We use cookies for certain features and to improve your experience. See our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy to learn more

Leafly

Shop legal, local weed.

Open
advertise on Leafly
ShopDeliveryDispensariesDealsStrainsBrandsProductsCBDDoctorsCannabis 101Social impact
  • Sign in
  • Create account
  • Strains
  • Shop
  • Shop
  • Delivery
  • Deals
  • Dispensaries
  • CBD Stores
  • Brands
  • Products
  • Learn
  • Cannabis 101
  • News
  • Leafly Learn
  • Science of cannabis
  • Doctors
  • Social impact
  • Lab partners
  • Download the Leafly App
  • Advertise on Leafly
    • Leafly.comUSA flag
    • Leafly.caCanadian flag
    • Leafly.deGerman flag
  • Help
  • News
  • Cannabis 101
  • Growing
  • Strains & products
  • CBD
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science & tech
  • Industry
  • Reports
  • Canada
  • Podcasts
  • Leafly Lists
Industry

Washington Is Overtaking Colorado in Cannabis Sales

Gage PeakePublished on February 10, 2017 · Last updated July 28, 2020
An ATM sits next to a rack of marijuana clone plants that are used to grow medical marijuana, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, at The Joint, a medical marijuana cooperative in Seattle. Washington became the second U.S. state to adopt rules for the recreational sale of marijuana Wednesday, but currently, many banks will not due business with marijuana dispensaries, due to fear of violating federal laws. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The Colorado Department of Revenue just released its end of the year cannabis sales data for 2016. (Actually the state only releases its tax revenue data. We did the math to figure out total sales.) After adding December’s total, the annual sales figure for the Rocky Mountain State came in at $1,269,822,379.31.

Washington state recorded $1,109,088,781.00 in sales for the same year.

Hidden in those annual figures, though, is an interesting trend. Over the past three months, Washington has quietly overtaken Colorado as the nation’s leading legal cannabis state, in terms of monthly sales. Colorado sales in October, November, and December were $114 million, $103 million, and $111 million, respectively. During those same months Washington recorded $115 million, $112 million, and $112 million in sales.

What happened? Medical sales. Prior to July 2016, medical sales in Washington state were not reported to the state Liquor and Cannabis Board. On July 1, 2016, all medical sales were moved into state-licensed adult use stores, where they were reported as part of total cannabis sales. Those medical sales had been happening all the while; they just hadn’t been reported to the state prior to July 1.

The graph below shows cannabis sales since that date.

Since the integration of medical with adult-use last summer, Washington state cannabis sales consistently topped $110 million. Prior to that, the state’s cannabis industry had never reached $100 million in sales in a month.

Colorado still has Washington beat on one score. With 5.5 million people–compared to Washington’s 7.3 million–Colorado remains the undisputed champion in per capita sales.

Related Stories

How to Scale a Cannabis Grow image
Growing
How to Scale a Cannabis Grow
Brett Konen

Shop highly rated dispensaries near you

Showing you dispensaries near
See all dispensaries
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • See all dispensaries
See all dispensaries
cannabis salesColoradodatataxesWashington
Gage Peake
Gage Peake
Gage Peake is a former staff writer for Leafly, where he specialized in data journalism, sports, and breaking news coverage. He's a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
View Gage Peake's articles

The latest in Industry

  • Delivered Inc.: A dispensary at your doorstep image
    Delivered Inc.: A dispensary at your doorstep
    Leafly Staff
  • Green Flash: Delivering Boston’s cannabis future image
    Green Flash: Delivering Boston’s cannabis future
    Leafly Staff
  • Celebrate 420 weekend with cannabis, community, and creativity at MARY FEST NYC image
    Celebrate 420 weekend with cannabis, community, and creativity at MARY FEST NYC
    Leafly Staff
  • America’s top cannabis events of 4/20 2025 image
    America’s top cannabis events of 4/20 2025
    Amelia Williams
Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.



Stay In Touch

Receive updates on new products, special offers, and industry news.

Something went wrong, please try again.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Leafly mobile app
Get high for less.
Download the Leafly app.
Download Leafly: Marijuana Reviews on the App StoreDownload Leafly Marijuana Reviews on Google Play

Business Solutions
  • List your store
  • List your CBD store
  • List your brand
  • List your practice
  • Business log in

About Leafly
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Investor relations
  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Accessibility

Dispensaries in
  • Los Angeles
  • Seattle
  • Portland
  • San Francisco
  • Toronto
  • Detroit

Privacy & Terms
  • Terms of use
  • Commercial terms of use
  • Privacy policy
  • Do not sell my personal information

* Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for individual medical advice.


© 2025 Leafly, LLC
Leafly and the Leafly logo are registered trademarks of Leafly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.