Massachusetts marijuana sales have topped $2 billion since the state’s adult-use market launched in late 2018, the Cannabis Control Commission reported on Wednesday. Gross sales from the state’s 165 cannabis retailers and three delivery services reached $2,009,007,478 as of August 31. That doubles the sales total that the commission reported last November, according to the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system. “As the Commission reflects on our four years of work, I hope the Commonwealth is proud of the agency we have built and the new industry that has been introduced and established,” Commission Executive Director Shawn Collins said in a press release. “This milestone speaks to the success of licensees that have interacted with the Commission from the application stage, maintained compliance with our strict regulations, and contribute every day to communities across the Commonwealth.” “This number also underscores the entire agency’s tireless efforts, particularly those of our hardworking staff, to thoughtfully regulate a safe, accessible, and effective adult-use marketplace that keeps critical tenets of our mission—public health, public safety, and equity, among others—front of mind,” Collins added. While advocates are encouraged that the state’s cannabis market has continued to thrive—especially in spite of the coronavirus pandemic—activists have continue to push regulators to ensure that the industry is equitable and promotes participation by people most impacted by prohibition.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 09/01/2021 17:22:00