The Grateful Dead, iconic for their improvisational style, psychedelic soundscapes, and counter-cultural ethos, are celebrated not only for their musical influence but also for their role in drug policy history and culture. From their association with the Acid Tests to their embodiment of the hippie movement, the band’s journey also held profound connections to cannabis.
Founded in 1965: Kesey, Merry Pranksters, Acid Tests
Formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California, The Grateful Dead quickly became synonymous with the burgeoning counterculture of the 1960s. They found themselves at the center of the Acid Tests, a series of events organized by author Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters, where lysergic acid (LSD) was consumed as part of a communal exploration of consciousness. As the house band for these gatherings, The Grateful Dead provided the sonic backdrop to these mind-expanding experiments, further fueling the LSD movement of the era.
Bust in Haight-Ashbury
The band’s headquarters were raided on October 2, 1967 on suspicion of marijuana. The clash with cops was detailed in Rolling Stone: “That’s what ya get for dealing the killer weed,” laughed state narcotics agent Jerry Van Ramm at the 11 members of the Grateful Dead household he and his agents had rounded up into the Dead’s kitchen at 710 Ashbury Street. They included organist and singer Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan, attorney Brian Rohan, sound engineer Robert Matthews, manager Rock Scully, and singer/guitarist Bob Weir. The cops carried no warrant and broke in the front door even after being denied entry.
Bandleader Jerry Garcia wasn’t home at the time of the bust. Drummer Bill Kreutzmann and bassist Phil Lesh lived elsewhere, but Phil’s then-girlfriend Florence Nathan was at 710 and was handcuffed to Weir on the way to the Hall of Justice. After six hours in jail, the 11 were released on bail.
A press conference held the next day featured Dead manager Danny Rifkin, stating: “The arrests were made under a law that classifies smoking marijuana along with murder, rape and armed robbery as a felony. Yet almost anyone who has ever studied marijuana seriously and objectively has agreed that marijuana is the least harmful chemical used for pleasure and life-enhancement. The law contains an even greater evil. It encourages the most outrageously discriminatory type of law enforcement. If the lawyers, doctors, advertising men, teachers and political officeholders who use marijuana were arrested today, the law might well be off the books before Thanksgiving. The law creates a mythical danger and calls it a felony. The people who enforce the law use it almost exclusively against individuals who threaten their ideas of the way people should look and act. Behind all the myths is the reality. The Grateful Dead are people engaged in constructive, creative effort in the musical field, and this house is where we work as well as our residence. Because the police fear and misinterpret us, our effort is now interrupted as we deal with the consequences of a harassing arrest.”
“The Waldos” Make their Mark on the Dead
The story of how cannabis came to be known as “420” also involves the Grateful Dead. The story begins in 1970 at San Rafael High School with a group of five friends – Dave Reddix, Steve Capper, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz and Mark Gravitch. Due to their 4:20 p.m. afternoon hangout spot near a wall by a statue of Louis Pasteur, the group became known as “The Waldos”.
Reddix befriended members of the famous band through his brother Pat’s friendship with Phil Lesh, the band’s bassist. In 1975, Pat was asked by Lesh to manage a couple of his side bands. Through these connections, Reddix found himself working behind the scenes for The Grateful Dead, providing further evidence of the band’s entanglement. Where the Waldos originated the term “420” to mean cannabis, it’s thought that the Grateful Dead and their fans popularized it.
Busted Down on Bourbon Street Becomes Truckin’
The band’s clashes with police over illicit drugs would continue. On January 31st, 1970, the Grateful Dead’s New Orleans hotel was raided and the entire band was arrested on drug charges. However, the experience would go on to influence the lyrics of “Truckin’“, one of the Dead’s most iconic songs. Garcia talks about the incident and the band’s treatment by the police, saying “They had great fun with us, the Southern cops. They had just what they wanted: hippies. Oh, boy.”
Growing Book Penned by Mountain Girl, Carolyn, Wife of Jerry Garcia
Carolyn Garcia, also known as Mountain Girl, was the wife of Jerry Garcia. In 1977, she penned “Primo Plant: Growing Sinsemilla Marijuana”, a book detailing her experiences cultivating high-quality cannabis. In it, she shares insights into the cultivation of sinsemilla, a potent form of marijuana prized for its THC content. This connection to cannabis cultivation not only reflected the band’s embrace of alternative lifestyles but also contributed to the broader normalization of cannabis within the counterculture.
Carolyn continues to advocate for cannabis reform today, serving on the advisory board of the Marijuana Policy Project. Her journey from cultivating cannabis to becoming a prominent voice in the push for legalization underscores the enduring impact of The Grateful Dead on cannabis culture.
From an interview with Carolyn (M.G.) in Esquire, Nov, 2020: “The Garcias’ roots with pot run deep. In 1972 while Jerry was on the road, M.G. was living in their home on Stinson Beach near San Francisco, raising the girls and quietly becoming one of the pioneering growers of the wild west days… It started after a pilot who worked with the family gave M.G. four seeds from Thailand. She was not merely some itinerant smoker. Growing up on a farm in Hyde Park, New York, her father worked for the Department of Agriculture as an entomologist, and her mother was a botanical illustrator. “Whenever we went anywhere it was always about the plants.” Read more of the interview here.
Today’s Brand Partnerships
With legalization, some of the original band members and families have used their famous names to launch cannabis brands.
Jerry Garcia: Garcia Hand-Picked was launched by the deceased musician’s family in 2020. Garcia Hand-Picked pulled out of the California market in 2023, but continues to sell flower and preroll products in dispensaries across Maryland, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Mickey Hart: Hart partnered with the cannabis company Left Coast Ventures to launch his brand “Mind Your Head” in 2019. The brand was founded in collaboration with Hart and emphasizes high-quality, sustainably-sourced cannabis products.
Popular strains Albert Walker, Shoreline, Chemdog, RFK Skunk, Dogshit, Sour Diesel and Casey Jones are all thought to originate from Grateful Dead family members and fans. More on Chemdog’s lore here.
Beyond the brands associated with the band members, cultivars have long paid homage to the Grateful Dead with strains like Deadhead OG, Cherry Garcia, Mountain Girl, Unbroken Chain, Dark Star, Sunshine Daydream, Jack Straw and Morning Dew.
Cannabis Culture Resonates in Band’s Music
The Grateful Dead’s influence on cannabis extended beyond their personal experiences and connections. Their music, with its exploratory and improvisational nature, often served as a soundtrack for cannabis consumption. Songs like “Friend of the Devil” and “Casey Jones” resonated with audiences who embraced the ethos of freedom and rebellion associated with both the band and cannabis culture.
Moreover, The Grateful Dead’s concerts became communal celebrations where cannabis was openly consumed and shared among fans. These gatherings fostered a sense of camaraderie and unity, with cannabis serving as a symbol of peace, love, and solidarity within the Deadhead community.
As the band’s popularity grew, so did their influence on cannabis culture. The Grateful Dead became synonymous with a lifestyle that embraced individuality, creativity, and the pursuit of higher consciousness – values that resonate deeply with cannabis enthusiasts.
Global Impact and a Local Event
The Grateful Dead’s impact on cannabis history and culture cannot be overstated. Their music, their lifestyle, and their ethos continue to inspire generations of cannabis enthusiasts, leaving an indelible mark on the intersection of music, rebellion, and cannabis culture.
Join MedicateOH this 420 at the Redmoor in Cincinnati as we celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead and their influence on cannabis culture. Want to score a pair of FREE tickets? Listen for your first chance this Thursday, February 15th during Ramblin’ Rob’s Greatest Story Ever Told show on Cincinnati’s WAIF Radio 88.3FM, 8-10PM.
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