Delaware lawmakers defeated a bill that would have legalized adult-use marijuana, but the state’s heavily regulated medical cannabis industry is about to see a boost in business.
The state House, just days before adjournment, voted 21-15 on Wednesday against legislation that would have made Delaware the 10th state to legalize recreational MJ.
However, it wasn’t all bad news on the marijuana front in Delaware.
Columbia Care, a New York-based multistate MMJ company, announced that it is finally set to open a dispensary in Smyrna on Friday.
Columbia Care will be just Delaware’s third MMJ dispensary (called a compassion center by the state). It had been envisioned to open last year.
Delaware has issued a permit for a fourth dispensary, which is expected to open later this year in Newark.
Marijuana Business Factbook 2018 projects that with the additional dispensaries, MMJ sales in Delaware could increase to $6 million-$8 million this year, up from an estimated $4 million-$6 million in 2017.
Though Delaware legalized MMJ in 2011, the first dispensary didn’t open until late 2015, and the second not until 2017.
