Recreational pot sales double in Maine

Sales of cannabis for adult use rose sharply in Maine last year, nearly doubling the total for 2021.

Local news agency Masthead Maine, citing data released by the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy, reports that “state-licensed adult retailers reported nearly 2.5 million sales transactions totaling $158.9 million [in 2022]’, which is up from revenue of $82 million last year.

“(The growth) reflects the significant economic impact that legal cannabis continues to have in the communities that have embraced the system,” said John Hudak, director of the State Office of Cannabis Policy, as quoted by Masthead Maine. “The system creates jobs, helps revitalize communities and has positive economic impacts on businesses that support the functioning of the industry.”

Maine voters approved a proposal to legalize adult recreational cannabis use in 2016, but it took years for the law to finally materialize.

Former Maine Governor Paul LePage, a Republican, repeatedly stood in the way of the law’s implementation.

But voters there elected a new governor in 2018, Democrat Janet Mills, who immediately went to work to uphold the will of the people and get the new marijuana law working.

In the summer of 2019, Mills signed a bill amending and enacting the new cannabis law.

“Over the past few months, my administration has worked rapidly to implement the Maine adult recreational marijuana market law that Maine voters asked the state to do two and a half years ago,” Mills said at the time. “Rule development demonstrates what can be achieved when state government works with legislators, industry representatives and the public to achieve a common goal. With this law, we are one step closer to getting the will of Maine voters.”

The governor’s office said at the time that the legislation signed by Mills made “several changes to the [marijuana law] including an amendment to the Maine Food Act to no longer consider edibles made with recreational marijuana as adulterated, to allow certain vendors access to licensee restricted access areas, and to authorize the department to place an administrative hold on a licensee.” while additionally authorizing both the Office of Marijuana Policy and the State Department of Administrative and Financial Services to “complete the final adoption of their rules for adult use.”

“OMP has consulted with seven different government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Department of Health and Human Services; labor department; Public Security Department; Environmental Protection Department; Department of professional and financial regulations; and DAFS’ Maine Revenue Services as they complete their rulemaking work,” Mills’ office said at the time. “The office also coordinated closely with the Attorney General’s Office, the Secretary of State’s Department and the Legislature’s Office of Policy and Legal Analysis.”

The sale of legal cannabis for adult use officially began in Maine in October 2020, almost four years after voters approved the ballot measure to legalize it.

In the months and years that followed, the fledgling marijuana industry grew and thrived. In May 2021, the state reported more than $5 million in recreational pot sales, making it the busiest month at the time.

That’s a modest number compared to the more recent monthly sales totals. Masthead Maine reports that the state “broke a new record every month through August 2022, grossing over $17 million.”

According to the outlet, last month brought in $15.2 million in recreational marijuana sales, and sales in 2022 “also brought in about $16 million in tax revenue for the state.”