As businesses, bars and restaurants across Georgia close their doors during the coronavirus pandemic, one product continues to thrive: marijuana.

A dealer who works inside the Perimeter said they sold last month nearly three times as much marijuana as normal.

They’ve struggled to keep up with demand as customers asked for larger and larger quantities.

Because marijuana is illegal in Georgia, two dealers spoke to GPB News on the condition of anonymity.

“This is a strange time for people, and that’s reflected in my sales,” they said. “I think it shows that this is a product that some people really view as essential.”

Selling marijuana off the books means getting to know a lot of your clients on a personal basis. Depressed and isolated customers texted several times a day for drugs to ease their anxiety.

“This is what a lot of people lean on,” the dealer said.

Another dealer in the Atlanta area said at least half of their customers use marijuana to deal with a health issue.

“Anything from insomnia to back pain to cancer,” the source said. “Those customers in particular ordered more than usual from me in case of a lockdown.” [Read more at Georgia Public Broadcasting]