There was more legal marijuana sold in July in Maryland than in any previous month.
There was a total of $97,917,735 worth of marijuana and marijuana products sold through legal means in July, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Around $70 million of these sales were recreational marijuana products, with medical marijuana patients purchasing the remaining $27 million.
The $97.9 million sold in July breaks the previous monthly record of $96.8 million set in May of this year. The year-to-date total for marijuana sales in Maryland is now $655 million.
$53 million of the marijuana purchased was dried flower, followed by $24 million spent on concentrates and $10 million spent on edibles.
Maryland legalized marijuana in 2022 through a voter-approved initiative, allowing adults 21 and older to possess up to 1.5 ounces of dried marijuana flower and up to 12 grams of marijuana concentrates. The first licensed marijuana store opened on July 1, 2023. Recreational marijuana is taxed at 9%, with a local tax of up to 3%, but medical patients are exempt. The Maryland Cannabis Administration regulates the industry, with the Division of Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement managing licensing and oversight.
Approximately 30% of the tax revenue garnered from marijuana sales is directed to the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, which supports programs in communities disproportionately affected by past drug policies. These programs include workforce development, youth recreation, and reentry services for those with prior marijuana-related convictions. Public education receives about 25% of the revenue, helping to fund schools and early childhood education initiatives. Around 20% is allocated to substance abuse treatment and prevention programs, ensuring that resources are available for those in need of addiction support. A smaller portion, roughly 15%, is used to cover the administrative costs of regulating the state’s marijuana program, including licensing and enforcement. The remaining 10% is typically directed to the state’s general fund.
