This November, nuEra Cannabis is doing more than serving great products. We’re standing behind someone who needs our support. From November 12 through November 30, nuEra dispensaries across Illinois are collecting donations at the point of sale to benefit an employee from our Ieso Cannabis cultivation center who is currently undergoing pancreatic cancer treatment.
This fundraiser is personal. It’s a chance for our team, our customers, and our cultivator and brand partners to come together for a real person in the cannabis community who is fighting one of the most challenging diagnoses anyone can face.
What Is Pancreatic Cancer, and Why Does Awareness Matter?
Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. It carries a five-year survival rate of just 13%, largely because it’s rarely caught in its early stages. Symptoms are often subtle or mistaken for other conditions, which means most diagnoses happen after the disease has already advanced.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and November 19 is recognized worldwide as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day. These observances exist to push for earlier detection, better research funding, and stronger support for patients and families navigating treatment.
At nuEra, we believe dispensaries can be more than retail stores. They can be community hubs. This fundraiser reflects that belief, and it’s part of a broader commitment we hold year-round. Through our Corporate Social Responsibility program, nuEra raises money and awareness for meaningful causes each year, because we think the cannabis industry has a real role to play in the communities it serves.
How the nuEra Fundraiser Works
There are two ways your November purchases at nuEra will contribute to this cause.
Ongoing Donations at the Register (November 12-30)
At every nuEra dispensary in Illinois, you can add a donation at the point of sale during checkout from November 12 through November 30. Every dollar collected goes directly to support the former Ieso employee receiving treatment. No minimums, no complicated steps. Just a simple way to give a little extra at the counter.
5% of Sales on Participating Products (November 19-22)
From November 19 through November 22, 5% of sales from Ieso Cannabis products and other participating cultivator brands will be contributed to the fund. We’re proud to have cultivator partners stepping up alongside us to make this effort bigger than any one company.
If you’ve been looking for a reason to try something new from the shelves, this weekend is a great time to do it.
Why November 19 Matters
World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day falls on November 19 every year. It’s a globally recognized moment to raise visibility for a disease that doesn’t get nearly enough attention relative to how deadly it is. Wearing purple, sharing information, and supporting those in treatment are all ways people mark the day.
For nuEra, November 19 is also the start of our highest-impact giving window, when the 5% sales contribution kicks in alongside the ongoing donation drive. Shopping with us that week means your purchase is doing double duty.
Participating nuEra Dispensary Locations
All nine nuEra Cannabis dispensaries in Illinois are participating in this fundraiser. Whether you’re in the Chicago area, out near the Iowa border, or anywhere across Central Illinois, there’s a nuEra location close to you where your visit can make a difference.
nuEra Participating Locations:
- In the Chicago area: nuEra Chicago Dispensary and nuEra Chicago Southland Dispensary
- In the Fox Valley: nuEra Aurora Dispensary
- In Central Illinois: nuEra Champaign Dispensary, nuEra Urbana Dispensary, nuEra East Peoria Dispensary, nuEra Pekin Dispensary, and nuEra DeKalb Dispensary
- Near the Iowa border: nuEra East Dubuque Dispensary
Stop in, shop, and ask your budtender about the fundraiser. They’ll walk you through how to add a donation or point you toward participating products. Shop in-house brands nuEra, Alchemy, Midweek Friday, Interstate 420.
The Cannabis Community Takes Care of Its Own
The cannabis industry in Illinois is still relatively young, but the relationships within it run deep. Cultivators, growers, processors, salespeople, dispensary teams, advocates, and customers have built something real here, and when one of our own faces a serious health crisis, we show up.
Ieso Cannabis has been a valued partner in the Illinois cannabis community, and their employee’s diagnosis has moved a lot of people to want to help. This fundraiser is the result of that impulse, channeled into something tangible.
Giving back is something nuEra takes seriously every year. You can learn more about how we support our communities through our Corporate Social Responsibility page. If you’ve ever felt like your purchase could mean more, this November is your chance to make that true.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the nuEra pancreatic cancer fundraiser run?
Donations can be collected at the register at all nuEra Illinois dispensaries from November 12 through November 30. The 5% sales contribution on Ieso and other participating cultivator products runs from November 19 through November 22.
Where do the funds go?
All funds raised go directly to support a former Ieso Cannabis employee who is currently undergoing pancreatic cancer treatment.
Which products qualify for the 5% sales contribution?
Ieso Cannabis products and other participating cultivator brands qualify during November 19-22. Ask a nuEra budtender in-store for the current list of participating products.
Do I have to buy a specific product to contribute?
No. You can add a donation at the point of sale during any purchase at a nuEra dispensary from November 12 through November 30, regardless of what you buy.
Why is November 19 significant?
November 19 is World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day, a globally recognized observance dedicated to raising awareness and support for those affected by pancreatic cancer.
Are all nuEra locations participating?
Yes. All nine nuEra Cannabis dispensaries in Illinois are participating in the fundraiser.
Can I contribute if I’m a medical cannabis patient?
Absolutely. Any customer, recreational or medical, can add a donation at the register during checkout.
Does nuEra support other causes throughout the year?
Yes. nuEra runs community-focused fundraisers and awareness campaigns on an ongoing basis. You can learn more about those efforts on our Corporate Social Responsibility page.