Maryland’s legal marijuana sales hit a record of $87,4 million in the first month after the launch of the recreational market, according to state data.
This is more than twice the amount of sales in June when only patients were served by medical cannabis dispensaries. Around 100 of these existing dispensaries have been cleared to serve adult consumers as of July 1. Prior to July 1, the previous monthly record of medical-only purchases was about $50 million.
The state alone generated over $10 million combined medical and recreational sales in the first weekend. About $21 million was spent in the first week. The trend continued through July with a total of $87.43 millions sold, based on the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
Cannabis flower accounted for the largest share of sales, with a total value exceeding $50 million. Then came concentrates, non-edibles infused with cannabis, edibles infused with cannabis, plants, and shake trim.
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Andrew Garrison, MCA’s Andrew Garrison, said last month the state was uniquely ready for the implementation the marijuana legalization laws. This followed a deep study by lawmakers and the approval of reform initiative on the ballot last year.
Garrison also emphasized the importance of making equity a “really important component of everything moving forward.” The legalization act created a new Office of Social Equity, an independent office within MCA that will focus on this issue. Gov. Wes Moore , a Democrat, made the first set of appointments to this office in last month.
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The state Department of Commerce announced last month it would be accepting applications for 40 million dollars in grant funding from social equity applicants, with pre-approval beginning August 1.
The same fund has been used to provide grants to existing medical marijuana businesses to convert them into dual-licensed companies that can service the adult market.
Garrison, who is evaluating the first month’s sales of recreational marijuana, said that officials are actively working on “cleanup bills” to adjust the regulations. He expects the next legislative session will include this bill.
MCA will hold what it calls “limited townhalls” in late summer or early autumn with stakeholders, such as dispensaries and growers, and patient advocates to develop permanent regulation. The public will be able to comment on the draft rules once they are published.
A separate Maryland law took effect last week which prohibits police officers from searching based solely on the smell or possession of marijuana. Another law passed prohibits state officials from construing the responsible and lawful use of cannabis by parents or guardians as “neglect.”
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