In honor of “420,” the biggest day in the cannabis industry, weed experts were asked who should be on the “Mount Rushmore of Marijuana.” While many names were mentioned, Snoop Dogg emerged as a top choice due to his longstanding advocacy for normalizing cannabis use. Willie Nelson, known for his support of legalization, and Bob Marley, a cannabis advocate and reggae legend, were also popular choices among industry insiders. Cheech and Chong, stoner comedians who popularized cannabis culture, were considered by some, as was Martha Stewart and Rihanna.
However, not everyone in the cannabis industry believes celebrities should be honored on marijuana’s Mount Rushmore. Olivia Alexander, CEO of Kush Queen, believes that celebrities exploit the plant for money and profit, and that consumers prefer to buy from those who truly understand and are a part of the community. Robert Holland, founder of Tempo Crackers, suggests honoring Mary Jane Rathbun, an early cannabis advocate known for distributing pot brownies to AIDS patients in San Francisco.
Some in the industry, like Anna Walters of Breez cannabis brand, joke that they would choose the same figures as on the regular Mount Rushmore, while others, like Derek Chase of Flora + Bast, prefer a representation of natural elements such as the sun, moon, and Earth instead of sentient beings. Overall, the discussion over who should be on marijuana’s Mount Rushmore highlights the diversity of opinions within the industry regarding the importance of celebrities versus historical advocates and natural elements in honoring the plant and its history.
