Delaware officials have praised the “strong growth” of marijuana sales in Delaware since the market opened to adult customers. In the first full month, $7.4 millions in purchases were reported.
Office of the Marijuana Commissioner, (OCM), announced on Tuesday the State’s “strong” results for August. The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner, OCM, reported that customers showed “broad interest in a wide variety of products such as flower, vapes edibles pre-rolls tinctures and topicals.
OCM reported that the first month sales “reflect both a high demand and smooth roll-out” which signals a good foundation for Delaware’s growing cannabis industry. The sales of marijuana for adult use have increased in Delaware since the launch.
OCM stated that the Office “continues to work on strengthening and expanding the market” and has approved additional licenses.
State plans to also support the industry through Social Equity Financial Assistance Grants (SEFA). The office also said that it was actively conducting a comprehensive evaluation of Delaware’s overall cannabis program to “ensure Delaware’s industry is growing safely, sustainably and fairly.”
Flowers accounted for the majority of sales, $4,065,032, out of $7,354,293 total marijuana purchases in the State last month. This is about 55% of total sales.
OCM noted also that 447 cannabis varieties are in production at the moment, and 171 of them are already sold by licensed retailers.
Meanwhile, Delaware’s governor last week vetoed a bill that would have overruled local zoning authority on marijuana and made it easier for cannabis businesses to set up shop—and the sponsor of the legislation says the governor “lied” to him about a deal to get it enacted into law.
Gov. Gov.
Meyer spoke about a conversation that he had last month with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) about regulating the marijuana industry—drawing a contrast between their respective responsibilities given the fact that Colorado is much larger with more local jurisdictions to interact with compared to Delaware, which has just three counties.
The launch of Delaware’s legal market comes about two years after marijuana legalization was enacted into law under former Gov. John Carney, a Democrat.
The governor toured a cannabis production facility in the state, and praised the high quality marijuana being produced. He called it the “French Wine of Weed.”
The launch of the legal market comes amid some controversy, however, with critics alleging that allowing medical operators to start adult-use sales ahead of other license applicants is unfair. Dozens of other would-be retailers that have either already received licenses or are still awaiting issuance will need to wait for further regulatory approvals until they can open their doors—a situation that’s frustrated some advocates.
Two lawmakers, who were at the forefront of the legalization movement in the state are seeking feedback from businesses and consumers about the launch. Sen. Trey Paradee (D), the sponsor of the zoning bill SB 75, and House Majority Whip Rep. Ed Osienski (D)—the primary sponsor of the state’s 2023 legalization bills—put out a new online form last month for residents to share thoughts and feedback about the cannabis program anonymously.
This is done to find any issues that may arise when lawmakers return to the legislature next year.
OCM originally projected that the recreational sale would begin in March. However, complications with obtaining a FBI fingerprint background check code caused delays. Lawmakers passed a bill in April to resolve the issue, and the FBI subsequently issued the code that the stat’s marijuana law requires.
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Late last year, OMC held a series of licensing lotteries for cannabis business to start serving adult consumers.
A total 125 licences will be awarded, comprising 30 retailers, sixty cultivators, thirty manufacturers and five test labs. The regulators detailed last year what percentage of each category was reserved for microbusinesses, social equity license applicants and open general licenses.
Regulators have also been rolling out a series of proposed regulations to stand up the forthcoming adult-use cannabis industry.
Meanwhile, Carney raised eyebrows in January after making a questionable claim that “nobody” wants cannabis shops in their neighborhoods, even if there’s consensus that criminalization doesn’t work.
The then-governor last year signed several additional marijuana bills into law, including measures that would allow existing medical cannabis businesses in the state to begin recreational sales on an expedited basis, transfer regulatory authority for the medical program and make technical changes to marijuana statutes.
The dual licensing legislation is meant to allow recreational sales to begin months earlier than planned, though critics say the legislation would give an unfair market advantage to larger, more dominant businesses already operating in multiple states.
In October, Carney also gave final approval to legislation to enact state-level protections for banks that provide services to licensed marijuana businesses.
Delaware’s medical marijuana program is also being significantly expanded under a law that officially took effect last July.
This policy shift removes restrictions on patient eligibility that are based upon a set of health conditions. In its place, doctors can recommend cannabis to treat any health condition.
A patient over the age 65 may also be able to self-certify medical cannabis without needing a prescription from a doctor.
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