A Detailed Look at Cannabis Sales in California, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Maryland
We are pleased to share with our readers overviews on five important Western cannabis markets as well as Maryland compiled by BDS Analytics for the month of December. BDS Analytics offers a full understanding of the evolving cannabis market though several offerings, including its GreenEdge Retail Sales Tracking, Consumer Insights, Industry Intelligence and CBD Market Monitor divisions. For those not familiar with the Colorado-based company, which was founded in 2015 and is run by co-founders CEO Roy Bingham and President Liz Stahura, we have been covering their progress since almost day 1.
During December, the fourth month following the onset of the vaping crisis, sales across the six markets totaled $607.6 million, up 3.2% from November due to recovery in the vaping category. Overall sales growth from a year ago among the five Western markets ranged from 5% in California to as high as 38% in Arizona. Concentrates, which represented 23-33% of sales by market (compared to 23-32% in November, 22-32% in October, 23-33% in September and 26-38% in August), grew more rapidly compared to November within each market than overall sales grew due to increased sales of vape pens. Growth in concentrates from a month ago ranged from 4-13% in all of the markets, while flower sales were essentially flat in December. The most rapid growth among the Western markets was 9% in Oregon, where flower expanded by 5%. Colorado and Nevada experienced 4% sequential growth in concentrates despite flower sales declining in those markets from the prior month. In Maryland, the difference was even more stark, with concentrates expanding 13% while flower grew 3% from the prior month.
Here is a closer look at each market, as detailed by BDS Analytics:
Arizona
Sales for Arizona’s medical dispensaries were $70.3 million this past December, a four percent increase from November. Compared to December 2018, sales increased nearly 38 percent. Total sales for calendar year 2019 were $721.4 million, a $132.8 million increase from 2018.
In December, Flower sales reached $35.6 million, accounting for nearly 51 percent of overall revenues for the month. Flower sales increased by two percent from the trailing month and 57 percent from the year prior. The year-end tally for flower sales was $349.3 million, a 28 percent increase from 2018.
Pre-Rolled Joints remain a small category in Arizona’s medical-only market. Sales of Pre-Rolled Joints were $2.5 million in December and reached $24.4 million for all 2019. Compared to 2018, sales in December increased 27 percent. The 2019 year-end tally was a 13 percent increase for 2018.
The Concentrates product category accounted for 32 percent towards overall revenues in December. The $22.8 million in Concentrates sales represented 23 percent growth compared to December 2018. In 2019, Concentrates sales increased 18 percent, totaling $248.7 million for the full year. Concentrates sales are segmented into Dabbable and Vape products. Compared to December 2018, sales increased 25 and 22 percent for the two categories, respectively.
Sales of Ingestibles generated $8.1 million in sales in December 2019 and contributed 11 percent towards total revenues for the month. Compared to December 2018, sales increased 24 percent. For the calendar year 2019, the $84 million sold in Ingestibles was 24 percent greater than 2018. The Ingestibles category includes both Edibles and Sublinguals. Edibles sales contributed 90 percent towards Ingestibles revenues in December and sales increased over 29 percent compared to December 2018. Sales of Sublinguals in December 2019 have decreased by eight percent compared to December 2018.
California
This past December, sales for California’s licensed dispensaries and delivery services reached a combined $251.7 million, increasing four percent from November. Year-over-year sales for the month of December show an increase of five percent, and the total 2019 sales of nearly $3 billion indicate 18 percent growth compared to 2018.
In December, Flower contributed over 35 percent towards overall revenues with $88.2 million in sales. Compared to November, sales in the category increased by one percent; compared to December 2018, sales increased 10 percent. in all of 2019, sales of Flower totaled over $1 billion, a 10 percent increase compared to 2018 yearly revenue. Contributing almost 11 percent towards overall revenue in California, Pre-Rolled Joints sales generated $27.6 million this past December, a 48 percent increase compared to December of 2018.
Sales of Concentrates contributed about 33 percent of revenues for the month. The $82.2 million in Concentrates sales represented an increase of five percent from the trailing month and a six percent decrease compared to December 2018. In 2019, Concentrates dollar sales increased by more than 22 percent compared to 2018, totaling more than $1 billion for the year.
Despite a health and safety scare earlier in the year, vape sales continue to dominate the Concentrates category each month and December of 2019 was no exception. Vape products made up over 80 percent of dollar sales within the Concentrates category and more than 26 percent of overall sales revenue across the entire market. In 2019, Vape sales in California alone have totaled $851.2 million, increasing 28 percent compared to 2018 revenue.
Sales of Ingestibles reached $44.4 million this past December, contributing 18 percent towards overall revenues. Compared to December 2018, sales in the category increased by seven percent. The $506.6 million in ingestibles sales for calendar year 2019 represented 24 percent growth from 2018. The Ingestibles category includes both Edibles and Sublinguals, while also distinguishing the two subcategories. Compared to December of 2018, revenues from Edibles increased by 13 percent while Sublinguals decreased by 15 percent.
Colorado
Sales from Colorado’s adult-use and medical dispensaries reached a combined $146.8 million this past December, a three percent increase from November. Compared to December 2018, sales increased by more than seven percent. In the calendar year 2019, sales in the Centennial state totaled at an impressive $1.8 billion in 2019, a 13 percent increase from 2018.
In December, Flower contributed 42 percent towards all revenues with $61.7 million in sales. The category experienced a 14 percent increase in sales compared to December 2018, and a three percent decrease compared to the trailing month. In 2019, sales of Flower increased by nearly 10 percent from 2018. In December, Pre-Rolled Joints sales generated over $10 million, a 31 percent increase compared to December of 2018. At the end of 2019, sales in the pre-rolled joint category reached $106.9 million, a 22 percent increase from 2018.
Concentrates remain the second largest category by revenue. In December, sales of Concentrates contributed over 31 percent towards overall revenues with $46.1 million in sales. For the calendar year 2019, sales of Concentrates have grown by more than 16 percent, totaling $581.9 million. Despite the vape scare that negatively impacted vape sales starting in late August, the category managed to finish the year with a 34 percent increase over 2018.
Ingestibles reside as the third largest product category. In December, sales of Ingestibles were $24.7 million, a seven percent increase compared to December 2018. The $281.6 million generated in total 2019 sales represents a 15 percent increase compared to 2018. The Ingestibles category includes the subcategories of Edibles and Sublinguals. Yearly total sales revenue from Edibles grew by 14 percent compared to 2018, while the smaller Sublinguals segment grew by 19 percent compared to the year prior.
Maryland
In December 2019, cannabis sales in Maryland’s medical dispensaries reached $27.5 million, a seven percent increase from November. The 2019 calendar year ended with total sales of $252.2 million. Maryland remains a medical only market for now, but sales are growing as new dispensaries open and more patients are registered.
In December, Flower sales reached $13.7 million, accounting for nearly 50 percent of overall revenues for the month. Flower sales increased by three percent from the trailing month. Sales of flower reached $126.4 million in total revenue for the calendar year 2019.
Pre-Rolled Joints remain a small category in Maryland’s medical-only market. Sales of Pre-Rolled Joints were $2.3 million in December and reached $17.3 million in total revenue for 2019. Compared to November 2019, sales for the month increased by nine percent. In the most recent reporting period, the category contributed more than eight percent towards overall revenues for the month.
Concentrate sales accounted for more than 28 percent of overall December revenues, totaling $7.8 million. Compared to the trailing month, sales of concentrates grew by 13 percent, and category sales totaled $77.4 million in 2019. Concentrates sales are segmented into Dabbable and Vape products. Compared to November 2019, sales increased six and 16 percent for the two categories, respectively.
The Ingestibles category continues to grow as a result of favorable regulation enacted earlier in the year. Sales of Ingestibles generated $3.1 million in sales in December 2019 and contributed over 11 percent towards total revenues for the month. The ingestibles category totaled $23.8 million in 2019. The Ingestibles category includes both Edibles and Sublinguals. Edibles sales contributed 88 percent towards Ingestibles revenues in December and sales increased by 13 percent compared to the trailing month. Sales of Sublinguals in December 2019 have increased 14 percent compared to November 2019.
Nevada
Combined sales for Nevada’s medical and recreational dispensaries totaled at $58 million this past December, a one percent increase from November. Compared to December 2018, sales increased by 12 percent overall. Total revenues for calendar year 2019 were $691.5 million, a 19 percent increase from 2018.
Flower sales reached $25.2 million in December 2019, contributing 43 percent towards overall sales revenue. Flower sales decreased about one percent from the trailing month and have increased by 17 percent compared to December 2018. For calendar year 2019, the $291.9 million in flower sales were a 20 percent increase from the prior year.
The $8.9 million generated from Pre-Rolled Joints in December 2019 contributed 15 percent towards overall revenues for the month. Nevada is the leading state for the proportion of sales derived from pre-rolls. Compared to December 2018, sales increased by 23 percent. In 2019, pre-rolled joints generated $99.4 million.
Concentrates contributed more than 23 percent towards total revenues in December. The $13.5 million in sales represented a four percent increase from the trailing month. In 2019, Concentrates sales increased 28 percent compared to 2018, totaling $173.6 million for the year.
Sales of Ingestibles generated $8.6 million in sales for the month of December and contributed 15 percent towards monthly revenues. Year-over-year sales in December increased 11 percent. In calendar year 2019, the $102.5 million in Ingestibles sales was 12 percent greater than 2018 sales. The Ingestibles category includes both the Edibles and Sublinguals subcategories. Edibles contributed 87 percent towards Ingestibles revenues in December, while Sublinguals contributed the remaining 13 percent. In 2019, sales of Edibles increased 11 percent; Sublinguals sales increased by 22 percent over 2018.
Oregon
Oregon dispensary sales reached $72.8 million this past December, a seven percent increase from November. Compared to December 2018, overall sales increased by 27 percent. The end of year results for all 2019, sales increased by 21 percent compared to 2018, reaching more than $810 million in total annual sales.
Flower sales reached $32.3 million in December 2019, accounting for 44 percent of overall revenues. Flower sales increased by five percent compared to from the trailing month; but jumped by 49 percent compared to December 2018. In 2019, Flower sales increased 24 percent compared to 2018, totaling $341.3 million in 2019. The $6.5 million generated from Pre-Rolled Joints in December 2019 contributed nine percent towards overall revenues for the month. Compared to December 2018, sales increased by 57 percent.
Sales within the Concentrates category contributed nearly 27 percent towards revenues in December. The $19.3 million in Concentrates sales represent seven percent growth from December 2018. In 2019, Concentrates sales have increased 22 percent over the same period in 2018, totaling $235.3 million for the year. Compared to December 2018, sales increased 49 percent and decreased by almost 12 percent for the two subcategories, respectively.
Sales of Ingestibles generated $11.8 million in December and contributed over 16 percent towards revenues for the month. Year-over-year sales in December increased by 15 percent. In 2019, the $131 million in Ingestibles sales represented 20 percent growth compared to 2018.
For readers looking for a deeper look at cannabis markets across these five states and more, including segmentation by additional product categories, brand and item detail, longer history, and segmentation by product attributes, learn how the BDS Analytics GreenEdge Platform can provide you with unlimited access to the most accurate and actionable data and analysis.
