maryland reports $87M in July cannabis sales https://www.fox5dc.com/video/1259246 (accessed Aug 7, 2023).
- Maryland marijuana justice https://mdmj.org/ (accessed Aug 7, 2023).
Medical Cannabis Campaigning with Americans for Safe Access
September 4th 2024As discussions about the federal scheduling of cannabis continue, efforts by medical cannabis advocates are intensifying. One such advocate is Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a nonprofit organization founded by patients for patients. Since 2002, ASA has been championing the rights of medical cannabis patients and has recently launched new campaigns and strategies to refocus attention on patient needs. In this interview, Steph Sherer, founder and president of ASA, reflects on past successes in medical cannabis advocacy, shares her perspective on recent cannabis and hemp policymaking, and outlines the next steps for advancing a unified medical cannabis message on Capitol Hill—a message that could bring about the changes patients have long awaited.
