What happens when one of the greatest scientific minds smokes weed? Well, let’s just say the mind can become as expansive as the universe. Early on in his career the astronomer, cosmologist and lifelong weed smoker, Carl Sagan, realized that marijuana could be beneficial creatively and scientifically . He began writing about his experiences with marijuana under the pen-name “Mr. X” which was later revealed to be none other than Mr. Sagan. Published in Dr. Lester Grinspoon’s scientific paper, Marihuana Reconsidered, “X” relates how smoking pot helps to gain heighten sensitivities which lead to insights and valid levels of perception valuable to thought process.
“the illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world.”
Although, he never felt comfortable revealing these insights into recreational smoking publicly during his lifetime. He did, toward the latter years, come out as a proponent of medical marijuana.
“Is it rational to forbid patients who are dying from taking marijuana as a palliative to permit them to gain body weight and to get some food down,” Sagan asked in an interview. “It seems madness to say, ‘We’re worried that they’re going to become addicted to marijuana’ — there’s no evidence whatever that it’s an addictive drug, but even if it were, these people are dying, what are we saving them from?”
For more on Carl’s reflection on cannabis culture, check out this in-depth interview with his friend and smoking companion, Dr. Lester Grinspoon on Motherboard.
And here’s a sampling of all that mind-expansion from the man himself…
