At Pharmhouse Wellness, we believe that being a part of the Grand Rapids community means more than just providing quality cannabis. It means actively working to build a more equitable and thriving neighborhood for everyone. From the moment we opened our doors as Grand Rapids’ first 100% locally owned dispensary, we’ve considered social equity to be a core company value, not just a plan or a checkbox.
Proud to Be a Social Equity Vendor
We understand that the history of cannabis prohibition has disproportionately impacted certain communities. That’s why, from the outset, Pharmhouse Wellness has prioritized participation in improving our local communities. We proactively integrated social equity into our business model and developed a comprehensive plan with the assistance of Aligned Planning, a woman-owned business based right here in Grand Rapids.
As a Tier 1 Equity Applicant with the City of Grand Rapids and a qualifying equity applicant with the State of Michigan, we recognized the importance of demonstrating our commitment through tangible actions. We are proud to be recognized by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) as the first recipient of their gold award through the Cannabis Social Equity All-Star program. This recognition underscores our dedication to fulfilling the requirements and going above and beyond in our social equity efforts.
Investing in West Wealthy Beautification
Our commitment extends directly to the neighborhood we call home – West Wealthy. We genuinely care about the neighborhood we reside in. We’ve undertaken specific beautification projects aimed at enhancing the safety, security, and aesthetic appeal of our shared block.
For example, we offer shared services such as lawn care and equipment lending to our neighbors. We also collaborated with the John Ball Area Neighbors on projects like the Neighborhood Match Grant for a Native Species Habitat House, engaging over 100 people in creating a more vibrant environment. Additionally, we are partnering with the City of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., The Rapid, Exodus Place, and MobileGR to redesign and prototype a safer, more walkable, and bikeable intersection at Front and Wealthy. This planned redesign will include new bus stops, crosswalks, seating, and art. Funding for this collaborative “safe street” project is secured, and Pharmhouse Wellness has committed staff support and will participate in placemaking activities, including a street mural, plantings, lighting, and potential benches and planters for bus waiting areas. This ongoing project aims to provide a safer and more accessible intersection for our community. We prioritize the needs of those who live and work along this street.
Here’s What We’ve Done: Concrete Actions for Our Community
Our commitment to social equity is reflected in a range of ongoing initiatives:
- Local Impact Fund: We established a Local Impact Fund, making quarterly contributions to our nearest residential neighbors to help mitigate any potential impact and improve their quality of life.
- Westpharm Reinvestment Fund: We created the Westpharm Reinvestment Fund, fueled by savings from our licensing fee reductions as an equity applicant. This fund supports social equity programs and neighborhood-focused initiatives.
- Legal Services Events: We plan to host events with attorneys providing advice on matters like expungement, labor relations, and housing issues, recognizing that these services are often inaccessible.
- Redemption Discount: We offer a standing discount to medical patients with criminal records, including marijuana misdemeanors (5% off) and felonies (10% off). This partnership with Redemption Cannabis, a company with a mission to support those affected by the war on cannabis, further underscores our commitment.
- Home Ownership Training: We recognize the importance of homeownership and plan to provide training and potential down payment assistance through the Westpharm Reinvestment Fund.
- Household Façade Grant Program: Similar to business façade grants, this program would focus on owner-occupied housing to help upgrade appearances and foster community cohesion.
- Priority Hiring: We prioritize providing employment opportunities to individuals impacted by the war on drugs and residents from disproportionately impacted communities. Our recruitment efforts include advertising in diverse local media. Our ownership itself reflects this commitment.
- Local First Approach: We actively support our local community by primarily working with local contractors and businesses and purchasing supplies locally whenever possible. We have spent significantly with women-owned, veteran-owned, and social equity-qualified cannabis businesses.
- Mentorship: We are committed to supporting new businesses through mentorship opportunities, sharing the lessons we’ve learned.
- Expungement Efforts: We’ve partnered with the Great Lakes Expungement Network (GLEN) and hosted expungement events to help individuals clear their records of past cannabis convictions.
- Non-Profit Engagement: We actively engage with local neighborhood associations and non-profits, supporting their work and ensuring open communication.
Why Community Engagement Matters to Us
For us, being active in our community isn’t just good business; it’s the right thing to do. We believe that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the areas they operate in. Our commitment to social equity stems from a deep understanding of the historical injustices surrounding cannabis prohibition and a desire to be part of the solution. We strive to build trust and strong relationships with our neighbors and the broader Grand Rapids community through our consistent actions and genuine care.
We are proud of the work we’ve done and remain dedicated to continuing our efforts to foster a more equitable and vibrant Grand Rapids. We invite you to visit our dispensary to learn more about our social equity plan and how we are working together with the Grand Rapids community to build a better neighborhood for everyone.
