Written by Rita Thompson
As healthcare workers, essential businesses, and under-privileged communities search for support, cannabis companies are lending a helping hand.
In order to recognize and honor some of these companies, the Emerald is noting five of the amazing ways cannabis companies are meeting the moment.
Planet 13
Las Vegas’ Planet 13, the largest cannabis dispensary in the world, partnered with Clark County Social Services to utilize its new onsite restaurant, Trece. The company will donate 2,000 meals to at-risk seniors and disabled residents. The meals are delivered by privately-contracted home health aids and will consist of hearty, balanced foods.
“This is a very unsettling time for seniors who are at risk every time they leave their homes, and don’t have the means to pay for food delivery services,” said Planet 13 co-CEO, Bob Groesbeck, to Benzinga.com. However, “[…] we are fortunate to have the ability to prepare nutritious and delicious meals for those in need. This is particularly important during Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s mandated stay-at-home directive.”
Caliva
The California cannabis company recently launched their “It’s a Joint Effort” initiative in April. As part of the effort, Caliva donated $4.20 from the sale of its limited edition products to essential workers, and to causes such as HBCU Cannabis Equity Initiative, and Silicon Valley Strong.
“We believe, and know from experience, that we are essential to the overall health and well-being of many Californians who rely on plant-based solutions for a wide range of functional benefits and medical needs,” said Caliva CEO, Dennis O’Malley, in a press release.
“That said, we are deeply grateful for our associates’ hard work and commitment to our cause. The least we can do in return is provide the extra support they require and keep them exceptionally safe each and every day,” O’Malley added.
Caliva’s partnership with Silicon Valley Strong—an organization created to address the pandemic’s economic impact on Bay Area residents—also aims to help families, small businesses, and nonprofits. Caliva will match an additional $10,000 in Silicon Valley Strong donations received through Caliva.com.
The Last Prisoner Project
The Last Prisoners Project is dedicated to freeing individuals currently incarcerated for nonviolent, cannabis-related crimes. The non-profit started a petition, called “Decarcerate Now.” The project is collecting signatures with the goal of releasing prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Incarceration is a public health emergency. If we legalized marijuana nationally — effective this week — and provided a pathway home for people being held on cannabis-related charges, we could reduce the prison population by 40,000 nationally,” the organization noted on Instagram.
Join the fight by signing the petition here.
Glass House Group’s Farms
Glass House Farms in Santa Barbara, Calif. recently donated 1,000 lab gowns to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Additionally, the company’s dispensary, The Farmacy, is also donating another 5% of sales to the local food bank to help meet increasing demand caused by school closures.
Glass House Group is doing everything they can to help the locals. On a personal level, the company has vowed to buy its employees take-out lunches from local restaurants. They’ve even launched a “Keep the Lights On” initiative to support local restaurants forced to reduce or close operations.
“We’re one of the few businesses that have the horsepower to not just stay afloat but help out. And we want to do everything we can to put that to work and make the world proud and be contributing members of our community and help everyone else out,” said founder, Graham Farrar, to Cannabis Business Times.
CannaCraft
CannaCraft, the largest cannabis manufacturer in California, dedicated a portion of its operations to making hand sanitizer. Thin House Distribution will distribute sanitizers from the Santa Rosa facilitymto non-profits, customers, employees, and essential business in need.
“We are doing everything we can to protect our employees and our communities by adhering to guidelines and directives from officials and experts. At the same time, we are uniquely positioned to help in other ways because we have manufacturing equipment, scientific expertise, and a statewide distribution network built into our business,” CEO, Jim Hourigan, explained to P & T Community. “When we started hearing reports of a shortage in hand sanitizer, we knew that we could be of assistance without negatively impacting our employees or our operations.”
In order to keep employees safe, the company split manufacturing teams into smaller groups throughout their facilities.
Of course, these are just a few of the companies that are helping their communities in times of need. Across the world, people are doing anything and everything they can to help. Are you?
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