Lakewood, Colorado (CNN) - When the earthquake hit Japan, Shaun Gindi knew he wanted to help.
"I couldn't believe the devastation. I watched everything get wiped away. Their whole lives were gone," he said. "There was a moment where I started looking at ways to fly over there, ways to somehow get there to help out."
Gindi knows nothing about search and rescue, so he soon abandoned that plan. But he is an expert in one area: medical marijuana.
He runs two dispensaries in the Denver area called Compassionate Pain Management. They legally sell marijuana to patients who have received a recommendation from a doctor.
He floated the idea of raising money for Japan on his dispensary’s Facebook page and got a dozen "likes" right away. He knew immediately that he could use his dispensary to raise money. Thus was born "Joints for Japan."
"What we're going to do is take all the revenue from the hand-rolled medicine, 100% of it, from this weekend and potentially for the next few weeks … and we're going to donate it to the Red Cross," Gindi said.
"Hand-rolled medicine" is medical marijuana-speak for a joint, or a marijuana cigarette. They contain half of a gram of marijuana and are the most popular item in the store. At $5 each, Gindi says, they sell thousands a month.
"We get a lot of people who just come in for these," Gindi said.
The most difficult part of the endeavor has been coming up with the fundraiser's name. Gindi’s business is legal under Colorado law. He pays taxes and has 18 full-time employees. But the industry still struggles for respectability.
With that in mind, Gindi rejected contenders such as "Bake for the Quake" and "Joint Relief."
Gindi hopes his fundraising efforts help bring a bit more respectability to the medical marijuana industry. But ultimately, it is the people of Japan he truly hopes to help.
"In Japan every day, the number of lives lost jumps up. Whatever we can do to help out, we’d like to do."
I like weed........ Alot.......
@shane. That is by far the funniest comment to grace these boards in weeks, thank you.
@shane. I have smoked weed for 14 years or more and have never done hard drugs. Its a myth. Plus no one calls weed dope. Dope is heroin. Try smoking you might like it.
...Shane, you do realize that weed is called weed because it's made from the marijuana plant, right? And that heroin is made from morphine, which is made from opium poppies, which are a COMPLETELY different plant than marijuana, right?
Because I think you've just lost this argument.
Ha wow shane is a moron!
@Shane - Just who has been smoking Mary lately here ? I think it has been you cause that was one stoned a$$ comment.
Shane = King Troll...I salute u, Sir!
me, too. GOOD LORD! Those aren't FILTERS on those, are they??? Shaun, why filters??
Er'y day!
Joints for America? Is this what we have to offer a nation in trouble? Is this what we have come to?
@Concerned No you incompetent fool. This is what a dispensary owner is doing. He is raising money through his business. Pretty good idea. I'm worried that there are so many morons like you out there.
I do'nt see a problem with this. Why ca'nt Big Tobacco reach in their purse?
He-ll ya!! Good point !!!
1) We have wallets not purses, 'lil lady.
2) How do you know we haven't given any help?
I'm not sure where I even want to begin with this one...so I think I'll just say...wow. Just...wow.
Wow good, or wow bad ?
Uhh.. It's actually really not that big of a deal dude... All the power to this guy in Colorado. Reform the archaic marijuana policy in this country please.
Good point, CS.
Thank you.
why not send them the joints. probably would want that more.
The gift that keeps on giving...nice.
Pot helps the people, helps the economy, and humans in crisis around the world. IS this why it is illegal?
Because anything thats good in this world cant possibly be legal. It would make to much sense.
@MN Tom-shortage of drinkable water for the inevitable cottonmouth.
...can't we just legalize it already...
would it make things worse?! the irrationals have had their day, now its our time...
Im from pa and wish i could give you money for your medicine.
If they want to take this international, I know just the right spokesperson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM3RAn1-4rs
Do not look a gift horse in the mouth. When the stippers in Montreal donate all of their earning of the day to AIDS or breast cancer, it is appreciated.
Next charity drive, moon shine for Tibet.
Good for you Shaun, if only more people understood that ignorance is not bliss.