WORCESTER – Cannabis sales reached another all-time high in Massachusetts in 2023 with nearly $1.8 billion in sales, an increase of 1.8 percent over 2022. There has been over $5.6 billion in sales in Massachusetts since the law allowing retail sales went into effect in November 2018.
In December 2023, sales reached their highest level in any single month since retail stores opened, with $140 million in sales.
According to the Cannabis Control Commission, adult-use sales totaled over $1.56 billion during 2023, with another $225.6 million in medical sales.
Adult-use sales have grown each year since retail sales began, but the rate of increase fell to 5.3 percent in 2023. In 2022, adult-use sales increased seven percent.
The cost of cannabis across the state may have played a role in the smaller increase in total sales. Data from the Cannabis Control Commission shows the average cost per gram in December 2022 was $7.61. In December 2023, it was $5.66, the lowest average price of any month in 2023 except November, when the price was $5.61. In each month of 2023, the average cost was lower than any month in 2022.
Cannabis sales for medical use fell to $225.6 million in 2023, a 16.8 percent decrease from 2022.
Massachusetts voters approved question four on the state’s ballot on November 8 with 53.66 percent of the vote. The question legalized and created the Cannabis Control Commission to regulate marijuana in the state. Nearly 1.8 million voters approved the measure, over 241,000 more than voted against the question. Marijuana legalization took effect Dec. 15, 2016.
The Cannabis Control Commission began taking retail sales applications in October 2017 and the first retail store opened in November 2018.
