Cannabis legalization and queer rights have long been intertwined in this nation’s history. As the country was in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis, members of the cannabis community were working tirelessly to provide those suffering with a bit of relief through medical marijuana — all while both sides of the fight were stigmatized, demonized, and isolated.
We’ve seen major strides in the country both on the fronts of queer rights and cannabis legalization. And, while representation still may not be where it should be, there are more queer-owned cannabis brands on the market today than ever before.
So, let’s give these LGBTQIA+-owned brands some recognition and support by kicking off pride the right way.
The next time you’re headed into a local dispensary or shopping for CBD online, check out these queer-owned cannabis brands and the beneficial products they produce.
Cann
Cann is a queer-owned cannabis company that’s taking the edible world (or should we say “drinkable”?) by storm.
Offering a line of CBD and THC-infused Cann is a cannabis beverage company that aims to avoid hangovers while still helping you feel social, energized, and comfortable after a few sips.
These infused beverages come in various unique flavors including Grapefruit Rosemary and Lemon Lavender.
Founders Jake Bullock and Luke Anderson are both queer men who understand the implications that the cannabis industry has had on the LGBTQIA+ community. That’s why they’re working to reverse the harms that the War on Drugs has caused, while simultaneously embracing queer acceptance in the world of weed.
Sundae School
Sundae School is a cannabis company comprised of LGBTQIA+, immigrants, and POC members, aiming to make cannabis more inclusive.
The brand’s motto is “community and culture first,” and Sundae School encompasses this by donating portions of its brands’ funds to minority-owned businesses, while also supporting equity-owned California flower businesses and single-parent garment companies in Korea.
Whether you’re interested in Mochi gummies or potent pre-roll packs, Sundae School offers high-quality products unlike anything you’ve tried before.
With the brand’s unique Korean-inspired influence mixed with CA street culture, Sundae School has managed to create a brand that stands out far from the rest.
If you’re lucky enough to be in California, you can check out this queer-owned brand yourself.
Brown Sugar Botanicals
If you’re looking for a high-quality CBD brand with great values, Brown Sugar Botanicals is the company for you.
Brown Sugar Botanicals works exclusively with LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and women-owned farms to source their hemp, all while using their profits to support the city of Oakland and its communities.
Brown Sugar Botanicals stands by creating diasporic healing for modern lifestyles through the use of plant-based products like CBD.
The brand may be somewhat small, but it’s just getting started. Brown Sugar Botanicals offers CBD products that adhere to federal guidelines, so you can buy them all over the US and have them shipped right to you.
Stone Road
Pride joints? Yes, please. Stone Road is a queer-owned and operated California cannabis brand that’s all about “believing in what nature has provided us.”
Stone Road has some of the purest, most ethical, and most sustainable growing and production processes on the market. (Truly, how they operate is how every cannabis brand should strive to.)
They utilize their family-run biodynamic farm and avoid absolutely any synthetic additives. Stone Road’s packaging is also 99% recyclable, while every product is triple-checked for perfection.
This year, Stone Road announced they would bringing back their popular line of pride joints in June, introducing six limited-edition options.
If you’re in California, this queer-owned cannabis brand is one to check out — especially this Pride month.
Ziggy’s Naturals
Ziggy’s Naturals is a CBD brand dedicated to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights.
While we’re not sure if this brand is queer-owned, it is trans-owned and operated. Jordyn and Marc Pollack are the co-founders of this diverse cannabis brand, with Marc being Jordyn’s father.
As a trans man, Jordyn is dedicated to bringing LGBTQIA+ representation to the cannabis community, being keenly aware of how much these products can help this population specifically.
Ziggy’s Naturals offers a wide range of CBD products that are perfect for consumers seeking relief but wanting to avoid strong psychoactive results. (Though, they do offer delta-8 THC products if you’re into that sort of experience.)
As a federally legal cannabinoid, you can have Ziggy’s Naturals shipped to most states in the country, making it a great brand to support any time of year, not just this June.
Supporting Queer-Owned Cannabis Brands — Not Just During Pride
These five brands are just a handful of the queer-owned cannabis brands you can support. While supporting these kinds of businesses during the month of June is great, it’s important to keep up this excitement for diversity in the cannabis sphere far beyond Pride.
As an industry that’s only just now beginning to become more inclusive, representation and support are more important now than ever.
Whether you’re looking for queer-owned, BIPOC-owned, or women-owned cannabis brands or dispensaries, they’re out there. You just have to look.
Click here to read more about the history of cannabis and pride.
Ready to have your local dispensaries embrace diversity? Click here to read more on how you can make a difference in your community.
