Green Qween, West Hollywood’s first queer-owned cannabis dispensary brings a vibrant mix of bold aesthetics, cultural reverence, and community focus to the city.
West Hollywood, long a beacon for queer culture, had yet to see a gay-owned cannabis dispensary until Green Qween arrived. Located at 802 San Vicente Boulevard, the space is a striking blend of art and activism, featuring a five-foot disco ball, a mural by queer artist Patrick Church, and signage that reads, “Pass Joints, Not Judgment.” It’s a dispensary that feels like a celebration of queer resilience and creativity.
Andrés Rigal, co-founder of Green Qween, emphasizes the queer community’s foundational role in the cannabis industry. “The cannabis industry owes so much to queer activists and people living with HIV/AIDS who fought for medical access when it wasn’t safe or legal to do so,” Rigal says. “That history is often glossed over in today’s profit-driven market. It’s not a footnote. it’s the foundation.” He cites Dennis Peron, who established the San Francisco Buyers Club during the AIDS crisis, as a key figure whose legacy informs Green Qween’s ethos.
The dispensary prioritizes equity by amplifying LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-owned brands. “Equity isn’t a trend, it’s the architecture,” Rigal says. “We don’t just give shelf space to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC brands. We help them grow.”
Walking into Green Qween is an immersive experience. The air carries the scent of cannabis, light dances off the disco ball, and bold colors frame the space. Rigal, drawing from his 20 years in queer nightlife, designed the dispensary as a sanctuary. “Green Qween was always meant to feel like a portal, a sensual escape that nods to the past, reflects the present, and invites us to imagine a more radiant future,” Rigal says. “This isn’t just about weed. It’s about the nights that saved us, the aesthetics that shaped us, and the kinship that carries us.” The design isn’t just aesthetic—it’s intentional. “Nightlife raised me,” he adds. “From the disco ball to the lighting that shifts with the rhythm of the day, every detail tells a story. This is a sacred space.”
Rigal teamed up with Tristan Schukraft, a serial entrepreneur known for ventures like MISTR and The Abbey, West Hollywood’s legendary nightlife venue. Schukraft sees Green Qween as part of a broader mission to empower the LGBTQ+ community economically. “Visibility is important,” he says, “but ownership is power. We can’t just be the talent; we have to be the landlords, the investors, the decision-makers.” Schukraft’s portfolio spans nightlife, healthcare, and hospitality, and Green Qween adds cannabis to that legacy. “It’s about creating spaces where our community thrives,” he adds.
While Pride Month increases Green Qween’s visibility, Rigal and Schukraft are clear: their commitment isn’t seasonal. “‘Queer all year’ isn’t our catchphrase, it’s our commitment,” Rigal says. “We reinvest in LGBTQ+ nonprofits year-round. We hire from our community. Rainbow capitalism thrives on performative gestures. We’re here with intention.” Green Qween’s three locations—Downtown LA, Sherman Oaks, and West Hollywood—each reflect this ethos, blending local queer culture with a focus on cannabis equity.
The absence of a queer-owned dispensary in West Hollywood until now speaks to broader industry trends. “It says more than we’d like to admit,” Rigal notes. “Cannabis went corporate fast. In that shift, the very communities who fought for access, queer people, BIPOC trailblazers, trans pioneers, were pushed to the margins. We lost our seat at a table we helped set.” Green Qween’s opening, backed by unanimous approval from the West Hollywood Business License Commission, marks a step toward reclaiming that narrative.
Schukraft dreams of expanding Green Qween into a national network of queer-owned cannabis spaces, integrated with his other ventures. “Stay at The Tryst, have a cocktail at The Abbey, get dinner at The Canteen, protect yourself with MISTR, and get your cannabis from Green Qween,” he says. “It’s not just a business plan, it’s a whole LGBTQ+ ecosystem.” For aspiring queer entrepreneurs, Schukraft’s advice is direct: “Don’t wait for permission,” Schukraft advises. “Build your own table. Our community has always been made of artists, hustlers, and revolutionaries. Keep that legacy alive.”
Green Qween is more than a dispensary—it’s a testament to queer ownership, a bridge to the industry’s activist roots, and a space where culture and cannabis spark something new, with its West Hollywood location poised to resume operations later this month.
Lol at trying to reinvent the wheel. I miss “my guy”
the only thing weed shops bring to weho are crime
Good luck to the Green Qween.
“bold aesthetics, cultural reverence, and community focus to the city.”
It’s a pot store people!
Can someone explain why Green Queen was allowed to have a mural painted on their building while Roosterfish was denied any mural on theirs?
Just another pot shop claiming to be for the community while the goal is to exploit people’s weaknesses for their personal gain.
So how is queer owned different than gay-owned?
The race to the bottom is almost complete.
quickly reaching the finish line to become lowest common denominator.
‘race to a bottom’ is the guiding sentiment that governs this city