Many Americans are counting their blessings as the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines brings hope for the beginning of the end of the pandemic.
The goal of the vaccine is to create herd immunity to the disease. Many, however, are hesitant to take it. According to a poll by the Associated Press, only half of U.S. citizens say they want the shot.
With experts estimating that 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity, cannabis activists and dispensary owners are doing their part to encourage the stop of the spread.
Pot for Shots
In Michigan, the Greenhouse of Walled Lake, and UBaked Cannabis of Burton are offering free pre-rolled joints to any customer who brings in written proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.
“Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccination as we as a community battle this horrible pandemic,” Greenhouse owner, Jerry Millen said in a statement. “Pot for Shots is our way of showing our commitment in assisting the community get back to normalcy. We support the safe and responsible use of cannabis and hope this is the beginning of the end of this insidious pandemic.”
Joints for Jabs
The inauguration isn’t the only excitement going down in Washington D.C. this week.
Cannabis rights activist Adam Eidenger is encouraging vaccinations as well with his “Joints for Jabs” campaign.
In an interview with TMZ, Eidenger expressed that dozens of homegrowers in D.C. will lawfully distribute free bags of cannabis in an effort to encourage young people who may be making “very unscientific statements about the vaccine.”
“We want to say, look, the science that supports cannabis being safe and effective for a host of issues, including anxiety from vaccines, also supports the science behind the vaccine,” Eidenger noted. “We wanted to get the point across to people in their 40s and younger […] We’ve got to do something to get people excited.”
Eidenger said tables will be set up outside of vaccination sites throughout D.C. The campaign’s organizers opted for bags instead of pre-rolls to prevent the spread of germs and on-site smoking, and promotions will be limited in order to prevent crowds.
The vaccine has also sparked debate over what sort of employees should be prioritized for inoculation. With dispensaries deemed essential businesses, the Baltimore Business Journal reports that employees in Maryland will be placed at the top of the list, alongside health-care providers, for receiving the state’s first wave of vaccinations. For more information on cannabis and COVID-19, click here.
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