Has COVID-19 fast-tracked public support for cannabis? KORAL FRITZ FOR MICHIGAN GREEN STATE For decades in the United States, many people have viewed cannabis as a gateway drug, the devil’s lettuce, and a substance only associated with crime and unwanted immigrants. Cannabis went from being widely available and recognized for its medical value in the early 1900s to being outlawed in 1970. As fear developed around “habit forming” substances in the 1920s, it was easy for society to demonize cannabis. Many people learned FRITZ to cast judgment on Mexican immigrants and their daily cannabis smoking likely because government officials are on record making racist comments towards Mexican immigrants and “degenerate races” for their “satanic music” and violence that became associated with cannabis use. Society quickly created a culture where upstanding citizens despised and feared “marijuana.” This culture pushed
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any and all types of cannabis users into one category: good-for-nothing-criminal-drug addicts. The anti-cannabis attitude has been entrenched in the culture and the laws of the United States for nearly one hundred years. Yet, in the midst of a pandemic and at a time defined by polarization and stress, people are stopping to smell the roses. Except this time somebody swapped the roses with cannabis flower. While the virus has had a devastating impact on the country’s health and economy, it has certainly measured the country’s tolerance and support for cannabis reform. The virus has put cannabis in the spotlight. From states declaring cannabis businesses essential to Congress considering banking reform, the country is dealing with and using cannabis in a way that harkens back to pre-prohibition days. The pandemic, at least in part, seems to have spurred a change in public attitude towards cannabis. Here is a
look at some of the attitude and policy shifts that were noticeable in 2020.
CANNABIS OPERATIONS DECLARED ESSENTIAL IN SOME STATES When the pandemic began, Michigan’s legal recreational cannabis market was just getting rolling. In mid-November of 2019, Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) issued the first recreational cannabis licenses and announced that recreational sales would begin on December 1, 2019. On opening day, customers waited in long lines that resembled those we once saw on Black Friday. With five recreational retailers open, Michigan reported over $1.6 million in recreational cannabis sales by December 8th. At the end of December, the monthly sales topped $6 million. The MRA’s monthly report indicates that sales reached $9.8 million for January alone. In February, just as concerns about a deadly virus were rising, Michigan’s recreational cannabis sales increased by 34%, hitting $14 million. Michigan’s first stay-at-home order took effect on March 24th and limited opera-
tions to only those workers, businesses, and services that were essential. Phones at law firms across the state started ringing off the hook as business owners frantically tried to determine if their businesses were essential. Several state agencies, including the MRA, published advice or guidance about which workers and activities were essential. The MRA’s Advisory Bulletin explained that licensed medical marijuana and licensed adult-use (recreational) marijuana establishments could remain open. Other states, including Illinois, Washington, California, Nevada, and Oregon also permitted cannabis businesses to operate despite stay-at-home orders. Other states, such as Massachusetts, permitted only medical cannabis businesses to operate during the shutdown. The decision to deem cannabis businesses essential in some states during the pandemic is an indication that citizens and leadership recognize the benefits that cannabis has to offer. This decision also signals a widespread shift in society’s attitude towards cannabis from stigma and rejection to understanding and acceptance.
Winter 2021| MIGreenState
