WASHINGTON, D.C. – A list of the “Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users” in the United States was released Wednesday by the nation’s largest marijuana policy organization.
The Marijuana Policy Project’s annual list is topped by President Barack Obama, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, former President Bill Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and television show host Stephen Colbert. They are followed by television show host Jon Stewart, entertainer and entrepreneur Jay-Z, Secretary of State John Kerry, business magnate George Soros, and comedian Bill Maher.
The entire list is available below and online at http://www.mpp.org/Top50
“The goal here is to dispel the myth that marijuana users are ‘losers’ who lack motivation and highlight the fact that they are typically productive and oftentimes quite successful,” said Mason Tvert, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project. “As this list demonstrates, many of our nation’s most successful citizens have used marijuana.”
The list is composed of Americans who have used marijuana at least once during their lifetimes, including some who speak openly about their current marijuana use. They were selected based on their “power to influence cultural and social attitudes, political clout, individual wealth, and … media profile,” which is the criteria used by Out Magazine to select its “Power 50” list of LGBT Americans. The list includes known supporters and opponents of marijuana policy reform.
“We hope this list gets people thinking about the fact that marijuana prohibition laws cause more harm than the substance itself,” Tvert said. “Some of these folks might not have made it to where they are today had they been arrested for using marijuana.”
Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users
1. Barack Obama
2. Oprah Winfrey
3. Bill Clinton
4. Clarence Thomas
5. Stephen Colbert
6. Jon Stewart
7. Jay-Z
8. John Kerry
9. George Soros
10. Bill Maher
11. Bill Gates
12. George W. Bush
13. Andrew Cuomo
14. Rand Paul
15. Sanjay Gupta
16. LeBron James
17. Rush Limbaugh
18. George Clooney
19. Michael Bloomberg
20. Lady Gaga
21. Brad Pitt
22. Ted Turner
23. Tom Brokaw
24. Michael Phelps
25. Jennifer Aniston
26. David Letterman
27. Morgan Freeman
28. Angelina Jolie
29. Martha Stewart
30. Seth MacFarlane
31. John Hickenlooper
32. Andrew Sullivan
33. Susan Sarandon
34. Conan O’Brien
35. Matt Damon
36. Lincoln Chafee
37. Maya Angelou
38. Justin Bieber
39. Sarah Palin
40. Phil Jackson
41. Johnny Depp
42. Madonna
43. Robert Downey, Jr.
44. Bryan Cranston
45. Miley Cyrus
46. Hugh Hefner
47. Rihanna
48. Oliver Stone
49. Rick Steves
50. Snoop Lion
Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users
1. Barack Obama
2. Oprah Winfrey
3. Bill Clinton
4. Clarence Thomas
5. Stephen Colbert
6. Jon Stewart
7. Jay-Z
8. John Kerry
9. George Soros
10. Bill Maher
11. Bill Gates
12. George W. Bush
13. Andrew Cuomo
14. Rand Paul
15. Sanjay Gupta
16. LeBron James
17. Rush Limbaugh
18. George Clooney
19. Michael Bloomberg
20. Lady Gaga
21. Brad Pitt
22. Ted Turner
23. Tom Brokaw
24. Michael Phelps
25. Jennifer Aniston
26. David Letterman
27. Morgan Freeman
28. Angelina Jolie
29. Martha Stewart
30. Seth MacFarlane
31. John Hickenlooper
32. Andrew Sullivan
33. Susan Sarandon
34. Conan O’Brien
35. Matt Damon
36. Lincoln Chafee
37. Maya Angelou
38. Justin Bieber
39. Sarah Palin
40. Phil Jackson
41. Johnny Depp
42. Madonna
43. Robert Downey, Jr.
44. Bryan Cranston
45. Miley Cyrus
46. Hugh Hefner
47. Rihanna
48. Oliver Stone
49. Rick Steves
50. Snoop Lion