Groundworks Industries’ mission statement is to “redefine progressive cannabis culture by powering the most thoughtful and engaged brands in this industry”, and one of the company’s main directions is transforming the perception of the industry.
Spencer Noecker believes in the company’s mission and has urged GW employees to play an active role in developing the laws and rules that govern the legal cannabis industry, as well as advocating for changes in the state’s criminal laws once marijuana was legalized. Among the projects Groundworks has lobbied in support of include reducing or eliminating cannabis-related crimes, as well as making cannabis possession and related crimes eligible for expungement. The company is a founding member of the Oregon Cannabis Association (OCA).
In partnership with OCA and the Multnomah Public Defenders Office, Spencer Noecker and Groundworks has provided both financial and staff support to OCA’s expungement clinics, helping those looking to clear their record free of charge. Members of the GW Human Resources team were also on hand, to take resumes and offer job finding tips to those who participated.
Following the recent demonstrations, Groundworks and Spencer Noecker redoubled their commitment to help. Allying with groups like the Nu Leaf Project, the company was part of the effort convincing the city of Portland to disinvest city cannabis tax dollars in police, and is working to ensure those dollars are targeted in ways that provide direct help to impacted communities and people. Currently the company is working alongside many of those same groups, as well as local legislators to promote legislation to establish a state cannabis social equity program.
Additionally, through its PAC, the company has long supported legislators and elected officials dedicated to establishing a strong, reliable legal cannabis system, and reforming criminal laws that have been unfairly used to target communities of color.