Many Sates Deem Cannabis Dispensaries Essential During Pandemic March 31 2020, 0 Comments

Different strains of flowers are shown in Re:stash Jars at the grand opening of Cookies Los Angeles in Maywood, Calif., Jan. 16, 2018. Gary Coronado | Los Angeles Times 

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the United States (and the world), many states have been enacting "Stay at Home orders" to slow the spread of the virus. This mandates that all indoor shopping centers, playgrounds, and nonessential businesses close. There are some businesses deemed essential that are allowed to remain open, as long as they adhere to safe social distancing measures and do not allow more than 10 people to congregate. This includes government services, hardware stores, grocery stores, and healthcare operations, such as cannabis dispensaries.  

Many customers rely on cannabis products to relieve conditions such as mental health conditions, chronic pain, nausea, epilepsy and more.

In states that pre-package, like California, you can alleviate bringing germs into your home by transferring your flower into a Re:stash Jar in your car (Since Re:stash is CPSC certified child resistant, you're allowed to have it in your car). For the states that are lucky enough to be deli style, like Oregon, you are still allowed to bring you Re:stash jar into a dispensary to re:up. 

These mandates vary by city and state and continue to evolve, so be sure to check with yours state's current guidelines. Here is a list of states that are taking steps to ensure legal cannabis access remains during this pandemic (as of 3/28):

California: Cannabis retailers are listed as an essential business state-wide. Los Angeles and San Francisco have also made that distinction on a county level. 

Colorado: Recreational dispensaries are allowed to provide curbside pickup, via this Executive Order. Medical dispensaries are allowed to remain open.

Connecticut: Cannabis businesses deemed to be essential, as part of the state's health-care sector. 

Delaware: Medical dispensaries are exempt from the state's stay-at-home order, according to MJBizDaily via email.

Hawaii: Medical cannabis dispensaries are included on the list of stores that sell groceries are medicine, and are thus exempt from the stay-at-home order.

Illinois: Licenses cannabis retailers are growers deemed essential. 

Louisiana:  Medical dispensaries are exempt from the state's stay-at-home order, according to MJBizDaily via email.

Massachusetts: Medical cannabis dispensaries are deemed essential, but recreational dispensaries are not. 

Michigan: Marijuana businesses are allowed to remain open, with curbside service or delivery only. 

Minnesota: Medical cannabis dispensaries are exempt from the stay-at-home order. 

New Jersey: Medical cannabis dispensaries deemed essential. 

New Mexico: Medical marijuana businesses are considered an essential part of the health care sector.

New York: Medical cannabis deemed 'essential,' and is not subject to closures.

Ohio: Medical cannabis retailers and growers deemed essential. 

Oklahoma: Medical marijuana businesses categorized as essential. 

Oregon: The state's Liquor Control Commission, which oversees the cannabis industry, issued a mandate allowing marijuana retailers to provide curbside pickup.

Vermont: Medical marijuana industry deemed essential, according to MJBizDaily via email. 

Washington: Cannabis retailers and growers are deemed essential.