The recent Southern California wildfires have proven to be particularly devastating. At least 25 people have died, thousands of homes are destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. The local cannabis community has also been impacted, with pot professionals losing their homes and facilities forced to evacuate.
RELATED: Get high and give back with these weed brands
Wanting to give back to their own and the greater Los Angeles area at large, many weed companies and entrepreneurs are mobilizing. From supply drives to fundraising, here’s how the cannabis community is coming together—and how you can support the effort.
Weed to the rescue
Many immediately jumped into action when the fires broke out. One of those was Susie Plascencia, founder of Latinas in Cannabis and co-founder of MOTA Glass. The entrepreneur is also the lead organizer for Celebration Nation, a non-profit supporting Indigenous and Latino communities.
“As soon as news broke of the fires in the Palisades and Altadena, our LA team assembled and, in partnership with Immigo, a non-profit organization focused on addressing immigration-related challenges in underserved areas, have been actively leading donation and distribution efforts to support those impacted,” she told GreenState.
Plascencia and her team have collected and distributed water, food, clothing, and other critical items to those who have been displaced. The group is coordinating with local organizations and cannabis operators who want to support the relief efforts.
“We’re especially grateful to Catalyst Dispensaries for offering their locations as donation drop-off sites, WeedMaps, PuffDAO, Bloom, Cannabiotix, and Originals Family Farms for their donations, and the dozens of volunteers who have given their time,” Plascencia said.
RELATED: Nine cannabis non-profits promoting restorative justice and patient access
Catalyst is not the only operator accepting donations for fire relief. Sweet Flower is offering a $10 gift card to customers who bring supply donations to their stores. Smoke Show Co., a consulting firm and apparel brand, launched a clothing drive with Best Friend’s House and JoJo Snaps, distributing 250 boxes and counting.
LA-based flower brand THC Design teamed up with Planet 13, Wonderbrett, and Releaf stores to launch a community relief drive. They’re asking for non-perishable food, bottled water, toiletries, and other essentials.
Embarc is also heeding the call, asking people to bring in hygiene products, baby diapers, wipes, and new children’s toys to help the youngest victims of the tragedy. The retailer also launched a massive fundraising campaign directed toward the cannabis community.
Dubbed the United Cannabis Community Fire Relief Fund, the goal was to create a centralized hub for collective impact. The company began the campaign with an initial $16,000 donation, with funds directed toward World Central Kitchen, an organization “providing free hot meals to first responders and the public.”
How you can help fire relief efforts
Cannabis operators face unique challenges in situations like wildfires. Because the plant remains a Schedule I substance, things like business insurance can be limited. For grows or retailers who have to pause operations or lose property, the impact can mean the end.
Despite their own challenges, many companies are putting people in front of profits. Cornerstone Wellness in Eagle Rock is launching a fire relief compassion program to offer $0.01 products to customers affected by the devastation. Knowing many of their cannabis clients have been impacted, ACS Laboratory is offering special terms and pricing for California operators.
Plascencia urges anyone looking to contribute to fire relief efforts to consider volunteering with experienced organizers and donating much-needed funds to support their efforts. Cannabis journalist Jackie Bryant gathered an extensive yet easy-to-navigate list of reputable resources for those impacted and people who want to help. She also outlined how residents can apply for federal disaster funds (a process that can be incredibly complicated).
RELATED: Women in weed face distinct obstacles – these groups are changing the narrative
Shopping for a cause
You can also use your weed purchases to give back. Cannabis brand American Weed Co. is donating profits from gummy and apparel sales for the next month to support the Los Angeles Fire Department. Puffco’s latest merch drop will also see 100 percent of proceeds go toward three organizations involved in fire relief: Anti Recidivism Coalition, LA Regional Foodbank, and National Day Laborer Organizing Network. More brands are likely to run their own campaigns, and consumers are encouraged to ask budtenders for more information if they want their purchase to go further.
The often-overlooked victims
It’s also important to remember the broader impact. Many animals have been lost, injured, or displaced during the fires. Raw Giving, the philanthropic wing of RAW Rolling Papers, donated $10,000 to Milo’s Sanctuary, a Los Angeles-based cat rescue. The brand hopes to help raise awareness and encourage others to support the local animal population.
The environmental damage is also severe. The air quality has become incredibly dangerous in Southern California, especially for those with asthma or compromised immune systems. THC Design specifically asked for donations of face masks in their campaign to help distribute to citizens and responders.
Fighting for the front-line
40 Tons, a justice-minded brand, also wants to support those on the front lines. Many of the firefighters battling the blaze are incarcerated individuals taking part in a fire training program. Despite doing incredibly dangerous work, incarcerated firefighters are getting paid between $6 and $12 daily and may be limited from continuing their work upon release due to criminal records. 40 Tons is working to put together a list of participants to raise funds for their canteens, which are accounts in jails and prisons, allowing individuals to shop for toiletries and food.
“We’re in this together…”
The response to the wildfires has been swift, and Plascencia reminded people to keep those impacted in their thoughts in the months to come. There will still be work to be done in the form of rebuilding and economic efforts, even if the general public moves on to the next media blitz. Overall, Plascencia and others on the front lines are moved by the actions of friends and strangers alike across the state and the world.
“As a cannabis professional and community leader, I’ve been incredibly proud of how the cannabis community has come together both online and in person. We’re in this together, and we will rebuild stronger than ever,” she concluded.
