The reality of recreational marijuana retail continues to inch closer in Delaware, and there is already high demand.
The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner received over 1,260 applications for marijuana business licenses between when the application period opened on Aug. 19 and when it closed on Sept. 30.
The office made over $4 million on these applications alone. Open applications cost $5,000, and micro applications cost $3,000. All of the social equity applications cost $1,000.
The applications will mostly be approved by a lottery, the first one coming on Oct. 24 for cultivation licenses. All applications are currently under review to ensure they meet the qualifications.
Marijuana Commissioner Rob Coupe said the number of applications exceeded his expectations.
“It looks like the word got out and yes, the response was very significant,” Coupe said.
More than half of the applications were for either “Open Retailer” and “Social Equity Retailer.” Open retailers are for anyone, anywhere.