Florida hashish companies started shutting down this week in anticipation of Hurricane Milton, which was anticipated to make landfall late Wednesday on the state’s west coast.
Milton’s wrath didn’t sway Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to increase the Oct. 7 deadline to register to vote within the Nov. 5 election.
Along with casting votes for president, Florida voters will determine whether or not to legalize adult-use marijuana within the state.
“Individuals can register as we speak,” DeSantis informed the Florida Phoenix on Monday.
“There’s nothing inhibiting you from registering as we speak. The storm has not hit but.”
Voters’ rights teams had requested DeSantis to increase the deadline as Florida residents continued to take care of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene forward of Milton making landfall.
In the meantime, hashish operators had been busy getting ready their companies for the storm.
Dispensaries announce closures
Chicago-based marijuana multistate operator Cresco Labs closed a few of its Sunnyside medical hashish dispensaries at 5 p.m. ET Monday in anticipation of Hurricane Milton.
Closures continued by means of Tuesday, bringing to 9 the whole of Sunnyside dispensaries closed in Florida.
Cresco saved a few of its Sunnyside places in Florida open as the corporate tried to steadiness the wants of medical marijuana sufferers and the protection of each sufferers and workers, Jason Erkes, the MSO’s chief communications officer, informed MJBizDaily.
“We’re at the moment putting in tarps, sandbags, storm shutters and boarding up home windows in an effort to guard our bodily property from wind and water whereas defending the protection of our sufferers and workers,” Erkes mentioned by way of electronic mail.
“We’re concurrently working with our retailer groups to verify they’ve the time and sources wanted for them to personally put together their properties” for the approaching storm.
Cresco closes develop; Trulieve stops deliveries
Erkes mentioned Cresco closed its cultivation facility in Indiantown to offer workers time to organize their properties for the incoming storm.
“We can be consistently assessing the climate situations and evaluating any potential harm to the ability with hopes of restarting full operations on Friday,” Erkes mentioned on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Trulieve Hashish Corp. had closed 80 shops and deliberate to shut one other 26 early, based on the corporate’s web site.
The Tallahassee-headquartered MSO additionally paused deliveries from 19 of its Florida shops not less than by means of Thursday.
Trulieve instructed its sufferers who depend on medical marijuana fill up with one week’s price of merchandise in anticipation of extended closures.
“As we navigate by means of hurricane season, the protection and well-being of our prospects and workers stay our prime precedence,” the corporate mentioned on its web site.
“At Trulieve, we’re dedicated to holding you knowledgeable concerning the standing of our dispensaries throughout hurricanes and extreme climate situations.”
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Ayr and Verano closures
Ayr Wellness closed 56 of its 66 shops in Florida in preparation for Hurricane Milton and shut down its cultivation facility on Wednesday.
The Miami-based MSO has environmental sensors in place to watch plant well being all through the develop.
“We plan to be closed by means of this night and tomorrow and can reevaluate every little thing on Friday,” George DeNardo, the corporate’s chief working officer, informed MJBizDaily on Wednesday.
“Now we have mills filled with gas on standby and a skeleton workers to verify we’re holding an replace on the climate and any points which may come up.”
Chicago-based Verano Holdings Corp. closed two-dozen of its Müv shops in Florida on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 37 Müv shops had been closed, and the corporate deliberate for 55 of its Florida dispensaries to stay closed Thursday.
The MSO additionally halted supply operations due to the potential affect of Hurricane Milton.
“We proceed to watch the hurricane and have initiated proactive superior measures to prioritize the well being and security of our workers and sufferers, together with adhering to steerage supplied by emergency administration officers,” Verano Vice President of Communications Steve Mazeika informed MJBizDaily on Tuesday.
“As we proceed following the storm’s path and take proactive security measures, we’re offering real-time updates on the standing of Müv dispensary operations by way of the Müv web site.”
Margaret Jackson will be reached at margaret.jackson@mjbizdaily.com.