While customers and patients rush to stock up on medications including cannabis goods, what are regulators and retailers doing to address concerns while also keeping customers and employees safe? Regardless of the regulations in your state, we list five options for you:

1. Implement Curbside Pick Up

2. Consider Delivery Services

3. Take Pre-Orders

4. Implement Line Management Solutions

5. Prioritize and Protect Patients

1. IMPLEMENT CURBSIDE PICK UP

While Washington State considers curbside pick up, Michigan, Maryland, and Illinois gave retailers the green light. Dispensaries in Maryland are encouraged to deliver medical cannabis goods to patients and caregivers in a vehicle parked in the dispensary’s parking lot. Operators in Maryland need to follow additional guidelines provided by the state.

Customers in Michigan may remain in their parked car in the parking lot of a provisioning center or adult-use retailer. Customers may order and pay online or place the order once parked at the facility.

Illinois is temporarily allowing curbside service as well but limited the scope of this service to medical patients only. The state provided additional guidelines for operators looking to provide curbside pick up services.

California is reviewing curbside pick up proposals on a case by case basis. Retailers who were successful in obtaining permission from the BCC to conduct curbside services submitted detailed SOPs and thorough proposals regarding how they intend to complete the service. 

If your state allows curbside pick up, consider implementing this service immediately. Curbside pick up services can help keep your customers and staff safe. 

2. CONSIDER DELIVERY SERVICES

Provisioning centers and adult-use retailers in Michigan can temporarily provide home delivery services thanks to the quick thinking of the MRA. Provisioning centers and adult-use retailers must first submit a request to the MRA. The MRA is committed to reviewing, processing, and approving these requests within 48 hours. The MRA has also allowed home delivery for patients and customers whose residential address doesn’t match their state-issued ID. 

Maryland and Massachusetts already permitted delivery but is encouraging retailers to promote delivery services and encouraging licensed delivery services to expand the geographic area of service. Massachusetts allows patients to obtain a 60-day supply and is encouraging patients to take full advantage.

Customers and patients in California already avail themselves to delivery services and are encouraged to continue to do so. Delivery companies and store-fronts in California have seen 4/20 level sales in the state.

If your state is temporarily allowing delivery services or you are already licensed for delivery, seek temporary approval or take steps to bolster your existing delivery services.

3. TAKE PRE-ORDERS

Regardless of your state’s regulatory response, taking pre-orders to limit the number of patients and customers in your store is an option for your business. 

In Seattle, some dispensaries are encouraging pre-orders by texting their customers a 10% off coupon if they place their order remotely. Other retailers moved all sales to online/phone orders for pick up only or transitioned to an appointment-only system to limit the number of customers inside of the establishment. 

When accepting pre-orders by phone or online, encourage customers to remain in their vehicles while they wait for their order. You could use a ticketing system to alert the customer that their order is ready to keep the store capacity down to one or two customers on the floor at any one time.

4. IMPLEMENT LINE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

In addition to accepting pre-orders, using a ticketing system to keep store occupancy low, and using an appointment only system, there are line management options as well. You can close certain registers to keep customers spread out within the store or have customers wait outside. Appoint a staff member to enforce the six-foot distance rule between customers. Use signage to communicate your social distancing expectations. Immediately cease the use of sniff jars to limit exposure to staff and customers.

5. PRIORITIZE AND PROTECT PATIENTS

Medical marijuana patients often include folks with underlying conditions. Take extra precautions to protect medical patients and provide them with the medicine they require.

To safeguard supply for medical marijuana patients, some retailers are prioritizing medical patients and taking steps to ensure those patients have access to adequate supply. MOCA Modern Cannabis in Illinois suspended all recreational sales. Other Illinois retailers are closely monitoring supplies and have stated their intent to take similar measures if necessary. The State of Illinois is now permitting curbside pick up for medical patients only.

If the regulators in your state have not approved curbside pick up or delivery options, consider serving medical patients in a separate section of the establishment than your adult-use customers. Increase your sanitation measures and enforce social distancing rules.

COMMUNICATE CHANGES AND EXPECTATIONS

Whatever measures you undertake to protect your community, communicate those measures for patients and customers. Use social media and email/text notifications to communicate your efforts. Post signs in the dispensary with your expectations regarding social distancing in the store. If patients and customers know you’re taking steps to protect them and understand that you care for your employees, they may feel safer while they stock up on the medicine they need to get through these trying times.

If you’re wondering if the above solutions might work for you or need assistance submitting a proposal or request to your state’s regulators, contact us by email at info@rmcc.io.

• Click the links below to check out our compliance guides, webinars, and online courses available to operators free or steeply discounted for a limited time.

• Check out my next blog where I’ll share some thoughts on the importance of supporting supply chain businesses.