Carl Sagan : Marijuana Smoker

Carl Edward Sagan, Ph.D. (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, astrochemist, and author. He was highly sucessful in popularizing astronomy, astrophysics and other natural sciences. He pioneered exobiology and promoted the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Oh yeah, did I mention he also loved smoking marijuana? Here’s a quote from him.

“Looking at fires when high, by the way, especially through one of those prism kaleidoscopes which image their surroundings, is an extraordinarily moving and beautiful experience.”

Under the pseudonym “Mr. X”, he wrote an essay concerning cannabis smoking in the 1971 book Marihuana Reconsidered, written by Sagan’s close friend Lester Grinspoon.In his essay, Sagan wrote how marijuana use had helped to inspire some of his works and enhance sensual and intellectual experiences. After Sagan’s death, Grinspoon disclosed this to Sagan’s biographer, Keay Davidson. The publishing of this biography, Carl Sagan: A Life, in 1999, brought much media attention to the issue of the use and legalization of marijuana.

Also worth watching is his entire cosmos series where he presents the science about what we know about the universe and cosmos. In this 12 part documentary you will learn everything you need to know about astronomy, physics, and evolution, plus he flies around in a make believe spaceship visiting distant planets. What can be better?