Terrie Best’s name has become synonymous with grassroots advocacy in America’s finest city: San Diego. A longtime activist and fierce defender of safe access to plant medicine, Terrie has consistently centered justice, compassion, and equity in her work, especially for those most harmed by the war on drugs.

Her recent leadership in the Roll Up for Equity campaign showcased her strategic brilliance and dedication to community mobilization. The campaign encouraged residents to submit postcards to city council members demanding a cannabis program rooted in equity and justice. That powerful movement evolved into a documentary of the same name, with Terrie serving as associate producer alongside Synergy Studios, further amplifying her advocacy through media.

After a decade of serving as chair of one of San Diego’s most active advocacy organizations, Americans for Safe Access, Terrie is now stepping into an advisory role. All the while, she continues to mentor and support new leaders and remains active in paving the way for the next generation of activists to take the bullhorn. One of those leaders, Shelby Huffhaker, now chairs the San Diego chapter of Americans for Safe Access. “Terrie served the community and also created an environment for others to rise,” Shelby shared. “Her legacy is in the people she empowered.”

Terrie Best remains a cornerstone in San Diego’s evolving cannabis justice and equity movements. Whether advocating at city hall, mentoring emerging leaders, or holding the system accountable, her work continues to push the conversation forward.

In the shifting landscape of cannabis policy, Terrie’s voice still rings loud and clear: equity is not optional, it is essential. And thanks to her enduring presence, San Diego is better positioned to keep building a cannabis industry that reflects the values of fairness and real community.