#CatalystForChange
CATALYST CARES
We are a Catalyst for Change, creating relationships to push for fair, community-based, progressive efforts in the cannabis industry.
Mission & Vision
Mission Statement: Catalyst Cares is Catalyst Cannabis Co.’s community engagement arm and brand and grows and expands the Weed for the People Movement through community engagement, community outreach, and Weed for the People enculturation. Accordingly, Catalyst Cares (1) brings the Weed for the People Movement beyond Catalyst’s dispensaries and into the surrounding communities; (2) promotes and lives a culture of volunteerism, activism, inclusion, and equity; (3) creates relationships within both the cannabis industry and local communities that will ensure growth and expansion of the Weed for the People Movement; and (4) develops and pursues policies that allow for equal access within the cannabis industry as well as the surrounding communities (i.e., ensuring the cannabis industry provides social equity).
Vision Statement: Catalyst Cannabis Co. will be welcomed with open arms by political and community leaders in any jurisdiction considering the licensing of cannabis business operations, and its Weed for the People Movement will grow and expand through organic licensing and community engagement.
History & Timeline
Our Journey!
Legalization - Prop 215
Prop 64
Connected
- Santa Ana
- Belmont
- Cherry
- Bellflower
Rebrand as Catalyst Cannabis Co & Eastside Store Opens
Catalyst Cares
Retail Store Realm Expansion Continues
- Pine
- Florence
- El Monte
- Marina
- Pomona
- Palm Desert
- Hemet
- San Bernardino
Catalyst Army Day
Over 100 employees, industry partners and family and friends
National Election
Over 100 employees, industry partners and family and friends
Retail Store Realm Expansion Continues
- Normandie
- Patterson
- Silver Lake
- MidCity
Meet The Team
We are #CatalystForChange & will continue to work for a community that is for EVERYONE.
Events
Types of Events
Education & Open House
Catalyst Cares hosts Open Houses and Cannabis 101 Workshops where we invite the community to visit our retail stores. With the Open House, this allows opportunity for our neighbors to see and learn first hand how a legal dispensary looks and operates. Our Cannabis 101 Workshops gives the chance for our neighbors to understand the science behind cannabis, seed to sale process, different ways of consumption, and cannabis safety. These events give Catalyst the opportunity to sit down with the people within our communities and have conversations to dispel stigmas associated with cannabis. “Knowledge is power,” and Catalyst couldn’t agree more and therefore commits to these in our Community Benefits Agreements.
Beautification Projects
Since 2020 Catalyst Cares has had a Community Cleanup once a month collecting over 1,000 pounds worth of trash across our expanding footprint. Gaining momentum from each cleanup, we now have partnered and will continue to partner with local nonprofits, community leaders, and local politicians such as but not limited to Mayor of Long Beach Rex Richardson, Pomona Beautiful, Santa Ana Councilmembers Jessie López and Benjamin Váquez, and more! Being a good neighbor is the essence of our actions and our city beautification projects are an example of that.
Necessities Drives
Catalyst Cares works with many non profit organizations to uplift the communities surrounding our retail locations. We host food, clothing, and necessities drives throughout our 17 retail store footprint and work in tandem with local entities so that they may administer the goods to those in most need. Catalyst Cares has worked with Community Valley Pantry, Inland Empire Health Center, Music Changing Lives, New Life Beginnings, YMCA Monterey County, Coachella Valley Mission, and many more. Together with our partners, we make sure we bridge the gap of necessity through community. Every Wednesday in San Bernardino, Catalyst Cares also distributes fresh food to citizens in need and are always open to having more volunteers and providers join us in the good work.
Blood Drives
With a strategic partnership with LifeStream Blood Bank, Catalyst Cares hosts a recurring blood drive every third Thursday at a different Catalyst retail store with more coming down the pipeline at locations. All blood is donated locally to the Loma Linda University Hospital. Via a joint social media marketing campaign, LifeStream and Catalyst spread awareness and break the stigma that cannabis users can not donate. Together, we are saving lives and educating the community and the industry. Catalyst has also leveraged their cannabis partnerships. Gelato Cannabis and Traditional sponsor both refreshments and hookups” when individuals RSVP and donate blood. Each person that donates a pint can save three lives. Catalyst is currently poised to be the biggest donor in their network with 140 pints saving 520 lives in the first 4 months of the program. #bleedforthepeople
Live Scan & Expungement Clinics
Catalyst Cares coordinates and hosts Live Scan and Expungement Clinics for our community providing the opportunity to start the process of clearing, sealing, or expunging their criminal records. Expungement of criminal records corrects some of the horrific pains caused by the decades-long War on Drugs. The clinic is a two-part process. First, we offer monthly Live Scan Workshops onsite at our retail stores where we give clients the opportunity to obtain criminal background checks that are required in order to have their criminal records settled. Once the records are received, we have a pro-bono legal team review their records at our June or December Expungement Workshop.
SB34
SB34 is State Bill 34 that was passed to allow medical marijuana patients with a valid medical recommendation or MMID and valid CA I.D./D.L./Passport to receive free medical marijuana. This Bill was led by the Weed for Warrior Project twice; once in 2018 when it was vetoed and then again in 2019 when it was passed. Because of this and their advocacy for mental health and wellness, it is why Catalyst partners with the Weed for Warrior Project for all our SB34 events. Since 2021, we have hosted over a dozen SB34 events! Starting small and slow in the beginning, we now host one SB34 event a month across our entire retail footprint! Coastal Sun, Ember Valley, Lowell, West Coast Cure, and Traditional and Gelato have been some of our biggest and longest donors since the launch of our SB34 events and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Calendar
Coming Soon… Stay Tuned!
Education & Policy
Basic Cannabis Education
Legal Cannabis Industry
Safe Use Education
Basic Cannabis Education
Tax Initiatives | Social Equity | Ballot Initiatives | Expungement