In fewer than three years since recreational cannabis dispensaries opened in Massachusetts, gross sales have surpassed $2 billion, regulators announced Wednesday.

At the close of business Tuesday, the state's mandatory seed-to-sale tracking system showed that sales had reached $2,009,007,478, according to the state Cannabis Control Commission.

"This milestone speaks to the success of licensees that have interacted with the Commission from the application stage, maintained compliance with our strict regulations, and contribute every day to communities across the Commonwealth. This number also underscores the entire agency's tireless efforts, particularly those of our hardworking staff, to thoughtfully regulate a safe, accessible, and effective adult-use marketplace that keeps critical tenets of our mission – public health, public safety, and equity, among others – front of mind," said Commission Executive Director Shawn Collins.

That milestone comes less than a year after the state passed the $1 billion mark on Nov. 3, 2020.

Massachusetts has 165 cannabis retailers and three delivery businesses currently in operation. The first adult-use stores in Massachusetts opened in November 2018, which were also the first on the entire East Coast.

From November 2018 to November 2019, the first year of recreational sales, 33 retailers generated $393.7 million in gross sales. For the full calendar year of 2019, licensees tallied $444.9 million, the commission said. [Read more at MassLive.com]