At the start of my career in cannabis, long before I founded Kush Queen, I learned about the path to legalization in California and the shared history of the LGBTQIA+ community with cannabis.

From that moment on, I made it my mission to honor the Queer activists who came before us, the true OGs we can thank for providing us with safe access to this plant.

At Kush Queen, Pride is Honoring a Shared History

In the 1980s, Queer community leaders in San Fransisco ushered in the beginnings of legal cannabis as they worked to ease health and wellness struggles around the AIDS epidemic. Their real-life needs brought legitimacy to the medical cannabis conversation. Pictures of my Queer community heroes hang in my office; Cleve Jones, Dennis Peron, and Mary Jane Rathburn look over me as I run Kush Queen.

Brownie Mary, wearing one of her signature buttons. SCOTT SOMMERDORF / SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE / POLARIS

Brownie Mary, wearing one of her signature buttons. SCOTT SOMMERDORF / SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE / POLARIS

Also on my wall of heroes is Marsha P. Johnson, another great reminder of gay liberation and how we got here today. Her beautiful smile beams back at me as I write this

For those not familiar with her story, Johnson was a trans activist, self-identified drag queen, and a true survivor living in New York City. She was also one of the first protesters at the Stonewall riots in 1969. Many recall Johnson having thrown the first brick outside of the club, but the truth is no one really agrees on who or what started it (was it a brick? a bottle? or city cobblestone?). 

Marsha P. Johnson Poster by MICAH BAZANT
Marsha P. Johnson Poster by MICAH BAZANT

Nonetheless, everyone does agree that Johnson and fellow trans activist Sylvia Rivera played a massive part in the spontaneous protest against a police raid in those early morning hours. This act of social uprising is often viewed as the first Pride celebration, sparking a series of events that would change the LGBTQIA+ community forever. 

Pride is Revolutionary and Non-Conforming

Pride (as we know it today) is all about Queer celebration and love, but its roots are steeped in the journey of equal rights, visibility, and the acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people. It was never about rainbow-tinted capitalism, fleeting social media icons, and albeit, even super fun parades. Pride is about Queer liberation. 

"Stonewall was, at its core, about people reclaiming their narratives from a society that told them they were sick or pitiful or didn’t even exist," writes Shane O’Neill, a journalist for the New York Times. 

A 1970 photo of Marsha P. Johnson handing out flyers in support of Gay Students at NYU is seen here courtesy of the New York Public Library's "1969: The Year of Gay Liberation" exhibit.  Diana Davies/NYPL/Handout via Reuters, FILE
A 1970 photo of Marsha P. Johnson handing out flyers in support of Gay Students at NYU is seen here courtesy of the New York Public Library's "1969: The Year of Gay Liberation" exhibit. Diana Davies/NYPL/Handout via Reuters, FILE

After Stonewall, a new generation of gay activists emerged and organized, creating resources like the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). These events and grassroots organizations focused on Queer individuals gaining access to equal rights as citizens while also helping the community find dignity, acceptance, and a sense of belonging within society. STAR, for example, provided housing and support to homeless LGBT youth and sex workers in New York City.

Pride is About Community and Peers Supporting Peers

For everyone at Kush Queen, Pride is about more than just a seasonal festivity, it’s about taking a stand, increasing visibility, and supporting our Queer communities all year round. 

This year Kush Queen is donating 20% of proceeds from our Pride Collection to The Social Impact Center, founded by beloved Queer cannabis hero Felicia Carbajal, as well as to the Trans Latina Coalition, a local Los Angeles community-led, and founded organization.

Kush Queen 2022 Pride Collection

Our Pride Collection for 2022 features a Delta 8 THC water-based and latex-safe infused lube and 1:1 Delta 8 THC and CBD Trans Flag-inspired bath bomb in honor of our trans brothers and sisters.

Kush Queen Pride Collection 2022

Queer Liberation is Still Needed

Currently, countless pieces of appalling legislation are moving through state governments as an attempt to target the rights of trans people, attack trans youth, and reverse decades-worth of progress. 

According to the advocacy group, Human Rights Campaign, over 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were proposed in 2022 alone.

Sam Ames, the director of advocacy and government affairs for The Trevor Project recently explained to CBS news "research has shown that as many as 85% of trans youth say that they are watching these debates over their identity play out,". Ames continues "the direct results of these bills when they pass are to take away things that we know are correlated with increased mental health and decreased suicide risk: sports team participation, seeing yourself represented in a classroom, being accepted by your parents and your healthcare professionals. These are all associated with significantly lower odds of attempting suicide." 

It feels like Queer liberation is more important than ever, especially with such blatantly coordinated attacks against people who identify as such. 

Pride is Personal

Inclusivity and visibility are part of Kush Queen’s DNA. From the all-gender restroom to the Queer individuals who appear in our content and work behind the scenes, Kush Queen's identity as a brand is unapologetically gay.

Kush Queen CEO Olivia Alexander protesting
Pride inspired Crystal Cult vape

 

As I get choked up thinking about my own experiences and identity, I can’t help but think about what a personal intimate experience celebrating Pride is for me. As a human, I self-identify not only as the CEO of this company but as a Queer woman surrounded by countless other Queer people in my life. People who are my family, friends, and frankly, my inspirations. I think of my parents raising a Queer son in South Louisiana and not once did anything but accept him for who he was. 

Since its inception, Kush Queen has celebrated Pride (year-round) and has raised well over $40,000 for Queer organizations, something I'm incredibly proud of.

Shop the 2022 Pride Collection and join our community for community support.

2019 Pride Collection by Kush Queen featuring Bare 1,000mg Tincture, Ignite Water Based Lube & Rainbow Pride 25mg CBD Bath Bomb.

 

Celebrating the shared history of cannabis progress, and the LGBTQ+communities, Kush Queen presents our limited edition 2019 Pride Collection. The Pride CBD bath bomb with 25mg CBD, Pride Ignite Water Based CBD Lubricant, and our 1000mg Bare CBD Tincture.

Our access to cannabis would not exist without the incredible men and women who fought for Proposition 215. Because of them, California would adopt its first medical cannabis legislation in 1996, opening the doors for AIDS patients and many others to gain access to plant medicine.

As a womxn-owned company, Kush Queen is dedicated to honoring the shared history of the LGBTQ+ communities and cannabis. We are committed to the pursuit of equality and fostering a more accepting world not just during pride season, but all year long.

2019 Pride CBD Tincture with 1,000mg Broad Spectrum Hemp by Kush Queen25mg Kush Queen Rainbow CBD Bath BombIgnite water based lube with Rainbow packaging for 2019 Pride collection.

20% of all pride collection sales will directly benefit Trans Lifeline; a national trans-led 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality of trans lives by responding to critical needs with direct service, material support, advocacy, and education. Their vision is to fight the epidemic of trans suicide and improve overall life-outcomes of trans people by facilitating justice-oriented, collective community aid.Celebrating the shared history of cannabis progress, and the LGBTQ+communities, Kush Queen presents our limited edition 2019 Pride Collection. Our access to cannabis would not exist without the incredible men and women who fought for Proposition 215. Because of them, California would adopt its first medical cannabis legislation in 1996, opening the doors for AIDS patients and many others to gain access to plant medicine.

Check back all summer long for amazing pride content!


Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and Stories!

Grab your Kush Queen Limited Edition Pride Collection below!

Shop Kush Queen!

By: Olivia Alexander

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At Kush Queen, we started as a family. This business has allowed our family to grow and gives us the opportunity to connect with incredible people. November 27 is known as #GivingTuesday and we wanted to get in on the giving. So, we chose a few different places and people to spread the love too.

We wanted to give to campaigns big and small while some were organizations, others are Go Fund me pages all are close to our heart. We donated to each of these campaigns and hope you consider them on #GivingTuesday

 

 

TRANS LIFELINE

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With the recent attacks on the trans community by our current administration, we at Kush Queen believe we cannot erase trans people. We believe in fostering a more accepting world. We learned about this organization via a KQ supporter and heard they have been inundated with calls recently. We believe this organization is so important because it was created for the trans community by the trans community.

The Hotline: US: 877-565-8860 | Canada: 877-330-6366

Support Trans Lifeline

 

THE BOYER/DELAROSA FAMILY FIRE FUND

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We have spent the years in cannabis allowing this industry to connect us with inspirational people. Yvonne Delarosa is inarguably one of those people every woman in cannabis has to thank. Yvonne was an original pioneer, as the recipient of LA County’s first license. She is the owner 99HighTide in Malibu. Not only a home for our beloved Kush Queen products but the mermaids of Malibu. The community Yvonne has built in Malibu is truly something we have always looked up to at KQ. It is heartbreaking to see the ruins of her home, where we had celebrated 4/20 this year.  Yvonne and her family fleed the flames of the Woolsey Fire with only moments to spare.

Support the Boyer/Delarosa Family

 

ROCHELLE’S RECOVERY FUND

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This year one of our very own Kush Queen employee’s, Rochelle was tragically struck by a car on her morning run. We were devastated, as Rochelle has been with our company for many years. Since then, Rochelle has continued to make a recovery but is still unable to be with our team again or work at all. She is back to baking and getting stronger every day.

Support Rochelle