Thank you for checking out MPP's second annual "Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users" list! There has been quite a bit of variation since last year, including several additions and a number of people dropping in rank or off the list entirely.
In order to have qualified for the list, each individual must (1) have tried marijuana at least once, (2) be alive, and (3) be living in the U.S. or be a U.S. citizen. To create the list, we adopted the criteria used by Out Magazine to select their “Power 50” list of LGBT Americans. That means our choices are based on “power to influence cultural and social attitudes, political clout, individual wealth, and a person’s media profile” – not just on popularity or support for marijuana policy reform. Fortunately, many of them have expressed support, but there are some “bad guys” on there, too.
In sum, we're not concerned with an individual's popularity, or even whether he or she supports marijuana policy reform. Rather, the 2013 "Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users" list is meant to identify people who have used marijuana and achieved high levels of success or influence.
Johnny Depp
41
"I'm not a great pothead or anything like that… but weed is much, much less dangerous than alcohol." (Source: Celebstoner)
Madonna
42
"It [my behavior on the show in 1994] wasn't because I was excited about you [David Letterman]. I think it may have had something to do with the joint I smoked before I came on. (Source: Vulture)
Robert Downey Jr.
43
“Robert Downey Jr. said he started smoking weed at age 8.” (Source: NBC - New York)
Miley Cyrus
45
"You know you're a stoner when your friends make you a Bob Marley cake." (Source: LA Times)
Rihanna
47
"Kush rolled, glass full... I prefer the better things!" (Source: Daily Mail)
Oliver Stone
48
“I went to Vietnam, and I was there for a long time. [Using marijuana] made the difference between staying human or, as Michael Douglas said, becoming a beast.” (Source: The Raw Story)
Rick Steves
49
"I have used cannabis all over the world." (Source: LA Weekly)
Snoop Lion (Snoop Dogg)
50
“It makes me feel the way I need to feel.” (Source: Esquire)
