The Cannabis Trail Landmarks

Travel the Cannabis Trail by visiting these cultural landmarks - modern cannabis travel experiences in Northern California that allow you to experience cannabis culture and learn about pioneers and stories in the fight for legal access to the plant.

Riverside Wellness Collective, Bigfoot Cannabis Company, NUG, Huckleberry Hill Farm, Hemp Connection, Flore Dispensary Castro, Humboldt Cannabis Tours, Plantshop, Harborside Oakland Dispensary, Sol de Mendocino, Area 101, The Bohemian Chemist, Root'd In The 510 Equity Weed Dispensary

• Riverside Wellness Collective, United States

  
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  This landmark honors Brownie Mary, who was busted in nearby Cazadero in 1992 for baking pot brownies for AIDS patients. Known as ‘The Bust Heard Round the World’, this specific bust was a key catalyst to re-legalizing medical cannabis in California. Thanks to the help of her friend Dennis Peron, Brownie Mary’s bust garnered international media attention. Brownie Mary was a fearless pioneer who volunteered in the AIDS ward of the San Francisco General Hospital and helped to bring attention to the beneficial therapeutic effects of cannabis for AIDS and cancer patients. She was a symbol of compassion and empathy, and often referred to the patients as “her kids.” Her iconic Sonoma County 1992 bust led to the passing of Proposition 215 in 1996, making medical cannabis legal in California again and guaranteeing the right for patients to access this essential medicine. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors declared August 25 as “Brownie Mary Day” in honor of her work. Her contributions paved the way for the legalization of medical cannabis across the country, influencing numerous states to follow suit.

• Bigfoot Cannabis Company in Willow Creek, United States

  
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  This landmark celebrates the sungrown small-batch craft of Humboldt County’s legacy cannabis farmers, the community of Willow Creek, and the lore of Bigfoot. Bigfoot Cannabis Company is more than a cannabis shop—it’s a tribute to the heritage of Humboldt County’s cannabis culture. In the heart of Willow Creek, often referred to as the “Bigfoot Capital of the World,” this local, family-owned business represents the legacy of Humboldt’s cannabis farmers who have cultivated the land for decades. With deep roots in the community, Bigfoot Cannabis is dedicated to preserving the values of small-scale farming and supporting local businesses. Founded in 2022, Bigfoot Cannabis is a micro-business that includes retail, traditional manufacturing, and its own farm just a few miles from the shop. The farm, situated along the Trinity River, grows cannabis in native soil under the sun. This small-batch, handcrafted cannabis is the essence of Bigfoot’s house brand, which is featured prominently at their Willow Creek store. Bigfoot Cannabis only carries sun-grown products from small local farms, ensuring that their shelves reflect the best that Willow Creek and Humboldt County have to offer. Bigfoot does not carry any indoor or corporate cannabis, standing firmly in support of local families and their farming operations. Some of the farms featured in the store include Love Notes, Sunrise Mountain, Emerald Queen, Willow Creekside, Terp Mansion, Sol Spirit, High Totem, Talking Trees – all representing the spirit of community and camaraderie that defines the Humboldt County cannabis industry. Willow Creek’s unique microclimate, located about 50 miles from the coast and nestled behind the mountains, creates an ideal environment for growing cannabis. This area is known for producing some of the highest-quality cannabis in Northern California, as well as other crops like peaches and wine grapes. In fact, Willow Creek is one of the few places in Northern California to have its own wine AVA designation due to this microclimate. The connection to Bigfoot folklore adds another layer to the story. The town is famous for the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film, which allegedly captured footage of the elusive creature near Bluff Creek. Willow Creek has celebrated its ties to Bigfoot with the annual Bigfoot Daze festival since the 1960s, and the local Bigfoot Museum, located just across the street from Bigfoot Cannabis, serves as a reminder of this unique cultural heritage.

• NUG in Oakland, United States

  
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  This landmark celebrates the story of education, activism, and the pioneering spirit of Oaksterdam and the Oakland cannabis community. The building NUG is now located in was the original home of Oaksterdam University, a global epicenter for cannabis education and activism. Oaksterdam’s roots trace back to the mid-1990s, when Jeff Jones founded the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, helping to lay the groundwork for California’s medical marijuana legalization in 1996. In 2007, visionary activist Richard Lee formalized Oaksterdam as a trailblazing educational institution. The university became a hub for the cannabis community, attracting students from around the world eager to learn about the burgeoning industry. The ribbon-cutting ceremony here, with pioneers like Jeff Jones, Dale Sky Jones, and Ed Rosenthal with city leaders, marked the beginning of a new era. Oaksterdam was more than just a school—it is the heartbeat of a movement. Oaksterdam’s impact extended beyond education. In 2010, Oaksterdam became the de facto headquarters for Proposition 19, the first adult-use legalization initiative of the modern era. Prop 19 became the campaign heard around the world, sparked the debate, and laid the foundation for successful legalization efforts across the U.S. Oaksterdam’s mission of ending cannabis Prohibition and supporting communities impacted by the War on Drugs remains central, a mission shared by the Landmark hosts at NUG. Oaksterdam’s community has played a key role in changing the world – advising and shaping legislation, ballot initiatives, and governance models nationwide. In 2012, a dramatic federal raid on the Oaksterdam downtown Oakland campus marked a turning point. The raid, documented in the award-winning film American Pot Story: Oaksterdam, moved the campus to online education. Oaksterdam University’s mission has never wavered, and today, the institution continues its mission through robust online training, providing top-tier professional development to cannabis industry professionals, regulators, and social equity entrepreneurs across the country. Continuing the Oaksterdam legacy, the basement level of 1600 Broadway now houses the NUG shop and lounge.

• Huckleberry Hill Farm, United States

  
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  The story of Southern Humboldt and Huckleberry Hill Farms is a story of resilience. It is a story of small rural farming communities coming together to support one another during the height of the War on Drugs era. As part of The War on Drugs era, the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting – known as ‘CAMP’ – was mobilized in 1983. CAMP was a task force of over one hundred law enforcement agencies that were dedicated to eradicating the cultivation and trafficking of cannabis in California. At that time, CAMP was the largest law enforcement task force effort in the United States, and southern Humboldt and The Emerald Triangle were the primary targets. In 1985 Operation Emerald Triangle was launched as part of CAMP’s efforts. According to the Humboldt Institute of Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research, the nickname Emerald Triangle was soon widely adopted and used to identify this legacy cannabis region located in northern California. The 1990’s were defined by Operation Green Sweep, another CAMP effort that included a series of historic raids conducted by the U.S. Army soldiers, National Guardsmen, and federal agents. Operation Green Sweep marked the first time in the history of the United States that military force was used against its own citizens in a drug enforcement operation. Due to CAMP efforts, Johnny Casali of Huckleberry Hill Farms served time. In 1992, when Casali was just 24 years old, he was busted for illegal cannabis cultivation and spent the next 17 years of his life in and out of the federal court, prison, and probation systems. His cannabis story is like that of many others in his community who were severely penalized under the mandatory minimum prison sentencing guidelines utilized during the decades-long War on Drugs. Since 1971, the War on Drugs has cost the United States an estimated $1 trillion according to the University of Pennsylvania. By 2015 the federal government spent an estimated $9.2 million daily to incarcerate people charged with drug-related offenses, which equates to more than $3.3 billion annually according to the Center for American Progress. You can visit Huckleberry Hill Farm as part of a farm tour with Humboldt Cannabis Tours based in Eureka (also a Cannabis Trail landmark). About the Farm: Huckleberry Hill Farms started from John Casali’s single-family home between the two small communities of Briceland and Whitethorn in Southern Humboldt County. John grew up on this very piece of property with his mother and stepdad starting in 1968. He grew up learning to uphold the legacy that began with the Back to the Land Movement of the 60s and 70s, that it was utmost important to take care of the land and the environment in which they lived. John grew up following his mother around, growing cannabis, veggies, and tending an orchard from the age of 10. It was their way of life. Devastatingly, In 1992, Johnny was 24 years old, enforcement on the “war on drugs” was heavy, John and his best friend were caught by the feds for cultivating cannabis. Johnny served 17 years fighting for this magical healing plant. The time includes 4 years of court, 8 years of federal prison, followed by 5 years of probation. Present day, Huckleberry Hill Farms was proud to be the fourth existing Farm in Humboldt County to be fully permitted, by the county as well as the state of California. Johnny now shares the farm with his loving girlfriend, Rose Moberly, and their family of farm animals. The two strive to “make a difference” in people’s lives with their farm tours, community outreach, and advocacy to normalize the plant, and its people.

• Hemp Connection in Garberville, United States

  
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  Marie Mills’ life represents a story of bravery, vision, sustainability, and earth stewardship.

• Flore Dispensary Castro in San Francisco, United States

  
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• Humboldt Cannabis Tours in Eureka, United States

  
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  This landmark honors the story of The Hippie Trail and the work of Douglas Fir and Lawrence Ringo in Humboldt.

• Plantshop, United States

  
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  This landmark honors the story of the back-to-the-land movement in Mendocino County.

• Harborside Oakland Dispensary in Oakland, United States

  
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  This landmark honors the story of the visionaries of Harborside in Oakland.

• Sol de Mendocino in Mendocino, United States

  
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  This landmark honors the story of the Constitutional rights, Pebbles Trippet, activism and Sol de Mendocino.

• Area 101, United States

  
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  This landmark honors the story of Area 101, Tim Blake and The Emerald Cup.

• The Bohemian Chemist, United States

  
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  This landmark honors the story of Landrace cultivars, rare cannabinoids, the terroir and cultural cannabis heritage of Anderson Valley, at Sugarhill Farm and The Bohemian Chemist.

• Root'd In The 510 Equity Weed Dispensary in Oakland, United States

  
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  This landmark honors the story of education, equity and community in Oakland at Root’d in the 510.