Delaware medical marijuana businesses get OK to convert to adult use

Existing medical marijuana businesses in Delaware will be allowed to convert to adult-use sales under a bill signed into law by the governor.

Conversion licenses will cost $200,000, but they’ll allow recreational cannabis sales to begin in the state in time for a promised 2025 launch date, Delaware Business Now reported.

That goal already represents a delay.

November 2024 was set as the initial launch date when Gov. Jay Carney allowed adult-use legislation to become law last year.

Initially, state Marijuana Commissioner Robert Coupe was reluctant to allow the state’s existing 13 MMJ dispensaries to convert to adult use over supply-chain fears.

Critics said that allowing MMJ companies to convert to adult use would harm small businesses and discourage minority operators from entering the industry, Newark-based Delaware Business Now noted.

Existing operators include New York-based marijuana multistate operator The Cannabist Co., which has three locations in Delaware.

License applications for other would-be entrants are supposed to be available by this fall.

There are only roughly 27,000 MMJ patients in Delaware, according to state data.