From 1970s stoner comedians to millennial pop stars, there are plenty of famous stoners we all know – and a few you probably didn’t realize were such cannabis connoisseurs!
A certain queen of England? A famous author? A former president? A Hollywood starlet? These famous icons from history all enjoyed a puff from time to time (some, more often than others!) Here are twelve of the most famous stoners from history and how they made their mark.
History’s Famous Stoners
These famous stoners come from all different walks of life. Some built their fame in the music industry, others were leaders of countries, and some were famous stars in Hollywood. But one thing they all have in common? They all got high.
1. Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong
We can’t make a list of the most famous stoners from history without mentioning this iconic duo. So, why not start off with good old Cheech and Chong?
These comedians are arguably the pioneers of the now-popular genre of stoner comedy. They set the stage for the hilarious on-screen antics that can hardly be recreated without using some tried and true bud.
The pair rose to fame in the 1970s with stand-up comedy routines and radio performances that had stoners and non-stoners alike rolling with laughter. Their reputation lives on today as two of the most famous stoners in history.
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2. Miley Cyrus
The famous pop star is no stranger to the world of cannabis. Miley Cyrus is known for smoking weed in her spare time. In 2013 she even surprised fans by lighting one up on stage! The recently-turned thirty-year-old singer and actress happens to enjoy the feel-good culture that comes with smoking weed.
In 2020, Miley famously went through a sober phase, where she gave up smoking and any other substances. She shared that she didn’t like smoking while she was working because she didn’t feel as “alert”. But by 2021, she revealed that she was getting back into her love of weed!
Do what you love, Miley.
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3. Snoop Dogg
When you live your life according to the philosophy of “smoke weed every day”, there’s no denying that you’re one of the most iconic stoners in history. Rapper and producer Snoop Dogg is one of the most beloved stoners alive.
And if you’re not convinced that this star is a stoner, here are a few reasons that prove Snoop really loves the ganja.
- He has a line of cannabis strains and accessories called Leafs by Snoop.
- There’s a strain named after him called Snoop’s Dream.
- He “eats” blunts for breakfast.
- His MTV show was called Mary + Jane.
Snoop Dogg is, without a doubt, one of the biggest stoners out there. When asked how MUCH he smokes, he’s shared that he smokes 81 blunts per day. Though that number might be slightly exaggerated, we wouldn’t be that surprised.
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4. Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson
These comedy writing geniuses were never shy to let their love of cannabis shine through on their hit show “Broad City”. The narrative of their show centers around a coming-of-age story of two women in their twenties, living in New York City and smoking weed nearly daily.
Abbi and Ilana get into all sorts of hilarious situations that they’ve shared come from real-life moments in their friendship. Their characters and presence changed the game for women being authentically themselves in their writing – making mistakes, getting messy, and being funny.
All in all, we sure wouldn’t mind smoking a joint in Central Park with these ladies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coH-y1Qefxk&ab_channel=JimmyKimmelLive
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5. Hunter S Thompson
The quintessential writer and character of the beatnik generation, knew his way around cannabis. Hunter S. Thompson, author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, could often be found at 1970s parties with a joint in hand – and as many later attested to, wasn’t shy about sharing.
The iconic journalist goes down in history as one of the most well-known stoners. Biographer E. Jean Carroll noted in her book that the author would smoke weed every day at 6 pm to “take the edge off” and again at 11 pm before settling in to write. Thompson had a way with words and an even greater love of grass (and other recreational substances).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsRqLcD-1sE&ab_channel=UGABrownMediaArchives
6. Lil Wayne
“Well of course I smoke mad weed, I’m on my high horse.”
It doesn’t take a detective to deduce from this rapper’s lyrics that weed is a big part of his daily routine. Lil Wayne is as iconic a stoner as they come. And if his lyrics aren’t proof enough, in 2016, he kicked off the High Times Cannabis Concentrates Cup Show by lighting up a joint on stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FK-y33xBmo&ab_channel=ChilledHub
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7. William Shakespeare
The Bard with a blunt? Say it be not so.
That’s right; famed English playwright William Shakespeare enjoyed a touch of marijuana now and then. It’s fun to imagine old Bill sitting down, feather and ink in hand, to write one of the classics like Hamlet or Macbeth, and taking a puff of cannabis as he puts pen to paper.
We can’t confirm with certainty that Shakespeare smoked weed, but a chemical analysis of pipes from Shakespeare’s home found traces of 400-year-old marijuana. Now at least, we know what inspired those creative ideas and timeless characters.
8. Willie Nelson
The singer and cannabis icon revealed that he started smoking weed when he was around twenty years old and never stopped. At age eighty-five, he was still puffing away. We may as well call him the Grandfather of Grass.
And not only was Willie Nelson a consumer of cannabis, but he was also an activist who supported legalization for years, advocating for cannabis laws and the rights of stoners. He owned a cannabis brand and even wrote a book called Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.
Now THAT’S a die-hard fan of pot.
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9. Bob Dylan
It’s well-known that the “Blowin’ in the Wind” singer was a fan of weed. In the 1960s, the singer famously turned the Beatles onto the world of cannabis. Bob Dylan reportedly introduced the stars to weed while they were staying at a hotel in New York’s Delmonico Hotel.
Of that fateful night that launched a new era for the band, John Lennon said: “I don’t remember much what we talked about. We were smoking dope, drinking wine, and generally being rock’n’rollers and having a laugh, you know, and surrealism. It was party time.”
Though an avid smoker, Dylan was also known to be terrible at rolling joints. Too bad he didn’t have access to the Budmail pre-rolled joints!
10. Abe Lincoln
Being the POTUS ain’t easy. Let’s face it; it’s probably one of the hardest jobs. So, we can probably assume that some of the forty-six leaders have consumed cannabis to deal with all that anxiety and stress – or just to relax after a long day of running the free world.
Evidence also indicates that Abe Lincoln enjoyed cannabis. A 1955 letter shared that one of his favourite pass times was smoking a pipe on his front porch full of… wait for it… hemp. We’ll just leave it at that.
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11. Bob Marley
For reggae singer Bob Marley, smoking weed was about more than recreation or even therapeutic properties. Marley practiced Rastafarianism, a religious practice that sees smoking weed (or “ganja”) as a spiritual practice.
Cannabis culture, blended with the use of weed for Rastafarians, was a big part of Bob Marley’s music and identity. Several well-known photographs of the performer smoking weed have graced the walls of many dorm rooms. It goes without saying that Bob Marley remains one of the most influential and iconic stoners of all time.
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12. Seth Rogan
We couldn’t complete this list of the top famous stoners without a mention of Seth Rogan. Is there even a Rogan movie that doesn’t involve him talking about weed or smoking a joint on camera? Seth has played some famous stoners in movies, too. Movies like Pineapple Express and This Is The End come to mind as great stoner flicks that blend cannabis and comedy.
As far as his personal life goes, Seth Rogan isn’t afraid to let the world know that he lights up daily.
“I smoke weed all day and every day and have for 20 years. For me, it’s like glasses or shoes.” – Seth Rogan
13. Wiz Khalifa
This rapper knows how to put on a show, which typically includes lighting up a joint on stage – and maybe even passing it around. He even had a tour called Blazed and Dazed. The star smokes daily and is known to spend a heaping amount of his hard-earned bucks on cannabis products – around $10,000 per day!
He worked with The Cookie Company to develop and sell a strain called Khalifa Kush, from which he earns a profit… and hopefully now smokes free of charge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB44HdBZrz8&ab_channel=WizKhalifa
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Bonus – Queen Victoria
This might be a long shot, but some believe that the stoic and long-reigning monarch of the British Empire, Queen Victoria, was a stoner. Queen for almost seventy years, Queen Victoria was known for her steady and reliable nature.
Some historians believe, thanks to notes made by her avant-garde physician, that Queen Victoria would consume cannabis to help combat painful menstrual cramps. She would, apparently, enjoy Indica stains of weed for relaxation and pain relief.
Famous Stoners in History
From presidents and queens to rappers and writers, cannabis culture, is one that permeates every creative field and doesn’t discriminate by type or person, or era. All that matters is a love of weed, and all of these famous stoners had it.
What did you think of these famous stoners from history? Is there anyone you would add to the list?
Sources:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/33487/hunter-s-thompsons-daily-routine
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-shakespeare-smoke-pot-180956223/
https://www.beatlesbible.com/1964/08/28/bob-dylan-turns-the-beatles-on-to-cannabis/
https://www.celebstoner.com/news/celebstoner-news/2020/10/25/seth-rogen-weed-like-shoes-glasses/
