Empower Women, Period.

According to the ACLU, in 33 states feminine hygiene products are classified as luxury goods and are not exempt from sales tax. In California, we’ve removed this tax, but only until the end of 2021.

Merriam-Webster defines a luxury as “something adding to pleasure or comfort, but not absolutely necessary.” Hmm… something doesn’t sound right here. As women ourselves, we have a hard time considering a tampon as pleasurable as a tropical vacation or a Louis Vuitton bag. We think its safe to say that during that time of the month, having access to feminine hygiene products is one-thousand-percent a necessity.

Look, we get it. No one wants to talk about the natural process that occurs monthly for women. Think about how those women feel who can’t even afford to purchase pads or tampons, even though they are a necessity. Not talking about it is a luxury, and it is important to take this stigma away.

The programs put in place to support women and children (WIC and SNAP), still somehow exclude feminine hygiene products. Not only that, women can actually be prosecuted for trading these credits for necessary period products. Sounds crazy, but also a little familiar. Similarly, there are 36 states that have legalized medicinal cannabis, and 15 states that have legalized recreational cannabis. That means that while in California we are lucky to have an industry where we can legally purchase cannabis products, there are still US citizens in other states that are left out and can go to jail for trying to do the same. Wow.

As an all-women company and members of the cannabis industry since the days when only medicinal weed was legal, we are no strangers to standing up for what we believe in. Whether it’s changing negative mindsets about cannabis or breaking the stigma around periods and women’s issues, we are always up to the challenge. Years ago, we created Mood Magic YK Drops, a sublingual tincture specifically for women. It was and continues to be a groundbreaking product because:

1. It tastes Yummi! (with a natural raspberry flavor)
2. It is meant to normalize daily cannabis use
3. It has a targeted formula of herbs and supplements + 300mg THC
4. It is made specifically to provide relief for PMS

PMS can be a real bummer. Not having access to a healthy, all-natural solution can be too. Not only did Mood Magic generate a buzz for its innovative purpose, it also gained attention because some did not like seeing “PMS” on a box for a cannabis product. Nowadays, after lots of education in our communities, Mood Magic is a top seller and is loved by all genders (it’s beneficial for men too, but that’s another blog post). So, in the same way that we want cannabis equity, we want period equity, and we know that the first step is talking about it.

Help us continue the conversation. If you purchase feminine hygiene products, consider purchasing another box and donating it to someone in need. Chat with your friends about ways to make a change. Share your PMS remedies with your besties. When you shop at a legal dispensary and purchase an eighth of legal, lab-tested, and safe cannabis, think about those who fought and sacrificed so that you could make that purchase. And we’ll make it even easier…

We teamed up with Torrey Holistics for the month of February to get feminine hygiene products into the hands of those who need them the most. Victims of domestic abuse, homelessness, and underserved communities should not have to choose between food or period products, when a period is as natural as a hiccup. Recent times have been hard on all of us, but together we can make a big impact. Not to get too cliché, but have you heard that empowered women (people), empower women (people)? Well, it’s true.

When you visit Torrey Holistics in February 2021, bring a new and unopened feminine hygiene product to donate. To show our gratitude, you’ll get 30% off a Yummi Karma product. Donations are going to WRC SD (Women’s Resource Center), a non profit dedicated to stopping domestic violence and sexual assault. Learn more about what they do and other ways to support women by visiting their website.

So, start a conversation, help those who can’t help themselves, and keep empowering others. Period.

Xoxo,

Yummi Karma

Update: We loved this campaign so much, we decided to keep it going. Check back soon for more details on where we’re running our Empower Women, Period donation drives.

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