WILMINGTON, Del. (KYW Newsradio) — Friday is the first day of recreational marijuana sales in Delaware, and customers young and old lined up outside dispensaries to make their first legal purchases.
People 21 and older are now allowed to buy marijuana at 12 stores. Five of them are in New Castle County.
There is a 15% sales tax for adult-use cannabis. Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer said it will be a new source of money for schools, infrastructure and public health, as well as a “powerful tool” to address “past wrongs ... in the communities most impacted by the war on drugs.”
Medical marijuana is not taxed.
“Today’s launch of adult-use cannabis sales by Delaware’s existing medical operators is an important milestone in the rollout of the state’s regulated cannabis market,” Marijuana Commissioner Joshua Sanderlin said in a statement.
Additional licensees are expected to open in the coming months.
Bob Foraker is 60, and he’s been waiting his whole adult life to be able to buy recreational marijuana in his home state of Delaware.
“We’ve been going out of state for a while, which probably isn’t the best idea to do sometimes, but I’m glad to see the money’s now gonna stay in my own state,” he said outside a dispensary Friday morning.
The state has pushed back the start of recreational sales since it was legalized in 2023.
“I don’t understand what the problem was all this time,” said Foraker. “I personally don’t see what the harm is. I personally feel that alcohol is more of a harm.”
“I would assume crime rate’s gonna go down,” said another customer, Kevin. “Cops … be a little less busy. They can focus on things that matter more.
“Probably help these local businesses too. You can go in here and then go get a sub.”