Top 5 Non-Profit Organizations to Support in 2022

The world of cannabis extends much further than the doors of your local dispensary. A vast number of organizations are committed to social and moral issues connected to cannabis, ranging from wrongful incarceration to environmental mitigation. If you are looking to help out through volunteering, donations, or advocacy, here are some of the most important non-profit organizations in the cannabis space. All of these groups have been shared with Where's Weed on our community Instagram page, reflecting the depth of people who want to help others out.

Cannabis Community

The healing power of marijuana is more than just the pain relief you find in a good set of CBD-heavy bud. This marvelous plant brings people together at a deeper level. Non-profits are the glue of many of these connections, providing the resources and assistance for those in need. Cannabis enthusiasts have many avenues to help these groups. While donations of time and money are often the most appreciated, efforts to influence laws or policies (such as signing petitions or attending rallies) can be just as helpful.

"Be the change you want to see in the world," said Gandhi. Not all change needs to be hard to be worthwhile, nor is it necessary for your efforts to permanently change the problem. Everyone can contribute, even in small ways, to causes that they believe in.

1. The Trevor Project

The world's largest organization dedicated to crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth, The Trevor Project has perhaps done more for sexual minorities than any other non-profit. The chance of suicide among young people drops by a staggering 40% when they feel like they have accepting adults in their lives, and given the higher rate of suicide among the LGBTQ community, these connections are crucial. The Trevor Project may not seem to have a direct connection to the cannabis community, but some 14% of workers in the industry identify as LGBTQ. In contrast, the movement for equal rights and recognition has spilled over into the action for cannabis reform. Methods to help include donations, fundraising campaigns, and supporting product partnerships.

2. Last Prisoner Project

The United States is home to 5% of the world's population, but a mind-boggling 25% of the global prison population. Decades of punitive laws have sent prison populations skyrocketing, and while some efforts to reduce the numbers have helped, the justice system remains very unjust. This is especially true with regard to drug policy, where harsh sentences have become normal despite their failure to reduce drug usage overall. The Last Prisoner Project seeks to end this ugly chapter in American history by providing advocacy, overturning punitive laws, and helping millions of Americans transition from behind bars to back in their communities. Specifically focused on cannabis law (it remains a felony to possess marijuana in many states), this group has taken action to reduce prison populations, ending mandatory sentences, and helping former convicts to find work. Methods to help include signing petitions, donating to legal funds, and writing pre-made letters to members of Congress.

3. Xavier Mission NYC

The humorist Bill Bryson once said that people from Calcutta visit New York City to get relief from beggars. NYC might have the most significant problems of all the U.S. cities with homeless populations, given the lack of space and sky-high housing prices. The Xavier Mission seeks to provide help to the homeless, the hungry, and the poor of America's richest city, making them one of the largest and most important charities in the Big Apple. Like many other American cities, New York has only increased its homeless population by cracking down on cannabis, and while some reform has improved the situation, big problems remain. Methods to help include direct donations of money, clothes, food, and housing supplies or volunteer campaigns, including mentoring and life skills education.

4. Black Women's Blueprint

Unlike non-profits on this list that focus on redistributing resources, Black Women's Blueprint goes (several) steps further to create redress and healing. African-American women are often marginalized, mistreated, and subject to discrimination, with higher rates of sexual violence and incarceration than other racial and gender groups. BWB's flagship operation is a 300-acre farm in New York state called Restore Forward, dedicated to healing and renewal. With services ranging from counseling to growing holistic herbs, this is perhaps the most ambitious and forward-looking charity in the United States. Methods to help include donations, with donations available through Venmo and PayPal along with traditional payments.

5. Boards for Bros

Helping kids find a hobby they enjoy is one of the most important ways to keep them from getting in trouble. Boards for Bros, as the name suggests, introduces kids to the sport of skateboarding, giving them their very own board. This simple gift provides empowerment of young persons who otherwise could not afford such a hobby. With the added benefit of transportation, these skateboards can be the difference between a kid making it to school and being unable to go. Methods to help include donations (donating just $20 is enough for a complete skateboard deck) and volunteering to teach kids how to skate.

Do you volunteer or donate to non-profits? How have you found that your efforts have improved the community? Let us know in the comments below!