The Doe Fund Makes History with Third Legal NYC Dispensary

When New York State passed legislation legalizing adult use retail cannabis dispensaries, it prioritized licenses for justice-involved individuals and the nonprofits serving them. The intent of this historic policy is restorative racial and economic justice for populations disproportionately impacted by mass incarceration and America’s failed war on drugs.

The Doe Fund has served this very same population for more than 30 years.

Much has been written on the profound racial disparities related to the criminalization of cannabis, particularly regarding its perpetuation of incarceration and homelessness. The individuals we serve face tremendous discrimination and profound obstacles to employment. They are denied access to the “mainstream” economy not just while incarcerated but even after their release.

This is why reentry programs like Ready, Willing & Able are critical to reconnecting marginalized populations to opportunity, giving them a chance to become productive, independent citizens. The un– and under-employment of people who have experienced incarceration costs us 1.7-1.9 million workers and between $78-$87 billion in GDP per year.

Our late Founder, George McDonald, was a far-sighted visionary. Long before New York even began drafting legislation legalizing cannabis, he recognized an opportunity to put revenue generated by this multi-million dollar industry into the pockets of those most unfairly affected by its criminalization. He envisioned multiple ways for the profits to enhance and grow our programs, ensuring better outcomes for the people we serve.

Yesterday, George’s bold vision became reality.

On February 13th, The Doe Fund and our partner Harbour Community, an experienced cannabis retail company, celebrated the official opening of Union Square Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store — NYC’s third licensed recreational dispensary.

Social enterprise is at the heart of what we do, and USQTA continues that groundbreaking tradition. Nonetheless, we know that many of our supporters will understandably have concerns about this foray into recreational cannabis. Below are some of the most frequently-asked questions regarding this innovative public-private partnership:

How will The Doe Fund use revenue from USQTA?

Although The Doe Fund made no financial investment in this venture, we will receive 51% of the profits. These funds are unrestricted and can be directed toward any area of our programming. Some immediate plans are to:

Strengthen our skilled trades career training in high-demand, lucrative fields like welding
Explore and implement workforce development programs in green jobs
Hire Housing Specialists to more quickly place Ready, Willing & Able trainees into permanent housing
Increase the financial incentives we provide to trainees and graduates

Wait, doesn’t The Doe Fund drug test Ready, Willing & Able trainees for cannabis use?

Yes, we do. Ready, Willing & Able is a voluntary program for adult men who willingly commit to its terms. One of those terms is to abstain from drugs and alcohol for the duration of the 9-12 month program.

There is an important reason for this: as a workforce development program, the ultimate goal of Ready, Willing & Able is to prepare individuals who already face significant barriers to employment for permanent jobs — including in fields and with companies that still drug test for cannabis. Therefore, we believe that sobriety for the duration of the program maximizes participants’ chances of securing employment.

However, we do make exceptions when certain drugs are prescribed to trainees by a doctor, including medical cannabis and opioid addiction treatment medications like Suboxone.

How will The Doe Fund be involved in store operations?

The Doe Fund is not involved in the day-to-day operations or management of the store. Ready, Willing & Able trainees will NOT work at the store nor come into contact with its products. Donations to The Doe Fund will not go toward the store.

What do you mean by public-private partnership and social enterprise?

In many ways, these concepts are the backbone of The Doe Fund. A social enterprise is a business with specific social impact objectives beyond its financial bottom line. Sound familiar? Our Community Improvement Project is a perfect example. The initiative brings the Men in Blue across 115 miles of NYC streets to provide vital sanitation services for the community, while supplying revenue for Ready, Willing & Able and earned income directly into the pockets of trainees.

A public-private partnership, meanwhile, is an alliance between a government agency, a private-sector company, and oftentimes a nonprofit. USQTA is made possible through the collaboration of government (NYS), the private sector (Harbour Community), and a nonprofit entity (The Doe Fund). The result of this cross–sector partnership will move the needle on social justice and achieve true systemic change.

What does all this have to do with me as a supporter?

The Doe Fund has been on the cutting edge of innovation since we began. We changed the narrative on homelessness and on what people experiencing it can achieve. We defied the naysayers who thought the men we employed were too “crazy or lazy” to better themselves when given the opportunity.

The success of 30,000 individuals who have transformed their lives through The Doe Fund is a testament to our willingness to pioneer unconventional solutions. Venturing into the retail cannabis industry is another example of The Doe Fund’s unwavering commitment to innovation for the benefit of the people we serve.

While this foray will add another diverse revenue stream to our funding, it will not supplant the incredible generosity of our donors like you. Your steadfast, continued support not only helps us realize our vision… it makes you a bold visionary, too.

Have any more questions or concerns? Let’s talk!

We believe in transparency and are eager to share more with you about The Doe Fund’s entry into retail cannabis. Please reach out at [email protected] if you’d like to discuss further.

Where can I learn more about Union Square Travel Agency?

Please visit their website or, if you’re in the neighborhood, visit the shop at 65 East 13th Street, New York, NY 10003 to witness history in the making.

In addition, check out the following press coverage to learn more: