For our next stop along The Cannabis Trail, we visit Berkeley Patients Group (BPG), a pillar of compassion and advocacy that has served as a sanctuary for patients and cannabis consumers for over two decades. Located in the progressive city of Berkeley, California, BPG is not only the oldest continuously operating cannabis dispensary in the United States—it is a beacon of dignity, service, and community empowerment.
By Brian Applegarth @thecannabistrail
Destination: Berkeley Patients Group – Berkeley, CA
Honors: Medical Cannabis Access, Community Advocacy, and Cannabis Compassion
Storytelling: The Nation’s Oldest Dispensary That Helped Define Compassionate Care
BPG: A Movement Born from the AIDS Epidemic and Compassionate Activism
Founded in 1999, Berkeley Patients Group emerged from the deep cultural well of Bay Area activism that also birthed the earliest medical cannabis movement. Inspired by the pioneering efforts of Dennis Peron, Brownie Mary, and the compassionate caregiving culture of the 1980s and ‘90s, BPG began as a response to the suffering of those affected by HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. At a time when federal prohibition still loomed large, BPG planted its roots in advocacy and care, determined to provide a safe, welcoming environment for patients in need.
BPG’s legacy has always centered on healing. Whether providing clean, tested cannabis for pain relief, educating the community, or offering support services to veterans and terminally ill patients, the dispensary has long embodied the core values of dignity, empowerment, and access. It is these values that continue to define BPG’s operations today, and that earned it the status of a Cultural Cannabis Landmark on The Cannabis Trail.
Serving Patients, Veterans, and the Greater Good
Berkeley Patients Group has always been more than a dispensary. It is a community institution. From the beginning, BPG created a model of medical cannabis access rooted in education, compassionate care, and ethical business practices. They were among the first to offer patient support services alongside cannabis.
Through compassionate care programs, BPG continues to serve military veterans with respect and gratitude, offering free or discounted medicine and ongoing advocacy for expanded access at the federal level. They’ve supported hundreds of patients through hospice and end-of-life care, helping to ease suffering and support caregivers in times of need.
Over the years, BPG has also supported hundreds of local organizations and causes through donations and partnerships. From youth centers to LGBTQ+ advocacy, food banks to civil liberties, they have quietly and consistently uplifted their community in both cannabis-specific and broader social justice efforts.
A Landmark on The Cannabis Trail
Visitors to Berkeley Patients Group will find a beautiful space that reflects the brand’s commitment to quality and accessibility. Located on San Pablo Avenue, BPG offers a welcoming community shop with thoughtful functionality and a patient-forward approach. With a vibrant team that mirrors the diversity of the East Bay, BPG continues to lead with integrity and care.
The Cannabis Trail Landmark at BPG tells the story of the dispensary’s deep historical roots in the Bay Area’s fight for compassionate cannabis access. It reminds visitors that this is more than a business—it is sacred ground in the history of medical marijuana.
BPG’s Vision: Carrying the Torch into the Future
BPG’s mission, as stated on their website, is “to provide medical cannabis to qualified patients and caregivers in a safe and affordable manner.” But the heart of BPG’s work runs even deeper: to change lives, reform laws, and empower communities. Today, they remain fiercely committed to their founding principles, even as the cannabis industry evolves into a broader adult-use market.
Their work continues through local and national advocacy, legal reform efforts, and social equity initiatives aimed at healing the harms of the War on Drugs. BPG’s leadership team is composed of passionate advocates, many of whom have been involved since the early days of Prop 215. With each year, they push forward to ensure that the plant remains in service to the people—not just profit. We highly recommend swinging by to support BPG next time you’re in the Bay Area!
Cultural Landmark Statement of Purpose
May this Landmark serve as a beacon of hope, to honor all those who lost their lives and risked their freedoms in the fight to provide safe access to cannabis for patients in need.
May its legacy honor Berkeley Patients Group founder Jim McClelland, and all those who suffered from and succumbed to AIDS, as well as the cannabis advocates and activists who helped to pass Proposition 215. May it pay tribute to the resilience of those who battled AIDS and other illnesses, whose courage in seeking alternative treatments helped destigmatize medicinal cannabis.
May it uphold cannabis operators as a force for good within their communities, as BPG has in Berkeley for over 25 years. And may it inspire continued compassion, understanding, and advocacy for all patients in their pursuit of well-being.
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
Traveling The Cannabis Trail #12 – Riverside Wellness Guerneville
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