By Monterey Bud

 

New figures from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) indicate that marijuana sales plateaued during the month of April, the most recent month for which data is available.

Purchased in 444 marijuana dispensary/retail shops, April’s total marijuana sales represent just under 21,000 pounds sold.

Thus far, dispensaries in Washington State have sold more than $1,126,506,915 worth of marijuana since their program first rolled out in 2014. According to the LCB, April was the second-most lucrative month for total marijuana sales since Washington first passed Initiative 502.

April’s receipts were down roughly $5.5 million in total marijuana sales on a month-over-month basis. Selling approximately $119,326,591.91 worth of Washington State chronic, the state generated approximately $27,436,004 in excise tax.

Higher in March, April’s marijuana sales represent the ninth consecutive month shops in Washington State have sold over $100 million of marijuana.

By 2016, the state’s marijuana excise tax had generated approximately $256 million to help fund public health programs, substance abuse programs, community health centers, and the state’s general fund.

Harvesting a little more than $400 million for the Evergreen State since 2014, Washington’s ‘Top Retailer Counties’ were King County, Pierce County, Spokane County, Snohomish County, Clark County, Thurston County and Kitsap County.

While the Trump administration’s proposed budget threatens to slash health care and educational funding from coast-to-coast, this new revenue source from the legal marijuana market represents a financial savior for states and local municipalities seeking to fund their many essential programs.