Brownie Mary

Brownie Mary, born Mary Jane Rathbun (December 22, 1922 – April 10, 1999), was a renowned American medical cannabis activist. Known for her compassionate use of cannabis, she earned her nickname by baking and distributing cannabis brownies to AIDS patients in San Francisco during the 1980s and 1990s, at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Her efforts played a significant role in the movement towards the medical legalization of cannabis in California and the United States.

Early Life

Mary Jane Rathbun was born in Chicago, Illinois. Little is known about her early life before she moved to San Francisco in the 1970s. In San Francisco, Rathbun worked as a waitress and began her journey as a cannabis activist.

Activism

In the early 1980s, Rathbun became deeply involved in the fight against AIDS, a disease that was devastating the gay community in San Francisco at the time. She began baking cannabis-infused brownies, which she distributed for free to AIDS patients. Rathbun believed that cannabis could help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with AIDS and its treatments, such as nausea, appetite loss, and pain.

Her apartment in the Castro district of San Francisco became a hub for her brownie operation. Despite facing legal challenges, including multiple arrests for her cannabis-related activities, Rathbun remained steadfast in her mission. Her advocacy for the medicinal use of cannabis garnered significant media attention, contributing to a growing public discourse on the subject.

Legal Battles and Legacy

Rathbun's activism led to several arrests, the most notable of which occurred in 1992. Despite these legal challenges, she continued to advocate for the rights of patients to use medical cannabis. Her efforts, along with those of other activists, culminated in the passage of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215) in California, which legalized the medical use of cannabis in the state.

Brownie Mary's legacy extends beyond her brownie baking. She is remembered as a pioneering figure in the medical cannabis movement, and her work has inspired subsequent generations of activists. Rathbun's story is a testament to the impact that individual activism can have on broader social and legal change.

Death

Mary Rathbun passed away on April 10, 1999, from complications related to diabetes. Her death was mourned by the many people whose lives she touched through her activism and compassion.

See Also

• Cannabis (drug)
• Medical cannabis
• AIDS epidemic
• Compassionate Use Act of 1996
• Cannabis in California