IN-PERSON SCREENING & TALKBACK EVENT
Co-presented by Guelph Black Heritage Society
Supported by Ronin Cannabis
Venue: Heritage Hall, 83 Essex Street, Guelph, ON
Tickets: $20 or PWYC
*Tickets sold separately. Online passes NOT valid for in-person screenings.*
FILM DETAILS
Following the widely praised 2016 decision to legalize cannabis in California, six courageous women emerge from the shadows to enter the new commercial industry. Lady Buds features second-generation cannabis farmer Chiah Rodriques, 72-year old African-American retired Catholic school principal turned dispensary owner Sue Taylor, Latinx queer activist Felicia Carbajal, serial entrepreneur Karyn Wagner, and Humboldt elders The Bud Sisters. Their stories speak to the many opportunities and issues facing commercial cannabis today: the complicated dynamics of raising a family on a cannabis farm, the ongoing fight for those adversely affected by the War on Drugs, educating seniors citizens about the healing power of cannabis, and honoring the LGBTQ activists who fought for legalizing medical marijuana over 25 years ago.
At every turn these trailblazers defy stereotypes, while revealing that cannabis is much more than a plant-it's a community.
TALKBACK DETAILS
Hosted by Kween & Guelph Black Heritage Society
Join Kween and fellow panelists as we discuss the impact of stigma in the medical and recreational cannabis space. The African Diaspora, Caribbean and the global majority are working passionately to end stigma, reduce harm, educate and see a change to cannabis convictions and amnesty.
Justin Reid
Justin (local cannabis expert) is an local spoken word artist and activist. He's also an educator and certified level ll Cannabis Sommelier. He's been featured on Business of Cannabis, TedXGuelph, RogersTv, Diversity Talks 'Black Canadians In Cannabis' and helped open some of the first and best running cannabis shops in Ontario. Now he helps manage one of the first and only BIPOC owned cannabis dispensaries in the city of Guelph.
He's worked in the medical cannabis space and consults for others while always advocating against the stigma of cannabis use and the expungement of non-violent cannabis records.
In his spare time, he writes poetry and has even had his work featured in the Guelph Civic museum. With a background in social and environmental justice, Justin is always striving to be a voice for those who need it.
Sarah Amoah
Sarah (local cannabis expert) is a University of Western student, in their last year of Criminology. She has recently accepted an offer to Conestoga for Community and Social Services Management, with intentions to complete a Master’s in Social Work. Sarah’s demographics of interest include youth and vulnerable women. She takes pride in being of Ghanaian- Canadian heritage. They have incorporated a passion for harm reduction, queer and BIPOC activism, and cannabis education into their career endeavours at a safe house for survivors of human trafficking and both recreational cannabis stores in their portfolio.
Sue Taylor
Sue (cannabis entrepreneur & film subject) was born in Jennings Louisiana in the '40s, the seventh of twelve children, moved at the age of 12 to San Mateo, California, just south of San Francisco. Sue became a teacher, and then a principal at two Catholic schools in the Bay Area. Sue studied many concepts of spirituality, and meditation at the divinity school which enlightened her about holistic living and pharmaceutical-free lifestyle. This was the reason that Sue founded a holistic spirituality center supported by a medical cannabis dispensary. Sue’s Dispensary is one-of-its kind as it incorporates, education, outreach certification (CEU’s) and cannabis retail. Sue Taylor is one of few in the state of California that is accredited by the state to teach two courses on Cannabis to medical administrators and nurses.
Sue is also an activist and a lobbyist locally and nationally. She has lobbied for the city of Berkeley and was instrumental in implementing many new Bills. In 2019, Sue lobbied to the house of Senate and Congress, in partnership with Oaksterdam University, to decriminalize cannabis for elders. Sue is an educator and an advocate for elders teaching the basics of cannabis and promoting the use of this natural remedy in leu of pharmaceutical drugs that has debilitated our elders and robbed them from their respect and dignity.
Kween
Thadinadonnih (Guelph) born and raised, University of Guelph Alumni, Valedictorian from the Randolph Academy for Performing Arts, Kween is a Black settler living out her passions. She is a dancer, teacher, actor, choreographer, director, producer, advocate, curator, marketing/social media guru, TedX International Speaker and co-contributing Author to 100 Women of Inspiration and The Stage Light Flickers.
Kween is the CEO and owner of The Kween Company and Co-owns The Heels Academy. Kween is the leader of Solidarity March in Support of BLM in 2020 and the Executive Director and Social Justice Initiatives Coordinator for Guelph Black Heritage Society. Kween is also host and community producer on Rogers Channel 20 with “Diverse and Converse”, a BIPOC panel discussion.
Kween held a Residency with Guelph Dance in 2020/2021, currently holds the title Woman of the Year 2020, nominee for RBC Women of Influence 2021, and nominee for Women of Inspiration 2021.