Berkeley Patients Group Awarded Proclamations and Resolutions from Prominent Politicians at 20^th Anniversary Event Oct 1

 Berkeley, Calif.– (October 3, 2019)–The morning of October 1, 2019, Berkeley Patients Group (BPG), the longest operating dispensary in the nation, hosted a private event to celebrate its 20^th anniversary and $1 Million for Good campaign, to donate $1,000,000 to 10 nonprofits over 10 years.

Local nonprofits, community leaders, prominent politicians and cannabis brand partners came together to recognize BPG’s significant role in the Berkeley community and the cannabis industry over two decades.

The event’s highlights included:

A representative for US Congresswoman Barbara Lee honored BPG with a Congressional Record in honor of its 20^th anniversary. The Record states that BPG “has been a driving force behind the medical marijuana movement focused on providing the best care and education possible to its patients.”

“As a result of their transparency and leadership, others cities, states and counties have used the Berkeley Patients Group’s best practices to model their organizations.” “On behalf of the 13^th Congressional District, I want to extend my sincere congratulations on this important milestone. Thank you, Berkeley Patients Group, for all that you do.”

State Senator Nancy Skinner (CA’s 9th Senate District) awarded BPG a Resolution for its many achievements and positive impact it has made in the local community. “As a steward of the medical cannabis industry, BPG is a vital member of the East Bay community and a leader in the fight to provide affordable, safe access for those who need the benefits of cannabis, and by keeping the needs of the community in focus.”

“BPG is congratulated on the celebration of its twentieth anniversary, commended for its long history of community support, and extended for best wishes for continued success in the future.”

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín awarded BPG a Proclamation for its invaluable contributions to local nonprofits and local economy, and ongoing philanthropic support to lift up underserved communities. He noted, “BPG has remained committed to its original goals to provide high-quality cannabis products while continuously giving back to its community. They have played a central role in changing the narrative and understanding cannabis’ role in society, dispelling myths and stigmas in a time of evolving views.”

“They continue to be pioneers in the cannabis industry, and their commitment to the underserved sets standards we should all aspire to accomplish. We are so fortunate for BPG and the city of Berkeley thanks them for their continued advocacy.”

Etienne Fontan, co-owner and vice president of Berkeley Patients Group stood at the podium and gave a heartfelt speech stating, “We never know if it’s a patient’s first day or their last day and we want them to be treated with the same respect accordingly. I am a gulf war veteran and I also serve in the drug war. We are leaders in this drug war and in times of darkness, we hold the light up and need others to do the same. That is why we created this campaign, $1 Million for Good, so it can be replicated all over the country. Those that are doing well in the cannabis community should feel the need to give back.”

“We were all told 20 years ago that legalization was never going to happen in this lifetime, and even in the darkest of days, we believed we were going to help people and ignite change. I thank every single one of you who has risen up alongside me and made this journey an absolute destiny. We still have more work to do but we would not be here without you all and your continued support. So, thank you.”

Check presentations in the amount of $5,000 were presented to each of the nonprofits as part of BPG’s $1 Million for Good campaign, to donate one million dollars to 10 nonprofits over 10 years. The nonprofits at the heart of this campaign provide direct services including healthcare, re-reentry support, affordable housing/ homelessness, the LGBTQ+ community, the environment and more.

Each month, BPG will highlight a different community partner and drive funds to that organization through awareness campaigns, staff volunteers, and donations from sales of supporting brand partners. Nonprofits include:

• Battle Brothers Foundation
• Berkeley Free Clinic
• Berkeley Humane
• BOSS (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency)
• Kingmakers of Oakland
• La Peña Cultural Center
• Pacific Center
• Planting Justice
• Supernova Women
• Women’s Cancer Resource Center

About: Berkeley Patients Group (BPG)

BPG was founded on October 31, 1999 in Berkeley, California with the mission of providing safe and affordable access to quality medicine and life-enhancing services to Bay Area patients suffering from serious illnesses. Their philosophy of putting patients before all else compels the leadership team to be a philanthropic force in the Berkeley community, and BPG is regarded as an industry leader in self-regulation, as well as the development of industry best practices.

BPG’s vision for legal integrity has solidified the dispensary as a pioneer in the cannabis space. The company is a California state-licensed adult-use and medicinal cannabis dispensary. The store is located at 2366 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA, 94702.

For more information, visit myBPG.com, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact: Lacey Trejo

Email: ltrejo@highergroundagency.com

Phone: 818.517.7143 (call or text)