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

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

The state of Florida deemed the burgeoning enterprise essential in the earliest days of the U.S. outbreak, and Brady Cobb, CEO of Jacksonville-based One Plant Florida, worked closely with state policymakers to obtain the designation.

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

There are currently 353,575 active medical marijuana cards in the state compared with 299,044 on Jan. 1. Meanwhile, there are 251 dispensing locations in Florida, including 18 in the Jacksonville area.

An emergency order that took effect March 16 allows doctors to consult with patients to get their medical marijuana card using telehealth services, and the option is being extended through the end of June.

Cox Media Group