// Definition
The compassionate care model established by Valerie Corral through WAMM (Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana) in Santa Cruz, CA, where patients contribute to growing, processing, or harvesting cannabis as part of a cooperative community rather than a commercial transaction. This model served as the template for subsequent dispensary collectives and co-ops, including Berkeley Patients Group.
// From the Episode
When the DEA raided WAMM, community members physically blocked the roads. Etienne Fontan credits Valerie's model as the direct inspiration for his series of collectives and co-ops. Valerie emphasized that medical cannabis success was built by the strength of community, not individuals. She warned about pharmaceuticalization of cannabis removing the practitioner-patient relationship and making community-based medicine into 'practicing medicine without a license.' WAMM later became one of the first Beneficial Corporations (B Corps) in cannabis.
// Source
Ep. 175 HC 4.0 Ep 6 →