“Everybody has to give back sometimes.” Cannabis community to donate Thanksgiving meals to those in need

When many people think about cannabis or marijuana cultivators or retailers, community giveback might not be what comes to mind. But that’s what several cannabis retailers are doing as the Thanksgiving season nears.

Higher by Bad Gramm3r, Bad Gramm3r, Country Cannabis, Alaska Original, and Laughing Salmon have come together, with the support of many Mat-Su Borough businesses to provide Thanksgiving meals for 150 families in need in the Valley.

“It’s so important to give back to the community that supports us every day,” said co-founder Teri Zell.

“We have a lot of donors this year, so we are really excited. Carrs is providing the turkeys, and have really helped us get everything in order,” said manager Maggie Bellamy of Higher.

This is the third year for the Thanksgiving meal donations, with each year surpassing the previous year. Last year, the retailers came together and distributed 100 meals, and have stepped it up this year to reach 150 meals.

“It benefitted so many people last year, it touched so many people’s hearts. It’s so important right now because groceries are so expensive.”

When asked what motivated Higher and the others to put this event together, Bellamy said that Zell is eager to give back. But that they have also seen the needs increase in the Mat-Su Borough.

“We really wanted to give back. When we started this, it was the middle of the pandemic, everybody was in need, and now the financial crisis has gotten really bad,” she said.

If there has been any pushback or negativity from the community, Bellamy says they have not seen it, and that the community has been supportive and increasing their support every year.

“Every year, we are getting better and better at this. The organizations helping us has increased and everything we’re doing is better.”

Families will get a turkey and fixings, including green beans, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and pie.

People interested in signing up can stop into any of the locations and drop their name, or the name of someone in need of a Thanksgiving meal. People are able to enter multiple times at multiple locations if they choose.

“It’s as simple as a name and phone number, then the week before Thanksgiving, we will give the winners a call,” explained Bellamy.

“This is about the cannabis community giving back. We are still new, still growing. Every day, whether hard times or slow times, good and bad, no matter what, they support us and this is our way of giving back,” said Bellamy.

“I think what we do with the turkeys is really special and that we do give back with this and other events throughout the year is a really good thing,” added employee Lindsey McKenzie.

Zell wants the community to know that there is more to the cannabis industry beyond what people may perceive, that there is a lot of positivity within the cultivators and retailers.

“The cannabis industry isn’t just about people getting high. It’s about being well, and as we work to get rid of the stigma that many people have about it, we want people to know we’re all here for the good. Everybody has to give back sometimes.”