It is truly an amazing time to be alive if you are a cannabis consumer in a state where cannabis sales are legal. Whereas in the past you likely had to wait in a grocery store parking lot to make an unregulated purchase in the dark, literally risking your freedom in many instances, now you can go to a cannabis dispensary that sells regulated products at a fixed, brightly lit location during set business hours. Some of them even offer delivery!
Anyone that has visited a reputable dispensary knows that the available product options these days are significant. In addition to dozens (if not hundreds) of strains of flower, reputable dispensaries also offer a robust line of edibles, balms, lotions, transdermal patches, concentrates, vape pen cartridges, and many other things to choose from. When it comes to cannabis sales totals, certain days of the year are much more popular compared to the rest of the calendar year.
Which Days In 2021 Did U.S. Consumers Purchase The Most Cannabis?
Akerna is a business intelligence firm and has one of the largest seed-to-sale footprints in the cannabis industry, operating in 15 countries and 23 U.S. states. According to Akerna, below are the top days of the year for legal cannabis sales in the United States:
- 420 / April 20th: $111.8 million
- Black Friday / November 26th: $99 million
- Green Wednesday / November 24th: $98.2 million
- Thursday before Christmas / December 23rd: $94 million
- Friday before Labor Day / September 3rd: $90.1 million
“When comparing the top sales day of 2021 to the top sales day of 2020, 2021 saw a 25% increase in sales,” said James Ahrendt, Business Intelligence Architect at Akerna. “Last year’s top sales day – December 31st, 2020 – wouldn’t have even made it on the top five chart in 2021.”
“We’ve diligently been tracking legal cannabis sales for over a decade and have seen constant growth each year, even amid the ongoing pandemic,” said Jessica Billingsley, Akerna CEO. “Whether people are turning towards cannabis to celebrate holidays, for its countless medical benefits, or as an alternative to other substances, it’s clear that Americans are increasingly purchasing cannabis each year.”
Which Days Will Be The Biggest For U.S. Cannabis Sales In 2022?
It will be very interesting to see how these numbers from 2021 compare to the eventual top 5 days for 2022. With every passing year, the legal cannabis industry increases in size in the United States, and 2022 will be no different. Several states are expected to launch their own adult-use sales in 2022, and many states that were already permitting sales will see their industries continue to grow throughout this year.
Will the same five days from 2021 be the biggest days for sales in 2022? It depends on a number of factors, although at least some of them are sure to remain on the list, including and especially April 20th. It is surprising to see that July 10th (or ‘7/10’) did not make the list. 7/10 is the unofficial holiday for cannabis concentrate enthusiasts, with the number 710 turned upside down reading as ‘oil’ which is a nickname for cannabis concentrates.
It is tough to say exactly what the future will hold for the emerging cannabis industry in the United States and beyond, however, it’s a safe bet to assume that it will continue to grow at a rapid pace. Every year should see increasing numbers in most states for the foreseeable future. As the industry continues to evolve, consumer habits could also evolve which could result in a shift in the most popular calendar days for cannabis sales. Only time will tell!