Sen. Fortunato says Washington’s ‘joints for jabs’ promotion is ‘idiotic’

The Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board announced Monday that it has authorized “joints for jabs” promotions, providing a temporary allowance for dispensaries to give customers a pre-rolled joint if they get a COVID-19 vaccination on-site, at an in-store clinic.

The ordinance will be in effect until July 12, 2021. It will apply solely to cannabis dispensaries hosting an “active vaccine clinic event at the retail location,” and will be limited to one complimentary joint per customer.

Republican Washington State Senator Phil Fortunato told KTTH’s Jason Rantz Show that he doesn’t like the joints for jabs program.

“I don’t know where in the heck they get authorization to give out free joints,” he said.

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Fortunato says the state is moving further away from its original reason to encourage vaccinations, which was to keep people safe from COVID-19, and is now just being “idiotic.”

“I think this is idiotic. We are moving away from a medical reason to do this and now you could win a lottery, you could win a million dollars, you can get free booze, you can get free weed,” he said.

Fortunato calls the program more evidence of government over-reach.

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3 – 6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.