Pride and Cannabis

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]I[/dropcap]t’s that time of year again—rainbow flags are flying and love is in the air while inclusive, raging parties are happening across the world. It’s Pride season once again, and even if you aren’t a member of the LGBTQ community, it’s still the perfect time to show solidarity with those who are.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Pride and cannabis together, especially in states that allow cannabis. In a lot of bigger cities with a saturation of cannabis and dispensaries, cannabis professionals sponsor Pride, showing up with floats and booths to help spread the word about the acceptance that goes hand-in-hand with cannabis culture. Local businesses host Pride specials and give discounts to those celebrating.

But at the heart of it, sponsorships from liquor and cannabis companies aren’t what Pride is all about. Just like people who love cannabis, the LGBTQ community loves to party, but the community has also undeniably faced a lot of oppression over the years. And more so than sharing a love of entrepreneurship or catching a good buzz, cannabis activists and queer people share a passion for making positive social change.

Despite the challenges being imposed by current leaders, who have recently introduced both anti-cannabis and anti-LGBTQ policies, queer issues are still at the forefront of many people’s minds, and for every setback, progress inches towards acceptance. Today Pride is a bigger celebration than ever, much like our recently passed holiday, 420, which gets bigger and better every year. These days, Pride celebrations aren’t just excuses to party and get wild; they are celebrations of all the social and political activism that is being done, both in the cannabis community and in the LGBTQ world.

“Today Pride is a bigger celebration than ever, much like our recently passed holiday, 420, which gets bigger and better every year.”

For decades, cannabis consumers were arrested and tried as felons for supplying cannabis to others, or simply for medicating. LGBTQ folks were being arrested just for expressing love for people of the same gender or crossdressing. Despite the setbacks still faced today, the communities have come so far.

So, this year as Pride rolls around, don’t just think of it as a chance to wear bright colors and party with your friends. Make time to reflect on the how far cannabis and queer issues have come in 2018, and celebrate the achievements made, while recognizing that the fight for representation and acceptance is still far from over.