The stories are out there: cannabis is an essential business, pot deliveries boom during pandemic, curb-side services now available and, even, drive-through cannabis dispensaries!
It’s almost unbelievable how critical cannabis has become, all of a sudden, to the point that many communities are keeping dispensaries open (while closing libraries, restaurants and movie theaters).
Go Figure!
10 years ago, heck, 10 WEEKS ago, cannabis as an essential business would have been inconceivable and today, “everybody must get stoned” (thanks, Bob Dylan!).
Across the country, state after state has determined marijuana and hemp to be an ‘essential’ part of life. This is a huge validation for the industry; with this new status has come a surge in sales as consumers stock up on the weed they need to get through these most trying of times.
Many states have changes their cannabis rules to allow for either delivery or curbside pickup (or both). Considering how glacially marijuana laws have changed historically, it will be very interesting to see if states try to “back-pedal” from these rules when the pandemic dies down.
Given cannabis delivery has become the best way to purchase cannabis, it seems reasonable to presume delivery services will be an industry standard nation-wide from this point on.
Things to Think About
It’s fascinating the way previously “un-movable” positions taken by states and local governments have given way to the notion that cannabis is an essential business and cannabis delivery is an important business function. Pretty sure there’s some “confused” law enforcement officials who are now scratching their heads in wonderment.
One of the things about smoking (or vaping or eating) cannabis is, for the most part, it’s a social thing. Now, clearly, there are people who use cannabis for medical reasons and their use cases are, mostly, different than an average recreational user (we’re not talking about chronic consumers) in that, medical marijuana is often solitarily consumed.
However, on the recreational side of cannabis use, many people enjoy consuming cannabis in groups or, in many cases, sharing a smoke with someone else.
Consuming Cannabis During a Pandemic
This is a tricky thing, especially with a Respiratory Virus. Presuming you’ve been “sanitizing” every thing you’ve been bringing into your home since SIP was implemented in your area, then, those same protocols should be used when bringing packages of cannabis into your home.
So, disinfecting the packages with a spray or a wipe has to be Step One of your new cannabis consumption ritual.
If you smoke from a pipe, bong or other device, you must make sure you’ve cleaned it since the last time it was used with a group of people. Use disinfectant to clear all the surfaces and make sure you clean the inside of your device as well.
The third step is either the hardest or easiest going forward. From now on, no more sharing of your personal paraphernalia. And, no more sharing of joints either.
This applies to the post-pandemic world for the simple reason that, until there’s a vaccine, there’s a “killer on the road” as it were and we should consider modifying our consumption routine until there is.
Now, in order to ensure we’re not creating any, or adding to any confusion, we present Five Facts About Covid-19 from the Center for Disease Control’s website.
| Fact | Item | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fact 1 | Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity. | Fear and anxiety about COVID-19 can cause people to avoid or reject others even though they are not at risk for spreading the virus. |
| Fact 2 | For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. | Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19. |
| Fact 3 | Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people. | |
| Fact 4 | There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy. | • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. • Stay home when you are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. |
| Fact 5 | You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms: | • Fever • Cough • Shortness of breath |
| Fact 5 continued | Seek medical advice if you: | • Develop symptoms AND • Have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms. |
What Are We Going To Do?
It seems like we’re going to be doing a lot of soul-searching and careful consideration on what kind of a world we want to live in. Maybe it’s time to learn a new language or how to dance. Maybe you’ve always wanted to grow cannabis but didn’t have the time to figure out how.
Maybe you’re going to be inspired to start a new business or write a song – one thing seems certain, if you’re reading this blog post, you’re probably going to be getting stoned sometime soon!
Are you planning on coming to California? Check out the educational cannabis tours available at Happy Travelers Tours!