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Dank Sabbath: Ozzy & Tony Iommi talk to High Times about weed, coke, and Quaaludes


Ozzy Osbourne on the cover of the March 1999 issue of High Times magazine. All photos by Dennis Kleiman.
 

“What other job can you imagine where the more fucked up you turn up, the better people think you’re gonna be? ‘Oh, fuckin’ Tony’s stoned’ or ‘Ozzy’s stoned’ or ‘Bill’s stoned.’ It’s going to be good fun tonight.’

—Ozzy in High Times talking about smoking ganja with Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath’s original members came together twice during the 1990s—the first occasion occurring at the conclusion of Ozzy’s first No More Tours tour when a newly sober Ozzy asked his old band to open two shows in Costa Mesa, California on November 15th and 16th, 1992. Both shows would end with Ozzy joining Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward on stage to rip through a few Sabbath classics. The second “reunion” in 1997 at Ozzfest (minus drummer Bill Ward until his return in December of that year), would eventually lead to an album, the band’s first live record (featuring the original lineup), Reunion. In October of 1998, the band arrived in New York City for their first TV appearance in 22 years on the Late Show with David Letterman. While in New York, Ozzy’s people reached out to High Times magazine saying that he wanted the magazine to interview him. When High Times journalist Chris Simunek got the news he was going to interview the Prince of Darkness (or perhaps the Prince of Dankness in this scenario), he thought he was being “pranked” as the thought of possibly doing bong hits with Ozzy was just too much. But the request was legit and Simunek and High Times production director Rob Braswell eventually set out to meet Ozzy and Iommi at their hotel. Once they were whisked away to the room where interviews were being held, they were greeted by Osbourne who asked them if they were “rolling yet.” Priorities, Ozzy has them.

Upon meeting Ozzy, Simunek described shaking the hand of the odds-defying vocalist like “shaking the hand of a man who just came out of a 30-year panic attack.” Even at 50, Ozzy’s hereditary tremors and stammering speech were front and center; however, this didn’t stop Osbourne or Iommi from sharing some stories from their drug-using/abusing past—which was the point of the interview with High Times in the first place. In the words of Simunek—if you want to read about Black Sabbath’s music “go read Guitar Player.” This discussion with Ozzy and Iommi, two of heavy metal’s most valuable players was about weed, and as it turns out, lots of other party favors the band had devoured during their smoke it/snort it/drink it days. The interview was published in the March 1999 issue and would become one of High Times’ biggest sellers. As I am a proud owner of this issue, it feels like high time to share some of the highlights.
 

Ozzy, Tony Iommi and ALL THE WEED in High Times Magazine.
 

Simunek: So I’ve got to ask you about “Sweet Leaf.” Where did that come from?

Ozzy: Well, what do you think? We used to smoke pounds of the shit man. We used to buy it by the fuckin’ sackful. We used to be so fucked up all the time. Wake up in the morning, start the day with a spliff and go to bed with it. Yeah, it started to get…I started to get the heebee-jeebees. I was mixing all kinds of other chemicals. Booze, coke, pills…

Simunek: Do you see a difference between pot and other chemicals?

Ozzy: Absolutely. This, for instance, (waving his cigarette), tobacco. I couldn’t smoke as many joints a day as I can this stuff. Gotta legalize pot. I’m all for the legalization of pot, decriminalize it. I don’t smoke it myself, but if anybody wants to smoke it, fine. I got busted for it. We all did.

Simunek: With coke, wouldn’t you record albums faster?

Ozzy: You’d do it, and then you’d forget what you were doing! We couldn’t turn the fucking tape machine on! We’d turn the ‘pause’ on instead of ‘play/record,’ you know. We’d be playing for fuckin’ twenty-four hours.

Iommi: Those neat little bags (of coke).

Ozzy: Just chop us another line out! Get another can of beer out of the fridge! Roll another joint! We used to smoke big bags of hash. Big fuckin’...we used to buy hash by the pound.

Iommi: And coke. We used to buy these sealed bottles of coke.

Ozzy: Government sealed!

Simunek: Is it rough to be sober now?

Ozzy: It sucks. I don’t like being sober, but say you chopped up some lines (of coke). I’d go, ‘Yeah, I’ll go for it.’ By twelve-o’clock I’d be hanging off of the fucking building screaming with a bottle of vodka in my hand. There was a big period of time when I used to drink cheap wine and do ‘ludes. I’d be like fucking jelly, and the audience would be like a pond, a fucking oil slick. Did you ever try the original Quaaludes?

Simunek: No. That’s a little before my time.

Ozzy: (Now addressing Iommi) They were fucking wonderful, weren’t they? I could still get them. I know somebody who froze ten thousand.

In addition to Ozzy and Iommi’s take on their own personal Fear and Loathing journey in High Times, there was also a photo shoot with Osbourne and Iommi at photographer Dennis Kleiman’s New York studio involving a shit-ton of high-quality New York grown nugs and buds. Ozzy’s publicists kept a tight wrap on the guest list for the shoot (even Simunek was barred from being there), which was probably for the best as according to those who were there, Ozzy was especially “playful” during the session as he clutched a giant bag of weed while running laps around Kleiman’s studio. While all this was going on, some of Ozzy’s crew started pocketing some of the bud used for the shoot. When word got back to High Times editor and publisher Mike Edison (as noted in his 2008 book I Have Fun Everywhere I Go: Savage Tales of Pot, Porn, Punk Rock, Pro Wrestling, Talking Apes, Evil Bosses, Dirty Blues, American Heroes, and the Most Notorious Magazines in the World), he was pissed. Here’s more from Edison on the great Ozzy Osbourne Weed Heist of 1999:

“They were stuffing their pockets with weed when they left. Fuck, why didn’t they just ask! Boosting the stash was pretty square. No class. We would have pretty much given them whatever they wanted out of respect for their boss. There was no way I was not going to exploit this, and I leaked the story to the New York Post which it ran on Page Six titled ‘Drug-Addled Rock Star Pilfers Pot, Chaos Reigns at Stoner Photo Shoot.’”

More after the jump…

READ ON
Posted by Cherrybomb
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03.25.2019
08:34 am
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‘Pot Sasquatch’ interrupts live news broadcast
02.10.2017
10:23 am
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Forget about Sasquatch sightings, those are sooooo last year. We’ve now moved on to the “‘Pot Sasquatch.” Apparently, he (or she) is alive and well and living in Springfield, Massachusetts. If you don’t believe me, the Pot Sasquatch was caught on video during WWLP’s meteorologist Jennifer Pagliei’s winter storm coverage. It’s crystal clear. Not like those blurry 1970s Bigfoot footage we’re used to seeing.


 
If there’s a Pot Sasquatch—and the proof is right here—then there has to be a hash oil-coated Loch Ness Monster roaming the waters somewhere harshing the mellow of fisherman and sailors, too. I believe!
 

 
via Mashable

Posted by Tara McGinley
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02.10.2017
10:23 am
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Man posts ‘I sell weed’ ad to Craigslist, is promptly arrested
05.20.2016
09:07 am
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A Clover, South Carolina man was arrested on Wednesday after police saw his Craigslist ad offering to sell weed.

According to local drug enforcement officers, James Kinley III, posted a Craigslist ad titled “Pot… I SELL WEED - $200.

The text of the ad:

Whole zip lock bag of Loud Smoke
$200
Half an bag is $100
1/4 of a bag is $50
Great smoke
I got it

 

 
The ad included his PICTURE and PHONE NUMBER.

A police officer texted the number asking if the ad was real. The would-be dealer reportedly called the officer back, asked what he needed, and arranged a meeting.

Kinley arrived at the specified meeting place to sell the officer a half ounce of weed and was promptly taken into custody.
 

 
It’s not clear whether the man thought weed was legal in South Carolina (it’s not), or if he thought that cops don’t have access to Craigslist (they do), but it’s likely that Mr. Kinley broke the cardinal rule of drug dealing: getting high on your own supply.

Via: WIS TV

Posted by Christopher Bickel
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05.20.2016
09:07 am
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‘I always got weed on me’: Texas man busted in high-speed chase because of weed
03.21.2016
02:31 pm
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Shouldn’t “Texas Man” join “Ohio Man” and “Florida Man” as snarky shorthand for “what this guy did makes no sense whatsoever… because Florida (or Ohio)”?

Meet 26-year-old Jonathan Davis. Davis is a lawyer’s worst nightmare. This dude should never, ever open his mouth. Especially when there are cameras rolling! After this, I think we need to expand the lexicon of American idiocracy to include “Texas Man,” too.

Incredibly, Davis—who modestly refers to himself an “adrenaline junkie”—decided to try to outrun law enforcement across five counties, which he was doing quite successfully—at times going well over 100 mph and going the wrong way—all because he had some weed on him and didn’t want to get busted again. Davis called the high speed chase a “thrill” and admitted that he’d been on Instagram during it. He decided to flee police after a traffic stop, complaining that his prior marijuana convictions had led to him not being able to get a “normal” job and that he had weed on him.

He sure picked an interesting, unassuming way to avoid any further interaction with the law.

And I must admit, I wonder what Davis’ definition of a “normal” job is, don’t you?

Do consider the fact that if this was Colorado or Washington or any one of our more enlightened, cannabis-friendly states, this probably never would have happened. Not saying Davis is exactly making a good case for legalizing marijuana, but you know what I mean.
 

 
via reddit

Posted by Tara McGinley
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03.21.2016
02:31 pm
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People testing out a beer / weed bong
03.13.2015
01:30 pm
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Here’s a video montage of New Yorkers trying out a weed / beer bong for the very first time. I honestly don’t see how this could be a good time. Alcohol and weed never work well together, IMO. It’s one or the other for me. Never both. My experience mixing them together was immediate dizzying regret and suffering a serious case of the spins. I do not recommend it.

But clearly these intrepid folks aren’t gonna let me be a buzzkill… check ‘em out.

 
via BuzzFeed

Posted by Tara McGinley
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03.13.2015
01:30 pm
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‘Degenerate Art’: If you smoke grass from glass, watch this fantastic film on the art of glass pipes
01.12.2015
02:25 pm
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Degenerate Art: The Art and Culture of Glass Pipes is a fascinating look at what goes into our beloved glass paraphernalia… I mean, not literally what goes in to it, but rather the history, industry and the artisans that make the ornate and beautiful objects from which we toke. In fact, there’s surprisingly little reference to pot for a documentary about glass pipes—this film is 100% all about the art, though it can’t ignore the fact that the industry remains besieged by archaic drug laws that leave pipes legally precarious, if not technically illegal in some municipalities.

In the beginning, there was Bob Snodgrass, a hippie glassblower who stumbled on a technique that left his pieces changing color after repeated use—this is the brilliant blue that you may have seen bloom over time on a pipe. Bob’s pipes quickly became a hit in the parking lot of Grateful Dead shows, (okay, some stereotypes are true), and pretty soon, merely owning a “Snoddy” wasn’t enough. Bob began to attract apprentices; thus, an innovative generation of glass pipe-makers was borne in Eugene, Oregon.
 

 
As techniques and materials diversified, designs became more complex; the psychedelic, mystical hallmark of a simple glass pipe began to flourish into something more closely resembling Art Nouveau—some of them look like they could have been designed by Tiffany. Of course different regions began developing their own styles, many of which eschewed their hippie roots altogether. I’m partial to the irreverent, modern, NYC designs, like the above Warholian Sherlock pipe, and the adorable frosted “honeybears”—a tongue-in-cheek nod to the old DIY classic.

Unfortunately, the rise in popularity of glass pieces coincided with an attempt to extend the war on drugs to the Internet by then Attorney General John Ashcroft. In 2003, armed with a conveniently vague definition of what legally constitutes “drug paraphernalia,” Operations Pipe Dreams And Headhunter ran massive busts on both manufacturers and distributors. Merchandise and assets were seized, businesses were sunk, fines were levied and people (including Tommy Chong!) went to federal prison, all under the premise that selling pipes was tantamount to trafficking drugs. Much of the law surrounding glass pipes remains indistinct, and many glass artists and head shops remain at risk.
 

A one-of-a-kind piece by famed glass artist Robert Mickelsen
 
The film’s second conflict is the ambivalence of the glass artists themselves toward the pipe as a subject; some are perfectly happy to be creating a functional object, while others long to work work on non-pipe glass art. Many seem to find a balance by paying the bills with pipes, but do other glass work in their spare time. Attitudes of glass artists who do not make pipes are similarly varied, with one asking out loud, “why does it have to be a pipe?” then acknowledging that his aversion may be snobbish. Like all of the non-pipe making glass artists interviewed, he would never deny the artistry and innovation he sees in so many pipes.

Weed is a drug that lends itself to socialization, specialization and history, and the glass artists of Degenerate Art (many of whom are downright charming stoners themselves), are the perfect guides through the world of pipes. You can watch the film on Netflix, or free on Hulu, here.
 

Posted by Amber Frost
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01.12.2015
02:25 pm
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Gorgeous glass ‘marijuana nugget’ weed pipe
02.07.2012
03:29 pm
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image
 
Pacific Glass Gallery designer “Mr. Gray” will be unveiling his latest glass pipes in the next few days, including this insanely intricate marijuana nugget puffer.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bowl quite this elaborate. I wonder if it’s difficult to clean?

It’s not listed on Pacific Glass Gallery‘s website yet, but if you’re interested, keep checking the website under “Mr. Gray.” (If you just can’t wait for this puppy to go up for sale, Illuzion Glass Galleries in Colorado has similar designs).
 
image
 
Via reddit

Posted by Tara McGinley
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02.07.2012
03:29 pm
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Hippie Macramé : The Braided Joint
11.13.2011
01:36 pm
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If you spire to roll something more complicated than a braided joint, perhaps you may want to test your skills with the Scorpion Joint.

(via KMFW)

Posted by Tara McGinley
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11.13.2011
01:36 pm
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Ninja Squirrel vs. Stoners
11.03.2011
12:57 pm
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My money is on Ninja Squirrel.
 


 
(via the NSFW-ish Gorilla Mask)

Posted by Tara McGinley
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11.03.2011
12:57 pm
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Marijuana Promotes Creativity
10.24.2011
12:36 pm
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A Narco Polo comic by former inner-city teacher and public defender, Rob Arthur. Here’s a snippet from Rob’s website:

The Science

One way in which creativity can be described is the ability to find new and novel connections between concepts. In scientific terms the ability to find connections between words is called semantic priming. A 2010 study published in Psychiatry Research found that the use of marijuana induces a state of hyper-priming. (9) When presented with an activation word, subjects reacted faster to distantly-related words when high than when sober. (For a neuroscience journalist’s take on this study go here.) The flow of loose associations promoted by marijuana is a real phenomenon.

Credit goes to Jason Silva for introducing me to this study. His article on marijuana’s “butterfly effect” on thought can be found here.

Marijuana Promotes Creativity: The Evidence

(via Boing Boing )

Posted by Tara McGinley
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10.24.2011
12:36 pm
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Scorpion Joint
10.24.2011
10:55 am
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(via Nerdcore)

Posted by Tara McGinley
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10.24.2011
10:55 am
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Snoop Dogg: A Portrait in Pot by Jason Mecier


 
Snoop Dogg portrait made from marijuana, hash and joints by artist Jason Mecier. That’s $1,500 worth of THC on the canvas.

This will be on display and featured in the new book La Luz de Jesus 25, as part of the 25th Anniversary of La Luz de Jesus Gallery.

November 4–27
Opening receptions: November 4 & 5, 8–11 PM
La Luz de Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA. 90027

Posted by Tara McGinley
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10.09.2011
09:45 pm
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LEGO hashpipe
09.26.2011
01:18 pm
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Kiddies, I wouldn’t try making this LEGO bowl at home. Smoking out of plastic and aluminum doesn’t seem too smart. Fun idea. Dangerous execution.



 
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
The Ice Bong
Burnest Hemingway: For Whom the Bowl Tokes
Smoke on the Water: The Porsche Hookah
 
(via reddit )

Posted by Tara McGinley
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09.26.2011
01:18 pm
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You know you’re too stoned when you start to see rabbits in your weed
09.19.2011
05:52 pm
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Redditor “Picklemick” spotted this perfect little “nugbunny” in his bud. He says: “Guys, I just saw this and made it in paint.” I’m still waiting for the herbal image of Jesus or the Virgin Mary. Maybe if I smoke enough?

(via reddit)

Posted by Tara McGinley
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09.19.2011
05:52 pm
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The ice bong
09.15.2011
07:31 pm
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Someone needs to patent an ice bong mold quick! I can’t find anywhere on the Internet where one exists.

Don’t say I never gave you nothin’...

(via reddit)

Posted by Tara McGinley
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09.15.2011
07:31 pm
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