Delaware adult-use marijuana sales will begin by April 2025 if Gov. Jay Carney signs four bills passed by the state Legislature, regulators say.
One of the bills would allow existing medical cannabis operators to convert to recreational sales after paying a $200,000 fee, according to Dover-based Delaware Public Media (DPM).
Rob Coupe, the state’s marijuana commissioner, told DPM that the conversion model was “effective in other states.”
Other markets about to launch adult-use sales on the rails of MMJ businesses include Ohio.
Money from the fees would “help support” the state’s social equity license program, where applicants can enter the market with a “40% discount” on permitting fees, DPM reported.
According to DPM, the other bills would:
- Move the regulation of MMJ businesses to Coupe’s Office of the Marijuana Commissioner.
- Protect banks, armored-car services and other institutions that might handle cannabis industry cash from prosecution under Delaware law. However, federal penalties would remain in place until the U.S. Congress passes banking protections for marijuana businesses.
- Clean up previous marijuana legislation.
Carney has yet to take any action on the four measures, DPM reported.
Delaware legalized adult-use sales in April 2023.
