queer history month

to celebrate queer history month, we want to honor four figures that fall under the intersection of queer and cannabis histories: Brownie Mary, Dennis Peron, Harvey Milk, and Paul Scott.

Mary Jane Rathbun (b. 1922), known as Brownie Mary, got her nickname by baking and distributing cannabis infused brownies to HIV/AIDS patients. At one point she was baking 50 dozen brownies a day. She was arrested several time but persisted because she saw the therapeutic benefits it offered the patients. Brownie Mary's compassion helped pave the way for cannabis legalization.

Dennis Peron (b.1945), known as the Godfather of Cannabis, was one of the most prominent queer activists in legalization. Peron began selling cannabis at his store in San Francisco and began to see how it helped AIDS patients, including his partner. In 1991 he started the SF Cannabis Buyers Club, the first public cannabis dispensary. In 1996 he cowrote California Prop 215, which would legalize the use of medical marijuana.

Harvey Milk (b. 1930) was the first openly gay elected official in the U.S. and a strong advocate for cannabis legalization. In 1978, San Francisco voters approved a progressive initiative to end cannabis arrests, a reflection of Milk's influence. Tragically, Milk was assassinated before the initiative could become law. Harvey Milk's legacy shows a commitment to ethical convictions rather than rigid party ideology.

Paul Scott (b. 1963) worked as a nurse in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic and wanted to help those who were chronically ill. Scott would go on to become Chairman of the Board for the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club. He moved to LA where he served as Commissioner for HIV/AIDS. Scott founded the Inglewood Wellness Center, offering alternative treatments, including marijuana to help combat the harsh side effects of HIV/AIDS medications.

To read more about the contemporary intersection of queerness and cannabis, we recommend you check out this article!

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