High Times
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
High Times is a New York-based monthly magazine founded in 1974 by Tom Forçade. The publication advocates the legalization of cannabis.The magazine has been involved in the marijuana-using counterculture since its inception.
Contents |
Origins
The magazine was founded in 1974 by Tom Forcade of the Underground Press Syndicate.[1] High Times was originally modeled on Playboy magazine, except that rather than catering to consumers of recreational sex, it caters to consumers of recreational drugs. Each issue has a centerfold photo, not of a nude woman, but typically of a choice grade of cannabis plant. (Although for a brief period during the late 70's and early 80's they featured centerfolds dedicated to cocaine.) In 1988, Steven Hager was hired as editor-in-chief. He removed hard drugs from the magazine and began a campaign to encourage personal use cultivation of cannabis. Hager also founded the Cannabis Cup (the Academy Awards of Marijuana) and The Freedom Fighters (one of the original hemp legalization groups).
Related Endeavors
Internet Podcasting
Produces regular video podcasts -- dubbed as the High Times POTcast -- that supplement stories from the monthly magazine.[2] [3]
Recognition and Award Ceremonies
High Times sponsors seven different cannabis culture awards:
- The Cannabis Cup for marijuana strains and seeds
- The Stonys for movies and television
- The Doobies for music
- The World Marijuana Film Festival (In Ibiza)
- Freedom Fighter of the Month (and Year)
- Counterculture Hall of Fame Award (in Amsterdam)
- STASH Awards for grow technology (September issue)
Film Production
- Produced the 2002 indie comedy Potluck, featuring Frank Adonis, Theo Kogan, Jason Mewes and Tommy Chong
- Produced the 2003 documentary High Times Presents The Cannabis Cup [4], distributed by Koch Entertainment
In 2004 Annie Nocenti and Ruth Baldwin edited The High Times Reader, a collection from past issues of High Times, with an introduction by Paul Krassner. Writers included Al Aronowitz, George Barkin, Ann Louis Barsach, Chip Berlet, Steve Bloom, Michael Bloomfield, Victor Bockris, William S. Burroughs, Mark Christensen, Ed Dwyer, Bruce Eisner, David Enders, Thomas King Forcade, Bruce J. Friedman, Josh Alan Friedman, Kinky Friedman, Steven Hager, Debbie “Blondie” Harry, J. Hoberman, Mark Jacobson, David Katz, Paul Krassner, Dean Latimer, Carlo McCormick, Barry Miles, Cookie Mueller, Glenn O’Brien, Joey Ramone, Ron Rosenbaum, Jerry Rubin, Luc Sante, Larry “Ratso” Sloman, Terry Southern, Peter Stafford, Richard Stratton, Teun Voeten, Andy Warhol, Andrew Weil, Mike Wilmington, Robert Anton Wilson, and Frank Zappa.
Television
In 2007, Hager began work on a reality TV show based around the High Times offices.
Writers
Other writers for High Times have included Chef Ra, Charles Bukowski, Truman Capote, A. Craig Copetas, Samuel R. Delany, Stephen Gaskin, Peter Gorman, Steven Hager, James Horwitz, Dennis King, William Levy, Ed Rosenthal, and Hunter S. Thompson.
Celebrities
Over the years several celebrities have appeared on the cover of High Times or have been interviewed by a magazine rep. Some of them include Bill Hicks, Mick Jagger, Bob Marley, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Tommy Chong, Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Sacha Baron Cohen aka Borat/Ali G/Bruno, Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, George Carlin, Jack Black, Jason Mraz, Hank Williams III, Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Jerry Garcia, John Garcia, Al Gore, Jenna Jameson, Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Willie Nelson, Tenacious D, Mobb Deep, Ying Yang Twins, Kottonmouth Kings, Woody Harrelson, Jay & Silent Bob, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Ice Cube, Bob Dylan, Redman, Rob Van Dam, Noam Chomsky, David Arquette and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Further reading
- Annie Nocenti and Ruth Baldwin, eds., The High Times Reader, Thunder's Mouth, Nation Books, 2004 ISBN 1-56025-624-9.
External links
- High Times magazine website
- High Times video POTcast via YouTube
