Most of us remember a time when smoking weed was far less accepted.
If you smoked, you were seen as a loser.
Someone who would never amount to anything in life.
But over the past decades, that perception has changed.
And we have the portrayal of cannabis in pop culture to thank for that, especially the iconic moments listed below.
Thanks to these, and other, moments, most people now accept that you can smoke weed and still be a productive and successful member of society.
What were the key pop culture moments that helped bring about this change? Keep reading to find out.
Iconic Cannabis Moments In Pop Culture
Each of the following pop culture moments helped change the way society views marijuana and the people that consume it. They are presented in chronological order.
1932 Song – The Reefer Man by Cab Calloway & Orchestra
Cabell “Cab” Calloway, an American jazz singer celebrated for his dynamic scat singing, released the song The Reefer Man in January 1932. J. Russell Robinson wrote this song about a man who enjoys smoking marijuana cigarettes. The word reefer refers to a rolled joint or weed.
During the 1930s, cannabis was banned in 29 American states. It was also a time when the public perceived marijuana to be an illicit, dangerous drug.
However, many jazz musicians, like Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong, were quite vocal about the creative impact of cannabis on their art. Their music shaped the future relationship phase between weed, music, and the social revolution.
1936 Film – Reefer Madness
Reefer Madness was a propaganda film released in 1936. A church group financed it and it was initially titled Tell Your Children.
The film aimed to be a moral tale to educate parents about the dangers of cannabis use. It greatly dramatized the risks of marijuana and portrayed it as a substance leading to insanity, violence, and moral decay.
Reefer Madness significantly influenced public perception, fueled anti-cannabis sentiment, and influenced drug policy and public opinion for decades with its exaggerated claims.
1960s – Beatle’s Cannabis Usage And Their Iconic Songs About Weed
During the 1960s and 1970s, The Beatles significantly influenced the perception and use of marijuana through their music. Songs like She’s a Woman hinted at pot use, and Paul McCartney mentioned that he and John Lennon wrote The Word under the influence of marijuana.
Their open use and references to cannabis helped normalize it in pop culture, significantly impacting the cannabis industry and its acceptance in society.
Early 1960s – Bob Marley, Rastafarianism, And Jamaican Pop Culture
In the early 1960s, Rastafarianism and Jamaican pop culture significantly influenced cannabis use, viewing it as a spiritual practice. Bob Marley, a prominent Jamaican musician and Rastafarian played a crucial role in this.
Marley’s music and public advocacy for marijuana brought global attention to its cultural and spiritual significance. Marley was even arrested for possession, but he continued using the herb under his Rastafarian beliefs.
1960s – Pablo Picasso’s Art
Pablo Picasso’s art, including paintings like Men Smoking Pot, often showed people using cannabis. These artworks made marijuana seem more normal and accepted in pop culture. Picasso’s influence helped change how people saw cannabis, making it more popular and accepted during that time.
1967 – Dragnet – The Big High (Season 2, Episode 08)
Dragnet was a highly popular detective TV show in the late 1960s. The opinions expressed on the show often significantly contributed to and influenced public sentiments.
The show’s second season’s eighth episode, titled The Big High, played a significant role in cannabis perception in pop culture. It depicted a couple using marijuana and how their lives unravel due to their habit. The show went on to shape the broader societal view of cannabis use during the late 1960s.
1974 – Sanford And Son – Fred’s Treasure Garden
The Sanford and Son episode titled Fred’s Treasure Garden helped change how people saw marijuana. In the episode, Fred thinks he’s growing parsley, but it’s marijuana.
The show portrayed the effects of marijuana more realistically and positively, showing that it induced forgetfulness, kindness, and a craving for snacks. This episode made marijuana seem less harmful and more accepted in pop culture.
1978 – Cheech And Chong’s Film – Up In Smoke
Cheech and Chong, a comedy duo consisting of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, became iconic figures in cannabis culture with their 1978 film Up in Smoke.
The movie, a stoner comedy, humorously depicted marijuana use and the adventures of two pot-smoking friends. It played a significant role in normalizing cannabis depiction in movies. It even went on to pave the way for other stoner films that showed cannabis in a lighthearted, relatable manner.
Today, Tommy Chong, now 84, continues to influence the industry as one of the first celebrities to sell legal marijuana, cementing his legacy in cannabis history. In fact, both he and Cheech made my list of 9 must-follow cannabis influencers on social media.
1990s – Snoop Dogg’s Music
Snoop Dogg’s music further influenced the cannabis culture in the late 1990s. His songs, like the 1994 track Gin and Juice, openly talk about marijuana. This helped make cannabis use seem normal and accepted in the 1990s.
Snoop openly talked about loving weed and even said in an interview that he had smoked with a former president. His support and the way he talked about marijuana in his songs greatly changed how people viewed cannabis and made it more accepted in everyday life.
In 2015, Snoop founded his own cannabis company, Leafs by Snoop. He sells a variety of cannabis products, including flowers, edibles, and concentrates, all curated by Snoop himself. Leafs by Snoop aims to provide high-quality products for both recreational and medicinal use.
2005 – TV Show – Weeds
The TV show Weeds played a significant impact on weed in pop culture in the early-to-mid 2000s. The story follows Nancy Botwin (played by Mary Louise Parker), a widowed mother of two who turns to selling marijuana to maintain her lifestyle.
The show depicts the lead character’s involvement in the illegal drug trade as humorous. It brought cannabis use into mainstream conversations and challenged the stigma surrounding it. The dark comedy-drama is based on the life of Dr. Dina, who is considered the pioneer of the medical marijuana movement in Southern California
2018 – Weed Merch
You have heard of music merch, sports merch, and film merch, but did you know there is weed merch too? Yes, cannabis merchandise started becoming a thing in 2018, and top clothing brands like Cookies, Mister Green, and Sundae School have taken Los Angeles and other cities by storm.
To circumvent some federal laws about weed, many cannabis companies started offering cannabis merchandise, art, and accessories alongside their marijuana products and edibles.
For example, Seth Rogen’s cannabis brand, Houseplant, also offers ceramics, match boxes, lighters, and ashtrays. Many of these brands even have two websites – one showcasing their merchandise and the other their cannabis products.
Iconic Marijuana Pop Culture Moments: Final Thoughts
The way cannabis is portrayed in pop culture affects how society views it. The iconic moments listed above had the largest impact on the changing view of marijuana and its consumers.
Of course, there were many other moments that also made a difference. If you know of any other major pop culture moments that should have been included on this list, please let me know in a comment below. I would love to add them in a future update.
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