Deemed an ‘essential’ business, marijuana dispensaries are booming during COVID-19

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Despite many businesses taking a hit during the pandemic, medical marijuana dispensaries seem to have gotten a boost.

The state of Florida deemed the businesses essential when the pandemic began.

Local “One Plant” CEO, Brady Cobb, played a big role in working with state policymakers to designate medical marijuana dispensaries as “essential” businesses in Florida.

When COVID-19 outbreaks began, One Plant Florida was one of the first medical marijuana treatment centers in Florida to operate a home delivery platform. It also launched the state’s first approved curbside delivery option.

Right now, there are 353,575 active medical marijuana cards in the state as of June 19, 2020. In the beginning of the year, there were 299,044.

There are 251 dispensing locations in Florida; 18 of those are in the Jacksonville area.

An emergency that went into effect March 16 and has since been extended until the end of the month allows doctors to consult with patients to get their medical marijuana card through telehealth.

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