Why Dispensaries are Still Open Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

In early March 2020, United States President Donald J. Trump enacted a national state of emergency due to the accelerated growth of COVID-19 across the country.  Moreover, this has led to countless states and municipalities to enact emergency protocols while forcing the shutdown of a countless number businesses and industries.  Some of these include restaurants, nightlife, retailers, shopping malls, movies, and worst of all: small-sized businesses who may not have the financial capacity to recover. One particular industry that a multitude of states are avoiding interfering with is the cannabis industry. But why is cannabis so important during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Cannabis Dispensaries have been labeled “Essential” by Government

As stated above, countless businesses and industries are taking a financial hit thanks to the unfortunate COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, this has not been the case for dispensaries as well as cannabis delivery services.  In fact, dispensaries and cannabis delivery services have experienced a spike in deliveries; which some companies report as much as a 15% uptick in a week of sales since the enactment of the national state of emergency. This is most likely due to the fact that most states with cannabis legalization laws in place, such as Nevada, have explicitly identified select cannabis dispensaries as well as delivery services as “essential businesses.” This labeling has caused quite the backlash from other industries such as the entertainment and tourism industries who are not lawfully allowed to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic and ‘Stay Home Initiative’.  What makes dispensaries as well as cannabis delivery services a necessity like food and toiletries during such an unfortunate time such as the COVID-19 pandemic?

Never Forget: Cannabis IS Medicine

The ultimate reason that cannabis dispensaries and cannabis delivery services can remain open and operational during the COVID-19 pandemic is because they provide numerous forms of medicine to a multitude of patients who are truly in need. However, it is also evident that the recreational consumer is choosing to stockpile cannabis similar to necessities such as toilet paper, food, and cleaning supplies amidst a biological attack is one way to look at the situation. Another philosophy is to remember is that there are a plethora of patients who are in need of cannabis, but have been forced to their dwelling to remain in coherence with their local laws. With this in mind, how else would rightful cannabis patients receive their medication deemed a necessity by the government? Most states, including Nevada, have recognized (to at least some capacity) that cannabis has a slew of beneficial factors for patients who choose to indulge. Some medicinal properties associated with cannabis include:

• Anticonvulsant — helps prevent seizures
• Antidepressant — helps combat depression and uplift mood
• Antioxidant — helps boost immune system response and fortification
• Anti-inflammatory — reduces inflammation similar to an OTC such as Advil or Aleve
• Antitumoral — helps ward off carcinogens
• Neuroprotectant — combats Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Similar to any other pharmacy, patients need unrestricted access to their medications. Many states, including Nevada have agreed to ensure qualifying patients as well as consumers can receive cannabis during operating hours or via a cannabis delivery service.

Not all Cannabis Businesses are “Essential”

While some dispensaries as well as a couple of cannabis delivery services are permitted to remain open for business, other businesses in the industry have not been granted the ‘essential’ tag. During the COVID-19 pandemic. These choices are often government-backed decisions. However, the decision for a dispensary or a cannabis delivery service to close during this unfortunate time could easily have been handed down by corporate to ensure the organization is practicing Social Distancing to the best of its abilities. Cannabis dispensaries practice intense marketing that often involve enticing the consumer to use all 5 of their senses when making a purchase. Patients often fondle containers and buds, smell a slew of aromas associated with the buds very closely, inspect paraphernalia with their bare hands and more. Obviously, the risk of spreading germs becomes highly likely. This may be why some cannabis businesses have decided to remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic despite being marked ‘essential’.

COVID-19 and the Overall State of the Economy

Retrospectively, companies like Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s and GameStop’s original decision to remain open and operational during these times is due to the company being on its last financial leg respectively. Companies such as these as well as small businesses may not have the financial fortitude to recover from not being deemed an essential business by their governing entities To put the current state of the economy into perspective, some businesses that have been forced to close due the COVID-19 pandemic are:

• Restaurants & Food Service establishments
• Clothing Retailers
• Footwear Retailers
• Theme Parks and Entertainment Services
• Technology Retailers
• And many medium-to-small businesses…

Additionally, another set of industries that are bound to suffer during this time are the tourism and travel industries. Moreover, these two industries are the backbone to states such as Nevada. However, to ensure the safety of residents as well as residents, they must keep operations to a minimum and Social Distancing to a maximum, which ultimately sounds like a catch-22 for the pair of industries.

In January 2020, Economists anticipated that the cannabis industry would exceed $200 billion. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, that figure has been recalculated and may be closer to $130 billion by the end of 2020. In theory, this means that the COVID-19 pandemic may cost the cannabis industry $70 billion in the long run. Conversely, the government and local municipalities appear to have realized the medical necessity associated with cannabis during these scary times.

We here at Euphoria Wellness also understand the difficult times that COVID-19 has caused. Nevertheless, we remain open, operational, and practice thorough methods to ensure our customers, employees, and products remain as safe as possible. We understand that our customers need us, and we are here to help! Moreover, we are offering FREE delivery on our products during this time. For more information, be sure to contact us.