Maryland makes Mary Jane millions: Residents spend over $10 million on legalized marijuana in debut weekend

BETHESDA, Md. (FOX 5 DC) – Marylanders spent over $10 million on marijuana this past weekend, nearly tripling sales from 2022 when it was only legal for medicinal use. 

That’s according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration, which released its first-weekend report after totaling the numbers from Friday, June 30, to Sunday, July 2. The report reveals that in 2022, retail medical purchases reached $3,985,527 during that same time frame. 

On Saturday alone — as Maryland’s weed laws went up in flames — residents (medical card-carrying and those with state-approved IDs) coughed up a total of $4,518,377. Over 90% of those sales, the data shows, were for non-medicinal purposes. 

Several local dispensaries FOX 5 spoke to last week said they anticipated the high demand and prepared for it. 

The vice president of gLeaf Dispensary said they added additional supply in their vaults and hired more workers to their staff at their two Maryland stores in Rockville and Frederick. 

Rebecca Raphael, the chief revenue officer with Curio Wellness in Timonium, said they started getting ready for July 1 back in March.

Under state law, adults are now able to grow up to two plants for their personal use and be in possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis. All purchases are being taxed at 9% and the Tax Foundation estimates that in 2023, Maryland could generate a whopping $135 million in tax revenue.

Check out Maryland’s Cannabis Legalization First Weekend Report below: