The holidays aren’t just about receiving gifts — they’re also a time for giving back, whether it’s to loved ones or people in need. However, with so many incredible options out there, finding the right non-profit or organization to donate to can feel overwhelming.
If you’re on the hunt for a cause to support, we’re here to help. And these aren’t your standard non-profits; these are all centered around cannabis and drug reform to help people access medical marijuana or overcome the negative impacts of criminalization and the War on Drugs.
Whether you want to provide a financial donation, support legislative changes, write letters to prisoners, or volunteer your time, there are myriad ways you can get involved in the ongoing push to destigmatize cannabis. Read on to learn more about a few of our favorite cannabis rights organizations — and how you can contribute to their missions.
The Veterans Cannabis Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans safely get medical marijuana. Veterans suffer from disproportionately high rates of mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, along with a host of lingering physical challenges such as chronic pain, all of which can be helped by the proper use of medical cannabis. However, despite more than 80% of veterans supporting medical cannabis use, Veterans Affairs facilities do not help any of them access it.
VCP is working on this issue by giving veterans a platform to share their stories with lawmakers and other influential policymakers. They hope to enact change at the federal level so the VA can recommend medical cannabis to vets who would benefit from it, rather than simply pushing addictive and harmful prescription drugs as the only option. They are also working to educate veterans on the benefits of medical marijuana so they can potentially try it for themselves without fear.
To find out more and give back to this incredible cause, visit their website today.
Doctors for Drug Policy Reform (D4DPR) is a nonprofit network of medical professionals including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are fighting back against the harmful effects of the failed War on Drugs. Their main focus is cannabis and psychedelic reform, covering the overarching potential of plant medicine to revolutionize modern healthcare. D4DPR has initiatives to reduce stigma, affect policy, provide education, and change public perceptions.
According to their website, “The medical community has [made] stunning strides in dramatically lessening drug harms through prevention, education, and taxation. A compelling illustration lies in the past 50-year period, during which cigarette consumption decreased from 51% to 17% among adults, emblematic of a significant public health triumph achieved without resorting to prohibitionist policies. By channeling their efforts effectively, medical professionals possess the potential to effectuate positive change – without resorting to laws that arrest, incarcerate, and disenfranchise.”
This organization has already impacted public health policy, and they have big plans for the future. If you’re a medical professional who’s passionate about harm reduction, join today to become part of the movement. Otherwise, you can donate to support them financially.
Veriheal is proud to have worked with the Last Prisoner Project in the past, a nonprofit human rights organization that fights to help those unfairly incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses, such as simple possession. Despite the fact that cannabis is legal in more than half of the U.S., there are still thousands of people with cannabis convictions in prison awaiting pardons and justice.
Last Prisoner Project has several programs aimed at securing freedom for prisoners, including cannabis clemency petition help, compassionate release assistance, and resentencing support. They also push for policy changes on a state and federal level — for both cannabis and psychedelics — and back research and education initiatives.
If you’d like to support this cause, there are several ways to help. You can donate money, host a fundraiser, or volunteer your time by writing letters to prisoners. In doing so, you provide hope to people still incarcerated and remind them that they are not alone in the fight for progress.
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is a nonprofit group promoting the legalization and responsible use of cannabis. Founded in 1970, NORML has long been at the forefront of reforming marijuana laws in the United States by pushing for decriminalization, legalization, and the right to use cannabis responsibly. They give citizens a way to voice their concerns about outdated cannabis laws.
NORML’s mission also includes education and public policy reform. They aim to end cannabis criminalization, grant access to medical cannabis, and tackle the injustices caused by prohibition. Their nationwide network of chapters and supporters allows them to engage in lobbying efforts, voter education campaigns, and community outreach, and they also offer resources to help people understand their rights and navigate the changing legal landscape surrounding cannabis.
You can get involved by adding your voice to their various legalization and policy change efforts, donating, and making use of their educational resources. They also have membership options to provide ongoing support.
Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) is a nonprofit committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cannabis industry, particularly for communities historically impacted by prohibition. They focus on advocacy, education, and outreach to empower minority groups to participate in and benefit from the rapidly growing cannabis sector. Their initiatives specifically address the issues created by the War on Drugs, such as criminal justice reform and expunging records.
M4MM uses several key programs and resources to support people and businesses in cannabis. These include entrepreneurial training, workforce development, and community education on cannabis as medicine. They also advocate for legislative changes to ensure fair access to licensing and business opportunities. In doing so, M4MM wants to create a more inclusive and equitable industry while also spreading awareness of the therapeutic potential of cannabis in historically underserved communities.
Get involved today by becoming a member, donating, or volunteering.
The Realm of Caring Foundation, founded in 2013, primarily focuses on funding and conducting cannabis and CBD research to better understand the potential impacts of medical marijuana on various health conditions. Their work has already helped more than 75,000 people across the world, and they’ve backed key cannabis legalization efforts in 22 states.
Veriheal recently partnered with this nonprofit, alongside Johns Hopkins University, to launch a massive new cannabis study — the largest ever conducted to date — designed to gain a more thorough understanding of how cannabis can be used therapeutically. By providing resources for studies like these, Realm of Caring hopes to improve access to plant-powered medical treatments and help people move away from traditional pharmaceuticals and prescription drugs.
By donating, you can empower them to give grants, assist clients with questions on medical cannabis, and fund critical research on marijuana.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is an international network of students and young adults advocating for drug policies based on science, compassion, health, and human rights. First launched in 1998, this group empowers young people to challenge the harmful effects of the War on Drugs by creating space for dialogue and action within their communities and campuses. They aim to change drug laws that unfairly affect marginalized communities and promote harm reduction that prioritizes public health and safety over criminalization.
SSDP works with a network of student-led chapters all over the world. Members engage in campaigns that range from decriminalizing drug possession to advocating for evidence-based drug education. They also focus on expanding access to life-saving harm reduction resources, such as naloxone and safe consumption spaces, while addressing the stigma surrounding substance use.
This organization gives young people a valuable opportunity to engage with a cause they care about, which teaches them important life lessons and sets them up to enact further change as they get older and more established in their careers. If you are a student or young adult, you can get involved by joining or starting a chapter near you. You can also donate to support their mission financially.
The Women Grow organization is a network of women who currently work or aspire to work in the cannabis and hemp industry. Women make up a very small percentage of professionals in the cannabis space, and minority women represent an even smaller number. This group aims to fix that by providing women with career development, leadership assistance, educational summits, and networking opportunities.
They host community events, workshops, and conferences designed to grow diversity and inclusion within the industry. By highlighting the contributions of women entrepreneurs and pushing for gender equity, Women Grow inspires women to take on leadership roles and change the future of the cannabis industry.
If you are a woman interested in becoming a cannabis entrepreneur, join today to learn more.
Donating time, money, and your voice are great ways to help out nonprofits, but they aren’t the only ways to help shape the future of cannabis. You can help promote safe, responsible cannabis use in your own social circle by:
No matter how you choose to engage, every little bit helps. The cannabis movement has made massive strides in recent years, and it’s only going to continue growing and expanding in the future — and we’re excited to see what’s next.
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