How do we document the stories that algorithms often erase? Join Cannabis Club for an interactive workshop exploring the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity, cannabis culture, and the art of the archive both digital and analog. Drawing from our model of community building, we begin with a communal meal to foster connection before diving into a critical examination of how we tell our stories. We will contrast the rapid, censored landscape of digital content against the enduring power of physical media, discussing how each medium shapes our understanding of queer/trans life and cannabis history. By looking at curated materials from the One Institute and leveraging the expertise of the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector, we will investigate how we can move beyond mere consumption to become active stewards of our own histories.
In the second half of the program, participants will transition from dialogue to creation, crafting handmade materials that document personal narratives of cannabis experience and self-discovery. This workshop functions as a living archive: we will reflect on the necessity of primary source documentation in preserving authentic queer and trans realities. Following the event, participants will be invited to contribute their work to a limited-edition zine, a collaborative project that merges traditional zine-making with data visualization to memorialize our collective experience. Whether you are here to share a story, analyze the trends, or curate a memory, join us in building a record that is as bold, diverse, and potent as our history.
Participant Bios
Madison Hernandez (she/her/ella) is the eldest daughter of Mexican parents. Her passions include storytelling with data and connecting with people about shared cultures. She is a Community Scholar with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is currently studying Data Science at Los Angeles City College. Her research with UCLA led to the first-ever comprehensive report on Cannabis Workers in California (High Stakes). Her abstract art has been showcased by Neta Zine and Art Share LA. In her position as a museum worker, she works with young students through a Smithsonian affiliation. Ella se encanta a nadar y fumar al cannabis.
Potent Histories: Cultivating Queer Cannabis Narratives in the Digital-Analog Archive is organized by Creative Carefully Selected Gatherings as a part of the 2026 Circa: Queer Histories Festival, presented by One Institute.