TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Local cannabis dispensaries around town have been gearing up for the unofficial marijuana holiday that happens to be on Easter.
But this year, those sales are needed more than ever.
Arizona’s cannabis industry has recorded its second year of declining sales.
When marijuana was legalized in Arizona in 2020 with the Safe and Smart Act, it grew for the first two years of it’s adoption. Now, it’s a different story with medical and recreational sales dropping, but whether that’s just the nature of a maturing market or popularity of the product going down, businesses are having to adjust, and other solutions are coming to the forefront.
Earth’s Healing has been around for almost 12 years, seeing a lot of the ups and downs of the new industry as a seller and a grower.
“We grow a lot of our own products, we have concentrated brands, vape brands, as well as our own flower brands,” Earth’s Healing operations director Michael Shu said.
They’ve experienced first-hand this 14% drop from sales in 2022 for marijuana.
“We noticed that as well, but with that, I believe that with any maturing market there usually is a decline, but with that it really gives Earth’s Healing and us an opportunity to change operational strategies and innovate as well as connect with customers a little bit more to figure out what they’re wanting,” Shu said.
What are they doing with all that extra product being grown in the state? Their solution is looking to expand.
“We’re emerging into the Phoenix market, we have quite a lot of product to be able to share to that market and be able to get into companies and stores up there,” Shu said.
Another emerging option is a little bit closer to home with the Old Pueblo Hemp Company. Owner Micaela Machado knew after holding a hemp block in her hand for the first time… this was an opportunity waiting to be used.
“You should be building with hemp and so I took that message and now I’m running with it,” Machado said.
Her goal is to educate growers and constructors on the business and sustainable opportunities for the popular plant beyond recreation – replacing plastic, paper, and even home building materials.
“We’re replacing our nasty, toxic fiberglass, our drywall and our paint, with a monolithic, hemp wall, that has great thermal value, is non-toxic, and is super sustainable,” Machado said.
Using a natural product that she believes was made for people to use beyond just celebrating the unofficial high holiday.
“There is a lot of organic waste from the marijuana industry that can absolutely be used as healthy natural home building materials,” Machado said. “And so we’ve got to find a way to get our hands on that.”
Recreational marijuana also brings a crucial excise tax for the state. The revenue raised by that tax is dedicated to community college, public safety, the Arizona Highway User Revenue Fund and justice reinvestment fund, which helps communities that have been impacted the most by marijuana arrests and criminalization.
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Local cannabis dispensaries around town have been gearing up for the unofficial marijuana holiday. But this year, those sales are needed more than ever. Read More
