This June is Pride Month 2022, a global celebration of freedom, civil liberty, and self-expression. And cannabis with these LGBTQ Brands!
Wait, really?
It’s true: Especially here in California, the story of legal cannabis is an LGBTQ story, too. From trailblazers such as Harvey Milk, Dennis Peron, and Mary “Brownie Mary” Rathbun to the truly inspiring LGBTQ-owned businesses we’ll share with you in a moment, there’s no doubt that without the LGBT community, the cannabis landscape of today would be a far less exciting place.
In today’s post, we’ll honor those early pioneers as well as introduce you to a few of the LGBTQ brands we’re proud to support and carry.
Pride Month 2022: The Legacies of Harvey Milk, Dennis Peron, and “Brownie Mary”
As one of America’s first out elected officials, San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk was a trailblazer in many regards. And one of his lesser-known political stances was his early support of Proposition W, a policy paper urging the City to stop prosecuting those caught growing, selling, and using cannabis.
Milk was tragically assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone in 1978. But his legacy lives on today in California’s game-changing acceptance of medical and adult-use cannabis.
One of Milk’s friends and associates was Dennis Peron. A longtime resident of The Castro, Peron began his cannabis activism in the ‘70s by holding “smoke-ins” at his commune. But it was the loss of his longtime partner to AIDS that catalyzed Peron’s political activism. Recognizing that the federal government was avoiding the AIDS crisis, Peron laid the political groundwork that culminated in the approval of medical cannabis bill Proposition 215 in 1996. Today, he’s known as “The Father of Medical Cannabis.”
Along with Peron and other LGBTQ activists, Mary “Brownie Mary” Rathbun founded California’s first medical cannabis dispensary, the San Francisco Buyers Club. As a hospital volunteer, Rathbun picked up her nickname for bringing homemade cannabis-infused brownies to AIDS patients.
After several high-profile arrests, the City eventually gave Rathbun permission to continue distributing her donations to those in need. And her work inspired researchers to launch clinical trials to quantify the effects of cannabinoids like THC and CBD in relieving the suffering associated with HIV/AIDS and other serious diseases.
Pride Month 2022: Some of Our Favorite LGBT Brands
Under the leadership of founder Lex Corwin, this LA-based LGBTQ brand focuses on outrageously beautiful pre-rolled joints. We dare you to take a peek at Stone Road’s Instagram feed and not fall in love with their “come as you are” aesthetic.
Famous for their flavorful gummies and hipster-Scandinavian packaging, Wyld’s flavorful gummies and rich chocolates have taken the edibles market by storm (as has its shoot-from-the-hip founder, Aaron Morris).
Plus is another edibles powerhouse offering a line of delicious gummies made with all natural colors and flavors, along with custom terpene blends to customize and enhance effects. In addition to being a generous supporter of various LGBTQ charities and nonprofits, PLUS offers its best-selling limited edition PLUS Pride Rainbow Sherbert gummies. Don’t miss them!
LGBTQ Brands in Cannabis: Wrapping Up
If you can’t tell, we’re thrilled to be able to offer products from these exceptional LGBTQ-owned businesses. Savor them this Pride Month 2022—and any other time you feel like loving yourself just the way you are!
Stop by the dispensary any time during Pride Month 2022 to see what we have in store for you, or browse our online menu from the comfort of your home. We look forward to serving you!
