A Dose of Pop Culture: Celebs Who are Weed Advocates

Over the years, many celebrities have supported and advocated for the legalization of marijuana. All kinds of movie stars, musicians, and athletes that smoke weed are coming out of the woodwork to promote their love for cannabis.

As more US states legalize cannabis, there seems to be a correlation of outspoken love for weed from big names in the entertainment industry. Some of these celebrities and stars instantly come to mind, and others may come as a surprise. Today, many more public figures freely speak about their passion for cannabis. Let’s dive into who these well-known stoners are. 

Snoop Dogg 

Snoop Dogg, formally Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.,  is a rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. As one of the most recognized celebrity stoners, his affinity for toking has spanned decades and has influenced his music. He has plenty of songs about marijuana, including this jam, Smoke The Weed ft. Collie Buddz. 

As an entrepreneur, Snoop is a proud investor in Eaze, a cannabis delivery business in California. The company’s mission is to provide medical marijuana to people in 10 minutes or less. He has also created an online media marijuana news source, which he appropriately named Merry Jane. Snoop Dogg didn’t stop there. He also established a line of legal cannabis products and brought them to market in 2015 under the brand name, Leafs by Snoop.

In a Reddit AMA back in 2012, Snoop claimed that he was smoking around 80 blunts each day. He also reportedly has someone on staff that he pays $50,000 a year to roll his blunts and joints. His passion for weed has left quite a mark on Snoop Dogg’s career and image. 

Bob Marley 

Robert Nesta Marley, known professionally as Bob Marley, was a popular Jamaican singer and musician credited as the pioneer of reggae. In the 1960s, he converted to the Rastafari faith and began to use cannabis regularly. As a Rastafarian, he believed that weed promoted health and allowed him to meditate and dabble in philosophy. 

He was an activist and supported the legalization of ganja. Much of his music was inspired by his love for kaya, the Jamaican word for marijuana. He even had a famous song named Kaya with his group, Bob Marley & the Wailers.

Lady Gaga 

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, who goes by the stage name of Lady Gaga, is a famous singer and actress. Over her years of fame, she’s been known to change up her image and showcase her extensive vocal range.

Lady Gaga has been an advocate for marijuana, as she has been known to use medical marijuana to help manage the chronic pain from her fibromyalgia diagnosis. 

In 2013, she was featured in an interview on the Z100 Morning Show with Elvis Duran, when she said that she was addicted to weed and was smoking 15 joints every day. She uses cannabis to battle her pain, mental distress, and anxiety due to her level of fame. 

On her 2013 album, Artpop, she wrote a song, Dope, about her personal addiction. She also credits cannabis with helping her get to a creative space to write songs and perform. 

Willie Nelson 

Willie Hugh Nelson is best known for being one of the greatest country musicians of all time. He is also an actor, author, and activist for the legalization of cannabis. Willie Nelson is a co-chair on the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). After being arrested for weed possession in 2010, he established the TeaPot Party with the motto “Tax it, regulate it and legalize it!”

His concerts and shows have been marijuana-related. In fact, during the pandemic, he hosted a variety show, “Come and Toke It.” He has also written an autobiography, with the title, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings for Marijuana. Nelson’s affinity for weed doesn’t stop there. In 2015, Willie Nelson founded Willie’s Reserve, a new cannabis company to offer his legendary stash to other weed connoisseurs. 

He enjoys writing and singing about cannabis, as shown by two famous hits, It's All Going to Pot featuring Merle Haggard and Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die. At a young 88 years old, Willie Nelson’s passion for weed still ignites his creativity.

Miley Cyrus 

Miley Ray Cyrus, born Destiny Hope Cyrus, is a singer known for her unique raspy-sounding voice and an actress and a television personality. She’s released music across all genres, from pop, rock, and hip hop to country pop and experimental. 

Miley has been very adamant about openly supporting the legalization of weed and has been candid about her own personal use of the herb. 

In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, she stated that weed was “the best drug on earth” and referred to marijuana as a “happy drug.” Also, in 2013, at the MTV Europe Music Awards, she famously smoked a joint on stage during her performance. More recently, in 2019, Miley invested in Lowell Herb Co., a marijuana brand in California. 

Bob Dylan 

Born Robert Allen Zimmerman, Robert (Bob) Dylan is a famous songwriter and vocalist. His legendary career has spanned over 60 years, and his music is largely inspired by marijuana. His song Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 features the lyrics, “Everybody must get stoned.”

He did an interview for Playboy magazine and was asked about his drug use. His response included, “But opium and hash and pot–now, those things aren’t drugs. They just bend your mind a little. I think everybody’s mind should be bent once in a while.”

Bob Dylan was associated a bit with the Beatles and cannabis, and legend has it that he introduced the Beatles to marijuana. Later, he protested the deportation of John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono after they were condemned for weed possession.

While he mostly stuck to folk, country, and rock genres, Dylan dabbled in Gospel music after becoming a born-again Christian. He returned to his county and rock roots influenced by cannabis shortly after. 

Seth Rogen 

Seth Aaron Rogen is a famous Canadian celebrity. Rogen is a writer, actor, and comedian. He is very passionate about decriminalizing cannabis and is a member of NORML. He’s played a stoner in many films, and the characters are probably not too far off from his personality in real life. In 2019, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg established Houseplant - a new Canadian cannabis brand. 

Lil Wayne 

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. goes by his stage name, Lil Wayne, and is a famous rapper. He’s often referred to as one of the best rappers with his significant influence on hip-hop. One of his songs, Kush, references the type of cannabis that originates from the Hindu Kush mountains.

He’s known for his tattoo art covering the majority of his skin and is pictured often smoking a blunt. In 2019, Lil Wayne created a marijuana brand, GKUA Ultra Premium. 

Jim Belushi 

James Adam Belushi is a famous actor, musician, comedian, and businessman. Belushi has been open about his love for marijuana over the years. In 2020, Jim Belushi created a series, Growing Belushi, showcasing his Oregon cannabis ranch farm. You can watch the TV series on Discovery+. 

Whoopi Goldberg 

Caryn Elaine Johnson, known as Whoopi Goldberg, is a famous actress, author, comedian, and TV personality. She’s one of only 16 winners ever to receive an EGOT which is when you’ve received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. 

She’s been passionate about marijuana for years. In 2016, she co-founded Whoopi & Maya, a medical marijuana brand that produces cannabis for women’s menstruation and cramps. Unfortunately, this brand no longer exists today, but women can seek a medical marijuana card to purchase medical cannabis from their local dispensary.

She’s said that she used to be a functioning drug addict in the past. Before she accepted her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the movie Ghost, she said that she smoked weed.

Cheech & Chong 

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong comprise the famous comedic duo of the 1970s and 1980s. Their comedy was mainly sourced from the hippie and free love movement and marijuana. 

Recently, in 2018, Cheech & Chong were guests on Stephen Colbert’s talk show, and they talked about how they disliked that weed is not seen as a rebellious drug. During this interview, they made a joke that their future standups would no longer be about marijuana but rather things that are still illegal. 

Woody Harrelson 

Woodrow Tracy Harrelson, famously known as Woody Harrelson, is both a playwright and an actor. He was an early member of the NORML advisory board supporting the legalization of marijuana. He hasn’t let his 2007 arrest for cultivating weed stop him in his passion for legalizing the plant. 

While this list doesn’t nearly begin to cover all the famous celebrities who enjoy partaking in a smoke sesh or using CBD products on the regular, these are a few of our favorites. The range of ages of these public figures also gives a little insight into how different generations perceived weed. Some enjoy medical marijuana for their medical conditions, and others are outspoken about the federal legalization of marijuana in the US. 

Who is your favorite celebrity cannabis advocate? Find me on social media, and let’s get this conversation started!