Marijuana references in Trek

[Admiral Buzzkill]

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...

This is nonsense. Roddenberry was a heavy smoker during the years that TOS was produced. In fact, years later when he proposed eliminating alcohol from "Star Trek Phase II" (yeah, he didn't come up with that idea just for TNG) he even made a point of the fact that he banned smoking from the screen in TOS despite his own smoking habit.

Roddenberry objected to portrayals of smoking and drinking in Trek on grounds of plausibility - his assumption that we'd continue to become saner and healthier as a society and as individuals in the coming centuries - and had nothing to do with
morality or with his own proclivities - read even the most fawning of biographies (that would be "Star Trek Creator") and you'll find at least passing accounts of his drug use. The further removed from GR's circle of adulation the writer is, the more extensive the catalogue of his indulgences becomes.

 

[Mr. Scott]

The Federation drunk guy on Nimbus III in ST:V was a smoker.

In "Little Green Men", Quark, Nog and Rom smell cigarette smoke for the first time and can't stand the smell and question why someone would use such a product, with Quark stating in the end that these people are so dumb that it would be easy to make a fortune there.

Roddenberry drank and smoked and died at a relatively young age. He was a highway cop back in the early 1960's when laws against cannibas were much more severe than they are now. A few joints was a felony and can warrant hard time. However, people in Hollywood tend to get away with whatever unless they are idiots (like Paris Hilton).

Roddenberry was right in that in the future no one would smoke. Think about the changes in health between the years 1970 and 2010. In 1970 over 50% of adults smoke, now it is less than 20%. People who have money tend to eat better and drink less alcohol. I honestly believe that fewer and fewer people in future generations will take up smoking, just because of the expense and prohibitions thereof.

 

[Destructor]

Well, the entirety of 'The Other Side of Paradise' can be seen as a metaphor for drug use.

You've got a community of people who are really happy as the result of a natural plant found in their environment but with the downside that they aren't motivated to do much other than sitting around being really happy.

 

[Gary7]

Heh, check out this video: Star Trek on Drugs.

 

[scotpens]

Don't forget that Harlan Ellison's original script for “The City on the Edge of Forever” had a character named Beckwith peddling some sort of illegal drug called “Jewels of Sound” to the Enterprise crew. Sounds like an oldies collection.

 

[T'Girl]

Well, the entirety of 'The Other Side of Paradise' can be seen as a metaphor for drug use.

You've got a community of people who are really happy as the result of a natural plant found in their environment but with the downside that they aren't motivated to do much other than sitting around being really happy.

I believe it was fairly obvious that the plants in this episode were exercising a degree of control over the folk who were intoxicated.

I remember people smoking in the bar (TSFS) where McCoy goes to hire a ship to take him back to Genesis. Now smoking what?

 

[faino]

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.

Well, I don't know if this counts as "shallow", but Meridian, season 3, is easily one of the worst Trek moments ever. SO over the top overdramatic. And overdramaticism could be considered shallow. And DS9 had plenty of overdramaticism at times, so in that way, it could be considered "shallow."

However, I'm still a big DS9 fan. I can get over most of the overdramatic crap and just focus on the mostly quality writing and characters, etc.

 

[erastus25]

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.

For whatever stupid reason, I had never made that connection before. Awesome. Can't believe I've seen these episodes SO MANY times and still find new things.

 

[Sector 7]

Well, the entirety of 'The Other Side of Paradise' can be seen as a metaphor for drug use.

You've got a community of people who are really happy as the result of a natural plant found in their environment but with the downside that they aren't motivated to do much other than sitting around being really happy.

This is a pretty accurate description of most marijuana users. Science fiction often mirrors reality.

 

[scotpens]

I remember people smoking in the bar (TSFS) where McCoy goes to hire a ship to take him back to Genesis. Now smoking what?

Probably “synthobacco.” Tastes like tobacco, gives you a nicotine-like rush, but no physical addiction -- and no cancer!

 

[Sector 7]

I remember people smoking in the bar (TSFS) where McCoy goes to hire a ship to take him back to Genesis. Now smoking what?

Probably “synthobacco.” Tastes like tobacco, gives you a nicotine-like rush, but no physical addiciton -- and no cancer!

They were Blu Cigs. Instead of smoke, what we saw was water vapor. In the dimly lit bar they LOOKED like real cigarettes.

 

[DevilEyes]

Well, I don't know if this counts as "shallow", but Meridian, season 3, is easily one of the worst Trek moments ever. SO over the top overdramatic. And overdramaticism could be considered shallow. And DS9 had plenty of overdramaticism at times, so in that way, it could be considered "shallow."

However, I'm still a big DS9 fan. I can get over most of the overdramatic crap and just focus on the mostly quality writing and characters, etc.

If you're going to judge DS9 on the basis of Meridian, then it's only fair that you judge TOS on the basis of Mudd's Women, The Alternative Factor, Spock's Brain, The Way to Eden, The Omega Glory or The Cloud Minders, and TNG on the basis of Code of Honor, Angel One, The Last Outpost, The Outrageous Okona or Up the Long Ladder.

 

[Sector 7]

Let's NOT hijack this thread as a DS9 battle, as so many others have been. The title of the thread is "Marijuana references in Trek", not "DS9 is awesome or not".

 

[Misfit Toy]

Let's NOT hijack this thread as a DS9 battle, as so many others have been. The title of the thread is "Marijuana references in Trek", not "DS9 is awesome or not".

A valid point. Stay on topic, nice people.

 

[scotpens]

If you're going to judge DS9 on the basis of Meridian, then it's only fair that you judge TOS on the basis of Mudd's Women, The Alternative Factor, Spock's Brain, The Way to Eden, The Omega Glory or The Cloud Minders . . .

One of these does not belong with the others.

But that's for another thread.

 

[Destructor]

Well, the entirety of 'The Other Side of Paradise' can be seen as a metaphor for drug use.

You've got a community of people who are really happy as the result of a natural plant found in their environment but with the downside that they aren't motivated to do much other than sitting around being really happy.

This is a pretty accurate description of most marijuana users. Science fiction often mirrors reality.

Well, the difference is most of my mates who are stoners spend some time NOT stoned, and at those times they are a bit sad and useless, like they realize they are wasting their lives getting high all the time (just a quick aside to say I'm not against getting stoned on occasion, I just think it's stupid like, all the time), and then they are really sad! I think TSOP was more like an ideal version of the druggie community, where the downside is not so visible.

 

[Sector 7]

^My best friend waited until I had a root canal, then took me to see Pink Floyd's The Wall, because he said, "You have to be stoned to enjoy it." My best friend knew my root canal would be the only time I'd ever be stoned on anything. He must have been right, because to this very day, I swear that eagle swooped right over my head at the cinema!

 

[Praxius]

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.

Hey, I'm an avid supporter of pot and enjoy it from time to time..... but DS9 was far from shallow.... TNG and DS9 were the "Best of Both Worlds" when it came to all the aspects Star Trek focused on.

 

[CaptainStoner]

Well, the entirety of 'The Other Side of Paradise' can be seen as a metaphor for drug use.

You've got a community of people who are really happy as the result of a natural plant found in their environment but with the downside that they aren't motivated to do much other than sitting around being really happy.

This is a pretty accurate description of most marijuana users. Science fiction often mirrors reality.

No, it's a description of a stereotype based on, cliche as it may be, government lies.
Now, there are people who have motivational and other issues who also self-medicate with marijuana, and the herb itself is only a band-aid in this case.
Overall it's just unfortunate that plants and substances of this type (entheogens) are so heavily suppressed, but it certainly is similar to the scenario in The World is Hollow.

 

[c3bhm]

Well, the entirety of 'The Other Side of Paradise' can be seen as a metaphor for drug use.

You've got a community of people who are really happy as the result of a natural plant found in their environment but with the downside that they aren't motivated to do much other than sitting around being really happy.

Word! I remember that one now - a CLASSIC - yeah, that's got to be a drug reference, but I'll watch it again to see if I can suss any specific-drug reference (weed, LSD, etc.) or message/lesson. I'm curious if the message is that a drug LIFESTYLE is wrong (rather than 'drugs are bad').


For anyone curious, this is the article where I found a reference to Roddenberry being a reefer-hound:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301765,00.html

And as to his disdain for smoking cigarettes,...well, that's two ENTIRELY different worlds. Millions of weed smokers/vapers/eaters detest cigarettes.

Sorry about the DS9 diss. I truly LOVE ToS and TNG, but tried DS9 and it just didn't do it for me so I bailed after not too long. That was YEARS ago, so maybe I should try again...? If I were to try a single episode (or 2) for soulfulness, intelligence, maturity, which one (or 2) do you guys recommend most highly?