Vapes Crush Flower: California Cannabis Market Flips in Historic Shift

For the First Time Ever, Californians Now Spend More on Vapes Than Bud

July 2025 will go down in history.
In the biggest legal cannabis market on Earth, vape cartridges officially overtook flower as the number-one way adults get high.

Metrc track-and-trace numbers released by the California Department of Cannabis Control show licensed dispensaries sold $117.8 million worth of vape products in July, edging out flower at $113.2 million. By December, the gap exploded: vapes hit $124.4 million while flower dropped to $107.6 million.

This is not a blip. This is the new king.

How Fast the Switch Happened Will Shock You

The crossover was sudden and brutal for flower lovers.

In January 2025, flower still led by $25 million a month.
Twelve months later, vapes now outsell flower by nearly $17 million every single month, a complete reversal in less than a year.

Pre-rolls held strong at $64.7 million in December, but even they sit miles behind vapes. Edibles brought in $45.6 million and concentrates barely cracked $29.2 million.

Why Vapes Won the Wallet of California

Convenience is crushing everything else.

Most adults who use cannabis daily now work regular jobs, have kids, or simply don’t want their car, clothes, or apartment smelling like weed. Vapes deliver instant, powerful effects with zero smell and zero prep time.

Price per high has also flipped. Many top-shelf vape carts now sell for $20-$30 after tax on promos, delivering 100-150 hits. That math beats premium flower for a huge chunk of consumers.

Discreet public use sealed the deal. You can hit a vape pen on a hike, at a concert, or during a quick break at work without anyone noticing.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: December 2025 Breakdown

Here’s exactly where consumer dollars went last month in California’s legal stores:

• Vape cartridges & disposables — $124.4 million
• Flower — $107.6 million
• Pre-rolls — $64.7 million
• Edibles — $45.6 million
• Concentrates & extracts — $29.2 million

Total legal adult-use and medical sales topped $420 million in December alone, proving the market keeps growing even as flower takes a backseat.

What This Means for Growers, Brands, and Everyday Smokers

Legacy outdoor farmers who spent decades perfecting sungrown flower are feeling the squeeze hardest. Many report 30-40% drops in wholesale prices since summer as dispensaries stock fewer bulk pounds.

Indoor craft growers still move top-tier buds to loyal buyers, but the middle shelf is getting crushed. Stores now dedicate prime shelf space to sleek vape displays instead of glass jars.

For consumers, the shift brings both wins and warnings. Vape prices keep falling and flavors keep improving, but health officials continue to urge caution after the 2019 lung-injury crisis that killed dozens nationwide.

The message from California’s 2025 numbers is crystal clear: the days of flower automatically ruling the shelf are over. The vape era has arrived, and it doesn’t look like it’s leaving anytime soon.

This historic flip is blowing up across social media right now. Search #VapesOverFlower or #CaliforniaWeedShift and you’ll see smokers, growers, and investors arguing about what comes next.