Safe Access to Cannabis in Times of COVID-19

As governments around the world respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MPP and our allies are advocating for improved, safe access to cannabis in states with medical cannabis and legalization programs. In an open letter to governors and legislative leaders of medical cannabis and adult-use states, MPP and our allies urged states to take a number of actions, including deeming businesses essential, allowing and encouraging delivery, allowing telemedicine, and extending expiration dates on ID cards.

Advocates can sign our petition here. More than 10,000 supporters have already done so.

Only one state ordered a temporary shut down of cannabis businesses: Massachusetts Gov. Baker ordered adult-use businesses — but not medical cannabis — to close on March 23. The businesses are allowed to re-open on May 25, with curbside pick-up only. The New York Times created maps of reopenings here.

Check the table below to see what actions your state has taken in response to coronavirus, including whether home delivery, curbside pickup, and telemedicine are allowed. Most states have taken at least some measures to ensure continued safe access to cannabis during the pandemic. For example, four states that previously did not allow delivery now do so (Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Utah), and two now allow temporary caregivers to serve unlimited patients. Several now also allow telemedicine, and most have allowed curbside pickup.

State	Delivery?	Curbside?	Essential Service?	Telemedicine OK for Cannabis?	COVID Measures Taken	Other Notes
Alaska	Not allowed	Yes	Yes	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Allowing curbside sales; allowing streamlined ID check window and pass-through windows; and extending expiration dates of marijuana handler ID cards	None
Arkansas	Allowed	Not allowed	State has not issued shelter-in-place orders, so businesses have not been deemed essential or nonessential.	Yes	Telemedicine; extending renewal deadlines
Arizona	Allowed	Yes, during the crisis	Unclear, but most or all remain open	No	Curbside pickup
California	Allowed	Yes, in some counties	Yes	Yes	Yes	See this Leafly page for county and city information and updates.
Colorado	Allowed for medical, but only one business is licensed so far	Yes, due to COVID	Yes, for adult use and patients	Yes, temporarily due to COVID	Yes, executive order allowing telemedicine and online ordering. Fast-track hiring of furloughed casino workers. See MED emergency rules.
Connecticut	Allowed	Yes, due to COVID	Yes	Yes, due to COVID	Essential; allowing recommendations by telemedicine, extending renewal deadlines, relaxing staffing rules, and more
Delaware	Yes, in response to COVID	Yes, due to COVID	Not explicitly, but operating	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Allowing curbside pickup and delivery; delivery will continue post-COVID	Only Columbia Care has plans for delivery. Patients who can pick up cannabis curbside are urged to do so to ensure delivery is available for the homebound.
Florida	Allowed	Yes, due to COVID	Yes	During the crisis for a follow-up	Yes, telemedicine and curbside during crisis	The current executive order allowing telemedicine expires on June 30, 2020.
Hawaii	Not allowed	Not allowed	Yes	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Essential business, extending patient renewals for 60 days; licensees are asking patients to order online
Illinois	Not allowed	Yes	Yes, medical and adult-use dispensaries and cultivators	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Allowing medical dispensaries to sell cannabis "on the dispensary's property or on a public walkway or curb adjacent to the dispensary" but delivery to patients is not allowed; allowing new workers to begin working while waiting for the state to process their ID card applications	Regulators were scheduled to issue 75 dispensary licenses by May 1, but that has been delayed due to the pandemic.
Iowa (low-THC, with in-state access)	Not allowed	Yes	Yes		The state has provided a waiver to allow for curbside pickup.
Louisiana	Allowed temporarily "where ever that patient is located — at home, hospital, or any other location" as a COVID-related measure	Not to our knowledge	Yes	Yes, for existing patients during declared emergency	Allowing delivery to patients, wherever patients are, by dispensary staff during crisis due to COVID-19. Also, during declared emergency, rules are waived to allow telemedicine for existing patients.
Maine	Allowed	Yes, due to COVID	Yes	Yes	Regulators issued guidance on social distancing, including regarding signage, disinfecting, hours for seniors, and limiting the number of people allowed in stores. Expired ID cards may be accepted.	The opening of adult-use stores in Maine — which was expected in June — is delayed due to the virus.
Maryland	Allowed	Yes	Yes	Allowing for renewals in light of COVID-19	The MMCC has implemented the following measures: • Telehealth for written certification renewal • Suspension of signature and attestation requirements to limit patient exposure • Extension of agent registrations set to expire until 30 days after the state of emergency is terminated • Onsite delivery • Ensure cannabis businesses throughout the supply chain are able to stay open and operational • Home delivery is permitted under COMAR 10.62.30. In addition, MMCC staff are currently processing all registration renewals promptly, with no disruption in our activities. If this were to change, the MMCC commission members would re-evaluate the need to extend patient registrations. Social distancing requirements are here.
Massachusetts	Allowed	Yes, as a COVID measure	Medical, yes. Adult-use was ordered closed from March 24 until May 25.	Yes, for renewals; also as a COVID measure for new patients	Adult-use stores were ordered closed from March 24 until May 25. Only curbside delivery will be allowed for adult-use once stores reopen. Medical dispensaries that deliver were advised to consider enlarging the areas they service and to encourage patients to place larger individual orders.	See this article for more information.
Michigan	Allowed	Yes, as a COVID-19 measure	Yes	Allowed for renewals; allowed for initial appointment due to COVID	The governor signed an executive order that permits all licensed marijuana retailers to provide home delivery and curbside pickup of products. She also signed an executive order encouraging telemedicine.	Michigan regulators sent a bulletin about steps in response to the coronavirus outbreak, including the allowance of marijuana curbside pickup and delivery services.
Minnesota	Not allowed, but temporary caregivers are allowed and may service multiple patients	Yes, due to COVID	Yes	Yes, due to COVID	Curbside, extended expiration date certifications, allowing certification by telehealth, and allowing temporary caregivers. Details here.
Missouri	No access	N/A, not open	N/A, not open	Yes	N/A, not open	No dispensaries open right now
Montana	Allowed in some localities	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, see this page for updates.
Nevada	Yes	Yes, starting May 1	Allowed to continue operating	Yes	Only delivery was allowed until May 1, then only delivery and curbside. In-store sales will be allowed with an approved plan as part of a Phase 1 reopening.	Under a Phase 1 reopening, in-store sales are allowed with a MED-approved plan that includes no more than 10 customers. Consultations must be by email/phone where possible, and employee and consumers must wear face masks. Curbside and delivery are still encouraged.
New Hampshire	Not allowed	Yes, during crisis	Yes	Yes, during crisis (previously allowed for renewals)	Curbside, waived fee for designated caregiver applications, telehealth, encouraging pre-orders
New Jersey	Yes, temporary waivers for delivery beginning June 25, 2020; also allowed under a 2019 law, but regulations haven’t been issued yet	Yes, due to COVID	Yes	Unclear	Temporary waiver for delivery, with public health protocols; curbside dispensing and consultations, reduced caregiver fees, and expedited employee onboarding. Details here and here.
New Mexico	Yes	Yes, during crisis	Yes	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Declared essential; allowed curbside; expanded ID cards for 90 days; and suspended employee background checks
New York	Allowed	Yes	Yes	Yes	Through April 29, DOH is permitting registered organizations that have previous approval to deliver medical marijuana to the homes of registered patients and designated caregivers without written approval.
North Dakota	Allowed	Not allowed	The state has not issued a shelter-in-place order, and businesses have not been deemed essential or nonessential.	Yes	None yet	At least one dispensary (in Fargo) has temporarily closed due to a slowing of sales.
Ohio	Not allowed	Yes.	Yes.	Yes, due to COVID-19	See this page for updates.	Gov. DeWine is considering allowing home delivery during the stay-at-home order. He said, “That’s something I will ask our team to look at and to look at what the situation is for these individuals.”
Oklahoma	No	Yes, due to COVID	Yes	Yes	Essential business, curbside pickup
Oregon	Allowed	Yes, during crisis	Allowed to remain open	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Increased purchase limit; curbside delivery during COVID; reducing red tape for new workers; allowing businesses to accept expired IDs	See this article for more information.
Pennsylvania	Not allowed, but during crisis temporary caregivers can pick up cannabis for unlimited patients	Yes, during crisis	Yes	Yes	Considered an essential service, curbside, delivery, 90-day supply allowed, caregivers can deliver to unlimited patients. More here.
Rhode Island	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, during the crisis	None yet	DBR indicated they are in the process of approving plans for delivery and curbside pick up for all three dispensaries.
Texas (low-THC, with in-state access)	Allowed	Not to our knowledge	Yes		None yet
Utah	Allowed in response to COVID	Not to our knowledge, but drive-through will be allowed	Yes	Not for the initial appointment, but allowed for follow-up	Delivery is allowed in response to COVID, within strict parameters, and drive-through will be allowed starting in July.	Some pharmacies have revised procedures to reduce in-person contact, such as advance ordering.
Vermont	Allowed	Yes, during the crisis	Not explicitly, but operating	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Yes, delivery to patients in cars in dispensary parking lots is allowed during the pandemic, and registry identification cards for patients, caregivers, and staff have been temporarily expanded for 90 days.
Washington	Not allowed	Allowed during COVID-19	Yes, exempt from stay-at-home order	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Yes. Curbside delivery allowed, minors under 16 allowed on premises. COVID-19 guidance is available here and here.	More information
Washington, D.C.	Allowed due to COVID-19	Allowed due to COVID-19	Yes	Allowed for renewals, but not for initial appointment	Mayoral order allowing home delivery and curbside pickup until either August 12 or 45 days after the District’s emergency order is lifted; extending patient ID card expiration dates
West Virginia	No access	N/A, no access	N/A, no access		N/A, no access	No dispensaries open right now

States are rapidly adopting new measures related to COVID-19. Please email us at [email protected] if you notice anything missing.

Sources include: