Quebec’s Vaccination Rate Quadruples After Restrictions in Cannabis Stores
Authorities in Quebec, Canada, seem to have made the right call by requiring proof of vaccination for entry into the province’s cannabis stores. After the government announced that customers would need to show proof of vaccination at the entrance, the vaccination rate among the population increased by about four times.
The decision to implement vaccine checks at the entrances of stores selling cannabis and alcohol was announced by provincial authorities on January 6. Although the law was set to take effect only on January 18, just the announcement itself already had a noticeable positive impact on vaccination rates.
“In just one week, the number of people receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine shot rose from 1,500 to 6,000,” tweeted Christian Dubé, Quebec’s Minister of Health. “I want to thank all our fellow citizens who got vaccinated. It’s never too late to get your shot to protect yourself, your friends, and your loved ones. Take care and stay healthy.”
It’s worth noting that Dubé posted this tweet on January 7, just one day after the new restrictions were announced. Since Dubé did not provide official data on vaccination rates, and given the short time frame, it’s difficult to say for certain whether the news about cannabis store restrictions alone was responsible for the rapid increase in vaccinations.
Later, Dubé backed up his statement by sharing a link to a La Presse article about a mass vaccination event at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. Many people there said that the growing number of restrictions finally pushed them to get vaccinated.
“I don’t see much point in resisting a vaccine that has long proven its effectiveness and safety,” said Mohamed Tazi, a local resident who came to the stadium to complete his vaccination. “It’s much easier to just get the shot, get your vaccine passport, and go about your daily life in peace and safety.”
Similar Measures in Other Regions
The experience of other regions where cannabis is legal suggests that such measures can be effective. For example, in early 2021, a recreational cannabis store in Michigan, USA, encouraged people to get vaccinated by giving out free cannabis joints to anyone who showed proof of full vaccination. Later, similar tactics were successfully adopted by campaigns in other parts of the country. In some places, like Colorado, local cannabis businesses even collected and donated several kilograms of cannabis in the form of joints to healthcare workers and other first responders on the front lines of the pandemic.