At CULTA, we believe that cannabis is a catalyst for a long-overdue conversation on drug laws in our nation. That’s why whenever you make an apparel purchase from us, we donate a percentage of the proceeds directly to the Last Prisoner Project, a non-profit that’s leading the effort in Washington D.C. to ensure that any federal legislation that legalizes cannabis also has provisions in place for restorative justice. If you want to get involved, supporting a cannabis non-profit is a great place to start. Here are a few of our favorites.
Weed for Good
San Francisco-based Weed for Good provides free or low-cost medical cannabis to low-income patients who live in the state of California. They work closely with hospitals, health facilities, and other non-profit organizations to donate lab-tested products to approved patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. They accept donations from qualified collectives and depend on licensed volunteers to dispense medicinal cannabis. Weed for Good is also focused on providing a forum for the development and exchange of ideas around medical cannabis.
To learn more about how you can help, click here to visit their website.
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
MAPS is a non-profit research and educational organization that’s on a mission to create safe and legal opportunities for the use of psychedelics in society. They work closely with government regulatory agencies (including the FDA) to ensure that all their research conforms to all guidelines for clinical drug research. They’re the only organization that has obtained special approval from the government to conduct research on Schedule 1 substances, so the research they do on MDMA, LSD, cannabis, and other drugs isn’t just groundbreaking, but it’s 100% legal. Their research on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is currently in its Phase 3 clinical trial.
Learn more about their research here.
FOCUS
The Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS) was created in 2014 to address the shortcomings in quality, consistency, and safety in the global cannabis industry. It’s a non-profit, third-party certification organization dedicated to protecting public health, consumer safety, and the environment. Their standards are the most comprehensive quality and safety standards published to date and provide direction for all facets of cannabis operations, including cultivation, retail/dispensary, extraction, and sustainability. FOCUS also provides on-site and electronic training programs to support standards implementation and can customize programs to an organization’s unique needs.
Learn more about their cannabis standards here.
National Cannabis Industry Association
The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) was founded in 2010 and is the oldest, largest, and most effective trade association representing legal cannabis businesses. Its members focus on promoting the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and work for a favorable social, economic, and legal environment for that industry in the U.S. Like some of the other organizations on this list, NCIA works to advance the acceptance of cannabis on a national level and ultimately hopes that those who work in the cannabis industry will be treated like any other legitimate business sector in the country.
Learn more about their Policy & Advocacy efforts here.
Cookies’ Social Impact Program
Though not a non-profit, the Cookies’ Social Impact Program supports equity initiatives through public outreach, education, and investment in the communities most impacted. They work closely with organizations like Amplifier and The Hood Incubator to build campaigns that focus on restorative justice and reversing the harmful impacts the illegalization of cannabis has had on Black communities nationwide. Recently, Cookies partnered with the WebberWild Impact Foundation and the partnership will use their resources for Cookies U, an educational experience that will start in Humboldt County. Cookies U will recruit students from areas that were most impacted by drug laws for a three-month intensive educational experience which will help prepare them for a sustainable career in the cannabis industry. Tuition and housing will be covered through the partnership.
To learn more about Cookies U, check out this press release.
The Last Prisoner Project
We may have written an entire blog post on them, but it doesn’t feel right to talk about cannabis non-profits without mentioning a company that’s near and dear to us --- the Last Prisoner Project. Since its formation in 2019, the LPP has implemented direct services in California, Colorado, and Hawaii and has engaged in policy reform in ten others, including Maryland. They currently focus on prisoner release, record clearing, and reentry programs and have supported prisoners and their families nationwide.
We work closely with the Last Prisoner Project and support cannabis criminal justice reform at all levels. Want to support LPP? Browse our selection of apparel here -- we donate a percentage of our apparel sales directly to them.
