Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder, says that marijuana policies and culture have changed dramatically since he was in high school smoking marijuana to fit in. He also believes that the federal-state conflict over marijuana laws has to be resolved.
Gates talked with Seth Rogen, the actor, and Lauren Miller, his wife, in an episode of his podcast “Unconfuse Me”, which was released last Thursday. They discussed a range of cannabis-related issues, including research barriers due to federal prohibition, marijuana potency and Gates’ own experience of using cannabis as a teenager.
The multi-billionaire noted that the world has changed a lot since he was in high school, when he smoked marijuana with his friends. His own indulgences were part of a “cool” attempt.
Gates stated that it wasn’t about smoking pot just to smoke pot, but more about being part of a crowd. It’s incredible how much it has changed. When I was growing up, it used to be a kind of rebellion thing.
Rogen talked about how prohibition was racially motivated and created a “ripple-effect” of policies and stigmatization, which people are now fighting by being open and honest about their experiences with cannabis.
Gates stated that when the idea was first introduced in Colorado and Washington State – my state being one of the pioneers – I thought “wow, this is a real change.” Gates said, “The fact that the federal level can still have one set rules and that the state rules is a paradox that has to be resolved.”
As had noted earlier by CelebStoner the conversation also turned to potency of cannabis, with Gates noting that “a number of us who smoked when it was illegal – the dosage was in fact pretty modest.”
He said: “At least, as you enter this legal marijuana world, you could be getting really extreme doses. Particularly on the edibles.” “I think I understand what ‘okay’ means if I inhale five times, but if you consume, I don’t know.”
Rogen, owner of the cannabis lifestyle company Houseplant agreed, and said he avoided edibles because of this. He said he would appreciate federal regulations to standardize product potency. Even the most experienced consumer, like marijuana icon Snoop dogg, “doesn’t eat edibles.”
Rogen commented, “It’s amazing how many different edibles there are.” You never know what you are going to get.
Gates also asked at one point whether “you smoke enough marijuana” can cause cancer. Rogen replied that there is no scientific consensus but that neither he nor his Miller’s doctors had told him to stop smoking cannabis.
Miller said that the federal prohibition has stifled research on marijuana’s health benefits and risks.
Gates stated, “I’ve often wondered which drug they would choose if society was to start from scratch. You could either have pot or alcohol.” Gates also agreed with Rogen that alcohol leads to worse behavior and more mistakes than cannabis. He said booze causes people to “say stupid stuff.”
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The article Bill Gates tells Seth Rogen he smoked marijuana in high school ‘to be cool’ first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
