"That means a recreational cannabis grower is going to get a vaccination before my 72-year-old husband, my friends fighting cancer, or a person suffering from severe autoimmune disorders."

In the last few days, regional and national articles have been written about medical cannabis industry workers  able to get the COVID-19 vaccine in California before teachers, school bus drivers and grocery store workers.

Humboldt resident Allison Jackson told me, "Did you know that in this county recreational cannabis workers take precedence as food and agriculture workers to leapfrog over 70-year-olds and cancer patients to get the COVID-19 vaccination first? That means a recreational cannabis grower is going to get a vaccination before my 72-year-old husband, my friends fighting cancer, or a person suffering from severe autoimmune disorders.  You simply can't make this stuff up and the board needs to call someone onto the carpet about this. If Dr. Hoffman  thinks it's a good idea how dare he?"

"This has to be addressed," said Ms. Jackson. "Recreational cannabis workers over cancer patients and teachers. You can't make this stuff up. It is not just stupid - it's selfish and obscene. Newsom's judgment is non existent.  Other counties have refused to put recreational cannabis ahead of cancer patients and teachers and this county has to do the same - and do it now."

As I have mentioned in previous posts, the criticism in California is bi partisan. In The Guardian, people with critical health conditions, disability advocates and even nurses expressed their feelings. This quote sums up how many feel.

“I listened to the governor’s coronavirus updates quite regularly, and his words had always brought hope. Now I feel misled, I feel used. I feel like I am without leadership."

The cannabis industry lobbied Newsom to include their employees in Phase 1B, Tier 1 of the state’s vaccine plan.  Unlike Humboldt, some California counties are not imementing the guidelines regarding cannabis workers.