Community | March 24, 2011 | 54 comments

Charity Says No Thanks To Food Donations From Marijuana Dispensary

source: http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/03/charity_says_no_thanks_to_food_donations_from_disp.php

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bundlebear
A Denver medical marijuana dispensary says it is literally trading a ton of joints for a ton of food. But one local charity turned down the food donation offered by Urban Cannabis because of its connection to marijuana.

Urban Cannabis said it is giving out free pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes to qualified medical marijuana patients who bring in four or more (8-ounce) canned food items. Monday marked a high point for the food drive, according to the dispensary, which said it collected 250 pounds of food in eight hours.

Located on 2383 South Downing Street in Denver, Urban Cannabis says it aims to raise 2,000 pounds of food items for Denver's indigent and homeless population. The organization had intended to donate the proceeds of its food drive to two local food pantries: Metro CareRing and A.C.T.S.

But on Monday, MetroCareRing terminated their donation relationship with Urban Cannabis due to objections from several donors from "faith-based" organizations and conservative groups after an article announcing the food drive ran in the Denver Post.

In a classic case of cutting off its nose to spite its face, MetroCareRing has turned down the opportunity to collect more than 1,000 pounds of food due to some of their donors' opposition to any affiliation with a medical marijuana center.

The food drive, titled "Cans for Cones," began March 1 and will continue through April 20, or until the 2,000-pound goal has been reached, according to Urban Cannabis.

A.C.T.S. representatives on Tuesday picked up more than 500 pounds of food from Urban Cannabis, which says this is the most ambitious food drive to date for the cannabis community.

"And the goal is still 1500 lbs away," Urban Cannabis added in a press release.

The pre-rolled joints contain the center's organic homegrown strains such as Chem Dawg, Headband, Green Candy, and Cherry Kola. Each one is rolled by hand and new batches are rolled daily.

Urban Cannabis said it is regularly featured in Full Spectrum Laboratories' Best of Category for their cannabidiol strains, such as their premium proprietary strain, Harlequin, which has 10.8 percent CBD, according to the dispensary's website.

"We wanted it to be a 'pay it forward' type of event where we inspire patients and centers to give back to Denver," said Urban Cannabis Sales Director Amy DiIullo. "We are so excited by this opportunity to change the world we live in. Pay it forward a 'ton' with Urban Cannabis."

Patients are encouraged to bring as many cans as possible with a 16-can limit per visit, and non-patients can participate by donating food items at the Urban Cannabis reception area or directly to A.C.T.S.

Urban Cannabis describes itself as "a professional, discrete Medical Marijuana dispensary in the Harvard Gulch neighborhood in Denver."

"Focusing on superior quality and personalized patient care, Urban Cannabis staff provide an informative, safe and supportive healing environment for Medical Marijuana patients of Colorado," the dispensary said in a press release.

http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/03/charity_says_no_thanks_to_food_donations_fr...
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54 comments // Charity Says No Thanks To Food Donations From Marijuana Dispensary

  • sugarlilly
    • 0
      sugarlilly  

    • as silly as those "faith-based" groups are for disliking a plant their CREATOR made, i'm glad Urban is still trying for the 2000 lbs. don't give up! &where can a patient in cali get some harlequin??

    • 1 year ago
  • mrtraffic
  • xena
    • +3
      xena  

    • Without knowing more about why the food was refused...

      This is yet another example of how the faith-based and conservatives care about poor peoples' survival. I say that as a person who believes in God. Shame on you guys! I can't believe this is what Jesus would have done or any other peace-loving figure who cared about his people. This is just more of the kind of behavior that points to why so many no longer believe in God. Ugh!

    • 1 year ago
  • Shanekwa
    • +4
      Shanekwa  

    • Ugh. Stigmas. Ridiculous.

      I wonder if they would deny help from say...a pharmaceutical company.
      Not saying they should give out free pills....

    • 1 year ago
  • bailey78
  • cclark_productions
  • dreamsenvoy
  • Introspective
    • +8
      Introspective  

    • one would think that if weed was good enough for their god to create...it would be good enough for these so-called "faith groups" lol

      Genesis 9:3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

    • 1 year ago
  • dreamsenvoy
    • +1
      dreamsenvoy  
    • Introspective:

      Agreed,you have a point there.Unfortunatly,thinking away from a main stream of thought is not the so-called "faith groups' " strong suit.Maybe in this millenium this will transform for the better

    • 1 year ago
  • twinite
    • +9
      twinite  

    • Disgusting!! I truly wish they were the ones who have to explain to a child why there is nothing to eat for dinner...maybe something like, "people wanted to help, but we don't like the kind of medicine they use, so you can eat tomorrow....maybe."

    • 1 year ago
  • NiceN
    • +8
      NiceN  

    • Heartless, even in an act of charity, the prejudice against a medicine that has killed no one is present.

    • 1 year ago
  • Cruzankenny
    • +5
      Cruzankenny  

    • Metro Care Ring is Catholic and they are much more than a food bank. They also receive Federal Funding under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which is administered by guess who, The Department of Homeland Security.
      If Current is going to evolve into a meaningful place to exchange ideas and ideals, they need to look deeper into what they post as News.
      While I feel it's a crock of shit that a charity could look at losing funding because they accepted donations from the 'wrong' source, that remains a choice they had to make.
      Now, if the headline was,'Charity refuses food for fear of losing funding because the Federal Government disapproved of the donor', it may have been less sexy, but closer to the truth and would have readers facing the real issue, which is the strings attached to their funding.

    • 1 year ago
  • ClassicalGas
    • +1
      ClassicalGas  
    • Cruzankenny:

      Thanks for the additional information. There is usually a great deal beneath the surface of any story.

      Could you please provide a link to the 'rest of the story', or is this first-hand information?

    • 1 year ago
  • xena
  • Cruzankenny
    • 0
      Cruzankenny  
    • Image
    • ClassicalGas:

      This came from research. I have no ties to a religion, my philosophy is Buddhism.Metro Care Ring is Multi-Denominational, actually. It sprung from a group of Ministers of Lutheran and Methodist congregations having a regular breakfast together. http://www.metrocarering.org/
      A.C.T.S. is a multi-dimensional food bank/ shelter with other services thrown in. If you look at the list of Donors and Funding Sources you find one regarding shelters that is financed through Homeland Security. It was a logical step to figure some bureaucrat threatening them with denying funds if the took donations from an organization the Federal Government feels is outside the law.
      http://denveracts.org/
      This is just my linear interpolation of the facts as presented themselves during research. I came to Current do to the Tabloidization of HuffPo and their shameless undercutting of the President at every turn. I plead guilty to some sensitivity concerning bias in stories, the right wing give us more than enough ammunition and I am rooting for Current to evolve into a place where News means Newsworthy and the progressive side has a pulpit and we are here to defend our agenda. I want Current to succeed and that means doing its homework. Sorry if I came on strongly.

    • 1 year ago
  • ClassicalGas
    • +1
      ClassicalGas  
    • Cruzankenny:

      Not at all, coming on strongly simply means you have a passion for the story, and for the truth of the matter. I was hoping you had a little more in-depth info on the charity, and situation, in question - and you did - thank you.

      I enjoy the ability to network with people here, trading info and links really shortens the search. I hope I will be able to return the favor at some time. Peace.

    • 1 year ago
  • ClassicalGas
  • Cruzankenny
  • artemis6
  • coucheliberale
    • -6
      coucheliberale  
    • Image

    • http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/story/2011/03/Study-Moms-kids-more-ove...

      Study: Moms, kids more overweight than they think

      Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York asked 111 women and 111 children a series of questions about their age, income and body size. They also measured their height and weight. About 80% of participants were Hispanic. The rest were black, Asian or white.

      They were shown pictorial images of different body silhouettes representing a range of weights, including underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese and extremely obese.

      Findings reported Wednesday at an American Heart Association meeting in Atlanta:

      •66% of the moms were overweight or obese, and 39% of kids were too heavy. Both numbers are close to the national trend.

      •Most obese women (82%) underestimated their weight when looking at the silhouettes; 42.5% of overweight women did the same. About 13% of normal-weight women thought of themselves as thinner than they were.

      •Most overweight or obese children (86%) underestimated their weight, compared with 15% of normal-weight kids.

      •47.5% of moms with overweight or obese children thought their kids were at a healthy weight.

    • 1 year ago
  • artemis6
    • +6
      artemis6  
    • coucheliberale:

      A lot of people are over weight because the food they eat , is devoid of nutrition , empty calories . Junk . Tasty , And very cheap . You can starve to death eating food like that , and you will be overweight when you die , of malnutrition .

    • 1 year ago
  • sugarlilly
  • coucheliberale
  • mitekillem
    • +5
      mitekillem  
    • coucheliberale:

      Because Charities take a lot of work and effort to organize. They are essentially a business, but their business is to give.
      Charities survive off of donations such as what the dispensary was offering.
      -Which wasn't junk food. Nor were they weed brownies.

      I don't get a Charity rejecting food. It's not like they're obligated to return any favors to the dispensary. Donations are given without strings.

      Unless, maybe I've got this all wrong?!?
      Maybe next time I make a donation I should ask them what I can expect in return, or ask for future favors. ;/

    • 1 year ago
  • artemis6
    • 0
      artemis6  
    • mitekillem:

      They clearly have an agenda , they are using food , to promote it , to the most vulnerable people . Thus , I do not think of them as a charity , in the strictest sense . They are a political entity .

    • 1 year ago
  • Roger_Pietz
    • +3
      Roger_Pietz  

    • You know all these nice folks are doing is donating some food take it you fools. So what if they are into marijuana they are donating because of their good hearts and being kind. What on earth gives these people the right to refuse a donation that will help many others.

    • 1 year ago
  • Nephwrack
  • noxidereus
    • +6
      noxidereus  

    • faith-based + conservative != charity

      (to my non-computer-programmer friends: != means "not equal")

      people need fucking food not judgment you goddamned faith-based evil pieces of shit!

      But thanks for demonstrating 3 of my core beliefs:

      1. cannabis == goodness
      2. religion != morality
      3. social conservatives == holier-than-thou dickfaces.

    • 1 year ago
  • bluestranger
    • +7
      bluestranger  

    • Paragraph five says it all. Notice, instead of naming those who object the "other donors" remain anonymous. Ask anyone that has ever been in need about charity from faith based organizations. It always comes with strings attached. If you're an organization donating to charity what difference does it make which other organizations are donating? If their are strings attached to a donation then it isn't really charity. What's next, you have to pass a UA to drop off a can of beanie-weinies at the local food pantry?

    • 1 year ago
  • im1mjrpain
    • +5
      im1mjrpain  

    • Good job to the Denver medical marijuana dispensary. These people who didn't accept the food are lame. If food is really needed why would you turn it down. Meanwhile; there is a starving child out there somewhere who could have used the food.

    • 1 year ago
  • Stoneyroad
    • +6
      Stoneyroad  

    • This is proof 'Faith based' organizations only care about their faith.
      Shame on them for bullying a food bank into rejecting help for the needy. Is this the kind of thing they always brag about as being "the Christian thing to do?

      Really!?!?! - WWJD?
      Didn't God say something about giving us all seed bearing plants & herbs to use?
      And it's not like this food came from a Drug Cartel, it's Medical Marijuana.
      Alot of people hate Big Pharma but I can't imagine anyone who would attack a Charity just because they accepted a donation from Pfizer.

    • 1 year ago
  • xena
  • Darevalo
    • +6
      Darevalo  

    • the dispensaries down here do can food drives ALLLLL THE TIME. these guys need to lighten up.

      they get an assload of food everytime too i always see boxes stacked on boxes. all for a chance to win an ounce of weed while helping the homeless.

    • 1 year ago
  • Stoneyroad
    • +4
      Stoneyroad  
    • Darevalo:

      It wasn't the food pantry that wanted this,
      I'm sure they don't care where the help comes from.
      the local church groups & conservatives threatened to stop donating to them.

    • 1 year ago
  • xena
  • Angeliron
    • +6
      Angeliron  

    • I am no longer amazed at the unreal stupidity of mankind! Seriously though, enjoy what you can each day, and try to do something nice for a stranger, we won't be here much longer.

    • 1 year ago
  • nanac
    • +6
      nanac  

    • This Charity has made a dumb decision in refusing the donated food..These people are nothing but hypocrites, because when they accept food and donations from the general public it comes from all types of people.. I guess it's OK to take donations from a drunk, thief, pedophile priest, or any so-called sinner as long as they are not weed smokers..If I am a pill-head I can give to the charity, but if my doctor prescribes medical marijuana for my illness, it makes me ineligible to donate food to starving Americans..It is something dreadfully wrong with this picture...

    • 1 year ago
  • mistro
    • +3
      mistro  

    • Are you fucking kidding me!?!? they actually have the balls to turn down food wtf! its not about stupid poitics its about the people that actually need it. fucking republicans are ruining our country day by fucking day

    • 1 year ago
  • uShine
  • bluestranger
  • Wicks934
    • +3
      Wicks934  

    • How small minded. Perhaps they should stop accepting any charity because you "never know for sure" where it came from.

    • 1 year ago
  • OrchidBlack
  • Incredulous
    • +5
      Incredulous  

    • http://faith-based.co

      Unbelievable. It's okay for doctors to prescribe highly addictive pharmaceuticals that overwhelmingly make it to the street, but a legal medical marijuana dispensary cannot donate food.

      These pin-headed faith-based, conservative moral munchkins need to STFU and go get themselves a legal prescription for their psychoses.

    • 1 year ago
  • xena
  • artemis6
  • BenjaminDover
    • +5
      BenjaminDover  

    • Those food banks will regret turning down help once the cons start cutting food stamps.
      Food Banks 2011 = Soup Kitchens 1930's. Wonder if the lines are out the door yet.
      No pictures please, the evening news won't show it anyway.

    • 1 year ago
  • SpencerTreeGarden
  • Milieu
    • +2
      Milieu  

    • Now, they have to come in and give the food Before they smoke the joint, Right?
      I mean, will they be able to let go of the food after they've smoked it?

      I think not.

      ( Idiot MetroCareRing $#!t for brains)

    • 1 year ago
  • Wicks934
  • xena
  • floydyboy
    • +4
      floydyboy  

    • Go Urban Cannabis! Great idea. & what the hell is wrong with that charity. I could see a problem if they were trying to give 'em brownies or something but, c'mon, canned food, this is just ridiculous.

    • 1 year ago
  • im1mjrpain
  • littlwarrior
  • bundlebear
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