It’s easy to be grateful when surrounded by friends, family, good weed, and a job you love. We feel so blessed to be working with cannabis this year and always, but we wanted to take a moment to express how thankful we are right now, doing what we love. And it’s because of you, our good pals, that we get to continue this work. So, here’s a little ditty about what we’re grateful for this holiday season. If you like to give back during this season of giving, we’ve got a few of our favorite organizations for you to check out.
What We’re Grateful for This Year
It’s not lost on us how far we’ve come in the fight to end the prohibition of cannabis. It’s been far too long, and the failed War on Drugs is beyond mockery at this point in human evolution. Although we like to raise our voices and, more importantly—cast our votes—we also want to acknowledge how far we’ve come.
Weed was first outlawed with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, but the real kicker came when it was listed as a Schedule 1 drug under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. This put our favorite friendly flower into the same category as drugs like heroin and methamphetamine. We all know how things snowballed from here. First, there was the birth of the DEA, then the anti-drug campaigns, and finally—the War on Drugs officially began.
Then, in 1996, a little crack in the system sparked a massive glimmer of hope as Californians legalized marijuana for medicinal use. It took another 16 years to see the first legal recreational cannabis laws passed in Washington and Colorado, but it happened. A whopping 75 years after the Tax Act, US voters said enough is enough.Â
There was no stopping us. State after state adopted medical programs, and hundreds of thousands of Americans got their cards. The programs evolved, and we pushed and pushed and pushed lawmakers to dismantle these broken systems and legalize our beloved plant.
Finally, in 2016, California legalized recreational adult-use cannabis. Now, as of the November 2022 elections, 21 states and the District of Columbia have voted to legalize weed. Another 16 have functional medical marijuana programs, leaving just 13 states to get with the program (literally).
On top of that, in early October, President Biden pardoned thousands of people with marijuana possession convictions. Although this announcement comes as more of a symbolic gesture than a sweeping action, we are hopeful that it pushes the needle in the right direction toward the complete decriminalization of cannabis. We need to release all non-violent drug offenders from prisons even to begin to right the wrongs.
In all of our nation’s imperfections, we stand here in deep gratitude for how far we have come and how blessed we are to work among this incredible plant. It’s nothing short of miraculous to watch it change lives, heal the sick, and uplift communities. Just as it was always meant to do.
Celebrating the Season of Giving
Cannabis and charity don’t often go hand in hand due to the legal constraints of giving away weed. But that’s why there are plenty of charitable organizations doing the hard work to change legislation, improve the lives of those negatively affected by the War on Drugs, and provide medicine to those who need it. If donations are a part of your season of giving, or if you’d like them to be but aren’t sure where to start, check out the following organizations.
Weed For Good
Weed for Good works with various community organizations to help provide cannabis to low-income medical patients with chronic or terminal illnesses. If you would like to volunteer, head to their website and fill out a volunteer form. Or, if you work for a cannabis collective and would like to donate products, they are always looking for tested medicine. Thanks to donations from the cannabis community and volunteer labor, this place runs smoothly.
Last Prisoner Project
While Last Prisoner Project‘s ultimate goal is to free all prisoners unjustly incarcerated for marijuana offenses, the group understands that this process can be slow. So, they aim to provide financial and emotional support to those in prison so that they can improve their lives during incarceration. Visit their website to find out all of the ways you can help. One of the simplest things you can do is write a letter to someone currently incarcerated for a nonviolent cannabis offense. A kind message can go a long way.
Cage Free Cannabis
Cage Free Cannabis is focused on reparative justice caused by the War on Drugs for disproportionately harmed communities of color. Their nonprofit, Cage-Free Repair, advocates and organizes for justice through events like National Expungement Week (N.E.W.), which they helped launch in 2018 to address the harm caused by drug prohibition policies on our communities. In just three years, they have coordinated over 100 events nationwide to offer free legal relief to those with criminal records.
Their work has helped more than 60,000 people clear their records—and thousands more have received direct support like enrollment in social services and health screenings. Visit their website to make a tax-deductible donation or find other ways to support their cause.
Veterans Cannabis Project
Veterans Cannabis Project is dedicated to serving the men and women who served our country and now need access to something the VA won’t provide. Despite the clinical evidence supporting cannabis’ known benefits for PTSD, pain, insomnia, and other medical conditions, the US Department of Veterans Affairs will not prescribe it to veterans. This project is focused on getting veterans the medicine they need to kick pharmaceuticals (if they so choose) and provide access to safe, tested cannabis. You can donate directly through their website.
One Final Toke
There are so many ways to get involved, we couldn’t possibly list them all here. Check out other organizations like The Hood Incubator, National Cannabis Industry Association, and Americans for Safe Access.
And again, thank you for supporting us yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We cannot thank you enough for taking this ride with us, and we are honored to be your pals. During this season of giving we hope you and yours can spark up a doobie and share in the good times. If you are doing any holiday shopping this year, be sure to check out Old Pal Provisions for a list of highly curated cannabis goodies. We know your pals will love them.
