The High History of the Cannabis Brownie

Before dispensaries had display cases and before weed was whispered about in wellness circles, there was a woman with a wooden spoon and a cause. Her name was Mary Jane Rathbun—though most folks came to know her as Brownie Mary. And whether you believe in fate or simply the power of a woman with a mission, there’s no denying she baked her way into cannabis history one fudgy square at a time.

A Kitchen Revolution in an Apron

Back in the mid-1950s, while much of America was busy with gelatin molds and casserole dinners, Mary Jane was quietly experimenting with something a little less...traditional. She started folding marijuana into brownie batter long before the word “edibles” became a staple of stoner vocabulary. Her early batches were more underground than gourmet, shared among friends and fellow believers in cannabis’s therapeutic power.

But it wasn’t until the 1980s that her baking would become both a political statement and a lifeline.

Brownies with a Purpose

During the height of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, Mary Jane began volunteering at the San Francisco General Hospital’s ward for AIDS patients. What she saw—men wasting away, in pain, overlooked by the system—compelled her into action. And as she had done for years, she turned to her kitchen. Her marijuana brownies weren’t just a soothing indulgence—they were medicine. Relief from nausea. Hunger in the face of wasting. A moment of sweetness in devastating days.

At her busiest, she was baking more than 4,000 brownies a week, each one lovingly wrapped and distributed to patients in need. Arrested multiple times for her efforts, Mary Jane wore her courtroom appearances like badges of honor. Her apron became armor. Her brownies, a radical form of care.

A Brownie That Changed the Conversation

Brownie Mary wasn’t just a baker—she was a pioneer in cannabis activism. Her compassionate care helped shift the narrative around marijuana, especially in California. She lobbied for legalization, testified before lawmakers, and helped lay the groundwork for Proposition 215, the 1996 law that made medical marijuana legal in the state.

And all of it started with a batch of homemade brownies.

A Legacy That Still Rises

Today, the cannabis brownie is practically a cultural icon. It’s a nostalgic nod to the counterculture, a symbol of care, and a quietly rebellious snack that still packs a punch. You can find them infused with everything from full-spectrum extracts to gourmet sea salt and single-origin cocoa. But somewhere in every bite, there’s a whisper of Brownie Mary.

A reminder that sometimes, change starts in the kitchen. With a mixing bowl. A wooden spoon. And a little weed.

Brownie Mary-Inspired Classic Cannabis Brownies

Makes: 12–16 brownies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25–30 minutes

Dose: Approx. 10–15 mg THC per brownie, depending on potency of cannabutter used

What You'll Need

½ cup (1 stick) cannabutter, melted and slightly cooled (see note)

½ cup unsalted butter, melted (for richness and balance)

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup brown sugar

3 large eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

¾ cup all-purpose flour

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks (optional, but delightful)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together both butters, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and glossy.

3. Add in the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Stir in the vanilla extract.

4. Sift in the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir gently until just combined—don’t overmix.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips, if using.

6. Pour the batter into your prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.

7. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until the top is set and a toothpick inserted comes out with a few fudgy crumbs.

8. Let cool completely in the pan before slicing into 12 or 16 squares.

Dosing Note:

If your cannabutter is 200 mg THC per stick (½ cup), using ½ cup in this recipe gives you a total of 200 mg for the whole batch. Divide that by how many brownies you cut:

12 brownies = ~16 mg each

16 brownies = ~12.5 mg each

Always start low and slow if you're new to edibles. Store extras in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.