In Oregon, the five Shango Premium Cannabis dispensaries in the Portland area combined to give more than $3,000 to two VFW groups and one national veteran’s cannabis organization as part of its Veterans’ Day fundraising efforts. Store contributions have helped rebuild the roof on the Hillsboro VFW Hall and fund a Portland VFW’s writing program for elementary, middle and high school students. Our giving program also helped empower the Veterans Cannabis Collective (VCC) to create a hemp farm that will provide transitional therapy for Veterans as they return to civilian life.

Shango donated funds from sales were used to fund a new roof for VFW Hillsboro Post 2666. “This will go a long way toward completing the job,” said Dan Fink, commander of the Post, said. Fink said not only was the donation a welcome sight, but some of the vets from the post have since tried the non-psychoactive CBD tinctures that are sold at Shango dispensaries. “A couple guys tried the CBD roll-on for some knee problems and I think you picked up some new customers,” Fink said. “Now we have the understanding that it is not marijuana and you don’t have to smoke it. I think there is a tremendous market for CBD products.” Fink said the United States government needs to change the way cannabis is treated by the FDA. “The government needs to quit making it a schedule one drug,” he said. “It’s stupid.”

Shango’s Portland locations teamed up to help fund the writing contest and teacher awards at Patriot’s Pen Middle School and Voice of Democracy High School that are sponsored by Peninsula Pep VFW Post 1325. The program was judged by students from the University of Portland. “The money will help a lot,” said Bruce Hall, post commander.

Shango dispensaries raised funds for the Veterans Cannabis Collective (VCC) in New York State for their new hemp farm that will be run by veterans for veterans. VCC founder Mark Dipasquale said the donation will go toward the farm as well as transition therapy for vets. “Getting them on the farm and getting them to work is highly important to us,” Dipasquale. The VCC farm will be located in Rochester, N.Y. The group also is opening a chapter soon in Portland. Dipasquale said the group just received its 501 (c) (3) status and the Shango donation was the first it has received as a national nonprofit group. “We branded VCC for vets, and it’s all about veterans,” Dipasquale said. “We’re excited that Shango sees something special in us.” “We are committed to helping veteran’s groups wherever we can,” Rexroad said. “We want all vets to know they can come to us for relief of the many maladies they face. We know the help our products can provide vets, and we want to educate them as well as support their endeavors to help other local veterans.”

The perseverance of the owners of Shango Premium Cannabis in the Portland area paid off for the Breast Friends charity when they were the beneficiaries of a check for $6,264.50 from sales of pink merchandise for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After being turned down by three national breast cancer charities, the owners of five Shango dispensaries turned to Breast Friends, a smaller national group based in Tigard. “We’ve gotten a whole new perspective for cannabis,” said Breast Friends Co-Founder Becky Olson. Shango owners representing five area dispensaries presented the check from pink merchandise sales at the Breast Friends annual open house. The group was celebrating receiving funds of nearly $30,000 from October events. The money will go toward support services. “It was fabulous,” Olson said of the event. “I could not believe how big that check was both in physical size and the amount it was. That was incredible. We are so thankful. It was quite the surprise and they sent a large contingent to deliver it.” Breast Friends believes that no woman should go through the cancer experience alone. Unfortunately, it happens. Women without friends and family nearby often fail to receive the kind of emotional, spiritual or physical support they need. “If you want to do something to help breast cancer, we should look everywhere,” Olson said. “We’re happy to become partners with Shango. We would love to make this a permanent relationship.” “This was an amazing opportunity for Shango to be able to help out a charity with the foresight to recognize the potential benefits of medical cannabis for both pre- and post-surgery situations.” said Julie Dubocq, controller at Shango. “We admire their courage and plan on working with them as partners in helping those who need it most. If someone fighting cancer needs special attention, we will give it to them,” Dubocq said. Breast Friends also has taken a pro approach to cannabis during their weekly internet radio show. “There is so much of a misconception out there about marijuana and it was sad for me that some tuned out, but in the end it was awesome that so many did. We’re going to make even more strides with awareness of therapies to turn to,” Olson said. Olson said the show draws 10,000 to 15,000 downloads a month to the web outlet VoiceAmerica.com, a health and wellness channel. Shango representatives have been guests on the show. “Breast Friends’ mission is helping women survive the trauma of cancer one friend at a time,” said Allison Hancock, event and volunteer coordinator for the Oregon chapter. “We are thankful for the support that Shango is giving to Breast Friends to raise awareness and help us continue to offer services and programs to women who are going through the cancer journey.”