Smoke Good, Do Good With These Cannabis Products That Give Back

As cannabis increasingly moves into the mainstream, some business owners treat the plant like any other commodity, while others honor the charitable values that got us here.

Determined to preserve the activist roots of the cannabis community, certain forward-thinking entrepreneurs have integrated ethical practices and sustained philanthropy into their business plans, creating brands committed to giving back as part of their core values.

Mirroring the movement for organic and local foods, these cannabis brands support community food banks, veterans groups, environmental causes, and more. Just as consuming the cannabis plant can inspire gratitude and good vibes, these conscious capitalists spread that practice into the marketplace, creating positive social change along with profits.

As the cannabis industry matures, vote with your dollars for an ethical future by selecting cannabis products that support worthy causes, promoting a progressive vision of how the industry can give back.

Bloom Farms

(Courtesy of Bloom)

Built deeply into the company’s structure, Bloom Farms embeds a “1 for 1” program, pledging to donate one meal to a hungry person for every product sold. This means that purchasing any Bloom Farms’ cannabis oil cartridges, PAX pods, or flower results in a donation towards ending food insecurity, with funds going towards local food banks in every state where they operate. So far Bloom Farms has donated over one million meals since 2015, with their next goal set at five million.

Places to Find It:

• Berkeley Patients Group in Berkeley
• KindPeoples in Santa Cruz
• Purple Star MD in San Francisco

Santa Cruz Veteran’s Alliance

(Elise McDonough for Leafly)

Purveyors of top-shelf cannabis grown by veterans, this collective provides free, lab-tested medical cannabis to members of their Veteran Compassion Program as a way to honor fellow veterans and assist those with service-related disabilities. Through support meetings, SCVA creates a space for veterans to speak about their trauma, and addresses issues of pharmaceutical dependence, depression, anxiety, anger, and other ailments faced by former service members. Look for their signature Kosher Kush at local dispensaries, and you’ll be supporting a very worthy organization that also happens to cultivate incredible cannabis.

Places to Find It:

• Santa Cruz Veteran’s Alliance in Santa Cruz
• Blum in Oakland
• Higher Level of Care in Castroville

SolDaze Snacks

(Elise McDonough for Leafly)

Made from tropical fruits, these healthy cannabis edibles directly support the rural family farming communities where the ingredients originate. SolDaze puts 2% of their proceeds towards building schools, providing internet access, sports and education programs, offering health care benefits and services to the Mexican farmers who grow their fruit, many of whom are single mothers. Nourish your body while knowing that you’re supporting a business who is committed to giving back by investing in the wellbeing of their employees.

Places to Find It:

• The Green Door in San Francisco
• Treehouse in Santa Cruz
• La Corona in San Francisco

Sensitive Soul? Leafly Locates Conscious Cannabis Near You!

Aster Farms

(Elise McDonough for Leafly)

With the cannabis community directly impacted by the devastating wildfires over the past several years, many businesses have been involved with fundraising efforts that help locals rebuild. During the Mendocino Complex Fire, Aster Farms sustained heavy damage to their property, losing buildings and pets including a cat named Harry. In honor of their furry friend, Aster launched “Harry’s Harvest,” a give-back line of pre-rolls that donates $2 from each sale to local volunteer fire departments, beginning with the Hopland Fire Protection District and Lakeport Fire Protection District Volunteer Firefighters.

Places to Find It:

• SAVA Delivery Service
• Therapeutic Healthcare Collective in Soquel
• Delta Heath and Wellness in Sacramento

Jetty Extracts

Since 2014, Jetty Extracts’ Shelter Project donated cannabis to over 1,000 cancer patients, but changes in state regulations forced manufacturers to temporarily suspend compassion programs. However, they worked with State Senator Scott Weiner to introduce new legislation that would allow businesses to donate cannabis. It’ll go to the desk of new California Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019.

Places to Find It:

• CBCB in Berkeley
• Harvest off Mission in San Francisco
• Santa Cruz Naturals in Aptos

Big Pete’s Treats

(Courtesy of Jake Thomas)

As a lifelong surfer, Pete Feurtado, founder of Big Pete’s Treats, felt connected to the coastal environments where he spent so much time. Way back in high school, Big Pete led a project to clean up Santa Cruz’s iconic Lighthouse Field, and this effort persisted through the years, eventually becoming part of the brand identity for this California cannabis cookie company. To date, Big Pete’s Treats has mobilized volunteers to collect litter from seven Santa Cruz beaches, as well as partnered with Urbn Leaf to do a clean up in San Diego. Look for more events coming in 2019!

Places to Find It:

• Urbn Leaf in San Diego
• KindPeoples in Santa Cruz
• Barbary Coast in San Francisco

Philanthropic California Dispensaries

Go beyond products and shop entire stores that continually give back to their communities through a variety of programs.

• Berkeley Patient’s Group in Berkeley

This long-running leader in compassionate care has offered medicine to patients in need through their Helping Hands program.

• Magnolia Wellness in Oakland

Offering space for support groups for seniors and veterans, this community-oriented dispensary also provides body work services and cannabis business education.

• Harborside in Oakland

Changing the image of cannabis sellers, this pioneering dispensary has donated over $500,000 to 58 different community groups since 2006.

• The Apothecarium in San Francisco

Donating over $350,000 to local non-profits, The Apothecarium considers giving back to be part of it’s core values.

• Garden of Eden in Hayward

After successfully fulfilling a five year commitment in 2017 to support Meals on Wheels of Alameda County with a donation of $50,000, The Garden of Eden renewed that commitment for another five years. This community-minded dispensary also contributes to ten other local non-profit groups.