To kick off the beginning of PRIDE month, Chicago-based firm High-minded Events held the second annual Higher Love event in an effort to highlight brands, discover new opportunities and network with other cannabis fans in the area.
Over 100 people gathered at the Palmhouse in Evanston on June 1 to celebrate the beginning of PRIDE month, where High-minded Events hired freelance budtenders to share products with guests. The event was hosted by Bambi Banks Coulee with performances from Khloe Coulee and Kenzie Coulee. The event ended with a performance by Denali Foxx, one of Chicago’s top drag queens who was featured on the 13th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
High-minded Events is a cannabis event and hospitality firm and is the first business of its kind in Illinois, where founder Phil Cooper and his business partners put their years of experience in the hospitality and events pace to create safe spaces to consume and celebrate cannabis. Cooper and his partner developed their own ServSafe course specifically for cannabis that teaches budtenders how to identify and address overconsumption, among other topics.
“I started this company because I believe in cannabis and I believe that events play a powerful role in changing people’s ideas of what cannabis is,” Cooper said. “If we can design an experience that’s approachable and elegant and even educational, then we can change people’s minds.”
Vendors at the event included Chill Haus, a social club for cannabis consumption and Aeriz, an aeroponic company that grows cannabis above ground and with the roots exposed. High-minded Events also provided various high-end cannabis consumption devices.
Other cannabis brands and companies are getting into the PRIDE spirit by launching limited-edition products to celebrate. Cannabis seltzer brand LEVIA launched a limited-edition PRIDE offering that features artwork from Hailey Bonia of Flourish Artistic Services that depicts planet Earth being “hugged” by the PRIDE flag. LEVIA also donated $5,000 to Massachusetts’ Transgender Emergency Fund during their Trans Pride: A Celebration of Liberation event that took place June 4th at Boston’s City Hall.
“It’s important for all individuals to feel accepted and included by our brand,” said Kristin Rogers, Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at LEVIA, “PRIDE is all about celebration and whether you’re experiencing it out with friends or enjoying a backyard porch hang, we hope LEVIA’s PRIDE edition accompanies your celebratory efforts.”
Weedmaps partnered with queer-founded cannabis beverage company Cann to celebrate PRIDE with a campaign that features its first-ever original song and music video for “Taste So Good,” an anthem focuses on radical inclusivity. The song and video feature a star-studded cast including Gus Kenworthy, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Hayley Kiyoko, Vincint and Patricia Arquette, LGBTQIA+ ally and co-founder of cannabis consumption lounge Fantom Flower. Joining the cast include the top drag performers from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 Kornbread, Kerri Colby, Jorgeous, as well as recent winner, Willow Pill.
“The LGBTQ+ community has been at the forefront of many significant moments in history that have brought the cannabis industry to where it is today, and with our mission to promote inclusivity within the cannabis economy, it was a natural decision to collaborate with Cann on this pride campaign,” said Juanjo Feijoo, CMO of Weedmaps. “We share a similar vision and understand the importance of standing up for this community to ensure everyone feels welcome and accepted in the cannabis industry and empowered to grow their business. We’re excited to rally behind bold and impactful LGBTQ+ voices and advocates in an effort to further support and provide opportunity to this important community.”
Cannabis and the LGBTIA+ community have a storied history together, with activists such as Dennis Peron, who was openly gay, advocating for cannabis legalization to help those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
