Nearly $1M in rec. marijuana sales after first weekend of legalization

Delaware’s recreational marijuana sales started Aug. 1, and there was plenty of public demand for the various products.

The First State’s first weekend of legal recreational marijuana sales brought in more than $900,000 in combined adult-use and medical cannabis sales, marking a strong launch for the state’s newly opened market, according to state officials.

Between Friday and Sunday, the state reported $625,000 in adult-use sales alone, generating an estimated $93,750 in tax revenue.

The remainder came from ongoing medical marijuana purchases, which remain tax-exempt.

County-by-county breakdown

Sales were strongest in New Castle County, which saw $432,319.78 in total transactions across its five licensed dispensaries.

Sussex County also saw healthy numbers, reporting $242,832.64 in sales, followed by Kent County with $227,946.54.

Delaware currently has 14 dispensaries operating under both medical and recreational licenses, with more openings expected by the end of the summer.

Sales by marijuana form

The most popular product category by far was traditional cannabis flower, which accounted for more than half of all sales:

Usable Marijuana (flower): $509,042.59 – 56% of total sales
Marijuana Extract for Inhalation (vapes): $233,267.82 – 26% of sales
Solid Marijuana Infused Edibles: $123,768.00 – 14% of total sales

Other products:

Marijuana Mix Infused (pre-rolls with concentrate): $16,212.90
Liquid Marijuana Infused Edibles (tinctures, elixirs, capsules): $13,526.40
Marijuana Infused Topicals (lotions): $4,790.00
Miscellaneous Items: $1,362.73
Marijuana Mix Packaged (pre-rolls): $948.50
Hash (bubble hash): $180.00

Regulators conducted compliance checks throughout the weekend and reported no significant issues.

READ: Piping Plover “nomad” returns to Delaware Shore after rehabilitation efforts

According to the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner Joshua Sanderlin, dispensaries followed state guidelines on customer verification, product tracking, and safety protocols.

“Delaware’s transition to adult-use cannabis sales has exceeded expectations,” Sanderlin said. “More than $900,000 in sales over the first three days reflects not only strong consumer demand, but also the readiness and professionalism of our licensed operators to serve the public safely and responsibly.”

Economic outlook

With a 15% tax rate on adult-use cannabis, the state expects recreational marijuana to become a steady source of revenue to fund public health programs, regulatory enforcement, and social equity initiatives.

Medical marijuana, by contrast, remains untaxed.

“This successful launch positions Delaware to realize the economic benefits of regulated cannabis sales while maintaining our commitment to public safety and responsible implementation,” said Joshua Bushweller, secretary of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Next steps for marijuana in the First State

Delaware has issued 64 conditional licenses so far, with plans to expand the market further in coming months.

The state also plans to begin distributing Social Equity Financial Assistance (SEFA) grants to help support cannabis entrepreneurs from historically disadvantaged communities.

Meanwhile, a full review of cannabis regulations is underway to ensure the program remains sustainable and accessible.

Delaware legalized medical marijuana in 2011.

The adult-use program was approved by the General Assembly in 2023 and officially launched on Aug. 1.