Elevate and Evolve | Cannabis & Psychedelic Culture Blog
Like his mentor Carl Sagan, Neil knows the universe is best explored and appreciated while stoned.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is a beloved astrophysicist, and this hilarious spoof of his show Cosmos let’s you in on a little secret: Watching it is better high.
And don’t forget, Neil knows where to get the good shit.
When the “War on Drugs” was spreading paranoia in the 80s, stoner characters were typically written as brainless surfers. These stoner roles represent the best part of getting baked: having fun with your friends.
The monkey is in charge after Alex and Dante combine different strains of powerful weed.
Sometimes a dealer can have too many customers.
Recruited by a scientist to fulfill a prescription, Thurgood (Dave Chappelle) picks up a pound of medical grade cannabis.
Slater’s stoned monologue voices his opinions on music, American history and aliens.
Floyd (Brad Pitt) gets a visit from the mob while getting baked.
Floyd wants to be treated with respect….maaaaaan.
Stoners love to share, Smokey (Chris Tucker) can’t wait to get his friend stoned on his day off.
There’s a thin line between dealer and friendship.
German Nihilists interrupt The Dude’s relaxing toke bath in his private residence.
Harold & Kumar spend a day in Amsterdam with their stoner girls.
Pranking your best friend with acid is encouraged by Cheech and Chong in this scene from Up in Smoke.
Piñata is a collaborative album by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib. Entirely produced by Madlib, the 17-track LP features Raekwon, Danny Brown, Domo Genesis, Ab-Soul, Casey Veggies, and more.
Piñata is “a gangster Blaxploitation film on wax”. I will show you my flaws, I’ll show you what I’ve done wrong and what I’ve fucked up at. I don’t regret shit, but I’ll show you the things I’m not proud of. I’m about to show niggas how to rap again. – Freddie Gibbs
Madlib, self-aware of his style as a producer, has said that Gibbs is one of few rappers who could handle a complete project produced by him:
My stuff, it ain’t fully quantized… it has more of a human feel, so it might slow down or speed up. So you have to be the type of rapper, like MF Doom or Freddie, who can catch that, or else you’ll be sounding crazy.
Gibbs admits it was a challenge rapping over beats with chops and changes as unpredictable as the man who created them, but says with confidence “I think I did it to perfection.”
This track was produced by M-80 but it’s one of Gibbs’ best so we had to include it.
Newly published research suggests that Marijuana use can relieve the intense discomfort of social exclusion.
Marijuana has been used to treat physical pain, and the current findings suggest it may also reduce emotional pain. – Research team led by University of Kentucky psychologist Timothy Deckman
Deckman and his colleagues are building on two lines of recent research: One that shows the pain of social exclusion is more intense than previously believed, and another revealing that physical pain and emotional pain travel similar pathways in the brain.
The first incorporated data on 5,631 Americans, who reported their level of loneliness, described their marijuana usage (if any), and assessed their mental health and feelings of self-worth. Not surprisingly, the researchers found a relationship between loneliness and feelings of self-worth, but it was significantly weaker for regular pot smokers.
Another experiment, featuring 537 people, found those who were experiencing social pain were less likely to have suffered a major depression in the past year if they smoked pot relatively frequently.
Those who smoked marijuana relatively frequently felt less threatened than those who smoked it less frequently, or not at all.
Together, these studies show that “marijuana use consistently buffered people from the negative consequences associated with loneliness and social exclusion,” Deckman and his colleagues conclude. But buffers are of limited usefulness.
In that sense, avoiding social pain by smoking pot does not necessarily address its root cause. It does work, at least for a while, but it’s also a way to avoid dealing with the underlying issue.
If you are dealing with social exclusion, I recommend consistent meditation and an open, honest inner dialogue. This has helped me find the true cause of underlying issues I was unaware of consciously. A psychedelic trip under the right conditions and with a positive inquisitive mind-set was also very helpful.
In the end remember to do whatever feels right for you, and don’t hesitate to ask for help.
> Pot Relieves Loneliness | PS Mag
Doug Benson invites his stoner comedian friends on Getting Doug with High for a weekly smoke session. The podcast starts with a ceremonial toke circle with the guests getting to choose their favorite method of getting stoned from Doug’s wide selection of tools.
Doug gets into the High History of each guest to reminisce about the first time they met Mary Jane. As eyes get heavier and smiles get wider, Doug unleashes random games and magic tricks to trip out his guests.
Adam, Blake, and Anders from join Doug Benson on an episode of Getting Doug with High to talk about how cannabis influences the humor behind their hilarious show, Workaholics.
Doug Benson is back with another episode of Getting Doug with High with a VERY special guest, stoner legend Tommy Chong.
Doug Benson welcomes Reggie Watts, Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson (from Broad City) to the show.
Doug Benson is joined by Ari Shaffir, host of the comedy story telling show This is Not Happening for another episode of Getting Doug with High.
Getting Doug with High broadcast live from Largo in Los Angeles with guests Eric Andre, Rory Scovel, Harris Wittels (Parks and Rec, Eastbound and Down), Jonah Ray, and Steve Agee.
Our first set of Getting Doug With High includes appearances from Joey Diaz, Aubrey Plaza, and Jeff Ross.
Cooking doesn’t get much easier! But don’t let the simple two-ingredient recipes fool you, these are some delicious munchies.
Ingredients:
4 large or extra large eggs
8 1/2 ounces Nutella (weigh this out on a scale)
Directions:
Recipe via Kirbie Cravings
Ingredients:
10oz. Ghirardelli white chocolate chips
15 regular size Oreos, plus 3 more for topping
Directions:
Line an 8×8 pan with enough parchment or wax paper for a 1 inch overhang on each side.
Recipe via Bakers Royale
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds sirloin
Large pieces of fat removed
1/2 cup whiskey
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
Fine Sea Salt and Freshly Cracked Pepper (to taste)
Directions:
Recipe via Savory Experiments
Ingredients:
1 cup chocolate chips
2 tbsp. coconut oil (can substitute butter or shortening)
Directions:
Recipe via Cooking Actress
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sheets puff pastry, defrosted
Directions:
Recipe via Food Network
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup creamy garlic hummus
black pepper + lemon juice to taste
Directions:
Add lemon juice and black pepper over top to serve.
Customize it! If you are not a garlic fan, you can use any variety of hummus, including lemon, chili, roasted eggplant, olive, parsley and more.
Recipe via Babble
Ingredients:
1 Box Vanilla Wafer Cookies (such as Nilla Wafers)
2 Cups mint white chocolate candy melts
Sprinkles (optional)
Directions:
Recipe via In Katrina’s Kitchen
Ingredients:
1 cup milk (per preference)
1 1/2-2 tablespoons Nutella
Directions:
Recipe via Shockingly Delicious
Ingredients:
2-parts Ginger Ale
1-part Mustard
(Example: 2/3 cup ginger ale for 1/3 cup mustard)
Directions:
Recipe via The Thrifty Couple
Ingredients:
1 Package of Crescent Rolls
Package of Kraft Singles
Directions:
Recipe via Come Together Kids
> Super Simple Recipes | Crazy Food
Evidence suggests that legalizing marijuana could make the roads safer, reducing traffic fatalities by encouraging the substitution of marijuana for alcohol.
A major reason to doubt the premise that more pot smoking means more deadly crashes: Total traffic fatalities have fallen as cannabis consumption has risen; there were about 20 percent fewer in 2012 than in 2002. Perhaps fatalities would have fallen faster if it weren’t for all those new pot smokers. But there is reason to believe the opposite may be true, that there would have been more fatalities if marijuana consumption had remained level or declined.
While marijuana can impair driving ability, it has a less dramatic impact than alcohol does. A 1993 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for example, concluded:
The impairment [from cannabis] manifests itself mainly in the ability to maintain a lateral position on the road, but its magnitude is not exceptional in comparison with changes produced by many medicinal drugs and alcohol.
Drivers under the influence of marijuana retain insight in their performance and will compensate when they can, for example, by slowing down or increasing effort. As a consequence, THC’s adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small.
Given these differences, it stands to reason that if more pot smoking is accompanied by less drinking, the upshot could be fewer traffic fatalities. Consistent with that hypothesis, a study published last year in the Journal of Law and Economics found that legalization of medical marijuana is associated with an 8-to-11-percent drop in traffic fatalities, beyond what would be expected based on national trends. Montana State University economist D. Mark Anderson and his colleagues found that the reduction in alcohol-related accidents was especially clear, as you would expect if loosening restrictions on marijuana led to less drinking. They also cite evidence that alcohol consumption declined in states with medical marijuana laws.
A study published last month by the online journal PLOS One suggests that the substitution of marijuana for alcohol, assuming it happens, could affect crime rates as well as car crashes. Robert G. Morris and three other University of Texas at Dallas criminologists looked at trends in homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and auto theft in the 11 states that legalized marijuana for medical use between 1990 and 2006.
While crime fell nationwide during this period, it fell more sharply in the medical marijuana states, even after the researchers adjusted for various other differences between states. Morris and his colleagues conclude that legalization of medical marijuana “may be related to reductions in rates of homicide and assault,” possibly because of a decline in drinking, although they caution that the extra drop in crime could be due to a variable they did not consider.
> More Pot, Safer Roads: Marijuana Legalization Could Bring Unexpected Benefits | Forbes
Seattle celebrates their legal cannabis anniversary and light up fat doobies in a tent.
This milestone marks the first time that a city has given a permit for stoners to toke up in a purely festive environment.
Seattle’s legal cannabis anniversary is a solidifying factor en route to country wide legalization; this celebration marks acceptance and integration into american life.
Despite popular belief, new findings from a team at the University of Minnesota suggest marijuana use at an early age may not be detrimental to cognitive skills.
The study, published March 12 in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, found that college students who used marijuana scored better on tests of processing speed and verbal fluency.
Marijuana users were high functioning, demonstrating comparable IQs to controls and relatively better processing speed. – Research Team
The study compared the performance of 35 non-users with 35 daily marijuana users who began using marijuana before the age of 17.
Marijuana use during this age span has been most strongly associated with cognitive impairment. – Research Team
All participants were university students between 18-20 years of age, and were told to abstain from using any substances for at least 12 hours before the study.
Interestingly, the two groups showed no significant differences in tests of working memory and verbal learning.
However, contrary to their better performance on other tests, marijuana users scored slightly lower on tests of motivated decision making, engagement and verbal memory.
Overall, the team concludes that the study provides “a comprehensive cognitive profile of college-aged daily marijuana users.” But they also warn that the results suggest a few “discrete” impairments associated with marijuana use.
The researchers say more studies should be conducted to pinpoint underlying factors.
> Marijuana Users Have Better Cognition | Leaf Science
Neil deGrasse Tyson in slow motion may go down as a pivotal moment in our history, the kind of revolutionary action that changes the course of human civilization forever.
Or it may just brighten your day and entertain you and your friends for a few minutes, no one can say for sure!
Public perception of cannabis is changing, it’s time to identify people who have used cannabis and achieved high levels of success or influence.
This list of stoners is based on “power to influence cultural and social attitudes, political clout, individual wealth, and a person’s media profile” – not just on popularity or support for marijuana policy reform.
For more public endorsements of cannabis, check out our list of influential people who actively support decriminalization.
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Jon Stewart, The Daily ShowDo you know how many movies I wrote when I was high? – The Daily Show |
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Bill Gates, MicrosoftAs for drugs – well, Gates was certainly not unusual there. Marijuana was the pharmaceutical of choice… – Bill Gates Biography |
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Lebron James, NBA SuperstarJames also revealed he and his teammates smoked marijuana one night after getting access to a hotel room in Akron. – ESPN |
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George Clooney, ActorThe owner of a local cannabis café told reporters George Clooney was no stranger there. – The Weed Blog |
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David Letterman, Late ShowI went through one period when I smoked a surprising, a really breath-taking, amount of grass almost every night. – Cannabis Culture |
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Robert Downey Jr, ActorRobert Downey Jr. said he started smoking weed at age 8. – NBC New York |
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Hugh Hefner, PlayboySmoking helped put me in touch with the realm of the senses. – Drug Policy |
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Stephen Colbert, The Colbert ReportFirst, [in high school], I smoked a lot of pot…and that’s how I got to know the people ‘half in’ the society of my high school and we waved at each other over the bong. Then I got to know people by making jokes. – SF Chronicle |
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Rihanna, SingerKush rolled, glass full… I prefer the better things! – Daily Mail |
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Johnny Depp, ActorI’m not a great pothead or anything like that… but weed is much, much less dangerous than alcohol. – Playboy |
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Oliver Stone, DirectorI went to Vietnam, and I was there for a long time. [Using marijuana] made the difference between staying human or, as Michael Douglas said, becoming a beast. – The Raw Story |
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Bill Maher, Real TimeLook, I have never made a secret of the fact that I have tried marijuana… About 50,000 times. – Youtube |
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Morgan Freeman, ActorNever give up the ganja. – The Guardian |
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Angelina Jolie, ActressThe one that has the worst effect for me was pot. I felt silly and giggly – I hate feeling like that. – Metro |
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Snopp Dogg, RapperIt makes me feel the way I need to feel. – Esquire |
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Matt Damon, ActorThe first time I smoked was at home with my mother and step-father. – Weed Quotes |
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Barack Obama, PresidentWhen I was a kid, I inhaled frequently. That was the point. – Youtube |
> Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users | Marijuana Policy Project
It is well known that Bob Dylan fully turned The Beatles on to cannabis.
In 1964 they were introduced by a mutual friend, the writer Al Aronowitz, at a New York Hotel. Upon arriving at The Beatles’ suite that evening, Dylan asked for cheap wine, and during the wait Dylan suggested they have a smoke.
The Beatles looked at each other apprehensively. “We’ve never smoked marijuana before,” the Beatles manager, Brian Epstein finally admitted.
Dylan looked disbelievingly from face to face. “But what about your song?” he asked. The one about getting high?”
The Beatles were stupefied. “Which song?” John managed to ask.
Dylan said, “You know…” and then he sang, “and when I touch you I get high, I get high…”
John flushed with embarrassment. “Those aren’t the words,” he admitted. “The words are, ‘I can’t hide, I can’t hide, I can’t hide…” – Peter Brown, The Love You Make
After the room was secured, Dylan rolled the first joint and passed it to Lennon. He immediately gave it to Ringo Starr, whom he called “my royal taster”. Not realizing the etiquette was to pass it on, Starr finished the joint and Dylan and Aronowitz rolled more for each of them.
The Beatles spent the next few hours in hilarity, looked upon with amusement by Dylan. Brian Epstein kept saying, “I’m so high I’m on the ceiling. I’m up on the ceiling.”
Paul McCartney, meanwhile, was struck by the profundity of the occasion, telling anyone who would listen that he was “thinking for the first time, really thinking.”
By the time they came to make Help! in 1965, The Beatles’ cannabis use had reached a peak. It affected their songwriting, which became mellower and more introspective. During the filming of Help! they were often stoned on set, which caused them to forget their lines.
The Beatles had gone beyond comprehension. We were smoking marijuana for breakfast.
We were well into marijuana and nobody could communicate with us, because we were just glazed eyes, giggling all the time. – John Lennon
Cannabis had a significant effect on The Beatles’ music. It found its way into a number of songs:
Described by Paul McCartney as “an ode to pot”
This track was condemned in some quarters due to its reference to getting high.
On 24 July 1967 The Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein added their names to an advertisement which appeared in the Times newspaper calling for the legalization of cannabis.
Sponsored by a group called Soma, the advertisement also demanded the release of all people imprisoned due to cannabis possession, and further research into the drug’s medical uses.
> The Beatles and Drugs | The Beatles Bible
