Marijuana references in Trek

[c3bhm]

Wow - just saw "For the World is Hollow" (ToS), and there was an UNDENIABLE weed reference in it that blew me away.

There was otherwise ZERO plot purpose for how the old free-thinker dude toward the beginning offers them an 'herb' that some of the locals find 'strengthening'. The old dude gives it to them like it's something he normally carries around and uses, and the context of it was that it strengthens the mind against the thought-control pain that gets triggered by their god/computer whenever people try to think outside 'The Matrix'.

It's claimed that Roddenberry smoked reefer, big time, so this has GOT to be his slyest reference possible to slip passed the ultra strict censors of network TV at that time.

Wow. So cool.

So - anyone else know of any pot references, from any of the series (or movies)? I'm betting that most of the major writers/producers for ALL of the various series are smokers. Probably less so for the shallower shows like DS9, V & STE, but certainly for TNG.

 

[Solarbaby]

DS9 shallower? Are you having a spliff right now?

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

Just when you think you've seen every which thread topic and variant thereof - along comes this, pot references in Star Trek!

 

[Alienesse]

Why do 'pot' and 'Star Trek' in the same sentence sound bad, yet funny?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

DS9 shallower? Are you having a spliff right now?

Nah, he's just not drinking the Kool-Aid.

 

[barnaclelapse]

Just when you think you've seen every which thread topic and variant thereof - along comes this, pot references in Star Trek!

I'm sure this hasn't been the first time.

 

[DevilEyes]

I can't think of any other direct allusions to weed, but "This Side of Paradise" seems to ne inspired/allude to the 60s drug subcultures.

DS9 shallower? Are you having a spliff right now?

Nah, he's just not drinking the Kool-Aid.

Man, you gotta get your story straight. One moment you're saying that DS9 is 'pretentious', next it's 'shallow'. Pick one already and stick to it! This way it just looks like you're just throwing random insults that don't make sense...

Oh, and I think there's no Kool-Aid left, the folks who think Roddenberry was a god have already drunk all of it.

 

[flemm]

DS9 shallower? Are you having a spliff right now?

Nah, he's just not drinking the Kool-Aid.

It's funny you should mention that because the spliff + Kool-Aid combination is actually my preferred choice while rewatching DS9 episodes... usually grape, but fruit punch is quite good for relieving the indigestion during Ferengi comedies.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Man, you gotta get your story straight. One moment you're saying that DS9 is 'pretentious', next it's 'shallow'.

Oh dear, you actually think those are in contradiction - don't you?

Some of the shallowest entertainment - and people - can be the most pretentious. But if one is not inclined to see that, then I suppose some pretty trivial stuff that takes itself seriously can seem impressive.

 

[Mr Silver]

It's claimed that Roddenberry smoked reefer, big time, so this has GOT to be his slyest reference possible to slip passed the ultra strict censors of network TV at that time.

Hmm...I dunno where this was "claimed", Roddenberry was quite the opposite, he detested smoking of any kind, during TOS he banned the likes of Shatner, De Kelley and Jimmy Doohan from smoking on set between takes,

In fact Roddenberry's view of smoking was so disaproving that he tried to get Nicholas Meyer to remove the "No Smoking" sign from the Kobayashi Maru Simulator Bridge Set in TWOK, claiming that "In the 23rd century, smoking would be unheard of"

Later Meyer claimed that "Its going to take more than 300 years for Earth to kick their smoking habits", likewise we saw in future films that the occasional character smoked, heck we saw Kirk take a couple of drags of some Alien Cigar in TUC

 

[SonOfMogh]

Based on current knowledge how long do we think it'll take before smoking is unheard of?

I'd say Roddenberry was right, virtually nobody I know smokes any more. It's also generally acknowleged as a bad thing by smokers, most of whom at least say they're trying to quit.

 

[faino]

Based on current knowledge how long do we think it'll take before smoking is unheard of?

I'd say Roddenberry was right, virtually nobody I know smokes any more. It's also generally acknowleged as a bad thing by smokers, most of whom at least say they're trying to quit.

Wow, "virtually nobody" you know smokes? Where do you live? I might move. I'm allergic to cigarette smoke.

 

[Campe]

I stopped smoking about seven years, but I still do know plenty of people who do. Then again, when you work in legal and your hobby is community theatre, one can understand why I'm surrounded by it. Last time I tried to have a cigarette, I almost barfed.

 

[Frontier]

...likewise we saw in future films that the occasional character smoked, heck we saw Kirk take a couple of drags of some Alien Cigar in TUC

I'm fairly certain from Kirk's somewhat surprised expression after taking a puff of such that it was meant to be a semi-subtle indicator that said cigar was not laced with tobacco, so much as other substances.

Isn't Chakotay's sacred vision quest thing powered by a hallucinogenic herb of native american origins? I know in modern times something is smoked to achieve that type of thing, like a vision quest.

Based on current knowledge how long do we think it'll take before smoking is unheard of?

I'd say Roddenberry was right, virtually nobody I know smokes any more. It's also generally acknowleged as a bad thing by smokers, most of whom at least say they're trying to quit.

I think Gene would be very pleased to see how far we've come in eliminating the smoking of cigarettes. I'm not quite sure, but I think in WW2 something like 80% of the population smoked. Now, only 19% due. Total reversal in 60 years or so. Not half bad.

The key IMHO has been in not trying to outlaw it, but simply in promotion of health information combined with barring it from specific locations. The combination has been quite effective in the US.

There will always be a portion who continue to do such for their own reasons. But I think within the next 20 years, we might see the numbers go from 19% down to below 10% -- and I think if marijuana legalization measures succeed it will help things along. Marijuana seems to cause far fewer health concerns than either tobacco or alcohol, and the side-effects seem to be more pleasant. Have you ever known a "mean stoner" like you know a "mean drunk"?

Also, the FDA now has control over what will be going into cigarettes for the first time in history. So the next year or two should hopefully see some radical changes to the dangerous chemicals the companies have been adding for decades, reducing the addictiveness and harm of such, if we're lucky.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Isn't Chakotay's sacred vision quest thing powered by a hallucinogenic herb of native american origins?

Actually, he uses some kind of technological device for that purpose. No, I don't get it either.

 

[Mr Silver]

Regarding, Chakotays "Whatever" lol

I'd imagine since he presses his hand against it, it delivers some kind of stimulation to whatever causes hallucinations, he did say in one ep, IIRC that it does the same thing as Native American concoctions without the effects of taking Recreational Drugs

I have a funny feeling that this thread may be locked, I wouldn't want this to happen, imo its an interesting subject, contemporary Drug references in Star Trek, however I think the restriction to just "Marijuana" is too vague, perhaps the OP would like to rename their thread "Drug References In Star Trek" ?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

DS9 shallower? Are you having a spliff right now?

Nah, he's just not drinking the Kool-Aid.

This really isn't necessary right now.

 

[DevilEyes]

Man, you gotta get your story straight. One moment you're saying that DS9 is 'pretentious', next it's 'shallow'.

Oh dear, you actually think those are in contradiction - don't you?

Some of the shallowest entertainment - and people - can be the most pretentious. But if one is not inclined to see that, then I suppose some pretty trivial stuff that takes itself seriously can seem impressive.

Oh, of course they can - only in this case, DS9 was neither, and since I don't think you'd ever be able to prove that it was either - which is probably why you aren't even trying to offer any actual arguments - proving that it's both seems like a waaay too big a task for you, you know? Better stick to just one if you want to be taken seriously. Well, if you want to try to be taken seriously.

Then again, you probably aren't trying to be taken seriously, or else you wouldn't be posting silliness like "that's because he's not drinking the Kool-aid"... so just carry on.

 

[JoeD80]

Hmm...I dunno where this was "claimed"

Robert Justman mentions in "Inside Star Trek" that Roddenberry was experimenting with marijuana at the time.

 

[The Wormhole]

Although not a specific referance to marijuana, there was that scene in DS9's Past Tense when Kira and O'Brien beamed into the 1960s, met those two hippies, and then beamed away in front of them. The hippies just stare and say "whoa..."

The hippies were likely stoned.