Hurricane season always tests Fort Myers’ cannabis market. From supply chains to patient access, storms shape how dispensaries operate and how consumers plan. With NOAA projecting an above-normal 2025 Atlantic season and the most active stretch running through September and October, local operators are bracing for disruption while applying lessons from Hurricane Ian.
The first pressure point is continuity of operations. When Ian struck Lee County on September 28, 2022, widespread power loss, flooding, and evacuation orders forced many dispensaries to shutter before a phased reopening. Industry tracking at the time showed dozens of closures across Florida, with stores in Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and Fort Myers among the most impacted. The pattern underscores a recurring reality: even when facilities avoid structural damage, retail hours depend on grid restoration, road access, and staff safety.
On the supply side, companies say cultivation and processing sites are generally hardened, yet logistics remain vulnerable. After Ian, Fluent’s parent Cansortium reported that about a dozen storefronts were down at points due to evacuations and safety checks, even as core production continued—evidence that retail distribution, not plant supply, is often the chokepoint. Expect temporary delivery radius shrinkage, longer lead times, and selective product menus when fuel is tight or bridges and causeways are restricted.
Patient access is the second fault line. Florida now allows telehealth for medical marijuana certification renewals (after an initial in-person exam), which can soften appointment disruptions when clinics close or travel is unsafe. Residents should also monitor statewide emergency guidance and hotlines for real-time updates on health services and safety resources. While Florida routinely authorizes early prescription refills during a declared emergency, those waivers apply to pharmacy-dispensed medications; cannabis patients still need to follow OMMU rules and their physician’s certification schedule.
Consumer behavior shifts before and after landfall. Retailers typically see a pre-storm spike—“stock-up” runs for vapes, tinctures, and edibles—followed by a lull during widespread outages, then a rebound as stores reopen with limited hours. Reports and chain statements around Ian showed how quickly conditions normalize once utilities stabilize.
What to watch locally as the season peaks: (1) dispensary status dashboards and social feeds for closures, reopenings, and delivery changes; (2) minimum order adjustments as fleets conserve fuel; (3) cross-state inventory rebalancing from unaffected regions; and (4) updates from Lee County and state emergency managers on access and curfews. NOAA’s August update kept an “above-normal” outlook intact, emphasizing the need for flexible plans through November 30.
Bottom line: hurricane season rarely halts Florida’s cannabis supply, but it can pinch local access. For patients, a resilient playbook is straightforward—renew on time, keep a modest buffer of preferred products, favor shelf-stable formats, and verify store status before traveling. For retailers, tested continuity plans, redundant communications, and delivery contingencies remain the differentiators when the cone of uncertainty points at Lee County.