Coronavirus closures and cancellations: What’s happening with cannabis in Canada
This story was updated at 6:30 p.m. on April 3, 2020.
Puff, puff? Unless you’re at home alone, these days it’s probably better to pass.
As the novel coronavirus spreads and social distancing becomes our new normal, cannabis retailers and event organizers are, like everyone else, adjusting their plans, canceling or rescheduling events, and shuttering stores.
This is a fluid situation, and we’ll be updating this list as needed, but here’s what you need to know about adjustments to weed events and retail operations in Canada today.
Looking to buy legal weed in the era of social distancing? Find information on cannabis pick-up and delivery options.
Ontario: Closing late Saturday night
Under a new government order, the province’s brick-and-mortar retail cannabis stores will close no later than 11:59pm Saturday, April 4.
The closure is scheduled to last 14 days, but these closures are often extended as the pandemic worsens in a given region.
Adult-use cannabis will remain available online, as the Ontario Cannabis Store will continue to operate. Medical marijuana will remain unaffected, as licensed producers can continue production and delivery via Canada Post.
Retailers
Tokyo Smoke and Tweed stores, nationwide: Closed. As of March 17, Canopy Growth will close all corporate-owned Tokyo Smoke and Tweed stores. “We have a responsibility to our employees, their families, and our communities to do our part to ‘flatten the curve’ by limiting social interactions. For us, that means shifting our focus from retail to e-commerce,” said CEO David Klein in a press release, noting that “our retail teams are public-facing and have been serving an above-average volume of transactions in recent days.”
Patients registered with the company will still be able to purchase medical cannabis through Spectrum Therapeutics, while adult-use customers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan can use online portals for Tweed and Tokyo Smoke in those provinces.
Superette, Ottawa Update: now open for pickup. Ottawa’s Superette closed its doors on March 16 but has reopened as of March 20. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and moving forward , customers can pay orders between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
420 events
420 Vancouver: Cancelled. British Columbia health officials have banned gatherings of more than 250 people, and Van City’s annual weed fest more than tops that figure. The official word: “Though 420 is a protest, it is not a protest against health officials, and it makes sense to help them protect the public from the outbreak of an infectious virus.” Well said.
420 Toronto: Postponed. The organizers have rescheduled the annual festival to July 4, 2020.
O’Cannabiz, Toronto: Postponed. Originally scheduled for April 23-25, O’Cannabiz organizers have moved to reschedule the business conference and expo to October 27-29. “In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we believe it is our utmost social responsibility to reschedule O’Cannabiz Conference & Expo to Fall 2020,” reads a tweet from the organization.
Want to add your Canadian cannabis cancellation or closure notice to this list? Please use the details section of this form to let us know.
Leafly Canada is based in Toronto, with correspondents and contributors stretching from Newfoundland to BC. To reach our editorial staff please contact us at info@leafly.com.
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