ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Comptroller’s Office reported on March 13, 2025, that the state collected over $72 million in tax revenue from adult-use cannabis sales throughout 2024, with the final quarter (October-December) contributing $17.6 million. The Central Region—spanning Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties—led the state, generating $8.2 million in the last three months, reflecting its dominance across all four quarters.
Adult-use cannabis carries a 9% sales tax, enacted under the Cannabis Reform Act of 2023, with the Comptroller’s Office tasked with collection and distribution. The year’s haul, totaling $72,934,285, marks a significant revenue stream since recreational sales began July 1, 2023. Quarterly figures fluctuated: $14.7 million in January-March, a peak of $22.4 million in April-June, $18.3 million in July-September, and $17.6 million to close the year. The Central Region’s consistent lead underscores its role as Maryland’s cannabis hub, home to over half the state’s 96 dispensaries, per Maryland Cannabis Administration data.
The law allocates funds strategically. For the fourth quarter, $6.8 million supports the Maryland Cannabis Administration’s operations. The remaining $10.8 million splits across key areas: $3.8 million (35%) to the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund for communities hit hard by past cannabis prohibition; $541,703 (5%) to counties based on local revenue shares, with half redistributed to municipalities hosting dispensaries; $541,703 (5%) to the Cannabis Public Health Fund for health impacts; $541,703 (5%) to the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund aiding small, minority-, and women-owned firms through 2028; and $5.4 million to the General Fund.
Maryland’s 2024 take aligns with a maturing market. The $72.9 million exceeds the $63.7 million from the first year of legalization (July 2023-June 2024), per prior Comptroller reports, though growth slowed from spring’s 52% quarterly jump. The state’s 9% tax—matching alcohol but below some states like Washington’s 37%, per Tax Foundation data—balances revenue with accessibility. Detailed breakdowns are available at marylandtaxes.gov/cannabis/reports.php, while cannabis.maryland.gov offers safe-use resources. As Maryland faces a $3 billion budget gap, per state projections, this steady flow offers a fiscal lifeline.
