Connecticut continues to sell $25 million per month in adult-use compounded medical marijuana

According to the state, cannabis is flying off the shelves in Connecticut, and adult-use cannabis transactions accounted for more than half of the revenue. Sales for adult consumption began on January 10th and sales revenue has increased every month since launch.

The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) announced in an Oct. 10 press release that new preliminary data shows combined sales of adult-use and medical cannabis for the period September 1-30, 2023 amounted to over $25 million.

The figures do not include taxes on adult use of cannabis, and patients who use medical cannabis never have to pay taxes on cannabis purchases.

The Hartford Courant reports that the sales figures represent a new record, although they are close to the totals recorded in August.

“The adult marijuana market recorded sales of more than $14.3 million in September, while the medical marijuana market recorded sales of nearly $11 million during the same period. Adult sales began on January 10, 2023,” the report said.

“In September, patients using medical marijuana purchased 284,116 products and adult marijuana users purchased 376,035 products,” the report continued. “The average product price for medical marijuana patients in September was $38.21, while the average price for adult-use products was $38.37. In September, usable cannabis or flower accounted for 52 percent of sales, while vapes accounted for 30 percent of sales. Edible products accounted for 11 percent of sales.”

This data was collected through BioTrack, the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system, a real-time inventory system that can track an individual cannabis plant from the time it is planted as a seed or clone to the point of sale.

All medical and adult-use cannabis license holders must enter data into this system that shows the movement of cannabis products as they are grown, manufactured, tested and ultimately sold. (Information about the person purchasing the final cannabis product is not collected.)

Recreational cannabis users may purchase a quarter ounce of flower or the equivalent per transaction. Medical cannabis patients are allowed to purchase up to five ounces per month.

Connecticut officials record cannabis sales data every month, so you can map the steady increase in adult-use cannabis sales by looking at monthly sales on one of their many graphs.

DCP does not forecast sales, set sales expectations, collect taxes, or regulate prices. The DCP will make future data available at ct.gov/cannabis. Data is updated monthly on or after the 10th of each month and new data continues to be added as it becomes available. DCP officials urge adults who choose to smoke to do so responsibly.

Steady sales pace

The numbers almost correspond to the data collected in August. The DCP said in a press release that total sales of adult-use and medical cannabis reached nearly $25 million between August 1 and August 31.

“The adult marijuana market recorded sales of more than $14 million in August, while the medical marijuana market recorded sales of nearly $11 million during the same period,” the release said.

In August, medical cannabis patients purchased 278,395 cannabis products (with an average price of $39.36), while recreational users purchased 354,700 (with an average price of $39.49).

By product type, most sales (approximately 53%) included flower, followed by vape cartridges (27%), edibles (10%), extracts (7%) and “other” (4%), which covers products like pills , tinctures, topicals and more.

Medical cannabis was approved by former Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, but sales tracking was neither required nor available until 2023.

The adult-use cannabis law was originally signed by Governor Ned Lamont in June 2021. Adult-use sales didn’t start until January 2023, but the state had $250,000 in sales on the first day with eight pharmacies in operation.

Adult-use cannabis sales totaled $5 million in January, followed by $7 million in February, $9.5 million in March, $10 million in April, $11.5 million dollars in May, $12.5 million in June, $13 million in July and $14 million in August and again $14 million in September.

But now you need to add home growing. DCP officials marked the start of home cannabis cultivation, which came into effect on July 1.

“Adults who choose to grow their own cannabis should use safe and healthy gardening practices when growing any products they intend to consume,” DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in an agency statement. “Plants should also be kept indoors, out of the reach and sight of children and pets.”

Under state regulations for growing cannabis at home, adults 21 and older are allowed to grow up to six cannabis plants, including three immature and three mature flowering plants. Plants must be protected from children, pets and other people who should not be allowed access to cannabis. It’s not entirely clear how home cultivation will affect adult sales.