Dispensaries all over the U.S. were destroyed during the riots that followed the peaceful protests in response to the death of George Floyd. While some businesses have been supportive of protests, others are worried about whether their business will survive. In Oregon and California, Leafly reported 43 businesses were turned inside out by looters, and videos have circulated the internet of people vandalizing dispensaries in other areas of the country. One of the very first minority-owned dispensaries in Boston lost $100,000 due to property damages.
Challenges for the Cannabis Industry
Some marijuana companies have challenges securing traditional lines of credit, making recovering from looting and property damage particularly challenging. An Oakland dispensary owner stated that she believed the armed criminals who broke into her store were thieves who had taken advantage of the fact that police were focused elsewhere. This is just one of many small business owners who remains uncertain of the future of their store.
Looking to the Future
Despite everything that has happened, the cannabis community remains supportive of peaceful protests and has gained immense support from their communities to rebuild their storefronts. We encourage patients to support their local dispensaries during this time of uncertainty, as well as other local businesses who are working diligently to repair and reboot their business. We are all in this together.
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