Delaware’s First Recreational Marijuana Shops Are Officially Open For Business

Delaware’s first adult-use marijuana shops are officially open for business, with a handful of existing medical cannabis operators now able to service consumers 21 and older.

About two years after marijuana legalization was enacted into law, Delaware is now seeing its first round of adult customers at over 10 locations throughout the state.

“Today’s launch of adult-use cannabis sales by Delaware’s existing medical operators is an important milestone in the rollout of the state’s regulated cannabis market,” Marijuana Commissioner Joshua Sanderlin said in a press release. “We’re grateful to all who have worked hard to make this moment possible and remain focused on bringing additional licensees online in the months ahead.”

Sanderlin made the first legal purchase of adult-use marijuana from Thrive Cannabis Dispensary in Wilmington on Friday.

Delaware’s marijuana commissioner makes the first legal purchase of recreational marijuana in the state. You must be at least 21 to buy & you don’t have to be a DE resident. You can’t use any products out in public. Hear from some of the first customers today @CBSPhiladelphia. pic.twitter.com/2Wquzy4zB7

— Brandon Goldner (@GoldnerTV) August 1, 2025

Ahead of the sales roll-out, Gov. Matt Meyer (D) on Wednesday toured one of the state’s cannabis cultivation facilities, praising the quality of marijuana that’s being produced, which he said will be the “French wine of weed.”

The launch of the legal market comes amid some controversy, however, with critics alleging that allowing medical operators to start adult-use sales ahead of other license applicants is unfair. There’s also ongoing tension between state and local officials over who will ultimately control zoning rules for the new industry—a dispute that could have major implications for the rollout of future stores.

Dozens of other would-be retailers that have either already received licenses or are still awaiting issuance will need to wait for further regulatory approvals until they can open their doors—a situation that’s frustrated some advocates.

“The OMC has worked closely with our medical marijuana operators to ensure a smooth transition to the adult-use market,” said Deputy Marijuana Commissioner Paul Hyland said. “Their ability to convert licenses has been instrumental in fast-tracking this launch. As more licensees join in the coming months, we will continue to focus on expanding access responsibly and fostering the growth of a strong and diverse marijuana industry in Delaware.”

Eventually 30 stores are planned across the state, including 14 in New Castle County, 10 in Sussex County and six in Kent County.

As for zoning restrictions for the stores, the governor said earlier this month that there’s a tension between two competing priorities when it comes to a marijuana-related zoning proposal, SB 75, that’s currently awaiting action on his desk.

The bill would overrule local zoning authority and make it easier for cannabis businesses to set up shop.

On one hand, the governor said he’d like to roll out the state’s legal cannabis program as quickly as possible. On the other, as a former county executive, he said it’s important municipal governments retain control over local land use decisions.

Meyer could sign the bill into law, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. Notably in 2023, then-Gov. John Carney (D) let HB 1 and HB 2—which legalized and regulated adult-use cannabis in Delaware—to become law without his signature.

Two lawmakers who led the push to legalize marijuana are separately seeking input from consumers and businesses about the market launch. Paradee, the sponsor of SB 75, and House Majority Whip Rep. Ed Osienski (D)—the primary sponsor of the state’s 2023 legalization bills—put out a new online form this month for residents to share thoughts and feedback about the cannabis program anonymously.

The idea is to identify any hiccups that lawmakers might need to address when they return for next year’s legislative session.

The state’s Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OCM) initially projected that recreational sales would start by March, but complications related to securing an FBI fingerprint background check service code delayed the implementation. Lawmakers passed a bill in April to resolve the issue, and the FBI subsequently issued the code that the stat’s marijuana law requires.

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Late last year, OMC held a series of licensing lotteries for cannabis business to start serving adult consumers.

A total of 125 licenses will ultimately be issued, including 30 retailers, 60 cultivators, 30 manufacturers and five testing labs. Last year, regulators also detailed what portion of each category is reserved for social equity applicants, microbusinesses and general open licenses.

Regulators have also been rolling out a series of proposed regulations to stand up the forthcoming adult-use cannabis industry.

Meanwhile, Carney raised eyebrows in January after making a questionable claim that “nobody” wants cannabis shops in their neighborhoods, even if there’s consensus that criminalization doesn’t work.

The then-governor last year signed several additional marijuana bills into law, including measures that would allow existing medical cannabis businesses in the state to begin recreational sales on an expedited basis, transfer regulatory authority for the medical program and make technical changes to marijuana statutes.

The dual licensing legislation is meant to allow recreational sales to begin months earlier than planned, though critics say the legislation would give an unfair market advantage to larger, more dominant businesses already operating in multiple states.

In October, Carney also gave final approval to legislation to enact state-level protections for banks that provide services to licensed marijuana businesses.

Delaware’s medical marijuana program is also being significantly expanded under a law that officially took effect last July.

The policy change removes limitations for patient eligibility based on a specific set of qualifying health conditions. Instead, doctors will be able to issue cannabis recommendations for any condition they see fit.

The law also allows patients over the age of 65 to self-certify for medical cannabis access without the need for a doctor’s recommendation.