California's Adult-Use Marijuana Sales Drop to Nine-Quarter Low

Dec.15.2022
California's Adult-Use Marijuana Sales Drop to Nine-Quarter Low
California's adult-use marijuana retail market sees first decline since commercial sales began in 2018.

For the first time since California launched commercial sales in 2018, the adult-use marijuana retail market has experienced a dip.


According to data released on November 18 by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, pharmacies with national licenses reported taxable sales of $1.27 billion in Q3 2022 for adult use, marking a nine-quarter low since Q2 2020 (CDTFA).


Editor's note: "Taxable sales amount" includes revenue from marijuana sales, sales of marijuana products, and other tangible personal property retail reported on sales and use tax returns.


As of the third quarter of this year, California retailers reported taxable adult use sales just over $4 billion, a decline of 7.5% compared to the first three quarters of 2021. However, the taxable sales figures provided by CDTFA are unstable and subject to changes based on amended and delayed declaration forms, as well as adjustments made to other tax declaration forms.


For example, when officials from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) initially reported the complete data for 2021, the taxable sales amounted to $5.2 billion. Since then, CDTFA officials have adjusted the 2021 data to reflect taxable sales of nearly $5.8 billion - over $568,000 in sales that had not been previously reported.


In the third quarter of 2022, adult use sales generated approximately $242 million in tax revenue, including $128.4 million in excise tax and $113.6 million in sales tax. California's total tax revenue has now declined for five consecutive quarters, but the most recent quarter marked the first time that the state's cultivation tax fell to $0, following legislation that terminated the previous tax rate of $161 per pound levied on licensed cultivators.


According to data from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), the reported total marijuana tax revenue does not include uncollected returns and does not include local taxes collected by cities and counties.


As of the third quarter, sales of adult use brought in nearly $853 million in revenue for the state government in 2022, a decrease of 17.2% compared to the first three quarters of last year.


Based on current data, adult-use cannabis retailers in California have sold nearly $19.3 billion worth of cannabis and related products since commercial sales began in 2018. So far, the state has collected a total of $4.4 billion in adult-use cannabis taxes, which includes $2.2 billion in cannabis excise taxes, $1.7 billion in sales taxes, and $500 million in cultivation taxes that will be repealed on July 1, 2022, according to data from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

South Korea Formalizes Harmful Substance Controls for Cigarettes and E-cigarettes
South Korea Formalizes Harmful Substance Controls for Cigarettes and E-cigarettes
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has issued a notice establishing testing items and methods for harmful substances in tobacco products, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Dec.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Australia Leads COP11 Seminars as Exploding Illicit Tobacco Market Raises Questions
Australia Leads COP11 Seminars as Exploding Illicit Tobacco Market Raises Questions
Australia sent a delegation to COP11 in Switzerland and is leading three major seminars to showcase its vape and tobacco control policies. But at home, illicit cigarette sales are skyrocketing amid record-high taxes, drawing criticism from the tobacco industry and prompting doubts over policy effectiveness.
Nov.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Australian Border Force Blocks Massive Vape Shipment Following China Intelligence
Australian Border Force Blocks Massive Vape Shipment Following China Intelligence
Australia has seized more than 600,000 illicit vapes in two months, following coordinated intelligence with overseas partners. The Australian Border Force (ABF) warns that illegal vaping products now form a multibillion-dollar black market dominated by organised crime syndicates.
Nov.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Over 179,000 E-Cigarettes Destroyed in Samut Prakan as Thai Government Tightens Enforcement
Over 179,000 E-Cigarettes Destroyed in Samut Prakan as Thai Government Tightens Enforcement
Thailand’s Office of the Prime Minister, led by Minister Santi Piyatat, has destroyed nearly 179,000 confiscated e-cigarettes and accessories worth 33 million baht (approx. USD 1,020,000) as part of the government’s ongoing campaign for a “Vape-Free Thai Society.”Officials said the action demonstrates Thailand’s strict enforcement of anti-vaping laws and its commitment to protecting youth and public health.
Nov.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | ELFBAR Launches New Open-System Device in UK with Three Pod Options and 2800mAh Battery
Product | ELFBAR Launches New Open-System Device in UK with Three Pod Options and 2800mAh Battery
ELFBAR has launched its new open-system device ELFX MEGA, compatible with 2 mL, 5 mL and 10 mL pods and equipped with a 2800mAh battery that delivers significantly longer runtime than its predecessor. The device has passed MHRA notification in the UK and is now available online in the UK at a retail price of around £18.99.
Nov.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Kentucky to Require Tobacco and Vape Retailers to Be Licensed Starting January 2026
Kentucky to Require Tobacco and Vape Retailers to Be Licensed Starting January 2026
The Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet has reminded all businesses selling tobacco, nicotine, and vapor products that they must be licensed by the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) by January 1, 2026. The requirement stems from Senate Bill 100, signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear on March 24, 2025, aimed at strengthening youth protection and enforcing compliance against unlicensed sales.
Nov.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai