It is not news that medical marijuana companies are constantly innovating to offer cannabis-derived products specifically formulated for those suffering from life-threatening and debilitating illnesses such as autism, cancer, and epilepsy. What doesn’t regularly make the headlines is the fact that many of them are creating and partnering with non-profit organizations in order to support providers and patients in turning that life-saving (or at least life-enhancing) corner. 

Hope Grows For Autism, a nonprofit aimed at improving the lives of families affected by autism through research, education, and the advocacy of medical natural treatments was founded by Erica Daniels. Daniels is the mother of an autistic child, and her quest for a better quality of life for her son and family led her to discover the overwhelming significance of diet and medical cannabis in addressing her child’s autism. Her organization’s mission inspired a partnership between Hope Grows For Autism and medical marijuana company Zelira Therapeutics (formerly Zelda Therapeutics, which merged with Ilera Healthcare to form Zelira) in the creation of their HOPE range of products, which are formulated specifically for autism spectrum disorders. These products are olive oil-based tinctures that include Hope 1, which has a 1 to 1 THC:CBD ratio, and Hope 2, with a THC:CBD ratio of 5 to 1.  These formulas were created with the specific challenges of autism in mind, and have become bestselling items for Zelira.

Then there is The Flowering HOPE Foundation, a non-profit started by Jason Cranford, founder of medical marijuana company Haleigh’s Hope. The Flowering HOPE Foundation facilitates safe, lawful access to medical marijuana for individuals suffering from multiple ailments including Crohn’s, cancer, and epilepsy. Flowering HOPE also participates in petitioning and lobbying for clearer regulatory guidelines around marijuana access and use, such as this case profiled by PR Newswire involving a challenge of the DEA’s classification of hemp oil and CBD products as Schedule 1 substances. 

No profile of medical marijuana companies flexing philanthropic muscle on behalf of those in need would be complete without a mention of Colorado flagship company, Charlotte’s Web. Charlotte’s Web enjoys an active partnership with the Realm of Caring Foundation, a non-profit that provides education for patients and healthcare providers, research, and support to families in need of access to medical marijuana. The organization seeks to build a supportive community among those benefiting from the use of medical marijuana in their healing protocols and providing the latest research to inform decisions about treatment. 

This community-building aspect, which all of the aforementioned non-profits share, is particularly valuable to families who do not find the support they need for their medical marijuana treatment protocols from health insurance companies and the larger medical community.  As the science of crafting highly targeted formulas for some of today’s most challenging medical conditions becomes ever more refined, it is both evident and encouraging that some of the industry’s leading medical marijuana companies remain committed to serving the people behind the profits.