By Mitch Rice
For many, music and cannabis go hand in hand – whether that is making music while high, or listening to songs and letting the vibes flow over you, enhancing the listening experience.
Many musicians and bands have used and advocated cannabis throughout the years. Here are six of the most notable ones.
1. Cypress Hill
If there is one band that is synonymous with cannabis, it’s the progenitors of West Coast hip-hop, Cypress Hill. A lot of their songs are about smoking the herb, such as Hits from the Bong and I Wanna Get High.
And it’s common for fans to smoke weed openly during Cypress Hill gigs, even in places where cannabis isn’t legal.
When the band formed in the late 1980s, marijuana was a big part of the underground culture that the members of Cypress Hill were from.
But during the Reagan era of the War on Drugs, marijuana was lumped in with other illegal drugs. Of course, marijuana use was illegal and typically associated with hippy-culture even before Reagan, but his renewed War on Drugs ramped up efforts on prosecuting cannabis users. So, Cypress Hill wanted to make positive statements about consuming cannabis in their songs.
2. Louis Armstrong
Bands and musicians were consuming cannabis long before hip-hop came on the scene.
For instance, Louis Armstrong, who is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz, smoked marijuana throughout his life.
Even though there was a big anti-cannabis sentiment during the 1920s and 1930s, Armstrong was open about his consumption, and he often created music while stoned.
It wasn’t only for musical inspiration that Armstrong used cannabis – he also used it to help calm his anxieties, a testament to the medicinal properties of THC and CBD, whether from cannabis or hemp plants.
3. Bob Dylan
Marijuana began to be used much more widely during the swinging 1960s. It became a symbol of counterculture, and many musicians and bands of the day smoked marijuana. Of course, the available cannabis back then was what many folks today would consider ‘schwag’, but gosh darn it, they still had good times.
Arguably, The Beatles helped to make marijuana more acceptable in the 1960s. John, Paul, George, and Ringo were all open about using cannabis, including during songwriting sessions.
But if it hadn’t been for the king of folk Bob Dylan handing a joint to Ringo Starr, The Beatles may never have tried the weed. Subsequently, they wouldn’t have created some of their many famous and innovative songs.
Dylan found marijuana inspirational for creative thinking and music-making, and he has used the substance throughout his career.
His song Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, which contains the chorus “everybody must get stoned,” remains an anthem of stoner culture.
4. Ween
Returning to more recent times, the alt-rock band Ween has always been open about their love for marijuana – for the usual reasons: consuming weed can help people feel more relaxed and be more creative.
Ween has released a number of songs that celebrate consuming marijuana recreationally, including I Smoke Some Grass (And Get Really Really High), Puffy Cloud, and Pass the Bong.
Founding member of the band Dean Ween even opened a marijuana-friendly music venue called Honeypot Lounge in Denver.
5. Willie Nelson
In connecting music with the world of hemp-based products, country music stands at the forefront with influential figures like Willie Nelson.
It was in 1978 that Nelson turned his habits around, trading alcohol and cigarettes for regular cannabis use. The specifics of his preference between marijuana or hemp-derived products remain undisclosed.
The expansive edible market made from hemp derivatives showcases its diverse appeal. With choices ranging from gummies and taffy to marshmallows, candies, and cookies – all brimming with different cannabinoid profiles like THC, CBD, and hybrid blends, it’s an eclectic mix to consider.
To get a more comprehensive perspective on the wide-ranging edibles available in the market today, exploring a collection of Delta-9 products might prove enlightening – a detail that helps dispel common confusions about cannabis comestibles.
6. Bob Marley
Lastly, no list of music makers associated with cannabis would be complete without mentioning the reggae megastar Bob Marley.
Marijuana didn’t just help Marley to create some of the greatest songs ever written. For him, as it is for many Rastafarians from Jamaica, weed was part of his religion.
Not only did Bob Marley’s music change the world. His public celebration and advocacy of marijuana helped the humble plant to gain more mainstream attention around the world for its benefits.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
