Cannabis has morphed into other arenas beyond the traditional — “puff, puff, pass.” Despite the U.S. federal laws’ roadblocks to cannabis legalization, decriminalization and banking, weed continues to find its work around it all. Breaking stereotypes and questioning societal norms around weed in efforts to make a positive impact on the industry; well, that’s just another good day in the “biz.”
And because it’s not always just about the sticky green, philanthropic endeavors by companies like DoBetter.Social, DBS is creating financial opportunities for foundations and nonprofits in dire need of financial support. Furthermore, despite the hesitancy of some organizations to accept cannabis-related donations, DBS connects with nonprofits that like them are focused on the give-back efforts and not the weed.
Philanthropically Speaking
Focused on the good they could do with the money made by cannabis sales, DBS supports social equity and philanthropic efforts worth cheering on through partnerships with cannabis brands and companies.
By giving back to the community, co-founder and CTO, Mitch Lane, said, “There’s a positive vibe that can be used as a lightning rod to ‘do better’ that prompts an immediate impact on the cannabis industry through technology, social media and weed combined.”
The intention, according to Lane, is to help communities. Though a social platform, DBS finds deserving organizations to provide with sizable donations. Donations can include anything from local community organizations to larger medical research programs and beyond. If an organization needs support, DoBetter wants to help.
In fact, since its launch, the DBS community has contributed to K9’s for Warriors, Brendon Robinson Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, George Floyd Justice Billboard Committee, Colorado Safe Outdoor Spaces and the Little Rock Nine Foundation.
Lane attributes the ability to donate to so many organizations to the DBS community.
Banning Shadow Bans
Lane and Whitney LaNier, co-founder and CEO of DBS, teamed up to devise ways to contribute to the greater good. Understanding the power of immersing technology and social media, Lane and LaNier launched DBS as a social media platform that would allow open and unrestricted cannabis conversations.
In the process, Lane pointed out, DBS would provide an opportunity to those cannabis users to contribute to good causes. But at the same time, the platform would become a safe and fun hub for cannabis while ensuring to have purposeful and acceptable policies that make sure its users understand that hate speech and things in that regard are not allowed in the DBS community.
“We wanted to do something better with our platform,” Lane explained. “We don’t have unclear policies or standards and [in terms of data], we’re not selling off data. We’re also not limiting and censoring content and conversations specifically related to cannabis.”
Co Founder and CTO of DoBetter.social, Mitchell Lane explained how the welcoming cannabis platform stands out from other social media platforms.
As it is, according to Lane, social media platforms are policing content and though cannabis is going mainstream more weed influencers and companies are losing access to accounts they rely on in the sense of engagement, which also includes marketing and advertising.
Shadowbanned restricted or permanently kicked out is devastating after-hours invested hours on content creation. Being deemed or marked under restriction on most platforms is due to cannabis being treated as a “regulated good,” the same as pharmaceutical drugs.
Social media platforms restrict cannabis brands and influencers from sharing or promoting anything that violates its terms of use surrounding cannabis.
But other platforms’ policies or terms of use wording leaves a gray area around content that may be promotional without explicitly selling cannabis marijuana-related or without being explicitly promotional.
“There are many many networks that like to play or target a particular niche within cannabis,” he said. “but I think it’s a misrepresentation of their understanding of the culture. We believe there is a need for a social platform for cannabis. This is where DoBetter.Social comes in.”
As for advertising, LaNier said, it’s not up for conversation. “[Because] we’re not selling data, we don’t have any in terms of advertising,” he added. “We’re not going to throes those in your face.”
How It Works
The Colorado-based social media platform socializes donations through its hub of open conversations without “restrictive or censored” terms of use that other social media platforms have on cannabis.
“I think people [on our platform] realize the connection on social networks could be used suddenly a little differently,” Lane explained. “and a little more valuable than just liking and commenting and things because that’s how a lot of people were staying connected.”
On DoBetter.Social, community members have the ability to earn points through their engagements and posts. The points are then redeemable at local dispensaries, delivery services and even with specific cannabis brands.
Through interactions on DBS, members earn points through posts and engagements that make them eligible for discounts with cannabis retail partners that offer deals and perks. Once registered on the platform, new members earn enough points for their first discount at a dispensary or delivery services in their community. The more donations the users make to a cause more points are earned. A $5 donation saves $30 each month. The money is later donated to foundations and nonprofit organizations in the same community.
“[This] is about participation,” LaNier explained. “and about cannabis, but we also want people to have safe access to cannabis, the best brands at discounted prices, too.”
The DBS community embraces cannabis in a way that provides all with a platform to break societal stereotypes of cannabis and its culture. The meaningful conversations on DoBetter touch on topics like social equity in the cannabis industry, empowering women in cannabis and a wide range of ideas and perspectives on decriminalization and legalization. Not everything is political, as DBS community users use their accounts to share their cannabis lifestyle more openly than ever before without fear of getting kicked off the platform.
“If you don’t have a place to talk about it without getting jumped on…” LaNier said. “This is a good place for that.”
Ultimately, LaNier added, DBS wants to be a source of good in all of the communities across the country and support organizations in great need of funding to move their mission.
“If we don’t help,” LaNier said. “Nobody is going to help and we’re going to start it.”
