JLARC: Washington likely produced two to three times more cannabis than sold in 2023; data gaps limit analysis

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee received a preliminary report May 14 finding that Washington likely produced substantially more cannabis in 2023 than licensed retailers sold, and that unreliable state data limit regulators’ ability to measure and respond to market conditions.

JLARC staff Susanna Pratt and Andrew Hap presented RAND Corporation estimates that 2023 production of THC from Washington producers ranged from about 292,000 to 434,000 pounds of THC, while licensed retail sales equated to about 39,000 pounds of THC; estimated resident consumption ranged from about 46,000 to 249,000 pounds of THC. RAND’s best estimate was that production exceeded sales by roughly two to three times, but staff emphasized substantial uncertainty in the numbers because of incomplete reporting.

The Liquor and Cannabis Board’s (LCB) current cannabis reporting system (CCRS) does not capture all retail sales and lacks reliable wholesale weight and product THC content data, JLARC found. Staff and RAND said the incomplete linking of inventory, product characteristics, and sales prevents LCB…