Washington state is taking its effort to gets folks vaccinated against the pandemic to new heights. Washington’s licensed Cannabis stores can offer free joints to promote on-site COVID-19 vaccine clinics, officials said Monday, reports the Associated Press.
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is calling the effort the “Joints for Jabs” program. Licensed adult-use Cannabis retail shops can give away a single pre-rolled joint to anyone over 21 who gets a shot at an on-site vaccine clinic by July 12, the WSLCB says.
The free incentives must be joints, rather than Cannabis in other forms such as edibles, reports The New York Times.
The board has already allowed breweries, wineries and restaurants to offer free drinks in exchange for proof of vaccination. Alcohol-serving establishments, however, have not had to host a clinic on-site to give out product.
Washington also offers other vaccination incentives. They include free sports tickets and prize money of up to $1 million.
Forty-nine percent of Washingtonians are fully vaccinated. Fifty-eight percent of state residents have had at least one dose, according to a New York Times database
Joint Effort: Getting Creative
Washington is not the only state to offer a cannabis promotion. An Arizona dispensary recently announced a similar campaign, providing free joints or gummy edibles to Arizonans 21 and older who receive a vaccination.
The idea is to persuade more people to become vaccinated, helping to control the deadly virus. This will help Washington to fully reopen more quickly, according to Gov. Jay Inslee.
Inslee said he intends to lift all COVID-related restrictions at the end of the month or when 70% of those over 16 have received at least their first vaccine dose, whichever comes first.
The board said the marijuana stores must buy any joints they intend to give away from licensed producers or processors. They must also keep records of any product they’ve given away.
DC Marijuana Justice (DCMJ), in the nation’s capitol, launched the nation’s first “Joints For Jabs” program back in January.
