Why is Cannabis use so high in the LGBTQ+ Community?
Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ people use cannabis at higher rates than their straight and cisgender peers, but why? The reasons are layered: many use it to manage the stress of discrimination or rejection; to cope with anxiety, trauma, or chronic pain; to find community in social spaces; or simply for pleasure and relaxation.
The connection to cannabis use runs deep. During the AIDS crisis, queer activists were among the first to advocate for medical cannabis to help alleviate AIDS symptoms when few other options existed. Dennis Peron, a gay activist in San Francisco, opened one of the first public cannabis buyers' clubs and helped write Proposition 215, California's landmark 1996 medical cannabis law. Our community helped build the movement that made legal cannabis possible.
Stash Your Stash Campaign
In partnership with SAY San Diego, The Collective Coalition hosts an annual design contest to engage LGBTQ+ artists in a public health advocacy campaign called Stash Your Stash. Artists are asked to create a sticker design that resonates with the LGBTQ+ community and promotes safe cannabis use and storage. Winning sticker designs have been distributed in March & Ash dispensary locations as well as featured in billboards across the City of San Diego. Check out the Stash Your Stash LinkTree for more information on the project and safe use resources!
Click on the images below to learn more about our 2026 launch and design contest winners!
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Marijuana Anonymous is a 12-step fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other to help themselves and others to recover from marijuana (cannabis) addiction. They are not affiliated with any religious or secular institutions. Visit their website for more information and to find a meeting near you.
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Clear30 is a mobile app that helps people take a 30-day break from cannabis — and beyond. Whether you want to take a break, cut back, or quit for good, Clear30 provides a personalized, science-backed program with daily content, guided meditations, AI-powered support, community, and access to a real human peer support coach. Visit their website for more information.
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Treatment Atlas is a free, confidential online platform to find, filter, and compare addiction treatment facilities based on evidence-based quality measures and personal preferences. Visit their website to find the right treatment for you or someone you love.
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FindTreatment.gov is a confidential and anonymous search tool for people seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories. The tool filters results by location, facility type, services, and insurance.