As we kickoff another Pride month, we see how the increasing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ people can sometimes marry itself to the changing legislation and increased acceptance of medical and recreational cannabis use today.
Cannabis is already being used in some capacity to treat mental health issues, for all people, and that has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new, national study found a positive correlation between the national demand for medical cannabis and the number of national COVID-19 cases, with 55 percent of patients citing the main reason for their cannabis use being to “feel happy,” over chronic pain, which historically is the most common reason for medical cannabis use.
And LGBTQ people are already a population more likely to experience mental health issues than the general population due to a number of factors that disproportionately affect the community. Research suggests that mental health challenges often start in youth and can correlate with lack of family acceptance and bullying, and many of these issues can persist into adulthood along with other barriers to access.
For example, many LGBTQ adults can experience additional stress and anxiety around discrimination and safety in their identities. The Equality Act is a piece of legislation that would amend the existing civil rights law to provide consistent, explicit protections for LGBTQ people, including employment, housing and education. President Joe Biden previously stated the Equality Act would be passed in his first 100 days, but it has so far only gained approval from the House.
This is especially crucial to note in the realm of LGBTQ people and mental health because 27 states still do not have explicit, statewide laws to protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Many LGBTQ adults do turn to cannabis to alleviate mental health issues. However, if you find yourself attending a Pride parade in a region with legalized, recreational cannabis, it’s clear that in branding and use, its presence has grown to be nearly comparable to alcohol, and for many folks in alcoholism recovery, it acts as a tool and alternative.
Though correlations can often be drawn in today’s LGBTQ community and cannabis culture, cannabis has a lengthier, storied history in relation to the LGBTQ community.
The Farmacy Santa Barbara documents the story of Dennis Peron, an openly gay activist who lived in California and fought for legalization during the AIDS epidemic. It was clear to many activists like Peron that cannabis offered pain relief for HIV/AIDS patients, and he opened a cannabis buyers’ club to get it into the hands of as many patients in need as possible.
It was Peron who wrote Proposition 215 in 1996, which proposed the legalization of cannabis for medicinal use throughout all of California. Supporters initially campaigned for Proposition P, which established San Francisco’s support for legalization. After that, they fought for statewide legalization, which was met with a number of setbacks, vetoes and resistance from the Clinton administration.
Peron and his supporters formed the Californians for Compassionate Use PAC, which gathered more than 400,000 signatures to get Proposition 215 on the ballot. It ended up passing with 55.6 percent of the vote, which, in turn, ended up prompting many other states to legalize medicinal cannabis.
So this month, whether you are LGBTQ yourself or an ally, we can all take time to reflect on how past and present, the acceptance of cannabis and LGBTQ Pride have an inherent connection and a storied history that should both be celebrated.
