Delaware’s Legal Marijuana Sales Reach $903,000 in First Weekend
Delaware’s 14 marijuana dispensaries generated nearly $1 million in sales during the state’s first weekend of legal adult-use marijuana sales. From August 1-3, customers spent over $903,000 on medical and adult-use marijuana, with the majority of sales coming from adult-use products.
Of the total sales, over $625,000 was generated from more than 8,300 transactions of adult-use marijuana, with the remaining sales coming from medical customers. The 15% sales tax on adult-use products resulted in approximately $93,700 in tax revenue, which will go towards the Marijuana Regulation Fund.
State Marijuana Commissioner Joshua Sanderlin expressed satisfaction with the start, stating that Delaware’s first weekend of adult-use cannabis sales showed that the state is ready and eager for a well-regulated, responsible market. Governor Matt Meyer also praised the start, saying that the state’s first weekend of adult-use cannabis sales has shown that Delaware is ready for a well-regulated, responsible market.
The revenue generated from adult-use marijuana sales will be used to fund various state agencies, including the Department of Finance, Department of Health and Social Services, and Department of Agriculture. Additionally, seven percent of the total marijuana tax money per month will be credited to the Justice Reinvestment Fund, which aims to alleviate areas disproportionately impacted by law enforcement in the past.
New Castle County saw the most total marijuana sales revenue, followed by Sussex and Kent counties. The most popular product was the basic, smokable flower, which accounted for over $509,000 in sales, or around 56% of total sales.
While the numbers are encouraging for state officials, they pale in comparison to neighboring states Maryland and New Jersey, which generated nearly $10 million and $2 million in sales, respectively, during their first weekend of recreational marijuana sales. However, Delaware is a smaller state than its neighbors.
