Six States Declare Marijuana Dispensaries "Essential Businesses", Exempting Them From Lockdown
Nothing says we're coming together and collectively fighting a respiratory disease quite like keeping dispensaries open so people can smoke.
And that seems to be exactly the case, as dispensaries across the U.S. appear to be staying open alongside of other essential businesses, like gas stations and grocery stores. More than six states over the past week have agreed that pot shops and medical marijuana dispensaries could stay open, according to the NY Times.
It's official recognition for how important marijuana has become for some. Many in states like California, Oregon and Michigan have rushed to stock up on cannabis, along with their other regularly used household goods. Even Massachusetts has exempted dispensaries from its statewide shut down.
Liz Connors, director of analytics at Headset, a cannabis market research company, said purchases of edibles have surged only to levels seen on April 20 each year. She said women and young people accounted for the push in sales growth.
Connors said: “It shows that a lot of people think cannabis is just another consumer good, like beer or wine. It’s probably the easiest way to get high without touching your face very much.”
On Monday, Denver's mayor issued the exemption for marijuana shops after there was an outcry in the city upon his first attempt to shut them down. In Pennsylvania, dispensaries have remained open even though liquor stores were ordered to be closed. States like New York have decided that liquor stores could stay open and Alabama even issued an order allowing curbside sales of alcoholic beverages at licensed stores.
California, Colorado, Washington and Pennsylvania have all seen marijuana sales "soar" over the last week.
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Greg Rochlin, CEO of Ilera Healthcare, a Plymouth Meeting, PA dispensary, said: “People were concerned we would be shut down. [It was like the rush] hoarding toilet paper.”
Many states are being careful to toe the line with federal regulations allows them to stay open and be deemed "essential". Nevada has allowed its dispensaries to operate as long as they don't allow crowds to form. Illinois is allowing patients to pickup curbside orders.
Curaleaf, which has 53 dispensaries in 17 states, dedicates its first hour of operations each day to those 60 and older. It also has an app that allows curbside pickup and service.
Jackie Subeck, a cannabis industry consultant in Los Angeles, said: “I want to make sure I have enough to maintain my daily lifestyle. For me, it’s more important to have enough cannabis around than alcohol.”
One not-so-legal marijuana dealer, Chris, said that many customers tell him marijuana is their only relief from anxiety: “They’ll say things like, ‘I’m going to be locked up with my wife for the next-God-knows-how-long and need this desperately.’”
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