QUEER WORD
BROWNIE MARY

Yeah, sure, Florence Nightingale revolutionised nursing and brought compassion to millions of patients, changing the way we view healthcare forever.

But did she serve people pot brownies to help alleviate their pain?

No.

No, she did not. Not even a single crumb.

That particular honour goes to Brownie Mary, an accidental cannabis activist and certified Queer Hero.

Who Was Brownie Mary?

Mary Jane Rathbun, better known as Brownie Mary, was an unassuming bakery worker and part-time cannabis baker who became one of the most unlikely faces in the fight for medical marijuana legalisation in the United States.

She rose to fame in the 1980s and 90s for handing out marijuana-laced brownies to HIV/AIDS patients in San Francisco — often at great personal risk.

From Pot Brownies to Activism

At first, Mary was just a friendly neighbourhood baker, selling ‘magically delicious’ brownies from a picnic basket to make ends meet.

It wasn’t until she was arrested at the age of 57 that her accidental path to activism began. As part of her sentence, she completed 500 hours of community service, which led her to volunteer at the Shanti Project, a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Birth of a Cannabis Advocate

Through her work with the Shanti Project, Mary saw firsthand how cannabis could help patients manage pain, nausea, and loss of appetite.

She began baking again — this time at a much grander scale — and is said to have produced up to 50 dozen brownies a day, distributing them to HIV/AIDS and cancer patients across San Francisco.

Her continued arrests only raised her public profile. People were fascinated by the idea of a grandmotherly figure standing up to law enforcement to care for the gay community.

Fighting for Legal Change

Using her growing notoriety, Brownie Mary became a vocal advocate for medical cannabis. She played a key role in drafting and promoting Proposition P, which legalised medical marijuana in San Francisco in 1991 — a major milestone in the cannabis legalisation movement.

She also testified in court cases and stood shoulder to shoulder with other early activists to fight for compassionate healthcare access.

A Legacy of Queer Compassion

Mary died in 1999 at the age of 76. While she may not be as famous as Florence Nightingale, her legacy is just as impactful in its own way. She’s remembered as the ‘Florence Nightingale of the medical marijuana movement’ — and quite rightly so!

Brownie Mary’s activism sits at the intersection of queer care, cannabis reform, and community-led compassion, making her a true queer hero worth celebrating.

✨ Why Brownie Mary Still Matters

In an age where cannabis is being commodified and corporatised, Mary’s story is a powerful reminder that the roots of marijuana legalisation lie in compassion, resistance, and care for marginalised people — particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis.

She never set out to change the world. She just saw people in pain and decided to help.

And that, if you ask me, is pretty damn heroic.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Brownie Mary

Who was Brownie Mary?

Brownie Mary was the nickname of Mary Jane Rathbun, a medical marijuana activist best known for baking and distributing cannabis brownies to AIDS patients in San Francisco during the 1980s and 90s. She became an icon of compassion, queer advocacy, and grassroots activism during the HIV/AIDS Crisis.

Was Brownie Mary gay?

There’s no clear evidence that Brownie Mary identified as queer herself. However, she was a fierce ally of the LGBTQ+ community, especially during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and is often celebrated as an honorary queer icon for her unwavering care and activism.

What was Proposition P?

Proposition P was a 1991 San Francisco ballot initiative that called for the legalisation of medical marijuana. Brownie Mary played a key role in supporting and advocating for the measure, which passed with overwhelming public support and helped pave the way for future cannabis reform.

Why is Brownie Mary important in LGBTQ+ history?

Brownie Mary is remembered as a vital figure in queer healthcare activism, particularly for her work with AIDS patients at a time when stigma was rampant and government support was nearly nonexistent. Her story sits at the intersection of cannabis reform, queer resistance, and community care.

Exactly how many brownies did she bake?

At her peak, Brownie Mary was baking up to 50 dozen pot brownies a day, often out of her small San Francisco kitchen. Many were handed out — not sold — to patients suffering from HIV/AIDS and cancer.