Contributor: Asia Mayfield
On Friday, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered the immediate shut down of all of the states’ non-essential businesses, including dispensaries. Walk-in traffic is now prohibited. Dispensaries with the proper license, however, will be able to operate the delivery arm of their business. The order comes three days after Sisolak initially urged businesses to comply.
“I hope and I pray that our businesses, and our business leaders, understand the magnitude of this situation,” he said. “First I asked. That didn’t work. Then I ordered. If this doesn’t work, they will face appropriate civil and criminal penalties as a result of their inaction… This is a pandemic of devastating proportions. And we need to respond with the appropriate decisive measures.”
Dispensaries reacted immediately.
“It was going very very well. I’m not really sure what happened, out there, but safety first,” said Matthew Gardner, VP of Shango.
When the Governor issued his initial order, most dispensaries decided to stay open, although they adopted social distancing policies. The sudden change in direction gave customers whiplash. People rushed to the stores, panic-buying as much weed as they could legally purchase before any other changes occurred.
One industry analyst told a local news outlet: “The spike in sales that we saw is similar to what we see for a holiday like 4/20… I think the big concern for everyone in the cannabis industry is that this is a short term blip, and then we will see a deterioration of the market. While there’s a pickup in sales, it’ll be interesting to see if the demand slacks off.”
The implications for the state’s cannabis industry are huge, at least in the short term. Only 38 dispensaries in the state are currently cleared for delivery. Because of Nevada law, deliveries can only be made to residences. The address on the buyer’s ID must match the delivery address. These hindrances mean that people staying at hotels, extended-stay motels, friend’s houses, etc., no longer have a legal way to buy cannabis.
Dispensaries without delivery certification are rushing to rectify the situation. NV Made Cannabis texted its customers: “Based on the new state mandate, our Henderson NV Made location is currently closed. We are working around the clock to build out a sufficient and rapid delivery system in order to continue to serve our loyal customers & patients. As soon as our delivery is live we will let everyone know.”
Nuleaf, meanwhile, told its customers: “Due to the very recent announcement made by our Governor, we will close our doors tonight. Starting tomorrow we will be delivery only. Please keep your eyes open for communications as we navigate this new territory together. We hope to see you soon. Stay safe Las Vegas.”
It’s not clear how long it will take for all dispensaries in the state to offer delivery, or even if they all are planning to go this route at all. They may decide to simply stay dark for the duration of the lockdown. Right now, Sisolak’s order extends to April 16. However, it’s possible that it could be extended. Growers, cultivation labs, and testing facilities are all allowed to remain open.
Because of the number of people who can’t take advantage of the delivery options, it’s possible that the lockdown will create a surge in black market dealings. People aren’t going to stop using cannabis because of a pandemic. In fact, the sense of fear pervading the air might make people more likely to turn to cannabis.
If you were unable to rush to the dispensary after the Governor’s order was announced, you’ve lost your chance. All major dispensaries are expected to comply with the new rules. Noncompliance is too costly. Sisolak has threatened legal action against the business owner, as well as heavy fines levied against the business itself.
Tourists have no option but to find a local friend willing to order for them. This is less of a problem than usual, however, as tourism to the state has slowed to a crawl. The famed Las Vegas Strip went dark a few days before the dispensaries shuttered.
The situation isn’t ideal, but it can’t be avoided. Hopefully, the health crisis will resolve and normal life can begin again soon.
