This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on March 29, 2013.
Michigan Compassion, launched in January is the state’s only federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated solely to Medical Cannabis Education and Advocacy. The organization is one of only four in the country to be granted this nonprofit status. Michigan Compassion is different from most Medical marijuana organizations because it does not dispense Cannabis and cannot lobby. Its mission is to help the public, patients and healthcare professionals understand what Medical Cannabis is and what conditions can be helped by it.
Michigan Compassion has become the only nonprofit Medical Marijuana organization in the country to receive a “lifetime” grant from Google. The organization’s director, Heidi Parikh says the yearly $240,000 in-kind donation will be used to heighten Michigan Compassion’s profile in search engines and gain it national visibility.
Michigan Compassion currently operates by a volunteer board of directors and is funded through donations, memberships, and in-kind services. It also has planned giving options and corporate sponsorships. The organization has earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, demonstrating its commitment to transparency. It is currently exploring the possibility of opening chapters in other areas of the state.
For more information, visit www.mycompassion.org or call 734-931-0620.