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The US Department of Education has released details of its $14 billion dollar support program for colleges and universities as outlined through the federal CARES Act. Half of the funding is mandated to support student need with housing, healthcare, course materials and living expenses, while the other half of funding to support costs associated with instructional delivery. According to officials, funding formulas were determined by federal enrollment figures, percentages of full-time Pell Grant recipients, and percentages of students who were not enrolled in online courses prior to the outbreak. The following is a breakdown of listed payments to all two-year and four-year historically black colleges and universities recognized by the Department’s federal student loan program. Officials say that funds earmarked for student support will be released immediately. Alabama Alabama A&M University Total Funding – $9,121,201 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $4,560,601 Alabama State University Total Funding – $6,284,463 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,142,232 Bishop State Community College Total Funding – $2,871,392 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,435,696 Gadsden State Community College Total Funding – $3,756,166 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,878,083 H. Councill Trenholm State Community College Total Funding – $1,892,834 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $946,417 J.F. Drake State Community College Total Funding – $761,763 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $380,882 Lawson State Community College Total Funding – $3,522,022 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,761,011 Miles College Total Funding – $3,257,934 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,628,967 Oakwood University Total Funding – $1,573,749 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $786,875 Shelton State Community College Total Funding – $2,965,439 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,482,720 Stillman College Total Funding – $1,206,208 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $603,104 Talladega College Total Funding – $2,069,544 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,034,772 Tuskegee University Total Funding – $3,756,522 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,878,261 Arkansas Arkansas Baptist College Total Funding – $831,019 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $415,510 Philander Smith College Total Funding – $2,143,674 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,071,837 Shorter College Total Funding – $1,097,484 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $548,742 University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff Total Funding – $4,295,429 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,147,715 Delaware Delaware State University Total Funding – $5,565,920 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,782,960 District of Columbia Howard University Total Funding – $8,723,244 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $4,361,622 University of the District of Columbia Total Funding – $3,609,526 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,804,763 Florida Bethune-Cookman University Total Funding – $6,648,501 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,324,251 Edward Waters College Total Funding – $1,361,209 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $680,605 Florida A&M University Total Funding – $13,051,325 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $6,525,663 Florida Memorial University Total Funding – $2,154,643 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,077,322 Georgia Albany State University Total Funding – $5,137,088 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,568,544 Clark Atlanta University Total Funding – $6,064,349 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,032,175 Fort Valley State University Total Funding – $4,166,439 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,083,220 Interdenominational Theological Center Total Funding – $44,417 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $22,209 Morehouse College Total Funding – $2,947,819 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,473,910 Morehouse School of Medicine Total Funding – $147,523 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $73,762 Paine College Total Funding – $798,094 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $399,047 Savannah State University Total Funding – $6,374,932 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,187,466 Spelman College Total Funding – $2,804,294 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,402,147 Kentucky Kentucky State University Total Funding – $1,372,077 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $686,039 Simmons College of Kentucky Total Funding – $240,805 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $120,403 Louisiana Dillard University Total Funding – $2,442,809 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,221,405 Grambling State University Total Funding – $7,010,388 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,505,194 Southern University and A&M College Total Funding – $9,396,803 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $4,698,402 Southern University at New Orleans Total Funding – $2,481,663 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,240,832 Southern University at Shreveport Total Funding – $2,595,115 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,297,558 Xavier University of Louisiana Total Funding – $3,227,606 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,613,803 Maryland Bowie State University Total Funding – $6,596,246 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,298,123 Coppin State University Total Funding – $2,727,906 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,363,953 Morgan State University Total Funding – $9,263,592 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $4,631,796 University of Maryland Eastern Shore Total Funding – $3,542,365 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,771,183 Mississippi Alcorn State University Total Funding – $5,886,916 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,943,458 Coahoma Community College Total Funding – $3,136,873 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,568,437 Jackson State University Total Funding – $8,446,248 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $4,223,124 Mississippi Valley State University Total Funding – $3,079,829 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,539,915 Rust College Total Funding – $1,359,587 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $679,794 Tougaloo College Total Funding – $1,487,317 Emergency Student Aid Funding Miminum – $743,659 Missouri Harris-Stowe State University Total Funding – $2,513,580 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,256,790 Lincoln University of Missouri Total Funding – $3,494,532 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,747,266 North Carolina Bennett College Total Funding – $768,798 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $384,399 Elizabeth City State University Total Funding – $2,130,978 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,065,489 Fayetteville State University Total Funding – $5,084,687 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,542,344 Johnson C. Smith University Total Funding – $2,718,468 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,359,234 Livingstone College Total Funding – $2,503,063 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,251,532 North Carolina A&T State University Total Funding – $14,103,628 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $7,051,814 North Carolina Central University Total Funding – $8,932,233 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $4,466,117 Saint Augustine’s University Total Funding – $1,450,038 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $725,019 Shaw University Total Funding – $2,258,545 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,129,273 Winston-Salem State University Total Funding – $6,117,980 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,058,990 Ohio Central State University Total Funding – $3,645,811 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,822,906 Wilberforce University Total Funding – $689,372 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $344,686 Oklahoma Langston University Total Funding – $3,082,441 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,541,221 Pennsylvania Cheyney University Total Funding – $663,615 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $331,808 Lincoln University of Pennsylvania Total Funding – $2,565,804 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,282,902 South Carolina Allen University Total Funding – $1,589,675 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $794,838 Benedict College Total Funding – $4,372,336 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,186,168 Claflin University Total Funding – $3,738,216 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,869,108 Clinton College Total Funding – $233,942 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $116,971 Denmark Technical College Total Funding – $412,522 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $206,261 Morris College Total Funding – $1,481,212 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $740,606 South Carolina State University Total Funding – $4,062,087 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,031,044 Voorhees College Total Funding – $1,124,053 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $562,027 Tennessee Fisk University Total Funding – $1,085,474 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $542,737 Lane College Total University – $2,430,978 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,215,489 LeMoyne-Owen College Total Funding – $1,660,276 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $830,138 Meharry Medical College Total Funding – $219,976 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $109,988 Tennessee State University Total Funding – $7,214,661 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,607,331 Texas Huston-Tillotson University Total Funding – $1,630,192 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $815,096 Jarvis Christian College Total Funding – $1,888,040 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $944,020 Paul Quinn College Total Funding – $1,163,719 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $581,860 Prairie View A&M University Total Funding – $13,752,928 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $6,876,464 Southwestern Christian College Total Funding – $143,039 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $71,520 Saint Phillip’s College Total Funding – $3,427,506 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,713,753 Texas College Total Funding – $2,358,852 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,179,426 Texas Southern University Total Funding – $11,796,898 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $5,898,449 Wiley College Total Funding – $1,538,638 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $769,319 U.S. Virgin Islands University of the Virgin Islands Total Funding – $1,713,737 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $856,869 Virginia Hampton University Total Funding – $4,264,342 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $2,132,171 Norfolk State University Total Funding – $6,901,715 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,450,858 Virginia State University Total Funding – $6,855,810 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $3,427,905 Virginia Union University Total Funding – $2,251,677 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $1,125,839 Virginia University of Lynchburg Total Funding – $357,917 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $178,959 West Virginia Bluefield State College Total Funding – $1,296,174 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $648,087 West Virginia State University Total Funding – $1,650,103 Emergency Student Aid Funding Minimum – $825,052

Author:  Jacques Kelly           Published: 4/9/2020          Baltimore Sun

Earl G. Graves Sr., who founded Black Enterprise magazine after spending his undergraduate years at Morgan State University, died Monday night, his family announced.

His son, Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. said his father, 85 years old, suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Former U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume said, “Earl set the tone and the tenor of the civil rights movement. I affectionately called him my Big Brother. He had a huge role in my life.”

Former Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke recalled Mr. Graves.

“My acquaintance with Earl spans four decades,” said Mr. Schmoke, the president of the University of Baltimore. “I first met him as a junior staff member working in the President Jimmy Carter administration. He was promoting an early program to benefit minority businesses.

“His advocacy for minority businesses goes back half a century,” Mr. Schmoke, a Democrat, said.

The former mayor described Mr. Graves.

“He was gregarious and outgoing but was hard-charging in business,” Mr. Schmoke said. “Earl was fun-loving and a delight to be around.”

Mr. Schmoke said he became reacquainted with Mr. Graves when he was a trustee at Washington D.C.’s Howard University and the former mayor was then dean of the law school.

“Earl was a great promoter of Howard’s business school, and later the business school at Morgan was named after him,” Mr. Schmoke said.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Graves earned an economics degree at Morgan and served in the Army as a Green Beret captain. He subsequently became a staff member in the office of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Mr. Graves recalled growing up in a Brooklyn brownstone with a stern father and warm, spirited mother who insisted that the local YMCA be integrated so her son could swim.

Mr. Graves returned to the Morgan campus in 1997 to discuss a book he had written, “How to Succeed in Business Without Being White.”

“Earl G. Graves has always been clear about what he wanted,” a Sun story said. “Even as a business student at then-Morgan State College in the late 1950s, he would proclaim to anyone who asked: ‘I want to make a lot of money and I want to create change.’”

While a student in Baltimore, he sold corsages on campus and cut grass along Hillen Road. He later sold Brooklyn, New York, real estate and founded Black Enterprise magazine in 1971.

He recalled how his Morgan classmates laughed at his ambitions. He said that in the 1950s, few corporations recruited African Americans and few banks were handing out business loans, The Sun’s story about him said.

Mr. Graves donated more than $1 million to Morgan State and at one time sat on corporate boards, including DaimlerChrysler Corp., American Airlines and Federated Department Stores Inc.

He also headed the Washington D.C. Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., a large minority-operated franchise.

Mr. Mfume, a Democrat, recalled a visit from Mr. Graves and Myrlie Evers, widow of Medgar Evers, when he was serving in the House of Representatives and representing Baltimore’s 7th District.

“They begged and pleaded with me to come and take over the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. I respected both of them. … Earl had a sense of purpose, determination and dignity,” said Mr. Mfume, who agreed to take the NAACP position.

Mr. Mfume also said that Mr. Graves enjoyed his role in politics and was one of the most influential proponents of the presidency of Democrat Barack Obama.

Reflecting on his time at Morgan, Mr. Graves said, “I may have been the slowest man ever to have a place on the Morgan State track team, but, when it came to running after money, I was an Olympian, then and now.”

His wife of many years, Barbara Kydd, died in 2012.

“Earl’s biggest hurdle was the loss of his wife,” Mr. Mfume said. “He personified what a family man was. They would open their house in Scarsdale to me at Christmas or for Super Bowl parties.”

In addition to his son, survivors include two other sons, Johnny Graves and Michael Graves, and eight grandchildren.

A funeral has not been announced.

Baltimore Sun reporters Liz Bowie and Lillian Reed contributed to this article.

Author: Vince Orange President DC Chamber of Commerce  Published: 4/6//2020

View as Webpage DC Chamber of Commerce shares important information from the United States Chamber of Commerce, DC At-Large Councilmember Elisa Silverman and the DC Policy Center on unemployment compensation and much more! Updates from the United States Chamber of Commerce on the Federal CARES ACT Federal Unemployment Programs: Extend unemployment insurance by 13 weeks and include a four-month enhancement of benefits Unemployment compensation is available for those not eligible for regular UI, including those who may have exhausted benefits. An individual must provide certification that he or she is able and available to work, but is unemployed or underemployed due to: Coronavirus diagnosis or presentation of symptoms and seeking medical attention A household member with coronavirus diagnosis. Caring for a family member who has been diagnosed. School or daycare closures and the individual is the primary child caregiver. Workplace lock-down. Advise from a health care provider to self-quarantine. The individual was about to start a job that is no longer available because of coronavirus. The individual is now the breadwinner of a household because someone has died from coronavirus. The individual had to quit because of a circumstance resulting from coronavirus. The individual’s place of work is closed because of coronavirus. These provisions do not apply to an individual who can telework with pay. These provisions do not cover someone getting paid sick or paid family leave. The unemployment provisions run from January 27 to December 31, 2020. Receipt of assistance under the unemployment provisions shall not exceed 39 weeks unless otherwise extended. No one week waiting period. The federal government will pick up 100% of the cost. Upon agreement between a state, an additional $600 per worker per week unemployment compensation payment is available. This compensation is 100% covered by the federal government. The additional payment sunsets on July 31. The federal government will pick up the cost for any states that waive the one-week waiting period. This sunsets on December 31, 2020. Student Loans: Requires the Secretary of Education to defer student loan payments, principal, and interest thought September 30, 2020 without borrower penalty. Suspends reporting to credit agencies. Suspends all involuntary collection on defaulted student loans, including wage garnishment and reduction in tax refunds or other government-provided benefits. United States Chamber of Commerce Complete Legislative Analysis Contents: • Small Business “Paycheck Protection Program” • Additional Small Business Provisions • Changes to SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) • Loan Programs and Credit Facilities • Business Tax Provisions • Pension and Employee Benefit Requirements • Banking Relief, Mortgage Forbearance, and Credit Reporting • Payments & Relief for Individuals • Unemployment Programs • Work Sharing Programs • Paid Leave Changes • Health Care Provisions • Student Loans • Airline Industry Support • State and Local Aid • Appropriations To better understand the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and how it impacts you and your members, review the United States of Chamber of Commerce summary of the final bill which breaks down the final stimulus package and provides analysis for the business community. Links to the final bill text are included in the summary. District of Columbia Government Addresses Unemployment DC POLICY CENTER DC Policy Center presents these provisions of the federal COVID-19 legislation on support and supplement state unemployment programs –  https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/cares-act-ui-provisions/ Employers in need of addressing unemployment insurance claims contact: DC Employer Advocacy Program Attorney Ryan Jones, Esq. at ryan@rljoneslaw.com (Free Legal Services for Employers Provided by DC Department of Employment Services and DC Chamber of Commerce) Stay Connected! Join the DC Chamber, Today! Click Here to Join Visit our website Connect with us  ‌ ‌ ‌

Author: Kenyan McDuffie          Published: 4/6/2020            DC Council

Councilmember McDuffie on Passage of Additional Emergency Legislation in Response to Coronavirus  Legislation includes mortgage relief, support for CBEs, and expanded consumer protections For details and the latest updates on the District’s response to coronavirus, visit http://coronavirus.dc.gov.  For Immediate Release: April 7, 2020 Contact: Nolan Treadway, (202) 445-0361, ntreadway@dccouncil.us Washington, D.C. — Today, the Council of the District of Columbia passed the COVID-19 Response Supplemental Emergency Amendment Act of 2020. Upon passage, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair Pro Tempore and Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, released the following statement:   “Since the Council last met under our current public health emergency, the District has undergone a significant health, social, and economic transformation as the COVID-19 public health emergency touches nearly every resident of our City and region. The District has instituted key provisions of the first emergency, including setting up the Microgrant small business recovery program, a prohibition on evictions, utility relief, an expansion of tax relief, and an expansion of unemployment benefits. I want to thank my colleagues, as well as the Mayor and her administration, for their tireless efforts in this crisis. As Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, I have continued to work around the clock to mitigate further financial losses experienced by residents and businesses. As I have continued engaging the business community and other key stakeholders since the passage of our first emergency legislation, this second iteration continues to provide vital support for residents and small and local businesses by taking urgent and innovative steps. I am proud to have added provisions to support our Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs). Specifically, the bill increases the subcontracting amount for construction and non-construction contracts entered into during the public health emergency from 35% to 50%. This helps to ensure that the limited District funding will be targeted to residents of our City during this critical time.  I am also proud to include a provision that would allow the agency to provide contractors with advance payments. The emergency legislation supports workers, small businesses, and families by requiring mortgage servicers to defer mortgage payments for property owners experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19 and requiring those savings be passed on to tenants. As Chairman of the Council committee with oversight of the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, I am proud to have included this language that will provide a needed and concrete reprieve for renters, owners and businesses alike during this time. Previously, we prohibited terminating gas, water, and electrical services during the public health emergency. This legislation expands the prohibition on the disconnection of utility services to include cable and telecommunication services. It also authorizes the Office of the Attorney General to enforce violations of the provisions of the Council’s COVID-19 emergency legislation by merchants. Recognizing that communities of color and minority-owned businesses continue to face systemic barriers, which in many ways are exacerbated during this pandemic. As I wrote to my colleagues two weeks ago, we must remain vigilant, so we do not exacerbate existing disparities and contribute to displacement of individuals and businesses in communities of color. While this is an impactful bill that will help us through this crisis, the work of this Council, Mayor Bowser, and the District government continues. There will undoubtedly be additional measures necessary, and as we consider those, it is imperative we work collectively to guide our City through this unprecedented time.”

 

Author:  Mayor Muriel Bowser          Published:   4/4/2020            News From Bowser

Dear Washingtonians, Today, as we continue working together to slow the spread of COVID-19, the District launched a new drive-thru and walk-up testing site at United Medical Center. Testing at the site is for: DC residents with symptoms who are 65-years and older; DC residents with symptoms who have underlying health conditions; individuals with symptoms who work in a health care provider or facility in DC; and first responders with symptoms who work for District Government. To get tested at the site you first need to make an appointment. To talk to a medical professional about whether you qualify for testing at this site, call the Testing Triage Call Center at 855-363-0333 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday). If you feel ill and the call center is closed, call a health care provider. As this public health emergency continues, we continue calling on residents to stay home if they are not engaged in essential activities. Today, I presented the District’s COVID-19 situational update, which outlined the coming weeks and months, and specifically, when we expect to experience peak COVID-19 hospitalizations in Washington, DC. Some of the numbers are tough, but they are a reminder of why we are making all these sacrifices and why we are staying home. If you are a medical professional in our community, first, I want to say: thank you. We see the amazing work our health care workers are doing on the frontlines of this pandemic, and we want you to know that your city is here for you. If you are a retired medical professional or an inactive licensee, we can also use your help. If you are interested in supporting our COVID-19 response, you can learn more about the DC Medical Reserve Corps at coronavirus.dc.gov. We are all in this together, and we will get through this together. Remember: Staying home saves lives.  Sincerely,

Author:     Josh Adams,         Published: March 29,2020    New Frontier Data

Since the outbreak of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures have been gradually implemented across the United States. For many municipalities, measures include closing or limiting access to retail establishments, disruption of the supply chain, and consumers’ stockpiling goods. While cannabis operations have been declared essential businesses in many of the states where legal and regulated, consumers remain concerned about both their access to, and the availability of, cannabis in an uncertain environment.

New Frontier Data recently conducted a survey to gauge how cannabis consumers were responding to the uncertainty. A majority (60%) of them reported having purchased cannabis or cannabis products in the previous two weeks as a direct response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Medical cannabis patients were more likely to have stockpiled products in the past two weeks than were recreational consumers (65% vs. 47%, respectively).

While 33% of consumers reported extending their supply for up to two weeks, more than half (53%) stockpiled beyond two weeks’ supply. Roughly a fifth (17%) of consumers indicated that they had extended their supply for up to two months. Again, when segmented by user type, medical users were more likely to have extended their supplies by up to a month than were recreational consumers (22% vs. 13%).

Given the uncertainties across retail markets and the continued availability of cannabis products, New Frontier Data asked consumers who were stockpiling where they were sourcing their cannabis. More than one-third (35%) of consumers purchased from brick-and-mortar stores, with slightly lower numbers relying on private dealers (31%) or friends and family (30%). A reported 16% of consumers used delivery services, which are expected to become more popular as consumers continue to self-isolate, and since local governments which initially rejected delivery services have permitted them in order to ensure consumer access and promote  public health.

Flower has long been the most popular product form, and it remains so among stockpiling consumers with 62% buying flower, followed by 29% choosing edibles, and 22% opting for vape cartridges. More than a quarter (26%) of consumers also reported stocking up on paraphernalia (e.g., rolling papers, lighters, etc.).

Consumers were asked whether their personal consumption of cannabis had changed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Almost half (49%) responded that there was no change in their cannabis consumption, while 29% noted an increase and 20% a decrease. Among medical cannabis consumers, 39% reported consuming more often whereas 21% had decreased their usage. Among recreational consumers, 23% reported an increase compared to 19% seeing a decrease in their cannabis use.

Among those who reported an increase in cannabis consumption, stress and anxiety stemming from COVID-19 were often cited as core motivations. One respondent described “more anxiety and stress due to COVID19. My immunocompromised mother lives with me and I also don’t have insurance.” Another similarly related “more anxiety [as] my parents are old and live with me, and my youngest son has asthma. So, I smoke more to help me be still.”

Boredom and increased downtime at home were also reasons cited by consumers for using more cannabis. They included innovative strategies for socializing, as one respondent wrote that they had “more downtime and [being] at home more than out socializing. Will video chat with friends and have a ‘sesh’.” As another respondent summarized, “home more, can do it more, not driving, not going to work.” Cannabis becomes a means to occupy empty hours.

New Frontier Data will continue to analyze how consumers and the cannabis industry respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and the resultantly shifting economic environment. Those and related topics shall be discussed in greater detail during an April 2 online event, Global Cannabis Town Hall: New Economic Realities.

Author: DOE                 Published:  4/6/2020               Info@positivechangepc.com