This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Boulder, Colo.-based cannabis company Terrapin Care Station is postponing all 420 promotions, sponsorships, and events in an effort to do our part amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Terrapin made the decision to postpone all activities related to the unofficial cannabis holiday to encourage social distancing and self-isolation during this time of uncertainty. The April 20th 420 “holiday” is normally an opportunity for cannabis companies and consumers to get together and celebrate progress made on the legalization front. But with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis pushing a #DoingMyPartCO campaign, in which people are encouraged to make sacrifices in our fight against COVID-19, Terrapin felt it was prudent to suspend any 420-related marketing activities. We will re-evaluate plans after stay-at-home orders are lifted and health officials believe we have turned the corner in our fight against the virus.
“Now is the time for us to do our part. That means making sacrifices,” said Chris Woods, owner and chief executive of Terrapin Care Station, which has six cannabis storefronts in Colorado. “We understand that 420 is a time of celebration for all that we have accomplished in our efforts to end cannabis prohibition. But there is a bigger battle at our doorsteps today, and we must do our part to control the spread of this deadly virus. We hope that by suspending 420-related marketing, people will be encouraged to social distance this April.”
Cannabis companies have been allowed to remain operational as a “critical” service in Colorado and in most legal marijuana states. In Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock flirted with the idea of closing cannabis companies. But the order spurred panic buying, which defeated the purpose of social distancing as hundreds flocked to cannabis stores to stock up. The prohibition in Denver lasted just over two hours before the mayor rolled back the proposal, allowing cannabis stores to remain operational.
As an industry, we have done our part. We quickly adjusted operating procedures to allow for curbside pickup and online ordering; we have adjusted shift schedules to encourage employees to stay home if they’re not feeling well or to care for a loved one; we’ve increased sanitization procedures; mandated hand-washing and wearing Personal Protective Equipment; and we constantly push social distancing for our customers and employees, to name a few adjustments. As a company, though, we want to do more to encourage people to self-isolate and social distance. Suspending 420 activities is just one additional step we can take as a company.
Recognizing that many are experiencing economic hardship and job loss stemming from COVID-19, Terrapin is offering discounts on products. The Terrapin Relief Package will see discounts of at least 20 percent on some products during the month of April. We have also been offering discounts on cannabis consumption accessories in the wake of COVID-19. Instead of sharing pre-rolls and consumption glassware and apparatuses, we are encouraging our customers to puff, puff —don’t pass.
We understand that this is a change in habit. Cannabis consumption has always been a social activity, and it will always remain so. But in a time of crisis, we must make sacrifices to do our part. Postponing 420 and encouraging people to stop sharing consumption is a small sacrifice in this war.
“We have made great progress as an industry. Just the fact that we have been deemed an essential service during this outbreak is further evidence of our evolution,” Woods added. “But that didn’t come without work and determination. We won hearts and minds by leading by example and acting responsibly. Suspending 420 and encouraging individual cannabis use is simply an extension of our efforts to lead by example.”
