New York (AFP)

"A joint for a vaccine": Marijuana legalization activists made a splash in Manhattan on Tuesday, offering a joint to anyone who can attest to having received at least one dose of the anti-Covid vaccine.

The idea was to celebrate the end of March legalization of recreational cannabis in New York State and to support the vaccination campaign - while marking the date of April 20 ("4/20", in English, numbers become name code to designate the consumption of this soft drug), unofficial day of marijuana.

"This is the first time that we can sit down and hand out seals legally," said Michael O'Malley, one of the organizers, handing out seals prepared in advance by a few volunteers.

"We are supporting the federal government's vaccination effort and we are also trying to get them to legalize cannabis at the federal level."

From the start of the distribution, around 11 am, a very relaxed line of about fifty people, young and old, had formed in the place of Union Square, at the gates of Greenwich Village.

In the space of five hours, the interested parties were able to scroll quickly: about ten minutes of waiting in the sun, just enough time to show a vaccination card, in paper or on their smartphone, and to give their email address.

No fussy control or verification that some do not queue twice: "we are not too watching," recognizes Mr. O'Malley.

Sarah Overholt, 38, left with two joints in her pocket: she showed her vaccination card and that of her mother, aged 70.

For her, no doubt: marijuana and vaccine are just as essential.

“I smoke everyday and that makes me a better person, trust me,” she says with a smile.

As for the vaccine, "everyone should get vaccinated, it shouldn't take weed to convince people to do it, but if it works, then it works," said the 30-something who received her first dose on March 25 and awaits its second Thursday.

Alex Zerbe, 24, a trader who came from his nearby office, agrees.

He has already had his two doses and smokes a joint "once or twice a day".

"I would always find a joint," but the idea of ​​giving one to people who have been vaccinated "is just cool," he says.

From the first half hour, 150 to 200 seals had been distributed, out of some 1,500 rolled up in advance by the militants.

Various American brands, in the food sector in particular, have launched promotions linked to the vaccine in recent weeks: donuts, hot dogs or beers are, in various parts of the country, offered to people with proof of vaccination, under varying conditions.

© 2021 AFP