Welcome to the August 2026 installment of the East Coast 8th Index, powered by Lit Alerts. Each month, Lit Alerts gathers and reports retail menu pricing across key legal cannabis markets along the Eastern Seaboard to establish a clear benchmark for the most universally recognizable packaged flower unit: the 3.5g “eighth”.
By observing price developments across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and Massachusetts, our index provides operators, brands, and analysts with actionable insights into market maturity, supply chain trends, and price compression.
August delivered a captivating chapter in regional market dynamics: New York and New Jersey continued their high-stakes game of price leapfrog, multiple states established fresh historical floors, and regional price averages stabilized even as individual markets shifted beneath the surface.
August 2026 Index Summary
New York Reclaims Top Spot: New York ($37.16) reclaimed its position as the highest-priced market in the index after a modest $0.18 month-over-month increase.
New Jersey Hits New Historic Low: New Jersey dropped $0.49 month-over-month to land at $36.74, establishing a new all-time low for the Garden State and relinquishing the top price spot.
Connecticut Reaches Index Floor: Connecticut extended its downward trajectory, dropping $0.21 to hit a new all-time index low of $32.03.
Maryland Bounces Back: Maryland reversed its July dip, ticking up by $0.41 to $33.15 per eighth.
Massachusetts Flatline: Massachusetts remained ultra-stable, inching up just $0.09 to $23.10 per eighth as the region’s established budget benchmark.
The NY vs. NJ Leadership Ping-Pong
The most notable trend over the summer of 2026 has been the ongoing battle between New York and New Jersey for the title of the region’s most expensive flower market.
For the first eight months of index tracking (August 2025 through April 2026), New Jersey maintained an uninterrupted lead as the highest-priced market, topping out at an index high of $44.46. However, over the past four months, the two tri-state neighbors have traded the lead back and forth in a month-by-month market ping-pong:
May 2026: New York ($37.66) overtook New Jersey ($37.22) for the first time.
June 2026: New York ($37.39) held the lead over New Jersey ($37.09).
July 2026: New Jersey ($37.23) surged back ahead of New York ($36.98).
August 2026: New York ($37.16) climbed $0.18 while New Jersey ($36.74) fell $0.49, putting Empire State dispensaries back on top.
This tight price parity demonstrates how closely aligned these two adjacent markets have become. As wholesale supply scales up and new retail doors open across both states, pricing is converging into a tight $36–$37 band.
Fresh All-Time Lows in New Jersey and Connecticut
While New York saw a minor price bounce, August brought new historical price floors for both New Jersey and Connecticut.
New Jersey’s drop to $36.74 marks its lowest point in the history of the data. Overall, the Garden State has experienced a cumulative 17.36% price reduction from its peak of $44.46 in August 2025.
Connecticut similarly set a new baseline at $32.03 per eighth. Following July’s steep $1.65 market shift, Connecticut continued its descent with an additional $0.21 drop in August. Since its peak of $38.77 in October 2025, Connecticut flower prices have compressed by 17.38%, representing the single largest percentage decline among all tracked East Coast markets.
Mid-Tier Rebounds & The Massachusetts Benchmark
Maryland: Maryland recorded the largest upward move of any state in August, gaining $0.41 to land at $33.15. After reaching its all-time low of $32.74 in July, Maryland operators adjusted promotional tiers, restoring prices closer to its spring baseline.
Massachusetts: Massachusetts registered a minimal $0.09 change to sit at $23.10. As the region’s most mature market, Massachusetts continues to demonstrate how flower prices stabilize within narrow trading ranges once cultivation and retail density reach full saturation.
Cumulative 12-Month Market Performance
Comparing current August 2026 data against initial metrics from late summer 2025 highlights the extent of long-term regional price compression:
Connecticut: -17.38% from peak ($38.77 down to $32.03)
New Jersey: -17.36% from peak ($44.46 down to $36.74)
Maryland: -7.30% from peak ($35.76 down to $33.15)
New York: -6.47% from peak ($39.73 down to $37.16)
Massachusetts: -5.79% from peak ($24.52 down to $23.10)
Coming Soon: Expanding the 8th Index in September
As the legal East Coast market expands, so does Lit Alerts. Starting with our upcoming September 2026 update, we are officially broadening the scope of the East Coast 8th Index.
We will be adding new state markets to our coverage, delivering even greater visibility into regional pricing trends, product category benchmarking, and retail competitive analysis. Stay tuned for next month’s report to see where the new markets rank alongside our core five states!
It’s important to note that this analysis focuses on the most popular flower package as a proxy for broader pricing trends.
For more pricing info and comprehensive market analytics, schedule a demo or sign up for a 30-day free trial to Lit Alerts today.
