The Most Famous Cannabis Advocates in the World
Active advocates for medical cannabis legalization are often attributed characteristics such as unemployed, drug addicts, porn actors, etc.
Greasy hair, dreadlocks, headphones on ears, and loud music. These are common stereotypes associated with the term "stoner". Why exactly these dubious attributes arose remains a mystery even for us.
Not only do statistics show that approximately 42% of Americans and an even higher percentage of Czechs openly admit to consuming cannabis as a medicinal herb, but some cannabis smokers have subsequently become some of the most successful people in our society. In reality, among cannabis activists, we find many famous names and world personalities. We are not talking about Willie Nelson or Snoop Dogg, as cannabis belongs to music like a musical instrument. Among musicians, we find many personalities and names who did not keep their love for cannabis secret but publicly embraced it.
Let us mention just a few world-famous cannabis activists who are not often heard of and who may surprise you in many cases.
Sir Richard Branson
While the title "Sir" before his first name may place him in a very elite society, this is not the case. Sir Richard Bronson is the 236th richest person in the world and is the founder of the multinational company VIRGIN, which includes almost everything from airlines to mobile phone stores. This person earned his currently multi-billion dollar fortune from absolute zero. Not only did he smoke marijuana publicly with his now 21-year-old son, but he also publicly stated that there is nothing wrong with smoking marijuana and even said that if it were legally possible, he would start a business in the cannabis industry.
Rick Steves
His name has become synonymous with all European travels. Rick Steves is the author of 27 best-selling European travel guides, host of his own TV show and radio show. He is a member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Aaron Sorkin
Sorkin might seem more of a "drug addict" at first glance than a typical "stoner". He began using cocaine in the late 80s and was also arrested for marijuana possession in the USA in 2001. His work on The West Wing, both as a writer and producer, earned him several Emmy Awards and countless nominations for many other awards.
Michael Phelps
This American athlete has more Olympic medals than anyone else in sports history. Yet he was caught by the media smoking cannabis from a bong. Since this media scandal, Phelps has given several interviews where he apologized and defined his actions as a "bad judgment". Personally, we think he had no choice other than to apologize to the international sports commission, as he would have been immediately condemned as a drug addict as an athlete. Certainly, it was not the first time, definitely not a bad judgment, and we are almost certain it was not the last time.
Barack Obama
Almost every American president from Bill Clinton to G.W. Bush smoked cannabis in their youth. Bill Clinton allegedly smoked marijuana in his youth. G.W. Bush was the black sheep of the family when he also played around with cocaine. He reportedly even grew cannabis plants on his farm in Washington. But so far, no one has been as openly admitted to smoking marijuana as the current American president Barack Obama. He published much of his past in his book "Dreams of My Father" and in 2007 even stated in an interview: "When I was a little boy, I inhaled frequently. And that was the point."
Michael Bloomberg
The mayor of New York City is always associated with business and success, not failure. But if you are one of those who think a "stoner" is always useless, you might be surprised by Michael Bloomberg. Are you wondering if he smoked weed when he was younger?
In his own words: "You bet I did. And I enjoyed it very much!"
Ted Turner
Ted is a rare breed of billionaire. Despite being a mega-billionaire. He invented the 24-hour news cycle on CNN, was named Man of the Year in 1991 in the USA, is the largest private landowner in America, and also owns several other TV stations.
What would you expect from someone who grew cannabis in his college room when he was young? He is currently also the main sponsor of the cannabis museum in Kentucky, along with actor Woody Harrelson.
Montel Williams
This prince of various American talk shows discovered the power of cannabis relatively late in his life and for a different reason. In 1999, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and could not find anything to suppress the severe symptoms of this disease. He tried to use conventional medicines to suppress the unbearable pain, but none of them worked 100%, and Montel Williams began to suffer from side effects. So he decided to try medical marijuana, and a miracle happened in his life.
A few years later, Williams is one of the most famous defenders of medical cannabis legalization. Despite his incurable disease, he managed to host several more quality talk shows until 2008 when his show was unfortunately canceled.
Stephen King
We have not yet mentioned many artists and writers on this list. Mostly because almost all artists experiment with cannabis. Almost every musician and artist is also simultaneously a big "stoner".
Writing thousands of pages of novels is truly an admirable art that requires sound judgment and reason. Throughout his career, his performance and success were unparalleled. He is the author of more than 50 novels and stories, which have sold 500 million copies worldwide. He is also one of the loudest advocates of marijuana legalization.
"I think marijuana should not only be legal, but I also think home growing is not a crime."
Arnold Schwarzenegger
The current governor of California is probably the only man on this list who was filmed smoking cannabis. In the classic documentary "Pumping Iron", Arnold is seen inhaling cannabis from a rolled cigarette.
Schwarzenegger was not an active advocate of legalization since his election, but he presided over the recent Californian renaissance in medical cannabis legalization. Now, anyone who wants to grow a small amount of cannabis in California has access to the best cannabis strains in the country and can even grow plants in their own garden. According to Arnold, marijuana is not a drug, it's just a leaf.
Marijuana is still a drug in our country, and its production and further distribution are against the law!