As we work to fight for cannabis legalization and expungement, we must center those who have historically been harmed through prohibition.

Included in this mission are LGBTIQA+ community, who play a central role in the history of the marijuana reform movement, which is why we are joining with allies in a joint action petition to codify LGBTIQA+ rights into law via the Equality Act.

In 1996, Proposition 215 in California was a monumental step by legalizing medical marijuana in California. Critical to the momentum of this bill was HIV/AIDS activists such as Dennis Peron. Gay rights organizers who wanted legal access to legal medical cannabis knew that there was a pathway forward and made history. Through the efforts of these organizers and people living with HIV, the phrase “die high” was utilized as a call to action.⁽¹⁾

Of course, this is only one of the many stories illustrating the LGBTIQA+’s impact and commitment to cannabis legalization. There is a rich history of solidarity between the marijuana reform and LGBTIQA+ rights movements.

We joined the joint calls to action to pass The Equality Act for these vital factors and countless others. Here at BOWL PAC, we recognize it is past time for our LGBTIQA+ family to be met with equality and equity under the law. We would be negligent as an organization fighting for cannabis legalization and education if we sat out of this critical campaign for justice.

Thank you for joining this coalition demanding The Equality Act.

With Gratitude,

Rhett

Rhett Martino
Coordinating Organizer
BOWL PAC

^{(1) The Medical Marijuana Movement was at a Standstill until AIDS Activists Stepped In}

^{For Further Reading}

• ^{OPINIONS Creating space for queers in cannabis industry}
• ^{The Road To National Marijuana Legalization Has Allies In The LGBTQ Community}
• ^{To Be Blunt: Cannabis culture prides itself on LGBTQ activism}