Kiva has launched the Kiva Cares Project, a donation program that will provide all out-of-spec product and product with less than 30 days until BBD date/COA expiration date to California medical patients in need. 

Kiva and the Kiva Cares Project aim to establish a new industry standard to prevent cannabis waste, offer quality cannabis products to those who need them most, and compel other cannabis brands across the country to follow suit. Following this California market debut, expansion plans to roll out Kiva Cares nationally are imminent.

Erika Osueke, longtime Kiva employee and the brand's quality and compliance manager, started The Kiva Cares Project after learning how much cannabis product is wasted each year due to packaging defects, being under or over potency, or are soon to expire, despite the fact they are viable for use and can make a profound difference to medical consumers who lack access and affordability.

"The cannabis industry has the power and potential to serve public health in a way that is both unique and revolutionary,'' Osueke said. "We are only scratching the surface of scaling the kind of life-changing impact cannabis can have for those consumers who need it most."

Under Kiva's guidance and framework, a product donation of this size and scale was made possible by a growing network of organizations including Weed for Warriors, Sweetleaf Collective, Americans for Safe Access, Los Angeles NORML, and ReCompass, who will partner with select California dispensaries to distribute the product to those in need. Anresco Laboratories and SC Labs are also participating laboratories donating their testing services to the cause.

"Sweetleaf and Team Compassion are excited to be a part of the Kiva Cares Project," said Joe Sweetleaf, founder of Sweetleaf Collective. "These collective industry efforts will undoubtedly help thousands of veterans and patients access $1.75 million worth of free medical cannabis products through the Kiva Cares Project. Together we are saving and transforming lives."

"SB34 is about legal cannabis access for patients. Very simply, without cannabis access, California veteran and non-veteran patients would be forced to medicate with pharmaceuticals that have FDA stated risk of addiction, overdose, death and suicidal ideation," added Sean Kiernan, CEO at Weed for Warriors. "Cannabis and SB34 is providing a safer alternative and therefore saving lives."

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