The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation has released its first quarter performance, boasting some impressive numbers for the sale of alcohol and cannabis.

The NLC says alcohol sales for the first quarter were $71.8-million, which is up 9.1 per cent with increases in all categories.

Compared with first quarter sales from last year, spirits sales were up 2.1 per cent, wine increased by 5.3 per cent, ready-to-drink jumped by just over 19 per cent, and beer sold through NLC corporate stores increased by 39 per cent.

As well, the sale of cannabis has skyrocketed in comparison to the first quarter of last year. Retail cannabis sales so far this year total $15.3-million, an increase of 73 per cent.

Commissions earned through licensed cannabis retailers totaled $4.6-million in Q1, an increase of 98.6 per cent from last year.

Further to that, the NLC says that on June 1, as part of an annual price adjustment, cannabis prices decreased by seven per cent, which they say helps them combat the illegal cannabis sales.