Statewide cannabis sales have been sluggish of late, with August reporting the lowest sales totals to date.
Arizona cannabis consumers will soon have a new option if they don’t feel like leaving home but want to spark a pre-rolled joint. Starting Friday, they’ll be able to order recreational marijuana from the comfort of their homes.
That’s when a new policy adopted by the state Department of Health Services will go into effect, allowing all recreational marijuana retailers to conduct home deliveries, instead of the previous policy under which only medical marijuana was allowed to be delivered.
Home delivery of marijuana is huge in California, but it’s been slow to catch on in most other state markets.
The move is a welcome one for the state cannabis industry, and the Arizona Dispensary Association said in a press release that the new policy is a “significant step forward for Arizona’s marijuana market and consumer accessibility.”
The trade group also noted that the state implemented the policy months ahead of schedule, given that the original deadline for recreational cannabis deliveries to be permitted was New Year’s Day this upcoming January.
“We are thrilled that the Department of Health’s proactive approach and commitment to implementing a well-thought-out delivery program has helped us reach this landmark moment sooner than expected,” Ann Torrez, the executive director of the dispensary association, said in a release.
There are currently 161 recreational marijuana dispensaries operating in Arizona, according to the AZDHS website.
The market has been losing steam of late, and it’s possible that new delivery options could help retailers boost their sales numbers and reach more customers. August marijuana sales in Arizona totaled just $83.7 million, including $66.9 million in recreational sales and another $16.8 million in medical, with both tallies the lowest monthly sales figures for the entire calendar year to date, according to statistics from the state Department of Revenue.
