Non-binary is a way of describing people who experience the spectrum of emotions from happy to sad, angry to peaceful. Many find being more aware of their non-binary emotions helpful in daily life.
At present, there is no clear term for people who experience non-binary emotionality. Some refer to them as gender neutral, others prefer a narrower range of emotions. Regardless, there are many places where you can findpeople who experience non-binary emotionality helpful.
One effective way to learn aboutnon-binary is to read books or watch movies that describe them in conjunction with their physical characteristics and how they communicate.
Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals is a cannabis brand that celebrates the diverse CBD and THC content found in cannabis. The brand features three products—a tincture, a concentrate, and an edible—all of which contain higher concentrations of CBD compared to THC.
The company states that its goal is for users to feel the effects of CBD as quickly as possible, which is why it includes it in all three of its products.
These include: a tincture that looks almost like apple cider vinegar; the concentrated blend; and the edible product containing cheddar and butter but no taste.
Both components have been used for pain relief, muscle pain, stress relief, and sleep improvement.
The Potcast
The Potcast is a monthly podcast that discusses non-binary cannabis users and resources outside of the binary community. The Potcast is hosted by Matt, a non-binary cannabis user who also writes about his experiences as a trans man in the cannabis community.
The Potcast was created to provide listeners with an open discussion of non-binary identities and resources outside of the cannabis community. This includes social media accounts, news accounts, blogs, etc. that cater to this audience.
This is an important audience to target as more and more folks are discovering this form of expression and new ways to communicate. Many find it liberating not being focused on their drug use to remedy stress and being more about who they are than what they do.
Targeting this audience is beyond the scope of this article, but interested listeners can check out the Potcast via https://thepotcast.com/.
The Drug Policy Alliance
The Drug Policy Alliance is a leading national organization working to reduce drug use, drug policy and health inequality. The alliance is focused on non-binary cannabis resources in California.
The Drug Policy Alliance’s (DPA) Beyond the Binary campaign aims to shift the conversation about drugs from a binary system of addiction or not addiction to a broader understanding of people who use drugs.
This includes addressing issues of self-care and recovery, as well as recognizing that all drugs pose risks to health and society. The campaign seeks to create a diverse set of sources for people looking for non-binary cannabis resources in California.
To be considered diversity focused, organizations participating in the Beyond the Binary campaign must emphasize issues relating to race, age, gender, social/economic status, and/or personal wellness.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
Despite advances in cannabis research and policymaking, there are still people fighting to make sure everyone has a voice in determining if marijuana is safe, appropriate medicine and jobs.
California is home to the largest non-binary cannabis community in the United States, with over 8,000 members. More than just a gender expression identifier, non-binary pronouns are used to describe people, and they play an important role in this community.
This community uses The Society of Saint Anne (OSA), a church that was founded to support members whose gender does not match their sex or sex designation, as their mainstream resource. However, OSA is not inclusive enough for this community.
They do not have access to all of the same resources at OSA that they need to meet as a group and discuss behalf of themselves.
ACLU of Northern California
Despite federal law making marijuana a crime at every level, California has for the first time made non-binary options for gender identity.
These include being non-binary, or having a single gender identity but not necessarily being identified as either male or female. Many people who identify as both male and female find enjoyment and comfort in using the term “gender fluid” to describe their experience.
A third option is to not identify with a single gender and not to be limited to one sex at birth. These people may find enjoyment in using the term “non-gender” to describe their experience.
To represent these individuals in legal matters, organizations such as The Center for Gender Affinity and The Social Covenant use initials instead of names to represent them.
The California Cannabis Coalition (CCC)
The CCC is a broad-based, community-based organization that works to ensure the freedom and diversity of access to cannabis for all Californians. The CCC works to create and support non-binary cannabis resources, increase accessibility for all users, and raise awareness about the prohibitionist system.
The term non-binary refers to people who do not identify as either male or female, often due to an experience with sexual identity. This includes people who identify as “genderqueer” or “non-gendered” identity.
As this population increases in California, they need safe and effective ways to access cannabis. Many clients find it too expensive or difficult to navigate the healthcare system without access to non-binary cannabis resources.
At The CCC, we work hard to provide appropriate resources for our members and strive toward inclusion and excellence in our work.
Gender Justice LA
As technology continues to expand and advance, users continue to discover new ways to use and access resources. This article will discuss some non-binary cannabis resources in California, including gender inclusive medical marijuana dispensaries, communities with complimentary resources for people who do not identify as either male or female, and legal cannabis stores that offer products based on the user’s gender identity.
Gender is a useful term that can be used to describe both your physical traits and how you feel about yourself. For example, some people feel good about being a woman, while others feel different when they encounter a world populated by women.
Many people who do not identify as either male or female find Source of Strength products attractive, according to their social media posts. This is an extremely unique resource that offers two distinct products based on the user’s preference of appearance: “perky” for men and “sexy” for women.
Innovative Interventions
Non-binary terms have become more prevalent in the mainstream since 2004, when the word was first introduced as an option for identifying genders. In 2004, there were only two accepted non-binary terms: third gender and unspecified gender.
Since then, new non-binary terms have been created, such as ungendered or third sex. Newer terminology has always been considered socially acceptable, moving it forward as new terminology becomes accepted.
For example, people used to refer to life before the twentieth century as medieval times, because of the rigid gender norms that existed back then. Nowadays, people are coming out of the woodwork and choosing non-binary identities, which include nontraditional sex and age identities.
This is an example of how acceptance is moving forward and defining what is important to someone.
