Liquor, Marijuana, Guns as Essential Services during COVID-19

In the recently released article "Liquor, Marijuana, and Guns: Essential Services or Political Tools?", Drs. Susan M. Opp and Samantha L. Mosier explore how liquor, marijuana, and gun stores were deemed as essential or nonessential industries during the beginning months of COVID-19 pandemic. The study focuses on government actions in two states, California and Colorado, and uncovers that early designation decisions were largely made under conditions of uncertainty, perhaps contributing to panic buying among the general public, but changes to initial decisions were largely informed by health and economic issues.