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.

Chonburi Police Raid Major E-Cigarette and Vape Liquid Warehouse Worth Over US$920,000
Chonburi Police Raid Major E-Cigarette and Vape Liquid Warehouse Worth Over US$920,000
Thailand Chonburi provincial police, in coordination with multiple agencies, raided a large-scale warehouse in downtown Chonburi used for producing and distributing e-cigarettes and vape liquids. Two Chinese nationals were arrested, and more than 40 categories of contraband—including vapes, e-liquids, and production equipment—were seized, with an estimated total value exceeding US$920,000 (about 30 million Thai baht).
Nov.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Illegal Disposable Vapes Still Sold in Nottingham Six Months After UK Ban: LBC Investigation
Illegal Disposable Vapes Still Sold in Nottingham Six Months After UK Ban: LBC Investigation
According to LBC, a follow-up investigation in Nottingham found that four out of 14 shops visited still sold illegal disposable vapes, six months after the UK Government’s ban took effect. Although fewer retailers appeared to be offering banned products compared with an earlier visit, illegal vapes remain available despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
Dec.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Feature | Vape Politics in Russia: Local Governments Push Forward Despite Legislative Deadlock
Feature | Vape Politics in Russia: Local Governments Push Forward Despite Legislative Deadlock
As Russia’s federal vape policy stalls, regional governors are racing to implement local bans—now with the backing of President Vladimir Putin. The divide between swift local action and delayed national legislation is fueling debate over health, regulation, and the country’s broader approach to nicotine control.
Oct.28
Irish Government Approves Ban on Disposable Vapes and Tightens Nicotine Controls
Irish Government Approves Ban on Disposable Vapes and Tightens Nicotine Controls
Irish Government has approved the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill 2025, which will outlaw the sale of disposable e-cigarettes and introduce tighter restrictions on other nicotine products such as pouches. The move follows Northern Ireland’s similar ban earlier in 2025 and aims to protect young people from nicotine addiction.
Nov.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Great Wall Cigar explores global industrial cooperation via embassy visits in Beijing
Great Wall Cigar explores global industrial cooperation via embassy visits in Beijing
A delegation from the Great Wall Cigar Factory of China Tobacco Sichuan Industrial Co., Ltd. recently visited the embassies of Cuba, Morocco, and Indonesia in Beijing to explore opportunities for industrial cooperation and trade expansion.
Dec.08
Product | LOST MARY, ELFBAR & VOZOL Debut 2 mL Replaceable-Pod Devices: Three-Model Comparison
Product | LOST MARY, ELFBAR & VOZOL Debut 2 mL Replaceable-Pod Devices: Three-Model Comparison
Several brands launch 2 mL replaceable-pod vapes—Lost Mary Glayce, ELFBAR ELFA “Stein,” VOZOL SLEEK—highlighting rechargeability, pod swaps, and a compliance- and sustainability-led trend.
Oct.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai