Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board is going to temporarily allow cannabis retailers to launch “Joints for Jabs” promotions. Until July 12, residents can be rewarded with a free pre-roll after receiving an in-store Covid-19 vaccine, writes Al Jazeera.
From essential service to vaccine clinic
It’s the latest of a string of similar promotions designed to incentivize Americans to get vaccinated. So far, more than 42% of the population is fully vaxxed, but the rate of demand appears to be slowing. As a result, state governments have announced lotteries with cash prizes, booze, scholarships and amusement park passes to help get shots into arms.
Cannabis steps up
Joints for jabs isn’t the first cannabis community effort to promote freebies to vaccinated Americans, writes Mugglehead. In January, advocacy group D.C. Marijuana Justice said members would give free weed away outside of vaccination clinics. Dispensaries in Michigan and Arizona have also launched campaigns to reward vaccinated customers with free products.
‘Summer of freedom’
Last week President Biden also announced a new string of measures, like free Lyft and Uber rides to clinics, with a goal of getting 70% of Americans jabbed in time for Independence Day – which some states will most certainly not attain.
As if supporting the joints for jabs effort, it kind of sounds like Biden is actually encouraging folks to smoke up and celebrate.
“America is headed to a summer dramatically different from last year’s summer,” he said. “A summer of freedom, a summer of joy, a summer of get-togethers and celebration – an all-American summer that this country deserves after a long, long, dark winter that we have all endured.”
