The cannabis industry would not be where it is today without the valiant efforts of the LGBTQ+ community. They were some of the earliest and loudest advocates for cannabis reform, championing key pieces of legislation that laid the groundwork to achieve the widespread access we now enjoy. As we celebrate Pride Month, let’s reflect on the LGBTQ+ icons and changemakers we have to thank, and spotlight some of the trailblazers that continue to carry the torch. 

Early Elected Officials

In 1977, Harvey Milk became California’s first openly gay elected official when he won a seat on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors. He championed Proposition W, a 1978 ballot initiative urging the City’s District Attorney to stop arresting people for cannabis offenses. Though the measure passed, it was nonbinding. That, coupled with the assassination of Milk and fellow politician, the Mayor of San Francisco, led to the measure not being implemented by the new administration. His efforts, however, were an undoubtedly crucial step toward broader cannabis reform. 

Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts was the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay in the 1980s. A long-time drug reform advocate, he championed cannabis decriminalization since the 1970s and introduced a 1978 bill to eliminate federal penalties for personal cannabis use. By the time he retired in 2013, Frank had helped end federal bans on medical cannabis interference (through budget amendments) and created greater bipartisan support for legalization. 

Pioneering Medical Cannabis Access: California Prop 215

In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis via The Compassionate Use Act (Prop 215), a landmark piece of legislation that changed the national perception of cannabis and paved the way for other states to follow suit. At the heart of this fight? The AIDS epidemic and activists in San Francisco’s Castro District. 

Individuals suffering from AIDS said they found relief with cannabis – it alleviated nausea, provided pain relief, and helped stimulate appetite – but by consuming risked arrest in pursuit of this comfort. Enter Terrance Alan, Dennis Peron, and Mary Jane Rathbun. 

Dennis Peron is often called the father of medical cannabis. He was working alongside Harvey Milk for cannabis reform long before medical cannabis came to fruition and was a key player in the passage of Prop 215. After losing his partner to AIDS, he and Mary Jane Rathbun founded the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club, an underground medical dispensary that became a hub for terminally ill patients living with AIDS. Located on the same street was Terrance Alan’s Cafe Flore, which became a meeting spot for activists and is believed to be where Peron and Rathbun started to write the legislation for Prop 215. Allegedly dubbed the “gay weed mafia” by the police, they were all arrested for supplying cannabis to patients in need: Alan for growing it; Peron for conspiracy and intent to distribute; and Rathbun, aka “Brownie Mary,” for baking and delivery of cannabis brownies to AIDS patients in the hospital.

Today’s Trailblazers

 November marks the 30 year anniversary of Proposition 215, and while that may seem like a long time ago, many involved in the fight are still alive and continuing the work today – like Paul Scott. He worked alongside Peron and became a leader of the LGBTQ+ and cannabis movements in his own right, ensuring that intersectionality was part of the conversation. He helped found the Los Angeles Black LGBTQ Pride Association and created the first medical cannabis facility in Inglewood to help terminally ill patients through support groups and safe, legal access to cannabis. Today, he continues to advocate for equity for underrepresented people in the industry.

Jay Jackson, better known by her stage name Laganja Estranja, is a musician, choreographer, and activist that entered the mainstream after appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race. She uses her massive platform to advocate for federal legalization and to highlight cannabis as a tool for self-discovery and wellness. She’s hosted several panel discussions at educational institutions and continues to incorporate cannabis into her performance art to destigmatize cannabis use and push for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the industry. 

Jay Jackson, better known by her stage name Laganja Estranja, is a musician, choreographer, and activist that entered the mainstream after appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race. She uses her massive platform to advocate for federal legalization and to highlight cannabis as a tool for self-discovery and wellness. She’s hosted several panel discussions at educational institutions and continues to incorporate cannabis into her performance art to destigmatize cannabis use and push for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the industry. 

Recognized as America’s first “pot governor,” Jared Polis is also the first openly gay man to hold a governor’s office in the United States. Fittingly, that state is Colorado – one of the first to legalize recreational cannabis. While serving as Governor, he’s pardoned thousands of Coloradans previously convicted of low-level cannabis possession and has been outspoken about his support for federal legalization. He also co-founded the Congressional Cannabis Caucus during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives.