The cannabis industry is still far from operating at a truly fair level, and while lawmakers continue to drag their feet right the wrongs of the nation’s drug war, organizations within the factory community have been doing the heavy lifting for decades.
This segment of THE BLUNTNESS/100 aims to bring together some of the most notable organizations in the cannabis community dedicated to creating a legal industry that is fair, efficient and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Founded by Steve DeAngelo in 2019, The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is one of the most recognized cannabis organizations in the country. The non-profit organization believes that no one should ever be incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses and works hard to ensure that cannabis incarceration is not part of the industry’s future.
The organization is made up of a team of industry leaders, advocates, policy and education experts, and leaders in social justice and drug policy reform. They provide release from incarceration assistance, financial assistance, and reintegration resources for those released.
LPP is also dedicated to conducting research around the plant, working closely with cannabis policy across the country, and educating wherever they can.
Based in Toronto Responsible Cannabis Use (RCU) is about education – something that is still sorely lacking in the industry and the nation. The organization raises awareness of cannabis facts, laws, regulations and research.
The organization is represented by three products, all of which aim to educate Canadians on how to consume cannabis responsibly:
● Canned: an e-learning cannabis course designed to educate employers and employees on managing cannabis use in the workplace.
● Can I please know: an educational platform that brings together Canada’s regional cannabis laws in one easy-to-find place. Cann I Know offers engaging content that allows viewers to really challenge their cannabis knowledge.
● Story: a cannabis storage product designed for style and security, enhancing the consumer’s storage experience both physically and digitally.
Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) is an Orlando-based non-profit organization that was founded in 2016.
M4MM aims to provide advocacy, awareness, research and education opportunities to the cannabis industry. The team is dedicated to cultivating inclusive industry environments that encourage diversity of thought and experience.
The non-profit organization offers education programs for consumers, producers and retailers; a business licensing boot camp; and assistance for those negatively affected by the war on drugs.
M4mm also regularly hosts in-person events to support the community, such as their Expungement Resource Fair, which offers advice, support and resources to anyone in need.
Cannabis organization 4thMVMT asks the question: is the American dream still alive?
Focusing on communities that have been impacted by the war on drugs and institutional racism, 4thMVMT invests in those who want to pursue cannabis entrepreneurship but lack the resources, network and capital to get started.
The organization recruits eligible applicants from Black and Latino communities, helps them grow personally and professionally, and presents them with ownership opportunities that best match their individual skills.
The primary goal of these individuals is viable long-term success in an ever more competitive industry, changing public perceptions and truly bringing fairness to the industry along the way.
Cannabis trade at the party. is “for the people” – a concept that begs to be rescued in the growing legal industry.
The organization claims to be where industry meets culture, focusing on the New York legal market as it continues to grow and establish itself.
Members can access live streams of local cannabis policy updates, connect with others in the industry, and have regular access to industry education, especially in regarding New York State.
Their recent quarterly “revelation” meeting provided as much information as possible for entrepreneurs needing to obtain a cannabis license in New York.
This is the Jane project is a non-profit cannabis organization that supports women and non-binary trauma survivors who have used the plant for healing.
“Jane” is a self-identifying female or non-binary person who turns to cannabis and other forms of herbal medicine to treat trauma, something that is still incredibly stigmatized to share openly.
The nonprofit organization offers programs for survivors who don’t have access to the plant, affordable doctor referrals, monthly “healing” happy hours, and quarterly trauma-informed Puff & Paint classes.
It’s Jane Project is increasingly important in today’s industry, which is finally beginning to realize the importance of mental health and how intertwined it is with the plant.
Supernova Women is comprised of a team of cannabis industry giants, all dedicated to fairness and delisting across the entire legal market.
The California-based organization prides itself on being dedicated on the ground, holding regular town hall meetings with government officials and cannabis policymakers and advocating for equity and justice for people of color in the industry.
Supernova Women has successfully helped develop the nation’s first social equity program in Oakland, managed the nation’s first paid cannabis workforce development program, and worked to reduce taxes for small businesses by cannabis and social equity operators.
Cage-Free Cannabis is another organization dedicated to repairing the harm done to communities of color by the War on Drugs.
The organization is rooted in three types of justice:
● Fixer: Cage-Free Cannabis coordinates delisting events to support those affected.
● Economic: Cage-Free Cannabis creates jobs for social equity actors and consistently advocates for equity.
● Environment: Cage-Free Cannabis supports and promotes a fully sustainable industry.
Cage-Free Cannabis offers brands direct assistance that addresses all of these pillars, helping them grow in a responsible, sustainable and as diverse way as possible.
Indigenous Cannabis Coalition (ICANNC) is quite unique in its portrayal of indigenous cannabis culture – something that has been largely glossed over by the industry today.
Founded by cannabis advocate Mary Jane Oatman, ICANCC’s mission is to provide education to Indigenous communities, uplift their economies, and promote their traditional and spiritual approach to the plant.
The organization achieves this through its publication THC Magazinethe Smoke Signals podcast and various events and gatherings that celebrate tribal life and explore how cannabis has always fit into it.
Co-founded by Nelson Guerrero and Jake Plowden, the Cannabis Cultural Association is a 501C3 nonprofit organization that provides resources to disenfranchised communities who need help entering the legal industry.
Growing up in Harlem and Brooklyn, Plowden witnessed first-hand how the war on drugs affected black and brown communities in the region, while Guerrero witnessed the stigma of the plant in his Latino family. traditional.
The organization hosts events and workshops for educational purposes, offers assistance with medical cannabis program applications in the tri-state area, and provides resources for those in need of radiation.
Asian Americans for Cannabis Education (AACE) works to connect and empower Asian communities, breaking down cannabis news and issues and changing policies that affect Asians around the world.
AACE was founded by Ophelia Chong, actress, photographer and marketing expert.
Members of the organization benefit from networking opportunities, social media connections and self-education resources. AACE also shares studies, research and interviews with Asian Americans in the area of cannabis.
Cannabis has been stigmatized in many Asian communities, and AACE aims to reduce that stigma and empower Asian Americans to make a positive difference in the cannabis community.
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