Maryland

Over $87 million spent on cannabis in Maryland’s first month of adult sales

Published

1 year ago

August 2, 2023

Over million spent on cannabis in Maryland’s first month of adult sales

Marijuana users dropped $87.43 million on cannabis in Maryland during a strong first month of recreational sales, according to state officials, spending an average of about $2.8 million on the substance each day in July.

That hefty sum far outstripped first-month performances in states like New Jersey, which sold about $24 million, and New Mexico, which racked up $22 million in month-one recreational cannabis sales.

“We’re happy about it,” said BJ Carretta, senior vice president of marketing for TerrAscend, which operates cannabis businesses in Cumberland, Salisbury, Parkville and Burtonsville, Md.

Licensed growers sold 19,582 pounds of weed in July, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration, up from the 8,056 pounds sold in June. That’s about the equivalent weight of three female Asian elephants. Flower, including bud and pre-rolled joints, accounted for more than $52.6 million of July’s sales. Concentrates, including vape products, were the next most popular cannabis product in Maryland, followed by edibles.

Industry leaders said the launch of the adult-use market unfolded smoothly last month as Maryland avoided many of the pitfalls that other states have encountered. Recreational rollouts have hit snags in places like New York, where adult-use became legal with no formal regulatory structure for cannabis businesses to sell the drug. Law enforcement officials in New York have been playing whack-a-mole trying to shut down illegal marijuana operations as the state has moved slowly to license sellers. Virginia, similarly, decriminalized cannabis without legalizing sales, leading to a bustling gray market and safety concerns.

Weed sales legal in Md., but not Va. Youngkin’s ‘not interested’ in change.

But in Maryland, lawmakers moved swiftly this year to make sure a recreational market would be available on the first day that cannabis prohibition ended.

“Maryland has been a great success so far,” said Matt Darin, CEO of Curaleaf, which operates four dispensaries in Gaithersburg, Reisterstown, Frederick and Columbia.

Darin said Maryland cannabis businesses were largely able to keep pace with the sharp spike in demand because state lawmakers and regulators cleared the way for existing medical license holders to convert to a general use license seamlessly before recreational weed became legal. Going live on the first day that recreational use became legal also provided consumers with regulated suppliers, and Darin said Curaleaf saw almost three times more customers in July than in June.

“It’s certainly more than doubled what it was before,” Darin said. “We continue to see an increase that’s maybe not triple, but getting closer to that.”

Industry leaders also credited lawmakers for setting the tax on cannabis at 9 percent, which they say allows legal weed prices to stay low and be competitive with the black market. Maryland’s cannabis sales and use tax reaped $4.61 million for the state in July, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration.

With the basic infrastructure to support and regulate adult-use cannabis sales in place, the state now faces the challenge of meeting its social justice and equity goals by increasing diversity in the marijuana industry. Maryland leaders have for years said that they want to see cannabis sales benefit the communities that suffered most under the war on drugs, but efforts to increase the number of Black and Brown business owners have faltered thus far.

The state’s regulatory system failed to license a single Black business leader during the first round of medical marijuana licensing in 2016. The state tried to correct course by prioritizing minority owners in a second round that authorized 14 minority-owned businesses to get medical cannabis licenses, but so far only half of those applicants have been fully licensed. Existing medical businesses were given the first chance to participate in adult-use sales, perpetuating those disparities.

The state hopes to advance economic equity with its next round of recreational licenses, though latecomers to the adult-use market will face the added challenge of competing against already-established brands. Slated to be granted this winter, the next round will be race-blind, but prioritize applicants who live in or attended school in Zip codes that were disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of marijuana.

To accomplish Maryland’s social justice goals, Gov. Wes Moore (D) last month appointed Audrey L. Johnson as the new acting executive director and Courtney Davis as deputy director of the newly-created Office of Social Equity. Johnson, a former senior director for economic innovation and strategy for Johns Hopkins University and Health System, and Davis, formerly executive director of the D.C.-based national advocacy group Marijuana Matters, will steer an agency charged with helping minority business owners enter the industry and helping to ensure regulations meet the state’s economic equity and social justice goals.

“Maryland can — and will — be a national leader in fostering access and economic opportunities for historically marginalized communities in the adult-use cannabis market,” Johnson said in a statement after her appointment last month.

Moore also announced appointments to the Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council, a group tasked with issuing recommendations to the governor and lawmakers about the public health impacts of legalization, including strategies for mitigating youth consumption and cannabis addiction.

Marijuana in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area

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Maryland

Watch Aidan Chiles, Nick Marsh talk MSU win over Maryland

Published

1 hour ago

September 7, 2024

Press Room

Watch Aidan Chiles, Nick Marsh talk MSU win over Maryland

Michigan State won a big time road game over Maryland, improving their record to 2-0, and giving head coach Jonathan Smith his first Big Ten conference victory as the head man of the Spartans.

A big part of that win was the connection between Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh, and more specifically their 77-yard touchdown connection tying the game 24-24 late in the fourth quarter.

Chiles and Marsh spoke to the media after the team’s win, which you can watch via Spartan Mag on YouTube:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner

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Maryland

16-year-old arrested after 15-year-old fatally shot in Maryland high school bathroom

Published

8 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Press Room

16-year-old arrested after 15-year-old fatally shot in Maryland high school bathroom

A 16-year-old student at a high school in Maryland has been detained after he allegedly shot and killed a 15-year-old student in one of the school’s bathrooms.

The name of the suspect has yet to be released. The victim, Warren Curtis Grant, died following the shooting at Joppatowne High School. Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler made the announcement at a press briefing.

The suspect fled the scene but was detained close by just minutes later.

“He has yet to be charged but will be charged, and at the time those charges are preferred as an adult, we will release the name of the suspect,” Gahler told the press, according to The Guardian.

The sheriff added that his office has handled more than 10 cases in the last two years “where the suspect was either the victim, witness or the suspect in an incident handled by the Harford county sheriff’s office.”

A member of the Harford County Sheriff's department tries to clear the way for an emergency vehicle as it heads toward Joppatowne High School after a shooting at the school, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Joppatowne, Md — A member of the Harford County Sheriff’s department tries to clear the way for an emergency vehicle as it heads toward Joppatowne High School after a shooting at the school, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Joppatowne, Md (AP)

While the sheriff’s office told the public to avoid the area after the shooting, it said that it was an “isolated incident, not an active shooter.”

An “active shooter” situation refers to when a suspect is firing against everyone they see rather than targeting a particular person.

An area church was used as a reunification center for students and their parents. The school is located about 20 miles northeast of Baltimore.

Gahler noted that more than 100 law enforcement officials responded to the scene.

The fight at Joppatowne High School took place just two days after the shooting at a high school outside Atlanta, Georgia where a 14-year-old shot and killed four people.

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Maryland

How to watch Michigan State vs. Maryland (9/7/24): TV channel, kickoff time, live stream

Published

16 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Press Room

How to watch Michigan State vs. Maryland (9/7/24): TV channel, kickoff time, live stream

Michigan State got the job done in its season opener, but it wasn’t pretty as it hung on at home against Florida Atlantic. Now, it has to head on the road to open Big Ten play in what promises to be a tougher test.

· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on FuboTV (free trial)

· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on Sling

· Watch the Michigan State Spartans on DirecTV Stream

· Visit MLive’s Betting Home for latest odds & sportsbook promos

Michigan State is 1-0, but the road gets tougher now. The Spartans go on the road and start Big Ten play early in Week 2 with a trip to Maryland. The Terrapins have a new look this year without quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa but looked strong in their season-opener against Howard last week.

· Who: Michigan State at Maryland

· When: 3:30 p.m.

· Where: SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland

· Twitter: Follow Matt Wenzel

· Live updates: Beginning at 2:30 p.m. at mlive.com/spartans

· Latest line: Maryland -9.5

TV Network: Big Ten Network

Streaming options:

· FuboTV is offering $30 off the first month for all U.S. plans. Sign up to get your favorite TV shows, live sports events, and much more

· Sling currently has an offer of $20 for the first month of subscription and has streaming coverage of live sports, news and entertainment.

· DirecTV Stream offers live sports, news and on demand TV.

Five must-reads before kickoff:

* Michigan State lost two members of its secondary, Dillon Tatum and Khalil Majeed, to long-term injuries in its season opener. The team is turning to some new faces to fill in the holes from those injuries.

* Alex VanSumeren was once Michigan State’s top-rated recruit, but he’s been seldom seen on the field due to injuries. Now, though, he’s healthy and making his mark on the Spartans’ defensive line.

* Aidan Chiles’ 10-completion, two-interception performance in Michigan State’s season-opener was his “floor,” according to offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, who has a plan to improve the quarterback’s performance going forward.

* Jonathan Smith had a name for Week 1 in college football: overreaction Saturday. He’s cautioning fans not to put too much stock into an opening performance that likely underwhelmed many.

* The run game and discipline are two of Matt Wenzel’s five things to watch in this week’s matchup.

Michigan State

* Passing: Aidan Chiles 10-14, 114 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT

* Rushing: Kay’ron Lynch-Adams 9 rush, 101 yards, 1 TD

* Receiving: Michael Masunas 2 rec., 29 yards, 0 TD

* Tackles: Angelo Grose 12

* Sacks: Khris Bogle 1.5

* Interceptions: Grose, Nikai Martinez 1

Maryland

* Passing: Billy Edwards Jr. 20-27, 311 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

* Rushing: Roman Hemby 14 rush, 66 yards, 1 TD

* Receiving: Tai Felton 7 rec., 178 yards, 2 TD