Riverside Wellness Collective – Compassion & Medical Cannabis – Guerneville, CA
Statement of Purpose
May this Cultural Landmark serve to remind us of bravery and the power using your voice to advocate for truth. May it remind us of how Brownie Mary bravely shared her story and used her voice and the media to promote the truth about cannabis as medicine and advocated for safe patient access to ease suffering.
May it celebrate the triumph of medical cannabis activists and their continued efforts to ensure the plant’s freedom from the shackles of prohibition and stigma. As well as the deep roots of the Riverside Wellness Collective as the first medical dispensary in Sonoma County, just down the road from the iconic Cazadero ‘Bust Heard Round the World’.
May it honor Brownie Mary’s spirit of compassion, and all those who suffered during the AIDS epidemic, and the LGBTQ+ community who helped Brownie Mary and Dennis Peron pave the way for compassionate access to cannabis as medicine.
May it be so.
This landmark honors Brownie Mary, who was busted in nearby Cazadero in 1992 for baking pot brownies for AIDS patients.
Known as ‘The Bust Heard Round the World’, this specific bust was a key catalyst to re-legalizing medical cannabis in California. Thanks to the help of her friend Dennis Peron, Brownie Mary’s bust garnered international media attention.
Brownie Mary was a fearless pioneer who volunteered in the AIDS ward of the San Francisco General Hospital and helped to bring attention to the beneficial therapeutic effects of cannabis for AIDS and cancer patients. She was a symbol of compassion and empathy, and often referred to the patients as “her kids.”
Her iconic Sonoma County 1992 bust led to the passing of Proposition 215 in 1996, making medical cannabis legal in California again and guaranteeing the right for patients to access this essential medicine. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors declared August 25 as “Brownie Mary Day” in honor of her work. Her contributions paved the way for the legalization of medical cannabis across the country, influencing numerous states to follow suit.
Location: Riverside Wellness Collective
Riverside Wellness Collective is here for the people by the people. Honoring Brownie Mary’s legacy, Riverside Wellness Collective has brought cannabis medicine to the people of Sonoma County since their doors opened in 2001. Family owned by farmers who began growing cannabis back in 1968, Riverside was the first dispensary in Sonoma County, and the third in California.
The team at Riverside is dedicated to the community and patients to provide the very best products. Everything that they carry in our store is chosen with care and is completely local. At Riverside, you should feel at home.
With a focus on natural locally grown products that enhance wellness and well-being, Riverside Wellness offers a great selection and a friendly team to help you feel at home. Once you’ve procured your treasures, be sure to enjoy a peaceful moment out back along the beautiful Russian River, where they have a lovely sitting area available.