The Sunday Mail
NEW Yorkers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 were able to get an unlikely freebie Tuesday: a marijuana joint.
Activists celebrating the recent legalisation of recreational pot in New York state handed out free doobies in Manhattan to anyone with proof they had received at least one vaccine shot.
“This is the first time we can sit around and legally hand people joints,” said Michael O’Malley, one of the organisers of the “Joints for Jabs” giveaway in Union Square.
“We are supporting the federal effort to roll out vaccinations. And we are also trying to get them to federally legalise weed,” he told AFP.
Organisers chose April 20 as the date as a way to mark 4/20, an annual day of celebration amongst cannabis fans.
Marijuana activists also handed out free weed in Washington DC.
Several dozen relaxed-looking people formed an orderly queue as the distribution of joints in New York began.
One woman held a sign that read “pro-vaxx, pro-weed.”
They only had to wait ten minutes at most in the spring sunshine.
They showed their vaccination card, in paper or via phone, gave their email address and a joint was theirs.
There seemed to be little verification required to prevent someone from queuing twice.
“We are not really being very careful,” admitted O’Malley.
Sarah Overholt (38) left with two joints in her pocket after showing vaccination cards belonging to herself and her 70-year-old mother.
For Overholt, marijuana and the vaccine are essential.
“I smoke every day and I am a better person if I smoke, trust me,” she said with a smile.
“Everybody should get vaccinated. It should not be weed that is getting them there. But if it works, then it works,” added Overholt, who received her first vaccine shot on March 25 and gets her second on Thursday.
“I can get a joint anyway, but (the giveaway) is just cool you know,” said Alex Zerbe, a 24-year-old trader.
On March 31, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation allowing adults 21 and over to purchase cannabis and grow plants for personal consumption at home.
Several US brands, particularly in food and drink, have launched various incentives for vaccinated patrons in recent weeks.
Teenage girl raped by 11 men
A 17-year-old girl was dragged to a football pitch and raped by four men, and after they left, two more groups of men continued to rape her instead of helping her, say police in Tsolo, South Africa.
Disturbing details of the attack emerged on Thursday as detectives continued to search for 11 men, who are accused of raping the teenager after she was abducted and dragged to the secluded area.
Police said the girl was first attacked by four men, and after they left her for dead she was raped by a group of four men and then a group of three.
Officers who are investigating the shocking crime do not know if the groups knew each other or if they had planned to rape the victim together.
The incident took place in the small town of Tsolo, South Africa, at around 10pm a fortnight ago, The Citizen reported.
Police said the 17-year-old was walking home from a friend’s house when four unknown assailants grabbed her and dragged her to the football pitch.
Those men were followed by groups of four and three men, who did not bother to help her. Instead, they continued to rape the girl.
Eastern Cape provincial police Chief Liziwe Ntshinga condemned the incident and called for justice for the victim, Times Live reported.
A task force has been set up to identify and locate the suspects.
“According to the information, the victim had accompanied her friend who visited her in her place and as she was returning back home, she met four unknown men who grabbed and dragged her to a nearby soccer field where they all allegedly raped her and left her in the field.
“Further reports indicate that the four suspects were later followed by others in groups of four and three, who continued to rape the victim,” said Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana, a police spokesman.
He added: “It is also not clear whether they came from the same place. The investigation should uncover all the facts and motives behind this act.”
No one has been arrested. – Wires
