We believe in science over here at Pacific Seed Bank. The science behind marijuana and the science behind COVID vaccines. In certain provinces, you can actually partake in both in a single afternoon. Multiple jurisdictions have offered free joints as an incentive for getting the vaccine as it's the only way we'll be able to get back to "normal."
The Vaccination Goal
Even though researchers claim the goal of "herd immunity" is out the window due to all the emerging COVID variants, public health officials have still set a 70% vaccination rate as the target. It was initially Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government that pushed ambitious vaccination timelines ahead of the Canada Day long weekend. According to CNBC, a number of jurisdictions had crossed or were approaching that threshold, including several Canadian provinces that were leading the charge:
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Yukon
COVID Vaccine Incentives
Where some provinces and municipalities have lagged behind, public health officials have put into place a list of incentives that may entice hesitant Canadians to get vaccinated. The incentives vary by region but they include prizes, free joints, free beer, gift cards, and other draws.
Let's say you are hesitant to get the vaccine. Would any of these incentives change your mind? What would it take for you to get the vaccine? Come on, everybody has their price. Name your number and there may be a province that can match it.
When Pfizer and Moderna first became available in Canada, it was nearly impossible to schedule a vaccine appointment. But after a few months, the vaccination pace dramatically slowed, which may prevent certain provinces from reaching that goal of 70%. Public health officials and community leaders have turned to creative incentives to (hopefully) bump the vaccination rate up again.
Where to Get Free Joints
We should state the obvious that the only places offering free joints are those where cannabis is legally sold through licensed retailers — which, under the Cannabis Act, is all of Canada. That said, specific dispensary-run incentive programmes have popped up across the country. In British Columbia, for example, some licensed cannabis retailers ran "Joints for Jabs" style promotions in partnership with provincial health authorities, similar to programmes seen elsewhere in North America, allowing licensed retailers to give qualifying customers one pre-rolled joint at or after an in-store or nearby vaccination clinic.
Several Ontario cannabis retailers got creative as well, offering free pre-rolls and free edibles alongside vaccination drives. That sounds like a steal to us!
The big question is, "Are people actually motivated by marijuana to get the vaccine? Is that enough of an incentive?" The response from some retailers suggested it genuinely helped. "We had a lot of people coming in and asking us, 'I don't have (the vaccine), where do I get it,'" said one dispensary manager. "And that's what led to this."
"A lot of [people] come in to get their medication, so we figured we could kill two birds with one stone. We can help some of our patients out, hopefully, some of the ones that need it the most."
Quebec also saw various promotions tied to vaccination milestones, with some retailers and local businesses offering freebies to mark 4/20 and Canada Day as vaccination rates climbed. Premier François Legault and other provincial leaders championed creative community outreach to keep momentum going, including free access to provincial parks for those who got vaccinated at certain sites — a true "shot in the park."
What Would It Take for You to Get Vaccinated?
If you're still on the fence about getting the vaccine, is there anything that would motivate you to do so? Various provinces announced lotteries and prize draws with significant cash rewards. British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec also ran their own contests and giveaways to encourage uptake. Some Canadians may be persuaded by once-in-a-lifetime prizes, but there will always remain a handful who will not get vaccinated no matter what for their own personal reasons. From our perspective, we'll do pretty much anything for free joints.