Quotes from famous people, movies and other influencers can be incredibly meaningful and can often tell us a story about life, who we are and where we are going – and weed quotes are no exception.
Over the years, there have been many quotes about weed that have left us pondering their meaning and understanding an overall narrative.
We’ve decided to choose our favorites for you to read through. Got one in mind? See if it’s on our list!
Harry Anslinger
Harry Anslinger was one of the most prominent people behind the prohibition of cannabis and was in favor of prohibition of any mind-altering product, including alcohol.
He was the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and was infamous for his racially intolerant views.
One of his most famous quotes was “reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men”.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley, a man who needs no formal introduction and is one of the most famous people when we think of weed. One of our favorite quotes of his is:
“When you smoke herb, herb reveal yourself to you.
All the wickedness you do, the herb reveal itself to yourself, your conscience, show up yourself clear, because herb make you meditate. Is only a natural t’ing, and it grow like a tree”.
John Ehrlichman
John Ehlrichman used to be an advisor to former president Richard Nixon, but after his position terminated, he was quoted as saying:
“We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or blacks, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities.
We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course, we did”.
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was and still is one of the most famous musicians of all time. We’ll always recognize and remember his music, but also one of his most poignant weed quotes:
“Marijuana is a thousand times better than whiskey. It’s an assistant, a friend”.
Joe Rogan
If you’ve ever listened to the Joe Rogan podcast, you’ll be all too familiar with his love of weed and his outspoken views on the ridiculousness of its illegality in some places. Perhaps this quote sums it up best:
“People say you can abuse cannabis… shit, you can abuse cheeseburgers too, but you don’t see them shutting down McDonald’s”.
Morgan Freeman
When it comes to meaningful quotes, Morgan Freeman would be on any list, and this one is no exception. When talking about weed’s medical properties, he said:
“I have fibromyalgia pain in this arm, and the only thing that offers any relief is marijuana.
They’re talking about kids who have grand mal seizures, and they’ve discovered that marijuana eases that down to where these children can have a life. That right there, to me, says, Legalize it across the board!”
Carl Sagan
Many of you will be familiar with the astrophysicist Carl Sagan, but many people are unaware of his stance on things like cannabis. In one of his books, he mentions:
“The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world”.
Doctor Andrew Weil
Doctor Andrew Weil is a well known physician who has often discussed his views on alternative medicines and other medical thoughts. He wrote:
“Some people have said that the aggressiveness that alcohol stimulates, and that is certainly the characteristic of alcohol, is consistent with Western values and Western culture.
Whereas, for example, the more introspective, meditative, reverie kind of state that marijuana produces, or opium produces, seems more consistent with some of the Eastern cultures than with Western cultures.
Maybe some of our discomfort with those drugs has to do with that feeling that this is culturally out of sync with us”.
Hunter S. Thompson
Doctor Thompson is possibly the most famous journalist of all time with some incredibly memorable works such as “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” which was later dramatized as a movie starring Johnny Depp.
The movie portrayed a lot of Hunter’s views on drugs and alcohol. He often spoke of these views elsewhere too, such as:
“I have always loved marijuana. It has been a source of joy and comfort to me for many years. And I still think of it as a basic staple of life, along with beer and ice and grapefruits – and millions of Americans agree with me”.
What Do These Quotes Tell Us?
There are many ways you can take these quotes. From those who are vehemently against the plant, to those who are largely in favor of it.
Seemingly, we can note that those with a vested interest in banning cannabis will vilify the plant and support its prohibition, whereas others find its illegality and ban laughable.
Joe Rogan for example describing the proven dangers of fast food – and yet hardly anything is done to ban that.
Some of these people have made huge names for themselves and can attest to the medical, mental and social benefits of weed – so we should certainly take some credence to their words.
Summary
Weed quotes can make us see the world in a very different political light and understand the general narrative of who prefers its prohibition and who doesn’t.
Hello, my name is Tom Bowler and I have been interested in the studies of cannabis for years. My brother and I have been testing out different strains and smoking techniques since we were in our early 20s, so we have some knowledge to impart on anyone willing to listen.
This website is a safe space for people genuinely interested in cannabis to learn in a judgment-free zone. We’ll look at the different ways it can be smoked, rolling techniques, strains, and much more.
So, stay a while and get acquainted with the world of cannabis - it’s not as dark and scary as the rest of the internet would have you believe.
