Vancouver’s first legal pot shop, Evergreen Cannabis has gathered thousands of dollars to go towards a local non-profit helping people struggling on the Downtown Eastside.
On Friday, store co-owner Mike Babins told Mugglehead that so far his store has raised over $40,000 as of April. Evergreen Cannabis is letting customers pay what they want for premium glass bongs that are generally worth $80 with a suggested minimum of $15-20.
We've got BIG HEFTY BONGS you'd pay $70 – $90 for elsewhere, and you can PAY WHAT YOU WANT! It all goes to help out the Downtown East Side with @PHScss
TELL YOUR FRIENDS!#charity #bong #vancouver pic.twitter.com/w3ApTRsgkV— Evergreen Cannabis (@ecsvan) April 29, 2022
The proceeds from the bong sales will go to the Portland Hotel Society (PHS) Community Services Society, an organization that creates housing opportunities for people who are struggling with physical or mental health issues.
“They do low income housing, have safe injection sites, and they give out food too. They do so much for the community and are very nice people,” Babins told Mugglehead. If you donate you get any store branded product such as a bong, rolling tray, grinder, ashtray or a reusable tote bag.”
Babins said that every penny goes towards PHS. ” We have a few 100 of these premium glass bongs left,” Babins told Mugglehead.
Read more: Vancouver’s premier legal pot shop looks back on first two years
Babins says he saw many of his regular customers use cannabis to help with opioid withdrawal. Before legalization restrictions, staff at Evergreen would sometimes go out on the streets giving out free joints around the DTES community. After legalization, Babins still wanted to find a way to help out the local community and that is how he found PHS Services.
Read more: Daily cannabis users 26% more likely to stop injecting opioids: study
The non-profit PHS has worked and advocated to support and house marginalized members of the DTES since 1991. The organization says that every person has a right to social support and housing.
In Vancouver, the opioid and homelessness crisis is at an alarming all-time high this year and the organization provides greatly needed support to the locals living in these communities. Around 2,200 people died from a suspected illicit drug overdose in 2021, according to the B.C. Coroners Service latest report.
Longtime supporter Evergreen Cannabis has new merch – by donation to PHS.
Name your price, donate what you want – you won’t get a better bong for your buck. Visit the store at 2868 West 4th Avenue in Kits.
Generous @ecsvan customers have so far raised $40,000+ to PHS services. pic.twitter.com/69TSKqKSx3
— PHS (@PHScss) April 26, 2022
