Better check your local laws first. I'm fairly sure that in non-medical states even
giving cannabis away can be considered "distribution" . If LEO really wanted to, they could charge you with distribution just for passing a joint to a friend. You're already sticking your neck out pretty far just by growing, IMHO. Grow enough for yourself and your friends, making sure they don't know where it comes from
unless you're 100% sure your pals aren't of the sort that will hand you over to the fuzz for a potential "deal" (which they'll never get with a possession charge, when the most common punishment is a slap on the wrist to begin with!).
I've been arrested for possession a few times, and it always cracks me up when they bring in that one guy who tries to get you to tell him where you got your stash. I tell him the cannabis fairy left it under my pillow =) It's hard to imagine anyone ratting out their dealer over something as trivial as a marijuana possession charge, but I'm sure it happens. LEO can be intimidating, especially to someone with little knowledge of the law and no experience navigating our lovely legal system.
Anyway, I can see where you're coming from. You have this surplus and you'd like it to go to good use. You want to help people, and that's admirable. Just keep in mind that it's people like yourself who usually end up in hot water while the bad guys get a free pass.