No cannabis historian worth their salt can deny the contributions of the LGBT community in the world of marijuana. Some of the most important events in cannabis history are connected with members of the queer community. If this is the first time you are hearing about this, worry not because here are the most notable connections between both communities.

The First Medical Marijuana Dispensary in the US

Did you know that the first-ever medical marijuana dispensary in the United States was established thanks to the efforts of a gay man? Dennis Peron is the owner of the first dispensary in the country which was launched back in 1991 in San Francisco, California.

Wondering why and how he did so? Well, Peron lost his partner to AIDS, which even then is known to be a condition that can be treated using marijuana. Together with another advocate, he arranged a ballot initiative called Proposition P, which made medical marijuana an accessible option for patients. Around 80% of the voters approved of the bill.

By 1996, Peron organized a signature campaign called California Proposition 215 (also called the Medical Use of Marijuana Initiative or the Compassionate Use Act). The ballot initiative was passed in the November 1996 elections.

Today, Peron’s efforts paid off as California now allows the use not only of medical but also recreational cannabis. In fact, the recreational use of the plant is legal in 8 other states, including Washington D.C. AIDS and HIV are also listed among the chronic and debilitating symptoms and conditions that qualify for MMJ.

The Connection with Harvey Milk

Peron also worked with Harvey Milk, California’s very first openly gay individual elected into public office. Milk was San Francisco’s city supervisor when the Proposition W (also called Stop Prosecuting Marijuana Offenses) was passed on November 1978 with 63.7% voter approval.

The Proposition seeks to cease the arrest and prosecution of people who cultivated, transferred and possessed cannabis. It was organized by Peron, friend and supporter of Milk. The Guardian reported that Milk “helped push” the ordinance.

Milk also advocated rent control and restriction of real estate speculation. Moreover, he worked with labor leaders and opposed corporate interests including redevelopment plans. Unfortunately, Milk was not able to continue his work as he was assassinated by a homophobic cop in November 1978.

Some Marijuana Companies Support the LGBT

Suzannah Weiss from Weedmaps acknowledged that there is evidence of gender inequality in the cannabis sector. According to her, sexism and mistreatment of the LGBT occur in the industry. However, the marijuana community has shown support of the queer community in the past.

While there are companies who rode the support bandwagon to make money, there are cannabis-focused companies that funneled their funds to actually support the community.  Kiva Confections, an edibles producer, made a five-figure donation to the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The donation was announced during RuPaul Drag Race alumni Laganja Estranja’s Pride party last June.

There are also brands that directly collaborated with the queer community throughout the years through charities.

Just as the LGBT community is fighting for rights that have been long denied them, the cannabis community is also advocating for a plant that has contributed to humanity for millennia but has been negatively judged throughout the years. There’s no room for prejudice when talking about the right to use cannabis.

With the oppression and injustices faced by marijuana users in the past, including unjust imprisonment and even death, it makes sense for cannabis advocates to fight for the legalization of the plant. And the LGBT community has contributed greatly to this cause.

There are certain things in life that could turn your world upside down … such as books and marijuana. Unknown to many, there are many aspects in which reading and smoking cannabis are alike. Not only could both help a person traverse from one realm to another, but both activities also enable a person to look at the world in a different light.

Here, we have gathered three of the best mind-boggling novels that are sure to blow your mind and leave you in a state of ‘high’ – with a little help from cannabis, of course!

Check them out:

• “The Shock of the Fall” by Nathan Filer

“I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.”

Nathan Filer’s The Shock of the Fall is the perfect novel for those craving for epiphanies and mind games. Following the story of Matthew Homes, a 19-year-old boy diagnosed with schizophrenia, the story revolves around the themes of loss, innocence, guilt, mental illness, and hope.

In the novel, while on vacation, Matthew Homes and his older brother snuck out in the middle of the night. Ten years later, Matthew revealed he is still hearing the voice of his dead brother.

Poignant, mind-blowing, and unforgettable, The Shock of the Fall novel transports the reader directly into the mind of Matthew as he descent into guilt, madness, and recovery.

• “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keys

“Dr Strauss says I shoud rite down what I think and remembir and evrey thing that happins to me from now on.”

Flowers for Algernon is a science fiction that showcases the contradictions between intellect and emotions. Following the story of Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man with an IQ of 68, the novel presents a moving and unforgettable story of a man and his quest for intelligence.

In the story, Charlie volunteered to be the first human subject to undergo an experimental surgical technique that would increase his intelligence. As the experiment progresses, Charlie’s intelligence expands, exceedingly even those of the doctors who plotted his metamorphosis.

Written in an epistolary style, the story incorporates the science-fiction theme of uplift that is sure to make you wonder and say “What if …”

• “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut

Call me Jonah. My parents did, or nearly did. They called me John.

This satirical sci-fi novel by Kurt Vonnegut dwells in man’s endless quest for answers and his fears for discovering each of them. In the story, John (whose last name is never given) tells readers about his plan to write a book called The Day the World Ended, which focuses on the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

From there, John becomes involved with the children of the late Felix Hoenikker, one of the founding fathers of the atomic bomb, leading him towards an adventure of a lifetime that impeccably reflects man’s position in relation to his family and the community.

Funny, alluring, and mind boggling, Cat’s Cradle is a novel that is sure to leave you with big and valuable questions about life, humanity, and the endless possibilities that lie ahead.

Conclusion:

There is no better way to escape the seemingly normal realm other than with a book on your lap and a rolled joint on your hand. Surely, with the help of cannabis, these mind-bending novels will leave you in a state of awe, hope, epiphanies, and ‘highness.’

Which among these books appealed to you the most?

Now that July is over and all of the films with July 2019 release dates has been launched, you may be looking forward to watching (or re-watching) these motion pictures. We picked three movies released last month which we are sure are much more interesting when watched while riding a cannabis high.

Check them out below.

3 Films Released in July 2019 to Watch

Midsommar (July 3, 2019)

Let us start off this list with Ari Aster’s Midsommar from independent entertainment firm A24. This independent entertainment firm has been churning out good films and TV shows for years now and Midsommar is not an exception. The movie follows an American couple on the edge of breaking up immersed in a Swedish community off the beaten path. They then find themselves in the middle of a Midsummer celebration which can only be described as something like a fever dream.

From start to finish, Midsommar exudes a feeling of excitement and anticipation, combined with aesthetics befitting an indie movie. When you watch this movie, you will find that the act of viewing the movie is a whole new experience, much like watching it while consuming cannabis. In fact, it can at times feel like the film itself is an experience waiting to happen.

So, if you are looking for an experience more unique than watching Midsommar while sober, then doing so while intaking marijuana products will be definitely up your alley. You may even find yourself easily formulating your own interpretation of the movie with the help of CBD’s cognitive enhancement effect.

The Farewell (July 12, 2019)

Another one from A24, this family drama tells the story of Billi, an American-raised woman, hesitantly deciding to revisit China, the country she called home before moving to the United States. Billi finds herself having difficulty navigating the cultural and familial landscape as her family tries to conceal the fact that the family matriarch only has a few weeks to live.

Cannabis enthusiasts who have Chinese or Asian ancestry will definitely find the representation a welcome change. As these cultures can be strict and complicated to navigate, and you find yourself getting stressed, then simply take a drop of cannabis oil or two.

Supervized (July 19, 2019)

In line with the themes tackling the elderly and their mortality, Supervized is a movie that is designed to make you laugh, enjoy and reflect. The movie shows the reunion of four former superheroes who are on the elderly side. In the golden age of superhero movies that show these powerful characters, Supervized offers a perspective depicting their lives once they reach retirement age.

It shows the struggle of Maximum Justice, Moonlight, Total Thunder and Rainbow Warrior as they cope with old age in a retirement home in Ireland. In a turn of events, the four, along with Maximum Justice’s sidekick Shimmy, reunited to fight an enemy. The film is an excellent presentation of what these mighty individuals go through in order to come to terms with their aging bodies, failing powers and inevitably, death.

If you loved the recently released Spider-Man and Avengers: Endgame, then Supervized will surely have a place in your heart. While you’re at it, you might just find yourself thanking cannabis for making the thought of dealing with old age much more bearable.

Whether you have watched these films, or you are simply longing to watch them once again, your experience can definitely be enhanced by cannabis. So, why not pre-order a copy of these films and get your marijuana stash ready to make the most out of your experience.