Massachusetts adult cannabis sales eclipse $ 2 billion

Less than three years after the first licensed recreational marijuana retailers began operations in Massachusetts, regulated cannabis dispensaries have raised more than $ 2 billion in adult cannabis sales, state officials said Wednesday.

Shawn Collins, executive director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), reported that regulated marijuana companies had grossed $ 2,009,007,478 as of Tuesday evening since the companies first opened their doors on November 20, 2018.

“This milestone speaks to the success of licensees who have interacted with the Commission from the application stage, adhere to our strict regulations, and contribute every day for communities across the Commonwealth,” said Collins in a statement from the agency.

“This number also underscores the unremitting efforts of the entire agency, especially that of our hardworking employees, to regulate a safe, accessible, and effective adult marketplace that upholds key principles of our mission, including public health, public safety, and justice – in the Foreground.”

The news comes less than a year after regulated adult cannabis sales hit $ 1 billion on November 3, 2020. In the first year of licensed sales (November 2018 to 2019), 33 marijuana retailers generated gross sales of $ 393.7 million. Revenue for the full calendar year 2019 was $ 444.9 million, the agency reported.

In 2020, 91 adult cannabis retailers had gross sales of $ 702 million despite being closed for two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recreational marijuana dispensaries were designated as non-essential businesses by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and closed in March 2020 and reopened the following May.

Massachusetts now has 165 licensed adult cannabis dealers and three recreational marijuana delivery services. On Wednesday morning, regulators reported that it had grossed $ 844 million in gross cannabis sales since January 1.

Cannabis Control Commission celebrates fourth anniversary

The Cannabis Control Commission also noted Wednesday marked the four-year anniversary of the agency, which was created after voters agreed to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016. Massachusetts became the 18th state to legalize medical marijuana with the passage of an election in 2012.

The CCC also noted in its statement the progress that the agency has made over the past four years of operation. Since the first licensed recreational marijuana dealers began operating in 2018, the CCC has approved an additional 163 stores that have opened or are still in the process of opening.

Taken together, the agency has approved a total of 908 marijuana establishments, including growers, processors, transporters, retailers, and more. In particular, the number of independent cannabis testing laboratories increased from three to five in 2021.

Also earlier this year, the CCC completed regulatory changes that allow home delivery of marijuana products under three different business models. The agency began accepting marijuana courier applications, previously known as delivery-only licenses, in 2020.

Since then, two marijuana couriers have been authorized to start operations, five have received final licenses, 10 have received preliminary licenses, and seven more are in the review and approval process. In addition, a micro cannabis company has received a delivery commitment that allows the company to deliver its own products directly to customers’ homes.

“As the Commission looks back on our four years of work, I hope the Commonwealth is proud of the agency we have built and the new industry that has been introduced and established,” said Collins.

More information about the state’s recreational and medical marijuana programs is available on the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s open data platform.