The COVID-19 outbreak isn’t only affecting the stock markets and the availability of Purell. It’s getting events across the country canceled as well.
Wwhether you feel the COVID-19 panic represents the end of days, or is just the latest example of lemming type behavior, real challenges have arisen following the disease’s spread around the world.
The novel coronavirus disease, and the virus caused by the disease COVID-19, may not have killed as many people as the flu, but at the time of this writing, there are 114,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus around the world, with confirmed infected hosts across 80 countries and on all continents except Antarctica. Roughly 63,000 victims have recovered from the sickness, though 4,000 people have died from it.
The United States is one of the latest countries to report confirmed infections. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate there are 423 confirmed cases in 35 states and 20 deaths — though officials suspect that anywhere from 1,000 to 9,000 Americans are infected but without symptoms.
Regardless of opinions on the outbreak and the masses’ responses to it (and there are many), the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) is on the brink of declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic. Governments — and businesses — around the world want to keep the outbreak contained as much as possible to avoid damaging the stock markets, triggering riots, straining resources, or losing more innocent lives.
So you thought to relax and relieve your mind of all this chaos you'd go enjoy a cannabis related event or gathering. Perhaps you'll need to rethink that plan. Below, you’ll find a list of major festivals, shows, concerts, expos, and conferences that have been canceled due to the panic and concern surrounding the spread of COVID-19. This list is by no means complete nor is it comprehensive.
Weed-Related Events & Expos
SXSW (Austin, Texas)
Southern Hemp Expo (Tennessee, postponed indefinitely)
International Cannabis Business Conference (Berlin, postponed until July)
CannaTech (Tel Aviv, Israel; postponed until June)
PsyTech (Tel Aviv, Israel; postponed until June)
Institute of Cannabis Research Conference (Pueblo, Colorado; postponed until August)
Other Events & Conferences
TED 2020 (Vancouver, BC; will be held either virtually or in July, TBA)
Emerald City Comic Con (Seattle, Washington)
Facebook’s F8 Developers Conference (San Jose, California)
UNICEF Ball (Beverly Hills, California)
Blizzard Overwatch League Games (Seoul, South Korea)
Concerts & Festivals
Ultra Music Festival (Miami, Florida)
Calle Ocho Carnival celebration (Miami, Florida)
Tomorrowland Winter 2020 Music Festival (France)
Korea Times Music Festival (Los Angeles, California)
BTS’s “Map of the Soul” Tour (Seoul, South Korea dates only)
Stormzy’s “Heavy Is the World” Tour (Asian dates only)
Green Day’s “Hella Mega” Tour (Asian dates only)
Mariah Carey’s 2020 tour (Hawaii date only; postponed to November)
Madonna’s “Madame X” Tour (Paris dates only)
Other Notable Cancellations
iPhone 9 / SE 2 launch event (Cupertino, California, rumored)
Disney’s Mulan release in China (postponed indefinitely)
James Bond in No Time to Die (film release postponed until November)
Source: MerryJane