Massachusetts Tops $9 Billion in Cannabis Sales, Eyes Cultivation License Freeze

BOSTON – Massachusetts adult-use Cannabis retailers have surpassed $9 billion in gross sales since the market launched in late 2018, according to the state’s Cannabis Control Commission. The milestone was reached on February 4, driven in part by a surge in purchases ahead of a major January snowstorm that prompted high-volume buying at stores and delivery services.

The commission’s Open Data Platform shows that sales on January 23 and 24 alone before the storm contributed significantly, with daily figures exceeding those recorded the previous year’s 4/20. Through early February, monthly sales continued at a strong pace, building on 2025’s total of more than $1.65 billion despite ongoing price declines.

The achievement reflects sustained consumer demand in one of the country’s more mature legal markets. However, the same data highlights challenges for operators. Average retail prices for flower have fallen sharply – an ounce dropped to a record low of $113.68 in December, compared with $401.43 in December 2020. Industry participants attribute the compression to increased supply from expanded cultivation capacity, which stands higher per capita than in many other states.

In response, the Cannabis Control Commission voted last week to schedule a public hearing on a potential temporary freeze on new cultivation licenses and a moratorium on approving additional canopy space. Commissioners directed staff to organize the session, likely within the next 30 days, to gather testimony from stakeholders on the proposal and possibly on pauses for other license types. Pending applications would continue to be processed under any such measure.

The discussion comes as the commission advances other rules, including those for social consumption sites, while seeking ways to support existing businesses facing margin pressure from oversupply. No decision has been made on implementing a freeze, and the hearing will inform whether and how to proceed.

Massachusetts remains a key performer in the national Cannabis sector, with total sales growth outpacing price erosion through higher volumes. The outcome of the commission’s review could influence supply dynamics and operator viability in the months ahead.

For the meantime, the combination of robust cumulative revenue and proactive regulatory consideration of supply controls underscores a market at a point of adjustment rather than crisis. Sustained sales momentum suggests underlying strength, while measured steps to address pricing could help maintain long-term stability for participants.

Image: Vecteezy/Asterios Zervos, Massachusetts State’s emblem courtesy of Anderson Design Group