We believe that CANNABIS IS MEDICINE. While most cannabis dispensaries offer discounts to low-income patients, 20% off our purchases does not help those who cannot afford the other 80%. This means that many terminal Stage IV cancer patients are going without cannabis at a time they most desperately need these medicinal products. M44 will partner with corporate sponsors from the CANNABIS INDUSTRY to help Stage IV cancer patients without financial means obtain cannabis products proven to help with pain, nausea, lack of appetite, poor sleep, anxiety, and… MORE. Pre-launch activities begin in early 2026, with formal launch of our Pilot Project on April 20th — otherwise known as 420! All surplus sponsorship dollars, after expenses, are funneled to the M44 Rapid Relief Fund.

CannaCares will partner with JEDI Action as relates to governmental policy (i.e., classification, legalization, and access) and critically-needed (but hampered) research about the medicinal benefits for cancer patients — including potential anti-tumor properties of cannabis. Likewise, the program will work in conjunction with MoreCorps, offering educational programs about the benefits of cannabis, dosing and delivery mechanisms, and, even, cooking with it beyond edibles alone. In all, we expect that we will eventually have the single largest database of Stage IV cancer patients who use cannabis in the United States (including those who do not receive CannaCares product support), and why. Therefore, we anticipate conducting member surveys and other valuable research (in partnership with cannabis researchers) in the future.

Rapid Response includes two components: Our unique, emergency financial assistance Rapid Relief Fund for low-income Stage IV cancer patients AND a person-centered Social Work TRIAGE team. We will provide financial support quickly, and at higher levels than found among other patient assistance programs (which are virtually non-existent in the scheme of things for most of us) — such as multi-month Bridge Support while a person waits for approval of their SSDI benefits and for monthly checks to start arriving. Coming in late 2026!

Members can sign-up for our Wait List right now by filling out a Needs Survey.

As M44 supports the entire Stage IV community, our membership program, MoreCorps, will focus on broader community engagement and support. MoreCorps will provide educational programs as well as special online events for our membership. As this program is BY and FOR our community, members will contribute to specific programmatic offerings. This includes both support and interest groups, possible classes, local community-led M44 Chapters, and MORE. Pre-registration for our first five “Cancer… AND” Support Groups is open now.

In a few years, we will introduce MoreCorps PLUS — a paid membership level that offers members special “perks” like coupons and special discounts provided by corporate sponsors, as well as exclusive events and discounted ticket pricing for programs available to the general public. As with CannaCares and PATIENTLY, surplus sponsorship dollars support the Rapid Relief Fund.

M44 Local Chapters will be member-led and offer in-person support and friendship. It is an extension of the MoreCorps online community, moving connection into “the real-world” in the form of social gatherings and helping each other when physical assistance, like a ride home after a procedure requiring sedation, is needed.

JEDI Action (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) is M44’s social justice arm. We will partner with like-minded 501(c)(3) organizations to focus on issues such as health justice, affordable housing, cancer research funding, cannabis as medicine, intersectionality and disparities, systems change, and civil and human rights. JEDI Action will involve petition drives, letters to the editor, our Speakers Guild, offering testimony before lawmakers, the PATIENTLY blog series and podcast, and making LOTS of noise on social media about systemic injustices and policy failures. 

In addition to PAID opportunities for Expert Patients under PATIENTLY (and in connection to the IMAGINE — Stage4 JobCorps), we will establish a JEDI Action Advocate Support Fund to help member advocates engage in social justice work. While this COULD include financial help to attend cancer conferences, the focus of JEDI Action is wider than that. Assistance will be offered for travel and lodging, childcare, food, ground transit, etc. for eligible advocacy activities.

PATIENTLY… LIVES at the intersection of several M44 programs: MoreCorps, JEDI Action, Rapid Response, CannaCares, and our IMAGINE – Stage4 JobCorps.

Broadly, programming will involve M44’s new blog series, podcast, special online events (like panel discussions and webinars), and our Stage IV Cancer Patient Speakers Guild. EXPERT PATIENTS will be COMPENSATED. Rates will vary depending on the type of activity/contribution, and an advocate’s level of knowledge and expertise. PATIENTLY is formally housed under JEDI Action, but activities involve all M44 programs.

Surplus sponsorship dollars support the Rapid Relief Fund.

One of the most pressing needs for persons with Stage IV cancers is stable, affordable housing. While some patients can get modest help with one-time-only rental assistance, which rarely pays the entire cost of rent for a month and is typically only available once in a 12-month period through other programs, permanent solutions are needed for those experiencing persistent housing insecurity. From house-sharing and a nationwide apartment program to building tiny home communities… M44 will tackle this problem head-on. And our Social Work TRIAGE Team will offer wraparound support services for all M44 residents.

We will count on real estate donations to bring this program to fruition. Some donated properties may be perfect for direct cancer patient housing. Property not suitable for M44 members (i.e., condition of the property, accessibility issues, no nearby cancer treatment centers, etc.) will be sold, enabling purchase of real estate that better meets the needs of our Stage IV community. We do not expect HomeMatters to launch until at least 2027. However, if M44 receives property donations sooner, we will quickly welcome our first residents — HOME. 

Residents will pay subsidized rent at only 30-40% of their monthly income. This will be possible because of HOW we intend to acquire properties (and operating without mortgages). Rental payments help to pay the cost of running the program and TRIAGE Social Worker salaries, as well as insurance coverage and maintenance. The program will become self-sustaining in this way.

IMAGINE is our human resources department—with a twist. Many people with Stage IV cancer have difficulty securing and maintaining employment. With great intention, we will create employment opportunities for individuals who live with Stage IV cancer that are customized to their talents and interests while accommodating medical appointment schedules, side effect management, and expected days where staff does not feel well enough to work. This effort will include creative job sharing frameworks, many part-time and project-based roles, and a way SSDI recipients can work some hours each week or month to supplement their monthly income. Later, we will expand IMAGINE to also help individuals find paid employment outside of what is available at M44 alone. (Candidates without cancer are always welcome to apply, but we value lived experience as a cancer patient or care partner and some positions will require it.)

We are currently fielding interest for several positions.

The M44 Legacy Store will involve furniture and other household item donations collected and then given to Stage IV cancer patients in need. As a social enterprise, the Legacy Store will later move into large-scale re-use and salvage activities, and will sell surplus inventory to the general public. The program will require storage warehouses, which are not on tap until at least 2028. Until then, M44 will not accept household item donations at scale. However, if we know someone needs certain items, we WILL reach out to the M44 community to secure donations to satisfy that individual’s needs. This would be part of our Rapid Response programming and associated Calls to Action.