The safer-at-home emergency order requires all nonessential retail businesses to shut down through at least April 19.
Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order on Thursday to help fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, and until further notice, residents can only leave their homes when absolutely necessary. On the plus side, locals can still exercise outdoors, visit the doctor, and expect grocery stores, laundromats, banks, and cannabis dispensaries to continue operation amid the outbreak.
To answer a popular question: cannabis dispensaries with a medicinal cannabis license are considered essential and may remain open. https://t.co/9f8LQDXWCP
— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) March 20, 2020
Though the actual statewide order doesn’t consider cannabis dispensaries to be an essential business, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the county has worked hard to ensure that the details of the orders don’t conflict. So, as of right now, licensed marijuana shops around the city will continue to welcome customers as long as they comply with social-distancing guidelines which include not serving more than 10 people at a time and curbside pick-up!
Cannabis sales have spiked in recent weeks, with local companies and delievery services saying that they’ve seen an uptick of business during these trying times.
The cities of San Fransico and San Jose were issued the same shelter-in-place order earlier in the week but ran into some confusion as to if dispensaries counted as essential businesses. After shutting down for about a day, the San Fransico Department of Public Health cleared up any confusion.
Cannabis is an essential medicine for many San Francisco residents. Dispensaries can continue to operate as essential businesses during this time, while practicing social distancing and other public health recommendations.
— SFDPH (@SF_DPH) March 17, 2020
You can learn more about LA County’s “safer at home” order, here.
Featured photo: ShutterStock