With recreational marijuana now legal in 18 states (with 13 more having decriminalized it), the American judicial system still bears the grim evidence of the failed drug war. Although approximately 40,000 individuals remain incarcerated on marijuana charges throughout the country, that number isn’t decreasing as quickly as many activists had initially hoped.
The Drug Policy Alliance reports that more than 350,000 marijuana arrests were made in 2019, with the majority of these being low-level possession offenses. Of course, Black people are more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession (the ACLU says nearly four times more likely) despite the fact that white and Black people use marijuana at about the same rate.
While cannabis reform has long been the realm of social justice activists, today’s industry leaders are joining the fray too.
Here are a few cannabis manufacturers doing their part to restore the balance of justice and wrest low-level offenders from the jaws of an obsolete system.
1. Dodi Blunts
Launched by former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, Dodi Blunts is as much an homage to the Black and Brown people of Oakland as it is a manufacturer of top-tier blunts.
The company is a partner of the Last Prisoner Project, a non-profit organization devoted to criminal justice reform related to cannabis offenses.
In addition to raising awareness and funds, the people at Dodi Blunts have also worked with Last Prisoner Project to launch an apprenticeship program just for cannabis offenders. The program eases their transitions into the working world by giving them 90 days of experience learning the ins and outs of the cannabis industry at Dodi Blunts. Once the program is completed, the apprentice is offered employment in the industry.
2. Farmer and the Felon
The aptly named Farmer and the Felon is a purveyor of premium flower and pre-rolls. Part of the California-based CannaCraft family of brands, Farmer and the Felon aims to preserve traditional cannabis culture while also being a force for positive change. As another partner of Last Prisoner Project, Farmer and the Felon donates a portion of its sales directly to the organization to help incite change.
But they don’t stop there.
The brand also sources from the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM), a woman-owned grower that uses regenerative farming techniques to provide free and reduced-cost, therapeutic-quality cannabis products to people in need.
3. Fluresh
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Fluresh creates a full spectrum of cannabis products, from single-origin flower to concentrates, cartridges, and edibles.
Their social justice initiatives go beyond financial contributions. Fluresh actively walks the walk by hiring from traditionally under-served populations, including Black and Brown cannabis professionals. They also openly offer employment opportunities to cannabis offenders, many of whom struggle to enter the workforce with criminal records.
As sponsors of the Michigan Prisoner Relief Campaign and members of the Roll It Up for Justice retailer program (both initiatives of the Last Prisoner Project), Fluresh is enacting change at the local level – exactly where they believe it matters most.
Let’s Clean Up the Mess Together
With more and more manufacturers using their platforms to clean up the mess left behind by broken and obsolete cannabis legislation, it’s easier than ever to ensure your weed money goes as far as possible.
