DELAWARE - The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner celebrated the first anniversary of Delaware's adult use recreational marijuana on Aug. 1.
The office said sales for the first year totaled $53.4 million, resulting in $8 million in revenue for the state. Joshua Sanderlin, Delaware State Marijuana Commissioner, said he's seeing more growers get in the market.
"The growers are the foundation of the entire marketplace," said Sanderlin. "Without our growers we have no product, without product we have no market."
The office said 38 marijuana business licenses are active or preparing to open. This includes cultivation, manufacturing, retail and lab operations.
"It's important that as we look back over the previous year, we acknowledge the strides we've made and we look forward to making more progress as year two rolls out," said Sanderlin.
Through its Social Equity Financial Assistance Grant Program, the state approved nine grants to help entrepreneurs enter the legal marijuana industry. The awards total more than $1 million, with $341,250 already distributed.
