New York’s five medical marijuana businesses generated only $16.6 million in gross sales between April 2016 and August 2017, but sales and patient numbers are improving.
From April 2016 through March 2017, the companies generated sales of $8.4 million – about $700,000 per month – according to analyses by the USA Today Network.
The authors of the analyses warned that the improvement in sales was no guarantee the state’s MMJ program had become sustainable.
For example, the USA Today Network study found that the companies combined for about $2 million in sales in August. If patients spent an average of $200 per month, that means there would have been about 10,000 active patients, which is less than a third of the 31,860 registered through Oct. 3.
New York’s original five businesses are each allowed to have four dispensaries. But the market will become more competitive once five new companies that have been awarded licenses – and are also allowed four dispensaries – go online.