SOCIAL IMPACT ORGANIZATION SETS OUT TO IMPACT LIVES

Loriel Alegrete is the CEO and Co-Founder of 40 Tons, a social impact organization that seeks to help those who are incarcerated because of nonviolent cannabis offenses and their families PHOTO PROVIDED BY 40 TONS.
Loriel Alegrete is the CEO and Co-Founder of 40 Tons, a social impact organization that seeks to help those who are incarcerated because of nonviolent cannabis offenses and their families PHOTO PROVIDED BY 40 TONS.

SOCIAL IMPACT ORGANIZATION SETS OUT TO IMPACT LIVES

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Loriel Alegrete, Co- Founder and CEO of 40 Tons Brand,
knows all too well the impact of incarceration because of
cannabis can have on a family.

Alegrete’s husband, 40 Tons COO and Co-Founder, and
their friend, were indicted for selling marijuana without a license. When the sentences were given, Alegrete’s husband received less time than his counterpart . The other Co-Founder received a Life sentence, without possibility of parole, for his involvement.

“The actual newspaper article headline read: African-American Man Sentenced to Life for 40 Tons of Weed. This infuriated me. Just to see that someone Black
was having this unjust thing happen to them,” Alegrete said.

Behind the scenes, for about a decade, Alegrete amplified his story. In the time since the sentences were handed down, marijuana is legal in 20 states and Washington, DC. He recently received clemency. His release and clemency is what started Alegrete’s advocacy work and the founding of 40 Tons.

40 Tons represents the 40,000 Black and Brown people who are currently incarcerated for non-violent cannabis offenses. The goal of the social impact organization is to help stop recidivism, create opportunities and educate the community, all while giving back to the community.

The Give Back Prisoner Program advocates for about a
dozen people who are serving time for non-violent cannabis offenses. 40 Tons also has advocated and secured the release of someone who was sentenced to 22 years for operating a dispensary without a license. He served 15 years before his release.

Also, part of the Prisoner Give Back Program is the sale of
t-shirts with the prisoners faces on them, along with their story.The purchase of a t-shirt goes back to that incarcerated person’s commissary. It is a way of giving relief to the families, as it takes away some of the worry of providing additional funds for their loved ones to eat or toiletries.

In 2020, Alegrete founded the 40 Tons Foundation, which is geared toward families who are system impacted. The foundation provides Christmas gifts to children whose parents are incarcerated for a non-violent cannabis
offense. It is something that is near and dear to Alegrete’s heart, because ,when her husband went to prison,
she had to take care of her family.

“It wasn’t that long ago when I was just in those women’s shoes. I didn’t know if I could keep the lights on, let alone provide Christmas gifts for the children and my husband had to go and do his time,” she said.

Alegrete said every part of the family is system impacted when someone is incarcerated, whether it is the person who is incarcerated or the family supporting someone who is incarcerated.

 For Alegrete, this work is infused in every aspect of her life. Alegrete wants people to know that her and the 40 Tons Team is there for people who are incarcerated and their families. 40 Tons has a letter writing campaign so that people in jail can receive positive letters. She said while it is a minimal act, with minimal cost and minimal time, it makes a big impact.

For more information, visit 40tons.co.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.