Medbox Founder Donates to Charitable Organizations

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Medbox, Inc. (OTC Markets: MDBX) (www.medboxinc.com), a leader in providing industry specific consulting services and patented systems to the medical and retail industries, announced today that Vincent Mehdizadeh, company founder, majority shareholder, and chairman, has made the first of many donations to the Drug Policy Alliance, Americans for Safe Access, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Medbox and its founder support the development of comprehensive and sensible regulations in states that have legalized medical marijuana, and advocates policies that ensure fair access for patients and practical guidelines for providers.

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation's leading organization promoting drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. As the only 4-star charity pursuing medical marijuana reform in the public interest, the DPA was an obvious choice to serve as steward to the bulk of the donated funds. "The DPA has demonstrated it is unmatched in the field when it comes to accountability and financial transparency. It is my ambition to form a lasting relationship with this diverse group of advocates, united in our desire for change," said Mehdizadeh. "The DPA has been particularly effective at exposing and combatting inequity within the justice system. Ensuring that individuals or communities are not targeted along racial lines is a cause near and dear to my heart for many reasons," Mehdizadeh added.

Funds received through Mr. Mehdizadeh's donation will be dedicated to the DPA's work specifically on ending prohibition of medical marijuana to seriously ill people, and allowing research into potential medical benefits of cannabinoids to move forward.

Among the other organizations Medbox and its founder support is ASA – Americans for Safe Access. The ASA is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers by engaging a multifaceted strategy that incorporates public education, impact litigation, grassroots development and advocacy, media campaigns, and direct support services.

"ASA has been fighting for patients' rights to medical cannabis for years and I applaud their efforts in bringing a call-to-action that has led to the momentum shift we now see playing out before our very eyes," Mehdizadeh stated. "We are in an incredible time - where patients are finally being heard and access to whatever treatment a licensed physician deems is most beneficial is being granted without social stigmas or risk of criminal prosecution."

Lastly, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and is a nonprofit medical corporation chartered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations. The mission statement given by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is "to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay." The organization achieves this by increasing and sharing knowledge about their research, advancements, and treatment as well as providing free treatment to any child who has a referral to St. Jude based on the eligibility of partaking in a current treatment study at St. Jude.

The founder has made sizable donations to both DPA and ASA but will also be making ongoing donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As stated in prior releases, Mr. Mehdizadeh will be releasing a book entitled, "Self-Made – How I became a multi-millionaire in the legalized marijuana business without selling marijuana." The book will document Mr. Mehdizadeh's struggles as a young man and will capture every nuance of his difficult journey in becoming a success. All proceeds of the book shall be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"The fact is that while everyone has a past, it's the immediate past, the present, and the future that define us," stated Mr. Mehdizadeh. "I feel like I've lived an entire lifetime of experiences, both good and bad. Donating to a charity like St. Jude allows me to fulfill a need I have to be philanthropic. I truly believe it is my destiny to use my wealth in an altruistic manner."

Mr. Mehdizadeh has a goal of giving over 1 million dollars worth of charitable contributions during the latter part of 2013 and all throughout 2014 to charities he feels are benefiting humankind.

About Medbox, Inc: 

Medbox is a leader in the development, sales and service of automated, biometrically controlled dispensing and storage systems for medicine and merchandise. Medbox has offices throughout the world, including New York, Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, Tokyo, London and Toronto, and has their corporate headquarters in Los Angeles.

Medbox provides their patented systems, software and consulting services to pharmacies, dispensaries, urgent care centers, drug rehab clinics, hospitals, prison systems, hospice facilities, and medical groups worldwide. In addition, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Vaporfection International, Inc. (www.vaporfection.com), the company offers an industry award winning medical vaporizer product.

Medbox, Inc. is a publicly traded company, and is quoted on the OTC Markets, ticker symbol MDBX.

For more information on Medbox, please contact the Medbox Investor Relations Department at (800) 762-1452 or go online to www.medboxinc.com.

SOURCE Medbox, Inc.