In the latest inventive push to get more Americans vaccinated against Covid-19, the US state of Washington is giving “joints for jabs.” This is the latest imaginative push to get more Americans immunised against Covid-19 as inoculation rates continue to fall.
In the northwest state, where recreational marijuana sales were authorised in 2012, cannabis retailers will be able to give out one free pre-rolled joint to everyone aged 21 or older who gets vaccinated at an in-store clinic.
The proposal comes after a decision last month to enable bars and other liquor licensees in Washington state to provide one free alcoholic drink to people who get their shots within a six-week “window.”
According to current health department data, just over half of Washington adults (54%) had gotten at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccination.
However, vaccination rates have declined throughout most of the country in recent weeks, prompting a flurry of initiatives to boost uptake.
Vaccination “lotteries” have been held in several states, including California and Ohio, with cash prizes or college scholarships awarded to vaccine recipients chosen at random.
Free sports tickets, airline flights, and beers have all been offered as incentives, and a cannabis store in Arizona has already tried handing away free items to individuals getting shots.
The temporary “joints for jabs” exception in Washington state, which was sought by cannabis dealers and is discretionary for each dealer, will last through July 12.
President Joe Biden has set a goal of putting at least one immunisation injection into the hands of 70% of adult Americans by July 4th, the country’s Independence Day.
According to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, the current figure stands at 63.7 percent.
