Why Join The 40 Tons Movement?

We need your help. Just because someone carries it well, doesn't mean it isn't heavy!

Join 40 Tons today by donating $5 or more and help do the great community work we do.

At 40 Tons, we are deeply committed to our mission, but the reality is, we're a grassroots movement, not a corporation with unlimited budgets or deep-pocketed investors. Every activation, every initiative, and every effort we undertake is made possible through sheer determination, personal sacrifice, and the generosity of our community.

But we can’t do this alone. Your support, whether through sponsorship, donations, or simply spreading the word—makes it possible for us to create opportunities where none existed before. If you’re looking for a way to truly make an impact, consider contributing to our mission. Together, we can make sure those who were once locked out of the industry have a rightful place at the table. Visit 40tons.co to join us in the fight for justice, equity, and opportunity.

Below, you’ll find a full breakdown of the 40 Tons Foundation, detailing everything we’re working on to create lasting change.

The 40 Tons Foundation is a social justice organization that fights to support system-impacted communities. Through our multi-media platforms, career conferences, Justice Row activations, movement building and activist endeavors; we strive to provide advocacy, education, and professional and personal support.

By donating, fundraising or partnering with 40 Tons, you become an important part of shedding light on the urgent need for restorative justice, organized community impact and a strong mutual aid network.

Right now, more than ever, we need to come together and speak truth to power from our own platforms.

Join the 40 Tons Movement by becoming a donor, fundraiser or partner today!

40 Tons programming is developed and run by people who have served time, faced a life sentence and fought to support their own families and businesses after incarceration.

Obtaining access is the hardest thing, for this reason we provide opportunities to justice-impacted companies to cover the costs of exhibition, through one of our initiatives called Justice Row.

Our latest initiative, Justice Row, is a game-changer, giving justice-impacted entrepreneurs a chance to participate in industry trade shows without the crushing financial burden. We’ve been there ourselves, unable to attend due to high costs, and now we’re building a bridge so others don’t have to face the same barriers.

Whether you can join us for our Spring 2025 programming, through your donation, fundraiser or partnership, you will participate in making these actions a reality:

Building the 40 Tons Movement
1. Community ambassadors
2. Message-centered media
3. Digital and in-person connections
4. Justice Row Activations
Letter Writing Campaign
1. Unique and art-focused postcard program for inmates
2. Uplift and provide words of support to specific inmates
Career and Business Support Systems (Level Up Conferences)
1. Access to resources
2. Career opportunities
3. Connecting employers with new staffing
Mutual Aid for Prisoners and their Families
- Commissary donations
- Visiting services for families
  - this program is being built and contingent on fundraising
- Book publishing services if inmates have written books

Donors

We will be posting updated programming throughout the year for this year's crowdfunding (mutual aid) opportunities in this section.

Gift a tax-deductible donation today. Bring awareness to the mission and support justice-impacted small business owners, families and those who are still unjustly incarcerated - and don't forget to share with your network and ask them to get involved with you!

Fundraisers

Become a 40 Tons Ambassador and launch your own GiveButter fundraising campaign to support our mission!

Have a birthday, anniversary, or special milestone coming up? Turn your celebration into a force for change by creating a fundraiser to help us reach our Winter fundraising goal by March 1. Every dollar raised goes toward providing second chances, justice, and opportunity for those impacted by cannabis prohibition.

Looking for another way to take action? Start a Letter Writing Campaign in your city and help amplify the voices of those still behind bars. Reach out to info@40tons.co to get started today!

Partners

The Justice Row is a 40 Tons experiential activation that allow you to show your support and alignment for justice-impacted companies within the cannabis industry and gain massive exposure for your company.

This is an opportunity to participate in one of the most unique activations on the convention center floor of some of the nations largest cannabis conventions, with a well-aligned social justice cause that includes 501c3 Tax Exemption without any of the heavy lifting.

In 2023, 2024, and 2025 at MJBizCon, we held more than 85 interviews (combined) in the space, were featured across over 15 globally distributed news platforms including Forbes, Benzinga and Green State, sent upwards of 3,000 postcards, and received over 2,000,000 impressions.

40 Tons at MJBizCon 2024
40 Tons Sponsor Wall at MJBizCon 2024

40 Tons history infographic

What's next for 40 Tons?

At the end of the day, the world runs on money. Without it, nothing moves, whether it's running a business, paying bills, or making an impact. For organizations like ours, which not only operate a business but also give back, the challenge is even greater.

We want to free every last cannabis prisoner, provide grants and stipends to the formerly incarcerated to help them rebuild their lives, and put as much money as possible on commissary accounts so those still inside can maintain dignity and hope. But the truth is, we can’t do it alone.

We also understand that in these times, donations need to come with real value. That’s why we’ve built the media arm of 40 Tons, leveraging our relationships, visibility, and partnerships with brands, businesses, and conferences across the country. We use our platform to uplift those who support us, ensuring that every contribution also provides exposure and opportunity for our donors and partners.

But we can’t do the work without the help. Join us in creating real change. Every dollar, every share, every effort counts. 💪🏾 Let’s build this movement together.

Programs Ready to Launch Once Funded:

Family Visiting Programs

Too often, incarcerated individuals are housed in prisons thousands of miles away from their families, making visits nearly impossible due to travel costs. Some haven’t seen their loved ones in years. We aim to subsidize those costs so that families can visit their incarcerated loved ones without financial hardship.

More Career Conferences

We’ve successfully hosted five Level Up Career Conferences, Los Angeles (x2), Oakland, Chicago, and New Jersey, connecting thousands to real job opportunities, expungements, scholarships, education, and more. The biggest cost for these events? Venues and marketing. We’re looking at Maryland or New York in Summer 2025 for the next one. If you’d like to be a part of it, reach out! Check out our past conferences through the blue links, the impact has been incredible.

Webinar Education Series

We're partnering with thought leaders and industry experts to provide free, high-value educational webinars, not just entry-level info, but real, applicable knowledge for those looking to level up in cannabis and beyond.

Want to host a webinar? We’re looking for subject matter experts in:

✔️ Cultivation, Manufacturing, and Processing
✔️ Raising Capital
✔️ Obtaining Licenses
✔️ Career Skills
✔️ Soft Skills Development & More

If you’re an expert willing to share your knowledge, let’s talk.

Justice Row

We’re bringing Justice Row to as many conferences and trade shows as possible to help justice-impacted founders get visibility without the heavy burden of booth costs.

Upcoming Justice Row Activations:

📍 Benzinga Chicago – June 2025
📍 MjBizCon Las Vegas – December 2025

Interested in sponsorship opportunities or hosting Justice Row at your conference? Email us at info@40tons.co.

A Note from 40 Tons

We are a grassroots movement, built from the ground up, with no political ties, corporate backing or tied to any other organization, just a deep commitment to justice, equity, and second chances.

One of our founders served a life sentence for a nonviolent cannabis offense, and that experience fuels everything we do. This work comes from the heart, and at times, from our own pockets, because we believe in it that much.

We welcome collaboration, support, and new ideas. But just as we lead with respect, kindness, and integrity, we ask for the same in return. This industry can only move forward together, and we want to continue building bridges, not barriers.

For too long, the conversation around cannabis justice has felt divided, but justice isn’t owned by any one person or group. The people still inside, those impacted by prohibition, they don’t belong to anyone, if anything, we owe them for the sacrifices they made so this industry could exist today.

Now more than ever, unity matters. We’ve always stood for bringing people together, and we’ll keep doing that. We also own our mistakes and are always open to productive and respectful feedback, because real progress comes from learning and growing together.

Mistakes may happen, none of us are perfect but what truly sets people apart is genuine intention. We all want the same thing - FREEDOM FOR ALL CANNABIS PRISONERS!

Let’s move forward with love, respect, and purpose. Together. ✊🏾

40 TONS!!

Support the 40 Tons Foundation

Team Members