Marijuana sales are booming in the Northeast, with three states in the region—Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island—setting new records in July.
Maine retailers sold $20.8 million in cannabis in July, the third straight month of record totals. So far in the first half of the year, the state has seen more than $118 million in marijuana sales, setting the stage for a new annual high compared to 2022's total of about $159 million.
Via the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.
In Massachusetts — the most mature market of the three states — adult cannabis sales reached $136 million last month, according to the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). That's in addition to $18.7 million in medical cannabis purchases, for a total of $154.7. This is the third straight month the state has posted record highs in the market, with June setting the previous record at about $152 million.
Massachusetts adult marijuana retailers set a new record for sales in a single month, generating $136 million in July 2023. That tops the all-time high of $132.9 million they just hit in June. Visit our Open Data platform for more information: pic.twitter.com/XPjszbmyb8
— Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (@MA_Cannabis) August 9, 2023
The state from the year to date discounts is $915.1 million, indicating that Massachusetts will surpass the $1 billion mark for the year by the end of this month.
Rhode Island Retailers sold $6.8 million for recreational cannabis last month. The state has set monthly sales records for adults every month since the recreational marijuana market began in December. Another $2.7 million in medical cannabis products were purchased, for a record monthly total of $9.5 million.
As markets continue to come online and mature in states across the Northeast, it's become clear that there is plenty of consumer demand. And with increased legal access, it appears more people are making the transition to their in-state markets and away from illegal or out-of-state sales.
Connecticut's total July sales have not yet been released, but the state hit a record $24 million in marijuana purchases in June, marking the sixth month since the adult-use program began.
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Outside the Northeast, Illinois retailers sold $140 million worth of recreational marijuana products in July — the strongest sales of the year and the second-highest monthly total for the state since the adult market began in 2020.
Legal marijuana sales in Maryland also reached $87.4 million in July, the first month since the recreational market began, according to state data. In the first weekend of adult sales alone, the state brought in more than $10 million in combined medical and recreational purchases.
Missouri has been selling about $4 million worth of marijuana a day on average since the state's adult market opened in February — and the state saw a record $121.2 million in cannabis purchases in June.
Marijuana sales in Michigan hit a record nearly $261 million in June, according to state data.
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Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
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