Remember a time when stoners were depicted as lazy and self-indulgent? Sitting on the couch for hours on end in a T-shirt covered in bright orange Cheetos dust with no regard for anyone or anything else? Yeah, those days are long gone. The cannabis community has turned over a new leaf in recent years, especially when it comes to giving back to their communities. The cannabis community can be a highly charitable place if you know where to look and shop. But since the number of cannabis brands is through the roof, it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Luckily for you, we’ve rounded up five brands and companies that value charity, lending a hand, and helping those less fortunate. Now, you can get high and give back at the same time.
Grassroots California
Grassroots, based in California, calls themselves a “limited edition clothing company” on Instagram. This apparel brand features limited-edition collaborations on their website, and have collided with big names such as High Times magazine, rap group Bone Thugs N’ Harmony, and glass artist Hitman in the past, to create hats, T-shirts, hoodies, and everything your closet desires. The trick is to catch these collaborations in time for purchase. Not only does Grassroots deserve a standing ovation for their unique take on fashion, but also for their charity work. Their Instagram announces that 1% of all sales goes back to charity because giving back is a “movement.”
Good Chemistry Nurseries
Good Chemistry Nurseries’ CEO Matthew Huron made the connection between marijuana and its potential therapeutic benefits. Now, with the world of cannabis at his fingertips, Matthew’s cultivation and dispensary company supports the Denver Rescue Mission, and multiple LGBTQ advocacy groups.
JuJu Royal
This wouldn’t be a complete cannabis list without at least one mention of the OG stoner supreme — Bob Marley. His son, Julian Marley, started a cannabis business, one that donates 1% of all sales to the Weed for Warriors Project (WFW). WFW supports holistic rehabilitation for veterans through “community-based projects, proactive care advocacy, and cannabis education.” On the JuJu Royal website, you can find apparel, CBD products, autographed items from Julian, and merchandise in Rastafarian colors. JuJu Royal also features a blog that’s packed with useful information about the potential benefits of CBD, how long CBD oil lasts, and vegan recipes that incorporate CBD and THC ingredients. Yes, there’s such a thing as THC-infused olive oil.
Americans For Safe Access (ASA)
Remember that stoner stigma at the start? We can thank the ASA for helping change that. According to their website, the ASA’s mission is “to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.” This company not only carries out studies on marijuana, but also works to get the results noticed by lawmakers and change advocates to squash the stigma once and for all through action, education, and advocacy. The ASA provides cannabis to those in need and can be found nationwide. If the ASA’s movement sounds like something you’d like to get on board with, you can advocate for your state here.
What makes giving back in the cannabis industry even nobler is the fact that it’s easier said than done — just ask Tim Cullen, CEO of the Colorado Harvest Company chain. “I have been shocked at how few places will take our money,” he disclosed to The Cannabist. Just because the money is there doesn’t mean everyone will accept it. This is further proof that the cannabis industry still has some negative connotations attached to it. At Growers Choice, it’s our mission to spread the good word of cannabis and all the ways it can potentially help people. “I think philanthropy is what responsible businesses do,” added Cullen, “it’s not a choice so much as the next logical step.” We couldn’t agree more.
