Maryland began sales of recreational marijuana on Saturday, only eight months after the state’s voters approved a ballot measure to legalize cannabis for adults.
The first day of adult-use cannabis sales brought out lines of customers eager to shop at the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries, which were given the first crack at the newly legal market for recreational weed in Maryland by a bill to regulate adult-use cannabis passed in the spring.
In November, Maryland voters legalized recreational marijuana with the passage of Question 4, a state referendum that was approved with nearly two-thirds of the vote, reports Forbes.
In April, lawmakers passed legislation to regulate adult-use cannabis production and sales beginning on July 1, followed by the signing of the bill by Governor Wes Moore in early May.
Under the measure, all adults in Maryland age 21 and up with proper identification will be allowed to purchase regulated marijuana products including cannabis flower, vapes, gummies and others, with sales beginning at the state’s existing medical marijuana retailers.
The legislation also changed the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, which regulated the production and sale of medical marijuana, to the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
Will Tilburg, the acting director of the new agency, said that regulated sales of cannabis in Maryland are expected to triple over the next year with the launch of recreational marijuana sales.