Cannabis Retailer Runs Donation-Based Food Drive

Massachusetts and Connecticut cannabis operators can see how donation-linked raffles are structured for holiday-season community giving.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Philanthropy

Plain cardboard crates of canned food sit on a wooden porch step beside a red brick building under bare autumn trees. — INSA, a Massachusetts cannabis company, runs a food drive through Nov. 23 where donations earn raffle entries and benefit hunger-relief groups in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

INSA, a Massachusetts-based cannabis company, launched a month-long food drive at its retail locations that runs through Nov. 23, with donations benefiting hunger-relief groups across Massachusetts and Connecticut. For operators in cannabis retail, the drive is a donation-linked customer promotion running through late November.

Why it matters

The drive pairs charitable giving with a raffle, giving customers a reason to visit stores during a holiday-season window. Connecting local dispensaries to food banks and shelters is a community-engagement tactic that retailers in regulated industries can use to build goodwill.

The raffle allows up to five entries per person per day, with double entries offered from Nov. 16 through Nov. 18. Donations are split across five beneficiary organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut, with no fundraising total or goal disclosed.

The players

INSA

INSA is a Massachusetts-based cannabis company operating retail dispensaries across Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is a regional hunger-relief organization that distributes food to partner agencies across Western Massachusetts.

My Brother's Table

My Brother's Table is a Lynn, Massachusetts nonprofit that provides meals and food assistance to residents in need.

The details

Customers at INSA retail locations can donate nonperishable food items or cash. Each donation earns raffle entries for baskets of INSA products and branded merchandise. Donations from the Springfield and Easthampton stores go to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, while Avon and Salem dispensary donations support My Brother's Table in Lynn. Hartford and New Haven locations direct donations to Hands On Hartford and Haven's Harvest in Connecticut.

Nov. 16 through Nov. 18: double raffle entries available for donors.
Nov. 23: food drive at retail locations ends.

Market Landscape

Licensed cannabis operators in Massachusetts face strict marketing limits, so charitable promotions are one of the few community-facing tactics available to them. INSA's multi-state food drive extends that approach across the Massachusetts-Connecticut border.

Retailers running promotions should check state advertising and promotion rules before launching donation-linked giveaways. Consult qualified counsel to confirm that raffle structures and charitable tie-ins comply with applicable licensing requirements.

The takeaway

Donation-linked raffles can drive foot traffic while supporting local food banks, but results depend on participation and should be tracked against each store's visit volume. Operators considering similar programs should review licensing and promotion rules with qualified legal counsel before launching.