Washington Launches “Joints for Jabs Promotion to Support Vaccinations

On Monday, the State of Washington announced it would allow state licenses cannabis retailers to provide one joint to adult consumers who receive a vaccination at an in-store vaccination clinic.

No word yet on if California would copy this policy or not.

Here is the release from the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board (LBC):

LCB  Allows “Joints for Jabs” Promotions to Support Vaccinations

OLYMPIA, WA:  In an effort to support COVID-19 vaccinations, the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) today announced that it would provide a temporary allowance to state licensed cannabis retailers to provide one joint to adult consumers who receive a vaccination at an in-store vaccination clinic.

The LCB received multiple requests from cannabis retail licensees to engage in promotions to support state vaccination efforts. This allowance is effective immediately. The allowance is optional for licensees, and will expire on July 12, 2021.

Allowance Conditions

The optional allowance is effective from Monday June 07 – July 12, 2021. The following conditions apply:

• Participating cannabis retailers may only provide a pre-roll joint, and no other product may be provided as part of this allowance.
• Any cannabis joint provided to a customer must be associated with an active vaccine clinic event at the retail location.
• Only one complimentary joint may be provided to a customer who receives a first or second COVID-19 vaccine dose at the event.
• Receipt of the complimentary joint must occur during the same visit as receiving the vaccination, and may not be delayed, postponed, or otherwise acquired at a later date or time.
• Retailers may only provide the complementary joint to persons 21 years of age and older.
• Any vaccine clinic held inside a licensed retail location must comply with all age restriction requirements for the cannabis retailer.
• The cannabis joint must be provided by a retailer, and not a producer or processor.
• The retailer must purchase the product at wholesale from a licensed producer or processor.
• The retailer may provide the cannabis joint without having to conduct a retail sale of the product. As no sale occurs, the provided product will not be subject to sales and excise tax for the retail licensee.
• Licensees are required to maintain records of all product provided as part of this allowance.
• Advertising of vaccine clinics and one complementary joint for those receiving a first or second COVID-19 vaccine will be allowable during the afforded time period, so long as licensees maintain compliance with all other advertising regulations.
• This allowance does not supersede any state or local health rules and regulations, and licensees must ensure compliance with local heath jurisdiction rules and regulations associated with such clinics.

The LCB has provided dozens of allowances for alcohol and cannabis licensees throughout the COVID pandemic in an effort to support businesses during the restriction period and to support the vaccine effort. Most recently, it to be provided an allowance for a beer, wine or cocktail to be provided at no cost for those vaccinated by June 30.