When the Coronavirus first appeared in Wuhan, China last year, no one could have even imagined the impact it would have. The virus has infected over 1.9 million people and left at least 120,000 dead. With roughly 3 billion people under lockdown and all but the most essential businesses shut down, the global economy has been on a downturn.
The cannabis industry was lucky enough to be deemed essential by most states which have legalized marijuana. On top of that, these states have passed measures to help cannabis businesses transact with their customers as safely and responsibly as possible, such as curbside pickups and home deliveries. However, the sector has had to rethink or altogether postpone pre-planned events due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
4/20 has always been the unofficial holiday for cannabis, and given that this year is 2020, the entire month of April would have been 4/20. It’s safe to say most players in the cannabis industry had plans for the day, and the weeks leading up to it.
“This was supposed to be the biggest 4/20 that we’ve ever seen, or that’s been available for legal business, and with Coronavirus it took all of that and threw it to the wayside. Everybody’s been in a guessing game of how this is going to work,” says Tony Fritts, Regional Manager at Oregon City-based Cannabis Nation.
“How can we do it socially responsibly or in a responsible fashion? It’s honestly taken all our plans and thrown them out the window and now we’re just kind of trying to do something helpful for everybody that’s not adding to the problem.”
According to Fritz, they had originally planned to host parties with DJs, food trucks, raffles, and giveaways. However, he doesn’t quite know what to expect this year, given the current situation.
“I think it’s going to be an underwhelming year. If they can’t purchase online or don’t know how to go about or that’s just not their thing, we’re going to see quite a few people in the shops,” he says.
Cannabis Nation has taken a couple of measures to stay safe during 4/20 and the lead up to it. They have spread out their deals over the entire month to reduce foot traffic and time spent inside their stores. They have placed space markers on the floors to keep customers six feet apart, as well as encouraging online purchases.
On the day itself, Fritz says, customers will find a DMV-type ticketing system, as well as an employee assigned to manage the flow of customers and help keep them six feet apart.
The way Cannabis Nation in Oregon seems to be disappointed by the effects of COVID-19 is seen by experts as closely reflecting what other sector players, such as Round Meadow Holdings Corp. and Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) (OTCQX: PLPRF), may be going through during this month.
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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
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