Decline in Medical Cannabis Patients Following Adult-Use Market Launches

LOS ANGELES– Recent data from New Jersey and New Mexico has highlighted a significant decrease in the number of registered medical cannabis patients, coinciding with the establishment of adult-use cannabis markets in these states. Reports indicate that in New Jersey, the count of medical cannabis patients has dropped from a peak of approximately 129,000 in May 2022 to about 80,000 as of mid-April 2023. This decline follows the state’s launch of its recreational cannabis market in April 2021.

Similarly, New Mexico has experienced a decline in its medical cannabis patient registry, with numbers falling from over 100,000 to just above 80,000 within the past year. Both states initiated their recreational cannabis sales in April 2022.

This trend is not isolated to New Jersey and New Mexico; it mirrors patterns observed in various states across the U.S. following the introduction of adult-use cannabis markets. Many former medical cannabis users are transitioning to recreational purchases, likely due to the simpler acquisition process that bypasses the need for medical approvals and registrations. This shift has also impacted medical cannabis sales, which in New Jersey alone dropped from $226 million in 2022 to $124 million in the following year, even as recreational sales surged to $675 million in 2023.

The transformation in cannabis market dynamics underscores the broader implications of introducing adult-use cannabis sales, particularly how they influence medical cannabis programs and patient registrations.