Maryland
Maryland Saw Marijuana Market Spike In December, Setting New Monthly Record To Cap Off $787.5 Million In 2023 Sales
Overall sales of marijuana in Maryland set a new monthly record to close out 2023, with nearly $96.5 million in combined purchases between the state’s medical and adult-use markets.
Recreational sales, which have set new records every month since the market opened in July, tallied more than $61.5 million in December, while medical sales came to just under $35 million—an uptick of more than a million dollars in purchases by patients from the month before, but notably less than typical medical marijuana sales prior to the opening of adult-use stores.
All told, the state saw $787.5 million worth of legal marijuana products sold in 2023—even with the recreational market launching halfway into the year.
The sales data is published by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), though the figures reported differ between two separate data polls that MCA makes available. A 2023 sales report, for example, says December’s adult-use sales totaled $61,506,086.25, while a separate data dashboard shows $61,519,168 in recreational sales for the month.
Similar discrepancies can be found between the two data sources going back to the launch of legal sales, for both medical and adult-use markets.
David Torres, deputy chief of communications and outreach for MCA, told Marijuana Moment that the “discrepancies in published sales data are due to ongoing reconciliations between dispensary point-of-sale systems and Maryland Cannabis Administration’s seed-t0-sale tracking system (Metrc)” but did not specify which number was accurate.
As for government revenue from cannabis purchases, state officials reported last month that Maryland brought in more than $12 million in marijuana taxes during the first quarter of legal sales to adults, which kicked off on July 1.
More than a third of the tax revenue—35 percent, or about $4.3 million—will be funneled into the state’s Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, which is intended to support communities disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition.
Another three disbursements of just over $600,000 each will go to local governments, the state’s cannabis public health fund and a state cannabis business assistance fund, according to the comptroller’s office report, while another roughly $6 million will be deposited into the state’s general fund.
Gov. Wes Moore (D) said at the time that the “strong revenues” so far “reflect the strength of the rollout of Maryland’s newly formed adult recreational cannabis industry,” saying the money is “critical to supporting social equity and economic growth, which are central” to his administration’s values.
As the state’s legal market continued to get off the ground last year, regulators in September officially opened the first round of applications for new adult-use marijuana dispensary, cultivation and processing licenses, which was reserved exclusively for social equity businesses.
The licensing round includes 75 dispensary, 16 grower and 32 processor licenses and will eventually more than double the number of legal retailers in the state. Currently only existing medical marijuana dispensaries that converted to dual licenses are serving adult consumers.
MCA previously unveiled an online portal in September that allows people to check their eligibility for a social equity marijuana business license.
In October, MCA issued guidance to existing marijuana operators meant to help minimize the risk of burglaries and other crimes at licensed cannabis businesses amid what they said was an uptick in thefts targeting dispensaries across the state.
A Maryland tax official said earlier last year that the state had to find an unusual workaround with Wells Fargo in order to avoid clearly identifying marijuana tax revenue on financial forms—a policy that prohibitionists subsequently asked a federal prosecutor to investigate.
A separate Maryland law also took effect in July that prevents police from using the odor or possession of marijuana alone as the basis of a search. And another law that went into force making it so the lawful and responsible use of cannabis by parents and guardians cannot be construed by state officials as child “neglect.”
Republican lawmakers, however, are already aiming to undo the law that prevents police from stopping or searching people and vehicles based on the smell of marijuana, claiming the measure has put motorists at risk and taken away an important tool used by law enforcement to seize people’s firearms.
Florida Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative Has Majority Support, But Not Enough To Pass, Chamber Of Commerce Poll Finds
MARYLAND (WBFF) — Starting Monday, June 1st, marks the first day mail-in ballots across the state will be canvassed for the 2026 primary elections, as local boards of election officials can begin the process of opening, reviewing, and counting the mail-in ballots already received.
Just last week, the Maryland State Board of Elections began sending out replacement mail-in ballots after an error assigned hundreds of thousands of residents to the wrong political party.
ALSO READ | Maryland State Board of Elections starts sending out corrected mail-in ballots after error
The Board of Elections has pointed the finger at its vendor, Taylor Print and Visual Impressions, Inc., for this error, but members of Congress and political analysts say more answers are needed on how this happened.
“A mail-in ballot error like this only leads to people getting into more conspiracy theories, election rigging, back to the 2020 talk all over again,” said Political analyst John Dedie.
Just a few days ago, FOX News Digital posted an interview with Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor, asking for a response to President Donald Trump’s calls for the Department of Justice to investigate the state’s mail-in ballots.
ALSO READ | Maryland Freedom Caucus calls mail-in ballot error a crisis, urges federal audit of rolls
“The administration is a separate body from the board of elections,” said Maryland Lt. Governor Aruna Miller. “It happens, sometimes Ballots get mailed the wrong way. It happens almost in every election. So we’ll see what the investigation shows…I don’t think it was in malice, in any bad way that this happened. I think it was just error by the vendor.”
Meanwhile, at the latest Maryland State Board of Elections meeting, Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis answered questions from board members if an outer investigation will take place following the election.
“We always do a lessons learned after every election,” said DeMarinis. “And this will be a part of our lessons learned, and we will, of course, be working with you know and getting more you know information about how to prevent this in the future, with it.”
DeMarinis adding…”we’ve been open and transparent about it. I don’t necessarily know what more of an investigation would shed light on.”
According to the Board, more than 500,000 voters requested mail-in ballots.
Without being able to identify who received the wrong party ballot, the board says all mail-in voters were sent replacements.
The Board is urging all voters to vote with the replacement ballot, adding safe guards are in place to ensure voting will not happen.
Since this error, a Congressional committee has reached out to the Board requesting a response by June 9th.
ALSO READ | Congressional committee members want answers about Maryland’s mail-in ballot mistake
FOX45 spoke with Republican Congressman Morgan Griffith of Virginia. Griffith said, “We will be keeping an eye on it because we have concerns we want to make sure that the federal elections, state folks can do whatever in the state or local elections, but in the federal elections it’s our job to make sure that voters are getting an opportunity to vote that they’re not being disenfranchised by some accident or intentional act.”
Political analysts also tell FOX45 that more answers are needed to ensure voter confidence.
“There needs to be more answers and possibly a hearing on this,” said Dedie. “Not wait till next year when they’re back in Annapolis after the election.
For now, anyone who has questions on this error and the next steps, the Board is urging you to contact them or go to their website.
Happy Sunday, Maryland!
Another beautiful day is in store on this Sunday – and it doesn’t end there as we start June on Monday.
Sunshine continues Sunday
High pressure is in control today, keeping our weather pattern quiet for another day. A northerly wind to start the day will keep temperatures just shy of seasonal norms this afternoon. However, after the cooler start to the day, we will end up warmer than Saturday.
High temperatures warm into the mid-70s to low 80s. Today will be less breezy, as well.
Early June outlook
Tonight, a system will start moving through, producing an isolated shower or two overnight as temperatures cool into the 50s.
Another low-end shower chance comes on Monday with a few isolated showers possible however, most spots stay dry to start June.
While Tuesday’s rain chance is slightly higher, it won’t be by much. Spotty showers move through during the afternoon. Rain appears to be light during all three rain chances tonight, Monday and on Tuesday.
Overall, we stay pretty quiet throughout the week with more sunshine than clouds. High temperatures this week range from the mid-70s to low 80s through Thursday.
Low humidity continues into at least the end of the week.
Temperatures and rain potential head up by the weekend. We’re still a few days out so stay with the WJZ First Alert Weather team for the lates updates.
Maryland
Moore announces $3 million in aid to help small- and minority-owned business in Maryland – WTOP News
Gov. Wes Moore announced the $3 million in financial help, which his office said will help small- and minority-owned businesses create 72 new jobs and retain 28 more.
Some small- and minority-owned businesses in Maryland will be able to get some investment help from the state.
That’s because Gov. Wes Moore announced that the $3 million in financial help, which his office said, will help small- and minority-owned businesses create 72 new jobs and retain 28 more.
It’s part of an investment created by the DECADES Act passed by the General Assembly earlier this year.
The money can be used to help those businesses buy new equipment, purchase real estate and fund working capital.
Moore said in a statement that the state “must ensure that every entrepreneur has a fair shot at success.”
“This investment through the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority, bolstered by the DECADE Act of 2026, is a testament to our commitment to creating equitable pathways to work, wages, and wealth for our small and minority-owned businesses,” the governor added.
In the fiscal years between 2021 and 2025, the state’s small business development financing authority helped 2,450 jobs by utilizing $33 million in loans and equity investments, Moore’s office said in a release.
State Commerce Secretary Harry Coker Jr. said “Maryland is focused on creating an equitable, robust, and competitive economy,” which he said starts with supporting small businesses.
“We’re grateful to these small businesses for creating new job opportunities in Maryland and look forward to watching them grow throughout the state,” Coker Jr. said.
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