Marijuana and Cannabis Sales in the Age of Coronavirus
Here's a state-by-state guide to deliveries and curbside pickups—the safest, surest ways to resupply your stash during the coronavirus pandemic.
With the increasing risk of contracting and spreading coronavirus, more and more states are moving to a full stay-at-home mandate, where residents only leave their homes for essential services like picking up medication or buying groceries. Of course, food and pharmaceuticals are deemed essential services, but what about marijuana?
Various governmental bodies and leaders determine which services are deemed essential during this health crisis. What can we live without? What is essential for our day-to-day lives to protect one another and keep citizens healthy?
In addition to health services and food production, media outlets, laboratories, and even liquor stores have been deemed essential by various governing bodies. In many states where cannabis is legally available, patrons flooded marijuana dispensaries hoping to stock up on CBD and THC before being locked down. Many dispensaries had lines out the door, some looping around the block. In response to this influx, many state governments have extended the umbrella of essential services to include cannabis facilities.
Twenty-two out of the 33 states and provinces have designated medical marijuana dispensaries as an essential service. Some states (like Connecticut and Florida) even offer a delivery option of your orders. For certain medical states (like Maine and New Jersey), new patients can still schedule appointments with their doctor via telecommunication while some states are only offering renewals via telemedicine. Most states have also included recreational dispensaries as essential services.
Because cannabis products are still federally recognized as a Schedule 1 drug, keeping dispensaries open during a national emergency might seem like a stretch, but not for those that use cannabis to treat epilepsy, glaucoma, or pain relief.
Even for those that only use marijuana recreationally, it’s as much of a staple in daily life as picking up a case of beer or a bottle of wine to have with dinner. For some, it might be the only part of their lives that feels normal right now.
How are CBD sales being affected by coronavirus?
NatuRx looks at the services available to consumers state by state.
Alaska
Telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Arizona
Delivery options and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Arkansas
Delivery options from some dispensaries
California
Designated as an essential service, delivery options, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available
Colorado
Designated as an essential service, delivery options, curbside options and temporary telemedicine appointments available
Connecticut
Designated as an essential service, delivery options, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available
Delaware
Curbside options and telemedicine appointments available
Florida
Designated as an essential service, delivery options and temporary telemedicine appointments available
Hawaii
Designated as an essential service and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Illinois
Designated as an essential service, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Iowa
Designated as an essential service and curbside options
Louisiana
Delivery options and temporary telemedicine appointments
Maine
Designated as an essential service, delivery options and telemedicine appointments available
Maryland
Designated as an essential service, delivery options, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Massachusetts
Designated as an essential service (medical only), delivery options and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Michigan
Designated as an essential service, delivery options, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Minnesota
Telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Missouri
Telemedicine appointments available
Montana
Delivery options and telemedicine appointments for renewals
Nevada
Designated as an essential service (delivery only), delivery options and telemedicine appointments available
New Hampshire
Curbside options and telemedicine appointments available
New Jersey
Designated as an essential service, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available
New Mexico
Designated as an essential service, delivery options, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
New York
Designated as an essential service, delivery options and telemedicine appointments available
North Dakota
Delivery options
Ohio
Designated as an essential service and telemedicine appointments temporarily available
Oklahoma
Designated as an essential service, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available with restrictions
Oregon
Delivery options, curbside options and telemedicine appointments for renewals
Pennsylvania
Designated as an essential service, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available
Rhode Island
Designated as an essential service, delivery options, curbside options and telemedicine appointments temporarily available
Utah
The one licensed pharmacy is currently open
Vermont
Delivery options, curbside options, and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Washington
Designated as an essential service, curbside options and telemedicine appointments available for renewals
Washington, DC
Designated as an essential service and telemedicine appointments available for renewals