In honor of everyone’s favorite Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, we’d like to take a moment and reflect on the talented and hilarious Amy Poehler’s cannabis connections, as well as some of her funniest cannabis moments.
Leslie Knope may be as straight-laced as they come, having never tried cannabis (except for that one really groovy brownie in college) but Amy Poheler, on the other hand, is no stranger to sex, drugs, and celebrity encounters.
In her fabulous bestseller, Yes Please, Poehler describes a period in which she “lived the life of a stoner for a year.” One chapter, entitled “Obligatory Drug Stories,” shares tales of her past indiscretions with various substances, including one particularly indulgent year.
“I would smoke in the morning and listen to Bob Marley. I would wear headphones and buy records and comic books. I would make mac and cheese while watching ‘Deep Space Nine.’ I am not one of those people who smokes weed and suddenly has a burst of creativity. I am one of those people who smokes weed and spends an hour lightening my eyebrows. It slowed me down and helped with my Irish stomach and anxiety and the constant channel-changing that happened in my head.”
During a 2013 interview with Conan O’Brien, she reminisced on another marijuana anecdote from her past. When asked about performing for guests that are a wee bit intoxicated, Poehler replied, “Welllll, I once was a judge for the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam.” O’Brien incredulously asked, “Is that real?” Poehler assured him, “It’s a real event where people from all over the world come to try different weed and say which is the best.” She explained that during her time with the Upright Citizens Brigade, the group opened for Patti Smith. In Amsterdam. At a Cannabis Cup.
“You did improv, opening for Patti Smith, at a cannabis competition?”
“That’s right! The entire audience was so stoned!” she laughed.
Poehler rarely engages with cannabis anymore, explaining, “I can’t perform, drive, or write stoned, and therefore I smoke pot a lot less than I used to.”
“Turns out there wasn't any pot in the brownie. It was just an insanely good brownie.”
Of course, whether she consumes cannabis or not, we still adore the ferociously funny and quick-witted actress, writer, and comedian. And remember, when life gets you down, just think of Amy Poehler and her brilliant epiphany after trying psychedelic mushrooms:
“Everyone needs love, never hurt a living thing and don’t worry about the choices you make because everything will be fun, because life is a closet filled with pool toys.”
