Cannabis and The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — where are the [many] opportunities for Social Impact?
At Regennabis, we believe that democratizing the opportunity for “Regenerative Growth for ALL in the Cannabis Industry” is front and center of the work that we are undertaking with organizations and Brands in this exciting, somewhat nascent sector. With the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serving as our over-arching framework, we believe that players in this industry are well-placed to help solve some of the biggest challenges facing humanity.
As Charles Warner, Editor at Cannabis & Tech Today stated whilst launching the inaugural “Sustainable Leadership Awards” at MJBizCon in December 2019, “the cannabis industry and its ancillaries are in a unique position to become sustainable leaders.” And we at Regennabis could not agree more. Beyond the award categories [Energy, Water, Packaging, Innovation, Event and Stewardship] there exists a myriad of opportunity for companies and organizations in the sector to demonstrate that “doing good and making money” are not mutually exclusive — as those wonderful folks at Grounded.World frame so wonderfully.
This infographic may help you understand — at a very simple [& colorful 😉] level — where we see some opportunities presenting themselves for players in the industry to champion and build or leverage Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships with NGOs, Civil Society and Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs.
And to be clear — there exists today many examples of organizations leading the way.
For example, “SDG#10 — Reduced Inequalities”; it is possible that Brands working with, for example, Steve DeAngelo at Last Prisoner Project, can help accelerate the work being undertaken around Restorative Justice and drive the change we must see at a federal level here in the US. This and similar initiatives also impact “SDG#1 — No Poverty”, “SDG#5 — Gender Equality” and “SDG#16 — Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions”.
Another organization, The People’s Dispensary (TPD), founded by Christine De La Rosa, has built its business model around the belief in partnering with local communities through equity. TPD has pioneered a strategy that allows individuals in local communities to invest in one or more dispensaries. They partner with local leaders, influencers and commerce to advance their role as a leader in the cannabis sector and improve the well-being of the community. We believe that TPDs work underpins an alignment to “SDG#4 — Good Health and Well-being” along with “SDG#8 — Decent Work & Economic Growth” and “SDG#11 — Sustainable Cities & Communities.
Translated to lay-persons terms, the Cannabis Industry can be a fundamental driver in helping millions of people lead a better life than the one they are currently enduring. The industry can — and will — provide a Regenerative Future for humanity.
Reach-out to me at geoff.trotter@regennabis.com to learn more about our drive to democratize the opportunity for “Regenerative Growth for ALL in the Cannabis Industry”.
