Despite Vetoed Zoning Bill, Delaware Cannabis Sales Reach More Than $7 Million in First Month

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Senate Bill 75 Veto

In an August 28, 2025, press release (1), Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, vetoed two bills, one involving wage enforcement in construction and the other was Senate Bill 75 (with SA 1 & 2) (SB 75). The piece of legislation would have loosened “local zoning restrictions limiting where licensed adult-use cannabis retailers can operate,” (2). Additionally, the Senate bill would have (2) “imposed statewide rules explicitly permitting retailers to operate within 500 feet ‘of a place of worship, school, licensed child-care, residential treatment facility, park, or library,’ and/or ‘within a one-half mile of another retail marijuana store.’ The bill was introduced in response to some municipal lawmakers enacting more restrictive zoning laws, effectively imposing local bans on marijuana retailers.”

Governor Meyer expressed in the press release (1) that he is still supportive for a “safe, equitable, and accessible adult-use cannabis market,” but had concerns that SB 75 would potentially prevent local decision-making regarding where, as well as how, cannabis retail establishments would be able to function within distance to sensitive areas. For example, libraries, childcare facilities, schools, parks, and more (1).

“I support building a well-regulated, adult-use cannabis market that works statewide. The way to do that is to work with our counties as partners, not by stripping communities of their voice in where these stores belong,” said Governor Meyer in the press release (1). “SB 75 would override local judgment on the location and operation of cannabis establishments. Let’s move forward together—respecting local zoning and exploring revenue-sharing to offset local costs—so this market succeeds and earns public trust in all three counties.”

Additionally, the press release stated that in the Governor’s veto message, Governor Meyer “provided draft legislation and referenced local policy models to advance a retail cannabis framework in partnership with counties, including consideration of revenue-sharing to support local costs,” (1).

First Month of Legal Cannabis Sales Statistics

In a recent press release (3), the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) discussed that the state of Delaware witnessed strong sales during the first month of recreational cannabis sales. During the first month, total retail cannabis sales were reported as more than $7 million, with 109,412 cannabis plants cultivated.

On August 1, 2025, recreational cannabis sales first began in the First State (4). During their inaugural weekend, their cannabis sales brought in more than $903,000, which includes both recreational and medical cannabis transactions (5). Medical cannabis was legalized in Delaware in 2011.

In the press release, it mentioned that consumers showed an interest in a variety of cannabis products, such as topicals, vapes, tinctures, flower, pre-rolls, and edibles (3). Aside from recreational cannabis sales, the OMC has issued 79 conditional licenses, as well as 3 active licenses. It is anticipated that OCM will approve more licenses as the industry moves forward. To help support social equity licensees, Delaware will soon be issuing Social Equity Financial Assistance (SEFA) Grants. Additionally, program regulations are being fully reviewed which will help provide for more sustainability, equity, as well as safety in the state’s cannabis industry.

As mentioned in the press release, highlights from the first month of recreational cannabis sales and cultivation include (3):

Retail Sales

• Total Retail Sales: $7,354,293
• Usable Cannabis (flower): $4,065,032 largest category, 55% of retail sales

Cultivation Metrics

• Total Plant Count: 109,412

Strain Metrics

• Strains in Production: 447
• Strains at Retail: 171

References

1. Governor Matt Meyer vetoes SB 63 and SB 75 http://news.delaware.gov/2025/08/28/governor-matt-meyer-vetoes-sb-63-and-sb-75/ (accessed Sep 4, 2025).
2. Norml. Delaware governor vetoes cannabis zoning bill https://norml.org/news/2025/09/04/delaware-governor-vetoes-measure-that-sought-to-relax-cannabis-zoning-restrictions/ (accessed Sep 4, 2025).
3. OMC reports strong first month of recreational cannabis sales https://news.delaware.gov/2025/09/02/omc-reports-strong-first-month-of-recreational-cannabis-sales/ (accessed Sep 4, 2025).
4. Colli, M. Legal adult-use cannabis sales launch in Delaware beginning today https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/legal-adult-use-cannabis-sales-launch-in-delaware-beginning-today (accessed Aug 6, 2025).
5. Colli, M. Delaware generates more than $900K in recreational cannabis sales on it’s first weekend https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/delaware-generates-more-than-900k-in-recreational-cannabis-sales-on-its-first-weekend (accessed Aug 7, 2025).