We’ve all heard the fan theory about Shaggy and Scooby Doo being stoners.
But cannabis may play a role in more of your favorite storylines than you realized. From subtle nods to characters openly smoking “pot,” here are 5 fan theories about marijuana in iconic movies and games that will make you want to watch or play all over again.
(Not many… but some spoilers ahead)
Gandalf & The Hobbits Were Stoned the Whole Time
In the books, Tolkien clarifies that pipe-weed is probably a variety of tobacco. But Peter Jackson’s movies use a much looser interpretation, and the subtle and not-so-subtle nods to cannabis have convinced many fans that Gandalf and his hobbit friends were stoned throughout their journey from Hobbiton to Mordor.
- Pipe-weed is known by a wide variety of suspiciously strain-like names: Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby, Southern Star.
- Sarumon tells Gandalf, “Your love of the halflings’ leaf has clearly slowed your mind.”
- Merry and Pippin are seen smoking their pipes, smiling behind half-closed eyes, and noshing away on all the food they can get ahold of.
- The evidence even extends into the more recent Hobbit trilogy, with Radagast the Brown having quite the reaction when he takes a hit from Gandalf’s pipe.
Leafly goes into detail on this popular fan theory.
The Parents in A Quiet Place Had a Hidden Weed Stash
This Reddit fan theory doesn’t change much about the movie, but it’s fairly easy to believe.
For starters, one scene shows a jar of what appears to be dank bud floating in the family’s flooding basement. A dip into that stash could also explain why the mother spends one afternoon spaced out on the couch, to the point that she doesn’t notice her daughter leaving.
And while they’d have to worry about unwanted coughing, it’s less of an issue in the “soundproof” room they had. And getting high sure would help alleviate some of the stress of apocalypse by monster.
Resident Evil is About the Benefits of Medical Marijuana
The original Resident Evil game was all about fighting zombies and finding herb. The green plants you find throughout the game have incredible healing properties, helping agent Chris Redfield manage pain and focus on the task at hand. Less common red variations of the herb can be found with unique properties (possibly a nod to THC/CBD or Sativa/Indica). Finding a lighter is an important quest.
The zombie dogs are drug dogs, a stark portrayal of the difficulties of enforcing cannabis prohibition and the hassles medical patients go through on a daily basis explaining their choice of medicine.
Zombies represent the progression of illness, pain, and insomnia when left unchecked and untreated. The zombies aren’t undead… they just ran out of medicine and they see that the character is hoarding all the herb. They want what the hero has: the ability to manage stress, reduce pain, and stay focused even in the face of adversity.
Hufflepuff is the Stoner House at Hogwarts
Let’s start with the low-hanging fruit: Hufflepuff, like the other house names, is a bit obvious.
Gryffindor includes “gryffin” in the name, which was a symbol for guardianship of the divine. Slytherin sounds an awful lot like “slithering,” making it hard to think of anything other than Voldemort’s snake Nagini. Ravenclaw, like the raven itself, is known for its incredible intelligence.
Meanwhile you have Hufflepuff, either a reference to smoking or laughing… either one fits the theory.
Hufflepuff house is known for being patient and good-natured. They are located right next to the kitchens. The head of the house teaches herbology. The back of Helga Hufflepuff’s chocolate frog box notes that she’s famous for her food-related charms (munchies). Instead of going on to observe dragons or fight dark wizards, Hufflepuff alum Hengist of Woodcroft founded Hogsmeade, a tavern that serves Butterbeer and hosted the first ever Magical Waterplants Festival.
Sure sounds like a stoner house.
Snake from Metal Gear Solid Uses Weed to Kill Time
Metal Gear Solid fans may recall Snake’s impressive ability to control time. By smoking a cigarette packed with a “medicinal herb,” the iconic hero is able to slow down time (or make it pass more quickly, depending on the game).
This YouTube fan theory explores Snake’s unique ability and considers what “herb” he was really smoking.
Rewatch, Replay, and Relight that Jay
What are your favorite marijuana fan theories? What characters do you think are getting high under the audience’s nose? Let us know in the comments.
Before you throw on your favorite movie or game and start looking for secret pot plots, stop by Karing Kind, Boulder’s first recreational marijuana dispensary. Our award-winning customer service, state-low marijuana tax, daily deals, and wide selection of top-shelf bud, clean-extracted cannabis oil, soothing topicals and mouth-watering edibles are always worth the trip.
Check out our menu (pre-order is available), and we look forward to seeing you soon.
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