After almost a century of worldwide prohibition, vilification, and propaganda, the truth about cannabis is resurfacing. This highly medicinal herb is making a comeback, and is rapidly being accepted back into mainstream society as a legitimate medicine and safe recreational substance. Having recently been associated with lazy hippies and couch-dwelling stoners, cannabis is now being perceived completely differently in the public eye. High-level businessmen, academics, and celebrities are “coming out of the closet” and being honest about their cannabis use, changing public perceptions for the better.
Here are 10 celebrities you may not realise are open about their cannabis use.
1. LADY GAGA
Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is an American singer-songwriter and performer known for her incredibly popular songs "Just Dance", "Bad Romance", and "Born This Way". Gaga was born in New York City in 1986 to a family of Italian Americans. Music has been part of her life since she was a young child, and she began rocking stages during her teenage years. She got a taste for college life and studied at New York University before dropping out and dedicating her life to music and performance. Lady Gaga's love of weed was made apparent during the documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two, in which she talks about her fibromyalgia issues and relationship with cannabis. She's also known for her famous smoking session in front of Beyonce.
2. MIKE TYSON
Mike Tyson is a household name who earned his fame from his boxing success, having won WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles. Tyson defied the odds to climb the ladder of success, having grown up without a father and living within high crime areas. He started his boxing career strong with two gold medals at the junior Olympics. Tyson is a great example of a top-tier athlete who uses cannabis, and it’s now known he used the herb before one of his bouts with Andrew Golota in 2000. Tyson has recently fully embraced his love for cannabis and started his company Tyson Ranch, which prides itself on pesticide-free and hand-harvested crops.
3. JENNIFER ANISTON
Jennifer Aniston is most well known for her role as Rachel on the hit TV show “Friends”, and for her former marriage to movie star Brad Pitt. A highly motivated star, Aniston is a businesswomen and film producer as well as an actress. She has received numerous awards for her acting roles, including a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award. She has also starred in highly successful films such as Bruce Almighty, The Break Up, Marley and Me, and Just Go With It. Aniston is known for her moderate use of cannabis, stating that she is no pothead, but enjoys the occasional smoke every now and then.
4. HUGH HEFNER
Hugh Hefner is primarily known for his founding of the Playboy empire and the many pictures of him in robes surrounded by scores of attractive women dressed as bunnies. However, there is more to Hefner than initially meets the eye. He was a huge advocate of first amendment rights, and his highly controversial work helped to shift the conversation about sex from taboo to mainstream. Hefner also played an important role in cannabis legalization, helping to establish the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, more commonly known as NORML, and donating large sums of money to the cause.
5. WOODY HARRELSON
Woody Harrelson is widely known for his work as an actor, having starred in the films Zombieland, War For The Planet Of The Apes, Now You See Me, The Hunger Games, and many more. Away from his superb acting skills and comedic genius, Harrelson is a big advocate for cannabis freedom. In fact, he was arrested in 1996 for staging a protest in the state of Kentucky where he proceeded to plant 4 hemp seeds into the ground. Harrelson also sits on the advisory board of NORML, where his fame and prestige are used to advance the cause.
6. WHOOPI GOLDBERG
Another household name, Whoopi Goldberg is an actress, author, TV host, and activist who has starred in such classic films as Sister Act, The Lion King, and Made In America. She’s been hugely successful in her career, having been nominated for 13 Emmy Awards and being one of only a select few to EGOT—that is, win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. Goldberg has a huge soft spot for weed, so much so that she owns her own medical marijuana business, Whoopi & Maya. She believes in the healing properties of cannabis, and experienced them first-hand as the herb helped her deal with the symptoms of glaucoma. Goldberg has made numerous public statements about cannabis as medicine, describing it as an effective alternative to pills and opioid medications in some cases.
7. MORGAN FREEMAN
The man behind the soothing voice that has narrated various movies and TV series, Morgan Freeman is a legendary actor. Born in the pre-civil-rights south of the United States on 1st June, 1937, Freeman has been actively acting since the tender age of 9, and won a state drama competition at just 12. He went on to experience stardom, featuring in films such as The Shawshank Redemption, Invictus, The Dark Knight, and Bruce Almighty. When digging a bit deeper into this interesting individual, you’ll soon find out about his passion for cannabis. He is a vocal advocate for legalization and has stated his belief that cannabis should be federally legal within the US.
8. SARAH SILVERMAN
Sarah Silverman is an American stand-up comedian, actress, producer, and writer. Born in Bedford, New Hampshire in 1970, Silverman has seen great success resulting from her dark sense of humour, winning 2 Primetime Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades. She has also seen success on the big screen, starring in the hit films School of Rock, A Million Ways To Die In The West, and Who's the Caboose? She started her stand-up act at the young age of 17, although she looks back on these performances with a cringe. Silverman is a known cannabis lover, and has shared stories of hitting the bong with her dad.
9. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Arnold Schwarzenegger has seen wave after wave of success in his life, from cementing his name as legend within the bodybuilding scene to acting in films such as The Terminator, Total Recall, and The Predator. In more recent years, Schwarzenegger has stepped into the political domain, securing his role as the 38th Governor of California. Schwarzenegger has consumed cannabis for much of his working life, famously blazing up after winning the Mr. Olympia contest of 1975. During his time in office, Schwarzenegger introduced legislation that laid the groundwork for cannabis legalization within the state of California.
10. RICHARD BRANSON
Richard Branson is most known for his immense success within the world of business. The man has accumulated a net worth of $4.1 billion via his Virgin brand, which encompasses travel, telecommunications, and even commercial space flights. What Branson isn’t as well known for is his cannabis advocacy. He has made public his support for cannabis legalization and has even openly stated that there is nothing wrong with a parent sharing a spliff with their kids, as opposed to forcing them to do it in secret. He is in direct opposition to the war on drugs and believes drug abusers need help as opposed to prosecution.
