Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Clarence Thomas, and Stephen Colbert top list released Wednesday by Marijuana Policy Project
A list of the “Top 50 Most Influential Marijuana Users” in the United States was released Wednesday by the Marijuana Policy Project.
The MPP'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 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.