For our next stop along The Cannabis Trail, we visit Riverside Wellness Collective in the Sonoma County redwood coastal town of Guerneville, California. This landmark honors the legacy of Brownie Mary, the fearless cannabis activist who was arrested in nearby Cazadero in the 1990s for baking and distributing cannabis-infused brownies to AIDS patients in San Francisco. Her tireless work, along with the “Bust Heard Round the World” helped lay the foundation for legal medical cannabis and compassionate access to the plant in California and beyond.
CULTURAL CANNABIS LANDMARK By Brian Applegarth @thecannabistrail
Destination: Riverside Wellness Collective – Guerneville, CA
Honors: Brownie Mary and the Fight for Compassionate Access
Storytelling: The Legacy of a Cannabis Activist Who Changed the World
Guerneville: A Hub of Counterculture and Cannabis Compassion
Nestled along the banks of the Russian River, Guerneville has long been a refuge for free spirits, artists, and activists. Its lush redwoods, relaxed energy, and deep roots in counterculture history make it a natural home for a cannabis sanctuary like Riverside Wellness Collective. More than just a dispensary, Riverside Wellness is a community hub that embraces the cannabis plant’s healing potential while celebrating the history and pioneers who fought for access.
One of those pioneers is none other than Brownie Mary—an activist whose compassionate defiance of prohibition-era cannabis laws changed the course of medical cannabis history. Arrested in nearby Cazadero while baking her infamous cannabis brownies, Brownie Mary was a hero to the AIDS patients she served, a grandmotherly presence whose kindness and courage helped break down barriers in the fight for legalization.
The Story of Brownie Mary: A Cannabis Trailblaze
Mary Jane Rathbun, better known as Brownie Mary, was an unstoppable force in the early days of medical cannabis advocacy. A former waitress with a heart of gold and a rebel streak, she dedicated her life to baking and distributing cannabis brownies to AIDS patients in the 1980s and ‘90s—at a time when the epidemic was devastating San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community.
Despite being arrested multiple times, Brownie Mary remained steadfast in her mission, testifying before legislators, advocating for patient rights, and helping to pass Proposition 215—the groundbreaking California law that legalized medical cannabis in 1996. Her work, alongside fellow activists like Dennis Peron, cemented her status as a cannabis folk hero.
Riverside Wellness Collective: Honoring the Spirit of Compassion
Riverside Wellness Collective embodies the spirit of Brownie Mary’s work. Located in the heart of Guerneville, adjacent to the delicious Farmhand restaurant overlooking the beautiful Russian River, this welcoming locally owned dispensary serves as both a community gathering space and a tribute to the compassionate legacy of cannabis activism.
Inside, visitors will find a thoughtfully curated selection of cannabis products, with an emphasis on small-batch, sun-grown flower from local farmers. The dispensary also pays homage to Brownie Mary’s legacy through its commitment to patient care, education, and social justice. It fosters an inclusive space that welcomes everyone, much like the lovely town of Guerneville, known as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community.
Riverside Wellness shares a building with The Farmhand restaurant and deli, which is a charming rustic and nostalgic little spot with a sunny deck out back that is open to a stunning view of the Russian River. In the summertime, their riverfront lawn is the perfect place to enjoy a tasty Farmhand sandwich along with something you picked up from Riverside, with green grass, redwood river views, and lovely lounge chairs. Come experience the Riverside life in beautiful Sonoma County!
Cultural Landmark 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.
Northern California is where the battle for legalized cannabis was waged. The Cannabis Trail honors the pioneers, places, and significant historical moments that paved the way for the legal cannabis access we have today. The Cannabis Trail is an immersive travel adventure for cannabis enthusiasts, history buffs, and culture seekers seeking an extraordinary California experience. – https://thecannabistrail.com
Check out all of The Cannabis Trail Series here at Beard Bros Pharms below.
Traveling The Cannabis Trail Series #1- A Cultural Journey
Traveling The Cannabis Trail Series #2- Plantshop Cannabis Lounge
Traveling The Cannabis Trail #3 – Huckleberry Hill Farms
Traveling The Cannabis Trail #4 – The Hemp Connection
Traveling The Cannabis Trail #5 – Sol de Mendocino
Traveling The Cannabis Trail #6 – Root’d in the 510
Traveling The Cannabis Trail #7 – Humboldt Cannabis Tours
Traveling The Cannabis Trail #8 – The Bohemian Chemist
Traveling The Cannabis Trail #9 – NUG Oakland and Oaksterdam University
Traveling the Cannabis Trail #10 – Flore Dispensary
Traveling the Cannabis Trail #11 – Bigfoot Cannabis In Willow Creek, Northern Humboldt County
BRIAN APPLEGARTH is a travel writer and innovator with a passion for cannabis travel experiences and cultural heritage preservation.
He has written for San Francisco Travel, Visit Oakland, Local Getaways, Skunk Magazine, Green State, Pineapple Express, Visit Greater Palm Springs, Visit Mendocino County and others. Brian was the sole advisor on the first ever national research on the cannabis-motivated travel audience in the United States.
He has been quoted in Forbes, The Washington Post, Smart Meetings, Travel Weekly and elsewhere, and his award-winning work has been featured on NPR, CBS, NBC, and The New York Times.
Brian is the founder of the Cannabis Travel Association International and the co-founder and co-creator of the CA State Fair Cannabis Awards & Exhibit. He leads the Cannabis & Hemp Task Force for the California Travel Association and Destinations International and is a certified cannabis sommelier Ganjier and a certified cannabis therapy consultant.
He recently published The Ganja Traveler’s Guide to the Emerald Triangle, a first-of-its-kind travel guide to California’s legacy craft cannabis region. Follow Brian on Instagram @thecannabistrail and @theganjatraveler or learn more at www.brianapplegarth.com.
