One Year Of Legal Cannabis In Maryland Saw Over $1B In Sales
SALISBURY, Md. – Since the Cannabis Reform Act took effect in July of 2023, Maryland has generated over $40 million in tax revenue from the budding industry.
Governor Wes Moore announced recently that adult-use and medical marijuana sales totaled over $1.1 billion in the past year.
“All we had to do was put a tax on the cannabis and let people come buy it the right way,” said David Cropper, Sales Manager at The Apothecarium in Salisbury. “That stigma, you know, ‘stoners’ is dead. These are average people working every day, 9 to 5, some people working 12 hours.”
Cropper said he’s seen a significant shift in attitude toward marijuana over the past year, especially among the elderly: “I had one lady come see us from Smith Island. She comes on a boat, and she’s elderly. She has to catch a boat to Salisbury, and then catches the transit here, and then all the way back to Smith Island. That’s her one monthly thing out of the house, and she loves it.”
Johnny Kane, who also works at The Apothecarium, said he has family who have considered cannabis as a substitute for traditional medication: “I have a few older relatives that are trying to see what they might be able to replace a medication with, or what might be able to help with aches and pains.”
Cropper said business has been constant over the past year, and with their unique location in the heart of Delmarva, he doesn’t see it slowing down anytime soon: “Salisbury, as far as our dispensary, is probably one of the most trafficked dispensaries hands down. That’s compared to some of the places that are closer to low, large and metropolitan areas, the DC, the Baltimore areas.”
Now that the novelty of recreational cannabis has worn off, Cropper said people are slowing down to try to learn more about what works best for them. “Now they’re coming to do things is specific what they’re looking for, something that’s going to help put appetite on where they’re going to be, looking for, something that’s going to help give them a little boost of energy through the day, something that helps them get sleep.”
Because of how busy they’ve been, Cropper said they’re in the process of planning renovations to try to cut down wait times for customers.
35% of all cannabis tax revenue goes towards the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, directly supporting low-income communities in Maryland.
