“I stopped smoking and realized I didn’t like my friends.” The line allegedly belongs to the late Guru of Gang Starr. In our new podcast, House of Haze, ICE-T brings it back as a gut check for anyone who built a circle around consumption.

Ice-T isn’t anti-cannabis. He respects the plant, the culture, the history. What he questions is the social math. Who calls when there’s nothing to pass? Who shows up when you’re laying low? Who sticks when you say no?

That “no” is not a lecture about sobriety. It is a boundary. If the hang only works when someone is buying the bag, maybe it was a transaction. If the vibe collapses the moment you pass on a session, maybe there was no friendship under the smoke.

Ice-T ties it to responsibility. He wants crews that get everyone home. Adults who know when to indulge and when to stay sharp. People who can take a boundary without making it a fight.

None of this means turning your back on weed. It means choosing your people on more than a shared high. That is the point of Guru’s line, the way Ice-T tells it: not anti-friendship, pro-clarity.

Watch the full conversation for context, including Ice-T on justice, politics and the business myths of legal weed:

House of Haze is a new High Times series about power, culture and cannabis in the real world. New episodes soon.

Barbara Mürdter, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

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“Anyone in jail for anything to do with cannabis should be set free.”

Ice-T does not blink when he says it. He does not reach for qualifiers. He keeps talking.

“It’s legal in enough places,” he adds. “That’s like having somebody in jail for alcohol after Prohibition.”

We are on House of Haze, a High Times podcast I host to talk power, culture and weed in the real world. Ice-T arrives with clarity as a tactic, control as a practice. He has lived around cannabis forever, tried gummies, never took to smoking, and still carries a simple rule for life outside the house: be alert.

“The guys that were the most dangerous were the sober cats,” he says. “Chronic gives what I call chronic delay. That split second could be your life out here in the streets.”

He is not anti-weed. He is anti-sloppiness. The crew rule is blunt.

“If you’re with the crew and you get drunk and you stop listening, one of us gets to knock you out,” he says. “Then we carry you to the car. It’s about control. It’s not worth the party.”

Legalization, without romance

Ice-T does not sugarcoat the business. His Jersey City shop, The Medicine Woman, took years and millions to open. Margins are thin. The myth of easy money is gone.

“What dispensaries are like now is like liquor stores,” he says. “They’re on every other corner. You got taxes, overhead, building costs. People think you’re getting rich. Nah. If I wanted to get rich, I would sell bricks of cocaine.”

Then he drops the line most celebrities avoid.

“I am absolutely in it for the money,” he says. “It’s a business. Don’t get mad at capitalism. But if you can hire kids from the community and kick some money back to charity, that’s righteous.”

Justice with teeth

Ask him about federal legalization and he does not hesitate.

“Do I want it federally? Only to free the prisoners,” he says. “Having the federal government in your legal business? Who needs that?”

On politics, he is colder.

“Politicians are the biggest criminals in the history of the world,” he says. “Both wings are on the same bird.”

Safety and the American reality

The country is flooded with guns. He has a line for that, too.

“I don’t trust anybody with a gun,” he says. “There are more guns than people. I’m not pro-gun. I got one because if somebody breaks in my crib, I don’t want to grab a butcher knife. It’s too late. This is what it is.”

He is not here to debate. He is here to move the conversation forward.

“I don’t like debates. I like progressive conversation,” he says. “My opinion can be changed, but first I have to believe you’re intelligent enough for me to listen.”

Upstream to the seeds

Retail opened another door. Ice-T went upstream with Brothers Grimm Seeds on BodyCount, a cross of Purple Urkle and Rosetta Stone bred by MrSoul and led by CEO Laura “MrsSoul” Campanella. It is a genetics play, not a lifestyle pivot.

“If I’m signing a seed, I want my shit to be the best in the history of the world,” he says. He laughs, then lands on a goal every grower understands. “Personally, I would love my seeds to win the Cannabis Cup.”

Rick and Morty, and being in on the joke

He knows when the culture lets you in. Rick and Morty called. He said yes. They made him a superhero and, mercifully, didn’t roast him.

“You hit different generations at different times,” he says. “You’re lucky when animation does not dog you.”

Techno, E, and why he quit the hard stuff

Ice-T didn’t touch drugs for most of his life. Then came one Miami night at Crowbar, a packed techno club, Coco looking fire, the music hitting. He decided to try ecstasy.

“I walk up to this kid, I’m trying to get some E… they point me to this dude, big pants, glow sticks, the whole shit. He looks at me, ‘Oh shit, Ice-T,’ reaches in his pocket, pulls out a handful of E. ‘They said I’m the man. Now you’re the man.’”

He took one and felt the switch flip. “First thing, I’m rubbing my own legs. Everything outside of Coco is out of focus. And the most amazing thing happened, I understood techno. It was divided, it was moving. I’m like, this shit makes sense.”

The fun didn’t last forever. A different night, someone handed them “Molly” in capsules. It wasn’t. “Two in the morning when I’m ready to do my deed, my teeth are chattering. It was speed. I was up for two days. I showed up to Law & Order like, ‘Yo, I’m high from Saturday night.’ I was acting super fast.”

That was the line. “With fentanyl and all that, I’m scared. I don’t want to die. A lot of my friends have died on the first try.” Gummies and a rare maxi-dose mushroom experiment aside, he keeps it simple and safe. “Whatever you’re doing, make sure you’re in a safe environment.”

The bottom line

This is Ice-T in the cannabis era. No fantasy. No fake purity test. Just a straight read of risk, reward and responsibility.

“You never really know if somebody’s your friend till you tell them no,” he says at one point. It doubles as an ethos for the industry. Tell the truth about the money. Tell the truth about the rules. Tell the truth about who still sits in a cell.

And free them.

Photo courtesy of Ice-T.

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Ice T and a Playboy Playmate Charis B, founder of The Medicine Woman, are teaming up to open a dispensary in Jersey City, New Jersey, and cleared the first hurdle in doing so.

On July 25 The Medicine Woman New Jersey, a proposed dispensary co-owned by Ice T and Charis B, was approved by the Jersey City’s Cannabis Control Board meeting, along with three other proposed dispensaries. The news was posted on Instagram the following day.

The Medicine Woman Jersey City will encompass 5,000 square feet of retail space featuring local New Jersey cannabis brands, limited edition merch, and provide the necessary education. Medusa NJ, Oceanfront Holding, and The Other Side Dispensary were also approved by the board. Jersey City Cannabis Control Board oversees rules and regulations over licensing, cultivation, testing, and retail, and getting approved is no easy feat.

Charis B, or Charis Burrett, founded The Medicine Woman originally in California before eying the East Coast.

“It’s super, super exciting for us because New Jersey is many years behind where we are in California in terms of legalization,” Burrett tells High Times as she waited for her cab. “And it’s exciting to bring it to a state that is really [motivated] and looking forward to the growth of the cannabis industry in general in their state.

“And in terms of New Jersey and the fact that, you know, Ice is a resident, so Jersey City and the state of New Jersey means so much to him personally. And he is a long time personal friend of my husband and myself. And, you know, obviously, this synergy and everything coming together.”

Burrett’s dispensary will follow the same mindset of other Medicine Woman locations, which initially began as a non-profit delivery service. “Our mindset is to bring global medicine to local areas at an affordable price for everybody,” says Burrett. “We believe that cannabis should be available to everybody that needs it. You know, it is a beautiful medicine. It’s been around for centuries. And we love being able to educate people and communities, have healthy debates and like I said, bring global medicine to local communities at affordable prices.”

Ice T, aka Tracy Lauren Marrow, lives in Edgewater, a community relatively close to Jersey City. He’s well aware of the problems the cannabis industry faces locally. In New Jersey, Black people are over three times more likely to be charged with possession of cannabis than white people, despite similar rates of consumption. With that in mind, initial partnerships include The Last Prisoner Project, Jersey City Mural and Arts Program, Jersey City Employment and Training Program, Hudson County Community College, with more to be announced.

“I’ve dedicated my life and career to giving back and paving the way for minorities. As a New Jersey native, I’m excited for the opportunity legalization offers our community and I look forward to ushering in a new era for Cannabis in the state,” Ice T said in a statement. “I’ve partnered with my friend of over 25 years, Charis B who is an authority in cannabis and founder of The Medicine Woman to ensure a premium experience for our customers and community.”

Burrett said that she’s “100%” in favor of expungement and helping people that have gone to prison over pot—some people for life, for cannabis offenses and cannabis-only offenses is something that is very important to both the community and Jersey City.

Burrett says she has been reading the magazine for longer than most, when buying a magazine was an actual concern over drawing too much attention to ones’ self. “When I was 15, all I wanted to do was get a subscription to High Times magazine,” she admits. “But I was just worried about being on that same government list that everybody would get in. It was the 80s. And to be here today like, you know, 30 to 33 years later talking to you. I couldn’t be more proud of where the industry has gone and kind of, you know, that I’m here. I am. So thank you.”

The Medicine Woman Jersey City is set to open in the fall of 2022 and the team is currently accepting applications for employment for a variety of positions. To apply, send your resume to HR@themedwoman.com, they are committed to sourcing a local workforce with a focus on providing opportunities for former cannabis offenders. 

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On day-one of Riot Fest, there was paranoia. Before music-lovers, which the Chicago-based festival attracts alone, entered the festival grounds, many were asking, “What about my legally acquired cannabis?!” I overheard that concern more than once, but those fears were soon laid to rest as festival goers bypassed the lovely security members and enjoyed their vices in a peaceful, three-day celebration of music and community. 

It was truly a celebration, too, with an endearing sense of community. People cared. Not only about quality music and good times, but about each other. Petty arguing and fighting, which are unfortunately common at festivals, were a rare sight, at least for my eyes. When someone was hurt or had a few too many, people helped.

During a booming set from cannabis enthusiasts Run the Jewels, when a man hit the ground, there was only concern, no laughter. People giving a crap about one another made the music and overall experience of Riot Fest all the more enjoyable. 

A few bands dropped out before the event, including Nine Inch Nails and the Pixies, but the lineup remained stacked. This year, a few of the headliners included Lupe Fiasco, Devo, Slipknot, The Flaming Lips and The Smashing Pumpkins. 

Sometimes must-see acts conflicted in the schedule, but more often than not, all the stages presented variety. Depending on one’s mood on the day, there was a band that would cater to it. After a long day, for example, Lupe Fiasco got the energy raised sky-high. The Chicago native performed “The Cool,” and it ruled. The artist’s voice was as beautiful as it sounds on a record. 

Artists were delighted to be back on stage. Several acts admitted to the crowd they hadn’t performed since the pandemic started. Many, such as Run the Jewels, worried they’d show signs of rust. Not the case. Every artist, except Machine Gun Kelly, brought nothing but joy and their A-game to the festival. 

A bit of clarification: Machine Gun Kelly took a swipe at Slipknot as the band performed on another stage and dedicated the show to one of its founding members, Joey Jordison. Kelly mocked the group. In the end, Slipknot had the last laugh because people were actually talking about their performance the next day, while people just groaned about Kelly.

Every day was an embarrassment of riches in terms of acts to catch. K.Flay was a dominant force on stage. Along with her band, she held nothing back. She was thrilling. Sublime ignited a wave of nostalgia in the audience. 

“I used to smoke weed listening to this in college!” a friend shouted. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Living Colour brought it, as well. Those bands have such an infectious on-stage chemistry together. It radiates off the stage and consumes the audience. 

On the more rock side, nobody left Thrice or Taking Back Sunday disappointed. Disappointment was not common at Riot Fest. The massive crowd, which needed to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to attend, had nothing to complain about. 

Shoutout to the attendees, whose phones were not always up and selfies didn’t run rampant. People were respectful of the performances. There was a tangible passion among the crowd there. Everyone, based on my experience, was there for the music alone. 

The audience was maybe at its most rowdy when Run the Jewels hit the stage. The two-man hip hop group, El-P and Killer Mike, have always been known to put on a helluva show. The hype is correct. Their music isn’t even to my taste, but what a fantastic performance the self-admittedly high duo delivered.

Both spontaneous and choreographed, Run the Jewels had an army of music fans on their feet and moving. There were nonstop cheers, especially when Killer Mike said cannabis prohibition needs to stop. He also gave a lovely shout out to his wife in the audience. She, too, was high, Killer Mike noted. 

Riot Fest didn’t stop after the headliners performed. There are late nights after shows to catch around Chicago. I only caught one myself, but it was one worth catching. The feverish punk group from Los Angeles, The Bronx, had my ears ringing in delight at The Cobra Lounge. The band even gave me an excuse to finally put my long hair to good use and bang it around a bit. They hadn’t performed in a long time, but you’d never know it. 

Riot Fest was such an enjoyable experience full of good times that it’s impossible to list off all the damn fine acts that livened up not only the weekend, but the year, for many in attendance. Fever 333, Anti-Flag, Body Count, which is fronted by Iced-T, and many other groups brought nothing but joy to Chicago. This year’s Riot Fest was yet another reminder of why live music is just good for the soul. 

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