Long Lines Form Outside Liquor & Marijuana Stores After Denver Mayor’s Coronavirus Announcement

DENVER (CBS4) – Dozens of people wasted no time getting in line outside Argonaut’s, a liquor store in Denver, following Mayor Michael Hancock’s announcement on Monday. He issued a stay-at-home order which first listed liquor stores and recreational marijuana shops as non-essential.

At 5 p.m., the city updated the order to exclude those businesses which participate in “extreme physical distancing.”

The Order has been updated with the following changes::

· Liquor stores with extreme physical distancing in place will be exempt.

· All marijuana stores with extreme physical distancing in place will be exempt.

· All construction operations and projects will be exempt.

— City and County of Denver (@CityofDenver) March 23, 2020

“The panic you know? Just trying to stock up,” said Wesley Donlan outside of Argonaut. “Oh it’s a madhouse in there, just people going crazy grabbing whatever they can. I just got a bunch of beer and some rum.”

Donlan was buying before the order changed. He sat through a long line that wrapped around half the outside of the building.

(credit: CBS)

I… I have no words. pic.twitter.com/X2uYmuw9eL

— Mekialaya White (@Mekialaya) March 23, 2020

Cory Palm put his 2-year-old, Ari, into the stroller and walked to the liquor store.

“I actually saw the helicopter flying over Argonaut with the big line, and I thought something must be happening I better go take care of that,” he said.

The lines weren’t the best practice of social distancing. But didn’t concern the shoppers either.

“It moved really quick, and I think it’s just everybody is trying to keep their distance so it looks longer than it really is. They have a lot of registers open so they’re getting people in and out real quick,” Palm said.

(credit: CBS)

Other stores saw similar turnout.

Some shoppers thought the measure might be in the public interest to try and stop the COVID-19 spread.

“I do believe it’s worth it because my mom, she’s an elderly lady so it would affect her, and I also have a small child. So I definitely wan’t people to be safe,” said Donlan. “Try and stay health and friendly. Don’t let this bad time bring out the worst in people.”

Lines of people stretched outside recreational marijuana shops like one shop on Lincoln Street.

(credit: CBS)

Many called into concern the lack of social distancing seen in pictures taken by CBS4’s Mekialaya White minutes after the announcement.

The stay at home order will go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday and stay in effect until April 10.

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