Free Marijuana: States Offer Cannabis To Vaccinated Residents

Americans living in Washington state and Arizona could get free marijuana if they get vaccinated through July 12. This comes as several states in the United States have launched various incentive programs to encourage residents to get immunized.

Officials for Washington state’s alcohol and cannabis board Monday launched a “Joints for Jabs” program, authorizing state-licensed cannabis retailers to give a free joint to adults who get their first or second dose of any COVID-19 vaccine at one of the retail locations.

In Arizona, the state government partnered with Dr. Green Certs and Commerce Medical Group to offer residents free, onsite vaccinations in three Phoenix-area locations. People ages 21 and older will receive a pre-rolled joint and edible cannabis gummy as part of the “Snax for Vaxx” campaign.

Health experts previously warned that vaccine demand will likely wane because of hesitancy, lack of access, or logistical challenges for the people who are yet to receive a shot.

“Since the start of the pandemic itself, we’ve always had about a quarter of the population that’s been like, ‘Uh, I really don’t know,’” Rupali Limaye, a behavioral and social scientist that studies vaccine hesitancy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told The Washington Post.

“It makes sense we’re at this place where we’re having to persuade people to get the vaccine,” she added.

In New Jersey and Connecticut, officials are offering vaccinated adults beer or non-alcoholic beverages.

In Alabama, the Department of Public Health partnered with the Talladega Superspeedway to give vaccinated Americans over the age of 16 two free laps on the racetrack.

In Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine introduced the “Vax-a-Million” contest, which gives five vaccinated residents $1 million each and five vaccinated adolescents a four-year full-ride scholarship to any of the state colleges and universities. The winners of Ohio’s “Vax-a-Million” are chosen every Wednesday in a random drawing. The program is also funded by the state’s COVID-19 relief funds.

On Thursday, Gov. DeWine teased that more incentives are in the works during the drawing of the third set of winners of the lottery prize.

In March, Krispy Kreme became the first business to roll out a nationwide incentive program that gives a free glazed doughnut to any adult with a vaccination card.