Delaware Set To Begin Selling Recreational Marijuana
The state of Delaware is set to officially launch recreation marijuana sales on Friday, August 1st. This will make a major milestone in the states transition from prohibition to regulated adult-use cannabis.
Starting on Friday, adults aged 21 and older may purchase cannabis products. These include smokeable flower, edibles, vapes, tinctures, capsules, and concentrates from 12 state wide locations. The counties where these could be found are New Castle, Kent, and Sussex.
Retail cannabis sales will carry a 15 percent sales tax, unlike tax‑exempt medical purchases, and prices are expected to align closely with medical rates—for example, flower may cost between $35 to $45 per gram before tax, and edibles around $18 for five 10 mg pieces. The state is clear that cannabis must be consumed in Delaware, with public use, driving under the influence, or crossing state lines still illegal.
Delaware’s Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) has begun issuing conversion licenses to the six long‑standing medical marijuana operators, allowing them to begin adult‑use sales immediately. Meanwhile, nearly 125 conditional licenses—including social equity and veteran applicants—remain in regulatory review and are expected to come online in the following months. Critics contend the rollout favors existing medical operators and leaves new licensees at a disadvantage.
Governor Matt Meyer toured a cultivation facility in Milford ahead of the launch and emphasized the state’s commitment to building a safe, equitable and professionally regulated cannabis market. Officials project the new adult‑use industry will generate over $40 million in annual revenue, create job opportunities, and help fund social equity and community reinvestment programs.
As Delaware becomes the 22nd U.S. state to implement legal recreational cannabis retail sales, officials and industry leaders emphasize the importance of safe, compliant access and continued regulatory refinement to ensure long‑term success of the program
