By Sebastian Obando | National Real Estate Investor
A number of states deemed marijuana shops “essential” businesses and pot sales were up in recent weeks. Does that mean marijuana real estate is pandemic-proof?
While many bricks-and-mortar stores have temporarily shut down recently because they were deemed as “non-essential” in a time of a pandemic, the debate has not been settled when it comes to marijuana stores. For example, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has designated marijuana businesses as “essential” because of pot’s health benefits, though that designation has come under criticism. Florida and Oklahoma have also designated marijuana stores as “essential.” Meanwhile, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is facing pressure to allow the state’s marijuana businesses to re-open.
One thing that has been clear is that demand for marijuana has only shot up in recent weeks. A survey of 990 marijuana consumers conducted recently by online resource American Marijuana found that more than 48 percent stocked up on marijuana products amid the pandemic. Of those, more than half (55.39 percent) said they were stocking up specifically to calm themselves down. Another 23.03 percent said they feared pot might eventually become scarce.
