Cannabis stores are starting to voluntarily close across Canada in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Ontario-based Canopy Growth announced that it will close all 23 of its stores in Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, effective Wednesday.

The company owns popular cannabis stores Tokyo Smoke and Tweed.

Canopy Growth To Temporarily Close Corporate Owned Retail Amid Response To COVID-19

Details here: https://t.co/GbOsG27P9g pic.twitter.com/psFKaUSsU6

— Canopy Growth (@CanopyGrowth) March 17, 2020

CEO David Klein said, "We have a responsibility to our employees, their families and our communities to do our part to 'flatten the curve' by limiting social interactions."

Klein noted that selective stores will continue selling their products through their e-commerce platforms.

Canopy Growth's voluntary closure is especially impressive considering that cannabis sales are sky-rocketing; on Saturday, Ontario Cannabis Store reported an 80 per cent spike in sales as more Canadians retreat into isolation.

UPDATE: Wow. Ontario Cannabis Store tells me orders on Sunday up 100% from the previous week. More than 4,000 orders Sunday alone. #onpoli https://t.co/JJlr9UTVKP

— Matt Lamers (@matt_lamers) March 16, 2020

Alberta marijuana dispensaries also saw an "unprecedented demand for cannabis" over the weekend.

Notably, Ontario's state of emergency — which includes shutting down restaurants, bars, libraries, child care centres, theatres and concert venues — does not include shutting down the government-owned Ontario Cannabis Store.