Marijuana businesses allowed to stay open in San Francisco, New York
While cannabis stores are allowed to remain open, many are exercising caution to prevent community spread of the coronavirus
Thursday, March 19, 2020
As hundreds of businesses in cities such as San Francisco and New York close due to the coronavirus outbreak, medical marijuana stores remain open as officials revise public health orders to include cannabis as an essential medicine. San Francisco Mayor London Breed (D) this week announced changes to the city's public health order that allowed only essential businesses such as grocery stores, banks and pharmacies to remain open while residents are required to stay at home, according to NPR. Dispensaries and marijuana delivery services are now also deemed as critical businesses, according to city officials. (See also: Coronavirus: Legal cannabis sales surge as US weed lobby tells smokers not to share joints)