Few industries have been as supportive of the 4/20 holiday as the music business, considering how often our performers (and fans) seem to enjoy the subtle joys of marijuana. If you were around for Record Store Day during 2013, you may have witnessed just how early music fans will both line up and light up. Arrests for marijuana possession are almost a non-news item at this point: Rap performers Migos and Nelly have both been incarcerated for that (and a few other charges) in the last few weeks. The reason why those stories fail to shock us? Although the Reagan administration has been criticized for its "war on drugs," it focused on much more potent drugs while society has eased off on its fear of pot. Some states even allow it to be bought, sold and smoked legally. Here are five cases of musicians who served as martyrs for the cause before we as a society began to relax, including The Beatles, Louis Armstrong and Fabolous.
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong is one of the most prominent players in jazz history and one of the most influential musicians in popular music in general. If he had played in the modern era, no one would think twice about the trumpet player—known for his affable attitude and humorous vocal style—lighting up every now and again. As it stands, he represents one of the first big-name musicians to be arrested for indulging in the drug. The performer was arrested during 1930, along with his drummer Vic Berton, after playing a show at the Cotton Club in Culver City, CA. Berton's brother would later comment that the pair spent all night "laughing it up," and otherwise refusing to come down from their high. Both were sentenced to six months in prison—and the world should consider it fortunate that the sentences were suspended by the judge. The pair paid $100 fines...quite a bit for that day and age.
Roky Erickson
You may not have heard of Roky Erickson but he represents the irrational fear of drugs that Americans have possessed for years. As a member of a the 13th Floor Elevators, he was partially responsible for the development of psychedelic rock, and accordingly was a vocal proponent of marijuana, LSD and other popular drugs...which ultimately set him up for arrest. It didn't help that he also suffered from schizophrenia, which led viewers to question whether his odd words and actions were the result of drugs instead. Eventually he was arrested in Austin, TX for possession of a single joint...which at the time (1969) would have landed him a Singaporean 10 years in prison. Instead he opted to plead insanity, which landed him several years in several mental health facilities instead. As One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest indicated, that wasn't a vacation. Erickson was subjected to involuntary electroconvulsive therapy. Again, because he smoked pot.
The Beatles
Just because you're the biggest band in the history of music doesn't mean that you can get away with anything. In fact, it makes you a target to London legal authorities. John Lennon and Yoko Ono were arrested at their home in the city during 1968. This wasn't a simple serving of warrant-and-search either: The police brought drug-sniffing dogs and confiscated a cigarette-rolling machine. Lennon would plead guilty and pay a fine. Less than a year later a similar sting would occur at the London home of George Harrison and his wife Patti Boyd, resulting in the arrest of both. The incarceration prevented Harrison and Boyd from attending the wedding of Paul and Linda McCartney, which was the same day. Wow, bizarre coincidence...who would have known? Probably Sgt. Norman Pilcher. That lawman apparently had it out for the celebrity lawbreakers, having led the busts on both Lennon and Harrison. We wouldn't put it past him to have intentionally scheduled the raid on the day of McCartney's wedding. They weren't the biggest offenders in the band's history however...
Paul McCartney
We tried to find a bigger drug bust among musicians that produced more product than any other case (where dealing was clearly not the intent). Long after The Beatles had ceased touring, Paul was stopped by security at the airport in Tokyo when authorities found more than a half-pound of marijuana in his bag. If that doesn't seem like a lot to you, think of it in terms of grams: That was nearly 227 grams. Compare that with Lil Wayne, who was arrested for possession during 2006 while carrying less than one ounce of the stuff. McCartney was put in jail for nine days, leading to the cancellation of his tour with The Wings and costing a boatload (pun kind of intended). He tried to play off the incident at the time but would later admit it was "the most daft thing" he had ever done. Americans: "Daft" means stupid.
Fabolous
We were very careful to note that McCartney's haul was the largest amount we could find...where dealing was clearly not the intent. It's tougher to feel sympathy for Fabolous...as the amount he was arrested with borders on absurd. The emcee was picked up during 2009 with more than 500 pounds of green packed onto his tour bus. It's not surprising that the largest stashes are usually found on tour buses...large amounts meant to last for a lengthy stretch of tour. But, no. 500 pounds is more than anyone should be able to smoke in their lifetime. Fabolous was heading from Phoenix to Boston when he was arrested, clearly with intent to distribute. You've got to give him a hand however...a lot of rapper's tell stories about hustling but he went ahead and proved his.
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