By Kally Compton
When you think of Pride, I’m sure you think of fun parades and corporate companies plastering rainbows on their social media. Pride is not just about rainbows and parties, it’s about supporting and celebrating all of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Queer people in the U.S. and worldwide have been marginalized and looked down on for living their lives authentically. In worse cases, we still see physical and emotional violence against LGBTQIA+ bodies.
Uplifting LGBTQIA+ And Cannabis Communities
The cannabis community, in many ways, has a similar background to the LGBTQIA+ community. With this overlap in destigmatizing communities and embracing authenticity, we must not only celebrate and affirm queerness, but also support LGBTQIA+-led businesses. As a cannabis consumer, you can puff with pride by shopping with queer-focused companies.
As Pride month closes, we wanted to share our favorite LGBTQIA+ brands making strides in the cannabis industry through education, advocacy, and support.
Cann
Cann is known for their delicious cannabis-infused drinks with tons of exciting flavors like lemon lavender and grapefruit rosemary. This company is taking space within the hard seltzers market as an alternative to alcoholic beverages.
Last month, Cann collaborated with Weedmaps on a music video campaign that features some trailblazers in the LGBTQIA+ community like Hayley Kiyoko, VINCINT, MNEK, and Ke$ha. RuPaul’s Drag Race cast members Kornbread “The Snack” Jete, Kerri Colby, Willow Pill, and Jorgeous are also featured dancing and enjoying the drink.
Cann’s music video Taste So Good not only shows how fun infused drinks can be, but also embraces queerness to its fullest. With color-blocked outfits and erotic dance moves, we can see an appreciation for the pop music and sexual liberation engrained in queer culture.
“‘Taste So Good’ (The Cann Song)’ is a rallying cry to not only say ‘gay,’ says the Weedmaps team, “but scream it from the rooftops. It's an anthem to celebrate our differences — because a little different #Cann taste so good.”
Proud Mary
Proud Mary is an NYC-based company that’s all about networking, education, and advocacy within the cannabis space. Through their platform, they make it a point to build a foundation for queer people in the cannabis community.
“In an age when queers and cannabis are fighting for inclusivity, we strive to support and diversify the emerging cannabis industry,” notes the Proud Mary founder, Brie Brewer.
Proud Mary supports local Queens-based Drag Queens like Ducky Sheaboi and Patsy InDecline. This dynamic duo is known for their events and fundraisers that support social equity foundations like Black Girl Tutors, G.L.I.T.S, and Stop AAPI Hate. In collaboration with JM Balbuena and Boycott Shitty Weed, Proud Mary helped create a clothing line to highlight cannabis history.
This site connects people to queer-affirming media that pioneers a positive conversation around cannabis. If you want to stay up to date with the latest events and news in the cannabis community this site is worth checking out.
Xula
This Latina and Black-Owned hemp brand focuses on providing quality products crafted from ancestral herbal knowledge and modern science. Xula has a variety of hemp products concentrated on sleep, pain, stress, and womxn’s health.
As a queer, femme, and BIPOC-centered company, it brings confidence to marginalized groups through its CBD products. Co-founder Karina Primelles finds importance in living comfortably in your skin and finding balance. Co-founder Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey also brings her experiences to the brand as a Black woman.
“Through our products, we aim to dignify, amplify, and revive menopausal bodies, trans bodies, differently-abled bodies, nonbinary bodies, and all bodies left out of our society’s gaze,” says the founders.
With this brand, you can feel comfortable in your own skin and support a socially equitable and BIPOC-Womxn-led brand.
Glitch Bitch
Sara Jabbari (she/they) is the name, and creative magic is their game. Also known as “Jabs,” the proud Persian American Queer and DJ is the current creator behind Glitch Bitch. Jabs not only brings their 80s and 90s punk aesthetic to the brand but designs everything with queerness and a “fuck-the-man” attitude.
“I would never be able to be as loud, sassy, and proud if it weren’t for those before, alongside, and ahead of me,” says Jabs. “So, whether you’re a glitch, a bitch or anything in between, this brand is my love letter to you. Thank you for being you.”
From pins and patches, to hats and T-shirts, Glitch Bitch has all the gear you need to express your queerness and be decked out for Pride–and bringing down the man.
Ziggy's Naturals
In 2018, the Pollack family started their Organic CBD company, Ziggy’s Naturals. Co-founder Jordyn (he/him) is an out and proud transgender male and uses his brand to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Our focus has been helping the LGBTQ+ community as I am a transgender male,” Jordyn says, “and I am keenly aware of how much our products help people that identify as LGBTQ+.”
Between Jordyn’s father, Marc, and brother, Jake, he has built a family-run business that strongly believes in the benefits of CBD. They not only bring great ways for consumers to use CBD, but also provide a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community through their inclusive ambassador program. In support of Trans pride and queer-focused brands, you can shop from their wide selection of hemp-derived CBD products.
Laganja Estranja's Trans Capsule Launch
On June 15th, 2022, RuPaul’s Drag Race legend Lagana Estranja (she/her) released a one-of-a-kind capsule collection to highlight Trans Pride. Estranja not only wanted to celebrate being out and proud as a Trans Woman but also wanted to honor the whole Trans community.
“This year to celebrate my one year anniversary of coming out, I really wanted to focus specifically on Trans Pride,” she says. “Never in a million years did I think we would reach this point where others, whether Trans or not, would want to wear clothing like this. But as we could see this year on RuPaul’s Drag Race—which had more trans contestants than ever—the community is embracing the T in LGBTQIA+.”
In collaboration with Michelle Moross, Estranja made a variety of apparel to embrace gender-affirming styles adorned with the Trans colors blue, pink and white. Shopping this collection is a great way to support a Trans creator and show out for Trans Pride.
Stone Road
Rolling up a joint with your friends can be a gesture of love and connection according to this queer-centered cannabis company. Stone Road prides themselves on providing cannabis products to people from all walks of life.
“If you’re a human being, we’re here for you,” says founder and CEO Lex Corwin.
As a queer-owned company, they highlight models and artists within the LGBTQIA+ community through campaigns on their website and Instagram. In celebration of queerness and a healthy planet, Stone Road makes cannabis culture inclusive and transparent while focusing on people, plants and animals. With an array of cannabis products, from pre-rolls to infused sugar, they have all the essentials for you to honor pride and have a great time.
Comm Can
Comm Can is the largest LGBTQIA+-owned cannabis company in Massachusetts. The queer-focused company also creates space for LGBTQIA+ individuals to work with the company in a variety of positions from cultivation to selling cannabis.
With local dispensaries selling five different brands, they have options for recreational and medicinal use. If you live in Massachusetts, be sure to check out your local Comm Can dispensary this Pride month.
Madame Munchie
“Paris Chic, and Cali chill.”
Madame Munchie has products for every posh cannabis-lover. Based in Los Angeles, this cannabis brand is not only award-winning, but womxn and LGBTQIA+- owned.
Founder Kim Geraghty combines French cooking traditions with California-sourced cannabis to create delicious snacks and beverages. So if you love macarons as much as we do, check out Madame Munchie’s online shop and see all the deliciously chill treats it offers.
Pride is about celebration, so let’s celebrate the Pride community and queerness by supporting LGBTQIA+-owned brands. By supporting these brands, you are not only getting some great products, but you are aiding a community that centers around advocacy, kindness, and equity for LGBTQIA+ business owners, and all kinds of cannabis consumers.
Happy Pride—Stay safe, and stay queer.
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Kally Compton is a content writer, creator and model. Based in New York and Los Angeles, she currently writes for LIM News and Events and contributes to various culture, cannabis, and fashion publications. She is the former Editorial and Production Director for The Lexington Line, LIM College's culture and fashion magazine. For modeling inquiries, contact State Management. For more information, follow her at @kallycompton.
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Featured image: The Cann x Weedmaps Pride collaboration. Left to right: Willow Pill, VINCINT, Kornbread "The Snack" Jete, Gus Kenworthy, Hayley Kiyoko, Kerri Colby, Jorgeous, and Patricia Arquette. (C) Cann
