A nonprofit organization based in Denver, Colorado was working to spread some serious holiday cheer this week when volunteers handed out free joints to homeless people or anyone else who wanted one on Christmas Eve. The group is called Cannabis Can, and according to its website, its primary focus is to raise awareness about homelessness and to provide solutions to help homeless individuals.
“Welcome to the beautifully kind world of Denver where this Christmas Eve Cannabis Can is freely giving away pre-rolled marijuana joints to anybody and everybody we meet on the streets in order raise awareness on homelessness,” the group’s website said.
When Cannabis Can members hit the streets this past Thursday, they ended up giving away 1,000 joints for free.
“‘Cannabis can make a difference,’ is kind of what we’re standing for,” Cannabis Can founder Nick Dicenzo told reporters.
When asked how he would respond to people who disagree with what he’s doing, or who might see him as doing something dangerous or illegal, Dicenzo said: “Merry Christmas, Happy Cannamas—would you like some rolling papers for tobacco?”
Along with handing out free joints, the group also handed out information about where people can donate to Cannabis Can’s current project to buy a number of RVs and provide restrooms and showers for those who don’t otherwise have access to them.
“A lot of the people we spoke with really were just like, ‘if I had regular access to a shower, and a haircut my life would be so much better—I’d have so much more opportunity,'” Dicenzo explained to reporters.
While handing out free pot, the group had to be careful to comply with Denver laws regarding marijuana possession, distribution, and use.
“It is illegal to smoke weed in public in Denver, but weed can be given as a gift,” ABC News 7 explained. “The only rules are that the person has to be 21 or over, no money can be exchanged, and each person can only carry up to an ounce of weed.”
“Which makes the logistics of this really tricky, but yeah I have lots of people with one ounce on their person,” said Dicenzo.
This is one campaign that definitely understands how to celebrate the holidaze!
“Merry Christmas and a puff puff New Year’s,” said a woman who enjoyed one of the group’s free joints.
