The question being asked all over the country is: Who qualifies for a Phase 1 Covid-19 vaccine? President Biden is pushing for more vaccine development and administration to the most vulnerable as well as those who work directly with the general public. This begs the question: Are cannabis workers considered health care workers? If so, do cannabis workers qualify for this first wave vaccine?
Maryland
Vaccine qualifications for Cannabis workers is up to each individual state. Maryland stated that yes, cannabis workers are health care workers. They are essential employees and are eligible for the Phase 1 vaccines. The Maryland Health Department notified the Medical Cannabis Commission (MCC) at the beginning of the year. They stated that cannabis workers qualify for Phase 1 vaccines if they work at dispensaries, cultivation facilities, labs, and processing businesses. However, for those that work in store fronts or other facilities, they will have to wait for the next phase of vaccines.
California
California is posing as a huge obstacle for cannabis workers. Currently, there are 40,000 workers in the cannabis industry within California. That leaves a large number of people wondering if they qualify for a Phase 1 vaccine. On the state’s official website for Covid-19, there are guidelines on who qualifies or not. However, nothing has been stated about those who work with cannabis directly. The vaccine qualifications page connects to the essential jobs page. Additionally, this page establishes the guidelines the state uses to determine who gets a vaccine in Phase 1. That page states:
“Employees of companies engaged in the production, storage, transport, and distribution of chemicals; medicines, including cannabis; vaccines; and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including seeds, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids.”
This clearly states that those involved in the cannabis industry are essential. In theory, cannabis workers should be included in the Phase 1 vaccines. California’s Health Department hasn’t made any official clarifications or statements when it comes to cannabis employees. Instead, they have left it up to individual counties to make that final determination.
San Diego County stated that cannabis workers are part of the county’s phase 1 stage of vaccine distribution. But this is one county out of the whole state. Many others haven’t said anything. Because the state has left the final decision to the counties and its providers, cannabis workers can be denied at the site itself depending on the provider, vaccine quantity, and who else is there to receive the vaccine. The provider giving the vaccine can say that other people are more important than cannabis employees.
Questions Remain
The cannabis industry, along with the hemp industry, have grown so much during the global pandemic despite many setbacks. Those include not receiving federal aid back in April when a countrywide lockdown was in effect. Things need to change for these industries because they are becoming more and more essential to citizens every year. It’s unclear what the federal government will do about any clarification. Plus what each state will say as the vaccine push continues to grow.
Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp laws and news.