Although cannabis companies have been deemed “essential” in Washington state, some licensees have decided to pivot their operations to provide badly-needed supplies in the fight against COVID-19. New Day Cannabis in Newport, Washington is now manufacturing hand sanitizer using an excess stock of ethanol, according to the Spokesman-Review.
Company owner Joe Rammell said the sanitizer will be sold to hospitals and government at a discount.
“We watch the news like everybody else. We really can’t make masks. We can’t manufacture ventilators,” he said in the report.
“You don’t need a chemistry degree to make this stuff, but you need to know what you’re doing.”
The state has identified hand sanitizer and disinfecting sprays on its list of high-demand items to combat the spread of the virus. Rammell said the shift to hand sanitizer will also help keep his workers employed.
Around the world, cannabis companies have stepped up to help aid their communities as the coronavirus continues to spread. Massachusetts’ Central Ave. Compassionate Care is positioned to manufacture hand sanitizer for local hospitals, while Canada’s Canopy Growth and Hexo Corp. are donating face masks and other protective equipment to medical professionals on the front lines of the crisis.
Get daily cannabis business news updates. Subscribe
End