Across North America, the charity “run” tradition—poker runs, memorial rides, benefit cruises, and rally-week fundraising loops—remains one of motorcycling’s most reliable ways to turn miles into meaningful dollars. What’s changed in recent years is who shows up on the sponsor banner. In legal markets, cannabis brands and dispensaries increasingly sponsor rider check-in stations, donate raffle items, or underwrite event costs so more registration money can flow directly to the cause. That support is especially visible at grassroots charity runs, where local businesses have outsized impact on the final donation total.

Here are several standout examples where cannabis businesses are publicly listed as sponsors or event partners.

Unleashed Poker Run (Northern Oklahoma Humane Society) — animal welfare fundraising

Community-based poker runs are a natural fit for humane societies, which often rely on events rather than large institutional grants. Northern Oklahoma Humane Society has publicly highlighted Chronic Co Dispensary as a presenting sponsor for its “Unleashed Poker Run,” reflecting support between cannabis retail and a motorcycle-style poker-run fundraiser.

Run-A-Mucca (Winnemucca, Nevada) — rally-week poker run with dispensary sponsorship

Not every “run” lives on a nonprofit website—many are embedded inside rally programming. Run-A-Mucca’s sponsor roster lists Smoke Mountain Dispensary among event supporters, tying a licensed cannabis business to a motorcycle event that includes a poker run. These rally-week poker runs commonly funnel proceeds into local community efforts, club charities, or designated beneficiaries, depending on the year’s organizing committee.

Bullhead River Run / River-run rally programming — dispensary sponsorship in Arizona’s Colorado River corridor

Regional river-run rallies often blend poker-run style riding with benefit fundraising and vendor support. A public event post for the Bullhead River Run thanks Mohave Cannabis Co. and Debbie’s Dispensary for sponsoring the rally—an example of cannabis brands backing a motorcycle-run weekend that typically relies on sponsorship dollars to keep registration fees accessible.

Charity rides that maximize donations by covering overhead

Many of the best charity rides share the same financial philosophy: sponsors cover the “put-on-the-event” costs so the rider’s entry fee can go to the mission. Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s charity-ride model is a prominent example of this approach, noting that sponsorship helps enable full donation of rider fees and documenting millions raised across its charity ride ecosystem over the years.

What makes these runs worth highlighting

• Sponsor transparency: The strongest events clearly list sponsors or publish thank-yous that can be verified.
• High participation formats: Poker runs and rally-week rides scale well—more riders usually means more hands played, more raffle tickets sold, and larger donations.
• Community-first branding: Cannabis sponsors tend to gain trust fastest when their support is about services and beneficiaries—not consumption culture.

One final note every responsible organizer repeats: whatever the sponsor banner says, riding requires clear-headed decision-making. The modern charity-run scene is strongest when it’s safe, welcoming, and built around the cause—not impairment.

Learn More: Creating Change Through Cannabis and Charitable Collaboration