Advocate for Cannabis Reform with Mission Green

36 states have legalized cannabis for medical use and 19 for recreational use, a significant display of the growing acceptance of the plant and its wellness potential. The criminal justice system has yet to reflect that - thousands of Americans are incarcerated for cannabis convictions in the very same states the plant is now legal.

The Weldon Project’s Mission Green is bringing much-needed attention to this still pervasive issue, and is fueled by an intimate, personal connection to the it – founder Weldon Angelos himself served time for a nonviolent cannabis offense. We, through our parent company Verano, are working to correct these wrongs perpetuated by the War on Drugs, as reported by Forbes:

Forbes Features Verano and Mission Green

The Mission Green initiative provides unique opportunities for cannabis businesses and consumers to participate in the nationwide campaign aimed to provide relief to those who have been negatively impacted by marijuana prohibition. Mission Green’s cannabis clemency program is designed to secure the release of those serving prison time for cannabis-related offenses, as well as to create a pathway for pardons or expungements so that those who have been affected can move forward with their lives. The initiative also provides legal assistance, re-entry programs and additional support services for formerly incarcerated individuals without access to legal counsel.

“Our organization’s ability to meaningfully dismantle systemic injustices created by cannabis prohibition is further amplified when we partner with respected and established industry leaders like Verano,” Angelos writes. “We are proud to join forces with a team that shares our commitment to supporting communities disproportionately targeted by the War on Drugs and believe this national campaign will compel more Americans to demand impactful cannabis reforms from their lawmakers.”

Verano’s partnership with The Weldon Project includes an initial donation of $50,000 to Mission Green. Additionally, the company will match up to $13,000 in customer and patient-generated donations at its nearly 100 dispensaries across 13 states on the first Friday of each month beginning on June 3 and continuing through 2022, all to commemorate the 13 years Angelos spent in prison. The fundraising campaign will be featured exclusively at Verano’s flagship Zen Leaf and MÜV dispensaries, as well as additional retail locations the company operates across the country.

“After enduring 13 years behind bars for a minor cannabis-related offense himself, Weldon’s unique perspective, combined with the widespread support he’s earned from leaders across the political spectrum after years of impactful cannabis activism, positions him and the Mission Green team as ideal partners to help expand and elevate our actions in support of cannabis reform,” says Archos. “We’re proud to stand alongside The Weldon Project and Mission Green as we further scale and amplify our cannabis reform actions, with the goal of creating permanent, positive change for cannabis and our society at large.”

View the original press from Forbes: The Weldon Project’s Mission Green And Verano Team Up For Cannabis Clemency.

Support Mission Green at MÜV

You can have a direct impact on Mission Green and cannabis reform. On the first Friday of each month, we are fundraising for this remarkable organization at all 100 Verano dispensaries (and growing) nationwide. When you visit MÜV or our sister Zen Leaf dispensaries, you will have the opportunity to donate $1, $5, or $10 along with your cannabis purchase.

The best part? We’re matching your donations up to $13,000.  

While 13 may seem an odd number, it serves a purpose – its $1,000 for every year Weldon was incarcerated – our way of honoring Weldon, his time served, and his remarkable cannabis reform efforts.  

Your donation makes a true difference in furthering cannabis clemency as well as benefitting persons currently incarcerated – in addition to clemency efforts, Mission Green funds are allocated to providing additional commissary monies for those incarcerated. To Weldon, this is an important piece, as it shows those incarcerated that someone on the outside cares about their wellbeing.

We are proud to be the partner and supporter of The Weldon Project’s Mission Green, an organization committed to promoting cannabis reform and clemency.