July was a good month for recreational cannabis sales in Maine.
The state saw sales jump 45% last month to hit $9.4 million.
According to David Heidrich, the Office of Marijuana Policy’s director of engagement and community outreach, the jump may have been because of summer tourism, market growth, and the 4th of July holiday.
Maine’s 44 licensed adult-use retailers reported 124,004 sales transactions totaling over $9.4 million in July, earning the state roughly $943,500 in tax revenue. This is according to data from the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy.
Sales of recreational marijuana in Maine have climbed steadily since the market launched less than a year ago, with retailers bringing in about $1.1 million in the first month and setting new records each month after.
It should be noted that last month was also the first month that the adult-use market has matched the medical program in sales. In a typical month in 2019, which was the most recent year available, medical marijuana providers in Maine reported an average of $9.4 million in product sales.
The adult-use market has reported about $38.7 million in sales thus far. This has earned Maine more than $3.8 million in sales tax revenue since it opened in October 2020 following years of delays.
The department does not take a position on the legalization of cannabis said Heidrich, but it is “encouraging” to see people migrate from the black market to the legal market “as access to adult-use cannabis improves.”
