New data shows that as masses of cannabis partakers across the United States celebrated with their favorite cannabinoid-based products over the recent Labor Day weekend, cannabis sales during the holiday weekend also achieved a new high.
Denver-based cannabis technology and software company Akerna on Tuesday revealed that sales of medicinal and adult-use cannabis during the 2020 Labor Day weekend together experienced a 23 percent increase compared to 2019, totaling $245 million.
While the overall increase was not as significant as in previous years, Akerna reports that sales of adult-use cannabis alone increased 35 percent over the weekend.
According to Business Intelligence Analyst Ryan Ballman, the COVID-19 situation in 2020 has led to more widespread and frequent cannabis use, softening the usual increase in cannabis sales during the Labor Day weekend.
“Though we saw a smaller increase in cannabis sales than in previous years, that was due in part to increased cannabis sales throughout the year,” says Ballman. “Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, people are purchasing more cannabis than in previous years. Consequently, we do not see as significant a rise in holiday cannabis sales.”
While Friday, September 4, was the biggest sales day of the weekend, with a year-over-year increase of 36 percent, Sunday had the largest uptick at 43%.
Saturday also saw a 36 percent increase in sales from the previous year.
The only day of the long weekend that showed a drop in sales was Labor Day itself, with an 8 percent decrease in sales from 2019.
According to Akerna’s data, 47.4 percent of sales were for cannabis flower, 29.6 percent were for vape cartridges or pens, 12.9 percent were for concentrates, 8.3 percent were for edibles, and 1.8 percent were for other products.
Customers between 30 and 40 years of age comprised the largest group of dispensary patrons over the Labor Day weekend at 30 percent, tied with the under-30 group of customers.
