When Kush Meets Kaiju: The Highs of Anime & Weed Culture
Some stories write themselves. Others roll themselves up.
This one sparked from a memory. I won’t say his name — that’s not needed — but this story came from one of my earliest plugs.
When I lived in Charlotte, I’d go grab plants from a friend of a friend who stayed deep on the west side. Just getting to his house was an adventure on its own — but stepping inside was where the real adventure would begin.
He lived with his sister and brother-in-law. They all smoked, so it was always love. Matter of fact, whenever I’d go over there, it would turn into a whole household sesh that lasted an hour or two. Good people.
Back to him. He kept all his plants in his room, so I’d head back there to get what I needed. I’d always notice these cartoons plastered on his walls. One day, I finally asked him, “Man, what the hell is all this?” I’ll never forget the smile that came across his face as he started breaking down Dragon Ball Z for me.
Now, keep in mind — at this moment, I’m already half high, because the whole house smoked. Even his grandma, who was always there, smoked too. I’m trying to keep up with what he’s telling me, but it’s all going over my head. He was deep into it. Every time I’d come by, he’d ask if I wanted to watch an episode, and I’d always politely say no.
As time went on, I found other plugs and eventually moved out of the city, but I still think about him and his love for Goku. It took a post on social media to trigger that memory and remind me just how much the worlds of anime and weed culture really overlap.
A Culture Crossover in Full Bloom
At CashColorCannabis, we’re always digging into the places where cannabis intersects with the culture — music, fashion, politics, even food. But anime? That’s a pocket we don’t talk about enough, and it’s one Black creatives have been in for a minute.
Ask around and you’ll find there’s a whole generation of Black stoners who were raised on Toonami and the smell of loud. Anime gave us action and emotion that felt real, even in the most unreal settings. And when you add cannabis to the mix, it elevates the experience — pun very much intended.
This is just the beginning of the convo. We’ve got interviews coming with creatives who live this crossover — folks who create, consume, and celebrate both anime and cannabis as art forms and lifestyle.
This story will drop in full on our Patreon. Stay tuned.
