Recreational Cannabis Dispensaries In Santa Clara No Longer Deemed Essential

With a revision made to the “shelter in place”  order issued by the county, cannabis dispensaries in Santa Clara County will no longer be allowed to sell recreational cannabis in their stores. This revision was made by some of the top health officials in the area. 

This revision to the shelter in place order is coming weeks after the county classified medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries as essential businesses, thereby granting them the permission to open during this time. 

Revision To The Shelter In Place Order 

According to the new rule, medical cannabis can still be sold to patients with valid medical marijuana cards but recreational cannabis will no longer be sold in these stores. Recreational cannabis consumers, according to the new order, must make use of delivery services to receive their products. 

Minutes after the revision was made, it received harsh criticism from locals. While speaking to newsmen in the county, Sean Kali-rai founder of Silicon Valley Cannabis Alliance stated that the county has always been anti-cannabis and that they are trying to turn every city into one. “…they are imposing their moral will on the only city that allows it but they are disguising their anti-cannabis actions as public health concerns” Sean Kali-rai further stated. 

Police Enforcement 

Under legal guidance from the DA, the San Jose Police Department (SJDP) has been charged with enforcing this new order. The Police Department has revealed that they have sent out notifications to the 16 operating cannabis dispensaries in the state to inform them of the new development. 

This new order clearly states that cannabis dispensaries in the county will no longer be able to sell recreational or adult-use cannabis to their customers in their facilities. This new order does not affect medical cannabis dispensaries in the county. While speaking to newsmen, some of the health officials revealed that this new law does not abolish the sale of recreational cannabis rather, it ensures that consumers obey the stay at home order. 

SJPD Cannabis Division Manager Wendy Sollazzi, explained that “Medical cannabis is still considered essential, and there are still avenues for dispensaries to continue making sales for both medical and recreational cannabis. San Jose’s concern is that people will continue to consume cannabis and if we close the dispensaries, in effect, they will turn to the black market — where they sell untested products and don’t age verify.”