It’s reefer madness in the US right now, with pot legalisation (literally) high on the political agenda. Although Ohio voted against it last week, 23 states have approved some form of lawful marijuana use, with six more on the verge. So which celebrities are wading into the weed debate? Here’s our handy spliff-shaped scale to show who’s wacky-backing it and who’s throwing a whitey of disapproval…
Snoop Dogg
Last week the herbal hip-hopper launched his own range of pot products, Leafs by Snoop. “As the world’s first mainstream cannabis brand, LBS is blazing a trail,” he drawled. Blunt baron Snoop already owns a “marijuana media platform” called Merry Jane and a weed delivery company, Eaze.
Nick Lachey
The ex-member of boyband 98 Degrees and star of reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica (with then-wife Jessica Simpson) is a surprising pro-pot campaigner. He’s a leading investor in the ResponsibleOhio legalisation campaign and, as co-owner of a 29-acre weed farm, stood to make millions if the state voted yes - but last week, it said no.
Melissa Etheridge
The rootsy Kansas rocker says medicinal marijuana got her through her battle with breast cancer. She’s now a “ganjapreneur”, developing a line of cannabis-infused wines that reportedly deliver “a full body buzz”.
Bob Marley
The reggae icon died in 1981, of course, but Privateer Holdings (founded by three Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, one of whom has never smoked pot) persuaded Marley’s family to license his name and image. With dreadlocked Bob as the “Marlboro Man of marijuana”, Marley Natural is seeking market domination.
Susan Sarandon
The all-round awesome actor admits to getting high at every awards ceremony she attends (“except the Oscars”, presumably out of respect) and serves on the Marijuana Policy Project advisory board, alongside Bill Maher and Jack Black.
Morgan Freeman
The whispery actor says criminalisation of weed is the “stupidest law possible”. Who could disagree with the man who plays the president and God on a regular basis?
Rihanna
Self-styled “bad girl Ri-Ri” is the world’s highest-profile female dope smoker and supporter. She’s not politically involved but spreads the word by posting Instagram pics of gigantic joints under the hashtag #legalizeit to her 29 million followers.
Willie Nelson
The country stalwart is a committed skinner-upper and has his own independent cannabis brand, Willie’s Reserve. However, the 82-year-old’s worried about monopolies, opposes it going corporate and is now “waging war on Big Pot”.
Tina Brown
The publishing powerhouse and Diana biographer is anti-legalisation from a productivity perspective, arguing: “Legal weed contributes to us being a fatter, dumber, sleepier nation, even less able to compete with the Chinese.”
Pope Francis
“I like the Pope, the Pope smokes dope,” went the classic student poster. Not the current pontiff, who’s against legalisation, proclaiming: “No a ogni tipo di droga” (No to every type of drug). He was also an active opponent while a bishop in his native Argentina. Chill out, your holiness.
