Happy Pride Month, community! For this special episode of the THC Design Sessions podcast, our host Amanda Savage sat down with a true icon of the movement: Felicia Carbajal.

Felicia is a longtime cannabis advocate, social entrepreneur, community organizer, author, and one of the most respected voices in cannabis equity and social justice. Whether you know them from the acclaimed Netflix documentary Lady Buds or their ground-breaking work as the Executive Director of the Social Impact Center, Felicia’s impact on the cannabis landscape is undeniable.

In this episode, Amanda and Felicia pull back the curtain on the corporate cannabis industry, look back at the radical history of the plant, and explore what real community support looks like.

Here are the highlights from their powerful conversation.

A Foundational Partnership

This isn’t a new friendship. Amanda and Felicia kicked off the episode by reminiscing about the deep history between THC Design and the Social Impact Center. Back in 2019, THC Design partnered with the center for a Pride Month release, helping raise $20,000 in foundational funding to support LGBTQ+ youth and BIPOC communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.

“You guys put your money where your mouth is,” Felicia noted. “I’ve had really good conversations with the team throughout the years who continue to maintain those same values… I don’t get to have that experience everywhere I go.”

Cannabis Before the "Industry": The Berkeley Days

Long before cannabis was a multi-billion-dollar commercial market, it was an underground network built on survival, mutual aid, and love. Felicia shared their deeply personal introduction to the plant as a queer, Mexican-American youth in Berkeley during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis.

  • The Mission: Transporting cannabis in a Jansport backpack on the BART train to bring physical relief to friends dying of AIDS.
  • The Counterculture: Blending into a community of radical hippies and advocates who cared deeply about the land and each other.
  • The Vibe: It wasn’t just a vibe, it was the vibe. A generation of young dikes and queer advocates stepped up to care for chosen family members who had been abandoned by their own biological families and the government.

Reconciling with the Modern Cannabis Industry

For someone who spearheaded the cannabis social equity movement, watching the transition into a commercialized market hasn’t been easy. Felicia spoke candidly about how the corporate shift initially broke their heart.

  • The Equity Pitfalls: How cities like Los Angeles and various statewide systems built complex infrastructures that often set social equity applicants up to fail rather than create generational wealth.
  • The Corporate Takeover: The frustration of seeing commercial brands use black and brown bodies for marketing while refusing to invest real dollars back into those same communities.
  • Forgiveness and Healing: After taking a step back to protect their peace, Felicia shared that they have recently found a space of forgiveness. They continue to consult with government agencies on true social equity best practices and preserve the history of the plant.

 

“I don’t owe the cannabis industry shit,” Felicia laughed. “The only thing that I owe this plant is to smoke her, eat her, lather in her, bathe in her, love on her, and let her love on me.”

Keeping Pride Radical

Amanda and Felicia also brought plenty of humor to the studio, talking about the joy of Pride, the shifting dynamics of queer safe spaces like West Hollywood and San Francisco’s Castro district, and giving a major shout-out to Green Queen, a queer-owned cannabis brand making waves and opening beautiful spaces.

As the interview wrapped up, Felicia reminded listeners that Pride isn’t just about corporate sponsorships or commercial festivals. Pointing to grassroots events like San Fernando Valley Pride, Felicia emphasized the importance of honoring ancestors like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. It’s about keeping the focus on radical roots, young organizers, and community protection (even if that means keeping a pink and black “gay as fuck” baseball bat by the front door!).

Tune In Now!

Listen to the full Pride Episode of THC Design Sessions on your favorite podcast platform or watch the video on our channel now!