Springfield orders shutdown of CBD businesses, including mailed orders

The city of Springfield has ordered all CBD stores to cease their business operations amid COVID-19, including delivery for online orders.

Hemporium co-owner Greg Lee was met by the police outside of the storefront in Springfield Friday morning, co-owner Rachel Lee told Greenway Magazine. They were told by the officers, communicating via phone prior to Greg’s arrival, that they are non-essential businesses, not related to a medical need and must close their store – also ceasing mailed orders.

Lee told Greenway the police said online orders would not be permitted to be fulfilled by the store.

Lee clarified the store can drop ship by placing an order with a bigger company that would fulfill the order for the retailer, but the store is not allowed to ship any products they have in inventory in their Springfield location.

Hemporium recently launched its online web store to meet the CBD demand during the pandemic. Lee told Greenway that curbside and delivery orders were previously barred by the City as well, something area CBD retailers are organizing to challenge.

Due to COVID-19’s social distancing measures, Lee says Hemporium has lost about $10,000 in the last two weeks.

Lee said she’s heard from customers worried about their epilepsy treatment, while another shop owner said a customer has gone back to hard, street drugs after being unable to access kratom.

Lee notes it interesting that restaurants are able to proceed with their business operations by establishing a curbside pickup option. Many restaurants and local governments are even allowing alcohol to be carried out, which is usually not allowed. The governor of Texas signed a waiver allowing for the sale of alcohol to-go through the pandemic. The City of Springfield continues to allow delivery services and restaurants to deliver alcohol, despite the City’s crackdown on medicinal products like CBD.

The closure of CBD stores means some Springfield residents will not have access to the medicine they need. Many children with seizure disorders and other people with serious ailments rely on this form of cannabis.

Greenway talked to Jamie Tillman, owner of Canna Bliss and she mentioned a local hydroponics store was allowed to stay open. “We sell soil and tents, just like our competitors Harvest Grow,” Tillman told Greenway that she was told that tents and soil were not their primary source of revenue and therefore would have to close.

“We were the very first CBD store they called to close down,” Tillman told Greenway. “I have written the city and city council every single day to hopefully change their minds. We also have our patients calling them and nothing has changed.

“Rachel and I plan to keep fighting this for the cannabis community until something changes,” Tillman said.

No clarification has been provided as to whether local governments have the authority to bar postage use from the governor’s office or the Springfield city attorney.