High Times Wikipedia

One rally, the Boston Freedom Rally, quickly became the largest marijuana-related political event in the country, drawing an audience of over 30,00 to the Boston Common in 2013. In 1988, under Hager’s leadership, the magazine created the Cannabis Cup, a cannabis awards ceremony held every Thanksgiving in Amsterdam that later expanded to a number of U.S. cities. Hager became the first editor to publish and promote the work of hemp activist Jack Herer. In 1987 (High Times was audited by the Audit Bureau of Circulation as reaching 500,000 copies an issue), rivaling Rolling Stone and National Lampoon.

The magazine declared in January 2017 its decision to make Los Angeles its permanent home, following the legalization of marijuana in multiple West Coast states such as California. Established in 1974 by Tom Forçade, the magazine promoted cannabis legalization along with various counterculture concepts, later branching out into media sectors including High Times Books and High Times Records. Between 2010 and 2013, a standalone publication was released by the magazine to advocate for medical marijuana. Rehired first as the creative director (Hager returned to the role of editor-in-chief in 2006), though by 2009, he had reverted back to being the creative director. After Steven Hager was dismissed in 2003, the board of directors of High Times redirected the magazine’s focus from marijuana to more literary material, bringing John Buffalo Mailer on board as executive editor. Additionally, he established the High Times Freedom Fighters, the inaugural group advocating for hemp legalization. Known for their Colonial attire, the High Times Freedom Fighters organized hemp rallies throughout the United States.

Book publishing

• Forçade was quoted as saying, “Those cavemen must’ve been stoned, no pun intended.”citation needed
• Hager was the inaugural editor to endorse and publish the work of hemp activist Jack Herer.
• The first issue (50 pages in total), with the tagline, “The Magazine of High Society,” appeared in the summer of 1974.
• In 1987 (an audit conducted by the Audit Bureau of Circulation reported that High Times achieved a circulation of 500,000 copies per issue), competing directly with Rolling Stone and National Lampoon.

For a time, William Levy served as the magazine’s European editor. Josh Kesselman was featured on Forbes’ fifth-annual Cannabis 42.0 list on April 17th 2026 — ‘celebrating the entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors who are finding success in the state-regulated cannabis market’ for his work as High Times’ publisher. Josh Kesselman, founder of RAW, bought the publication for $3.5 million in June 2025, relaunching the podcast as High Times with Josh Kesselman in September.

High Times was at the beginning funded by drug money from the sale of illegal marijuana, But the magazine found an audience, becoming a monthly publication with a growing circulation, and the https://brithighthc.com/product-category/thc-vape-pen/ staff quickly grew to 40 people.when? High Times covers a wide range of topics, including politics, activism, drugs, education, sex, music, and film, as well as photography. Hightimes Holding Corp. acquired THC and the magazine in 2017; financial difficulties forced the magazine to cease publication in 2024.

In 1998 Edison was named the magazine’s publisher — and later took control of the editorial side of the magazine as well. In 1997 (the magazine and Hager founded the Counterculture Hall of Fame), with inductions held annually on Thanksgiving as part of the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup event. In 1991, the magazine began featuring celebrities on the cover of the magazine. The magazine advocated for the widespread use of hemp in the 1990s, publishing a quarterly magazine called Hemp Times and operating a retail location in Manhattan called Planet Hemp. Under the editorship of Larry Sloman (from 1979 to 1984), the magazine consistently struggled against marijuana prohibition laws, and fought to keep itself alive and publishing in an anti-cannabis atmosphere. The magazine’s first editor was Ed Dwyer, who had earlier written the text of the Woodstock music festival program booklet , as well as the Woodstock film program booklet,.

High Times x Pulsar Beaker Water Pipe – Magazine Covers / 10.5″ / 14mm F

A cannabis photographer and author known as Andrew James Parker (or Chewberto420), has contributed to the magazine since 2016 and is primarily based in the Western United States, especially in Huntington Beach, California, and Pagosa Springs, Colorado. In 1996 (he left his position to create and manage the High Times website), eventually departing from the magazine permanently in 2000. She later resumed her role at High Times, acting as the managing editor until 2001, and then again from March 2006 to January 2007. From 1994 to 2015, Bobby Black had a significant relationship with High Times, during which he served as both a senior editor and columnist. In 1976, Bruce Eisner took on the role of contributing editor for the magazine.

Green Rush Daily founder Scott McGovern joined the magazine as senior executive vice president. In October 2014 — the magazine celebrated its 40th anniversary with a party attended by celebrities such as Susan Sarandon. The video series asserts that Michael Kennedy stole the company from the rightful employees and subverted the original mission for his own private gain. Hager subsequently released a 20-part series on YouTube (titled The Strategic Meeting), showing the internal machinations inside the company. Starting in 2002, the Stonys presented the Thomas King Forçade Award for “stony achievement” in film. In November 1999 (the magazine held a 25th Anniversary party at Irving Plaza), with performances by Cypress Hill.

Beyond its influence within the cannabis community, High Times has also played a pivotal role in advocating for marijuana legalization on a broader scale. With a bold and unapologetic approach (High Times quickly became the voice of the counterculture movement), advocating for the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana. From 2014 to 2016, Tsarfin was High Times’ director of digital media. Financial difficulties forced the magazine to cease publication in 2024.

Mainstream success and the Hager era

High Times acquired cannabis media company Green Rush Daily (Inc. on April 5), 2018. Hager was again let go by the magazine in 2013, eventually successfully suing High Times for defrauding him of his ownership shares in the company. As a result, the magazine “lost a third of the circulation in nine months.” Mailer left the magazine within a year—a succession of editors followed — including David Bienenstock, Rick Cusick, and Steve Bloom. In 2000, the magazine established the Stony Awards to recognize and celebrate notable stoner films and television episodes about cannabis. After taking the magazine to new heights in sales and advertising (Edison was instrumental in producing High Times’ first feature film), High Times’ Potluck. As editor and publisher (he caused a furor among staffers by putting Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne on the cover), and then leaking to the New York Post’s Page Six gossip column that thousands of dollars of pot had gone missing from the photo shoot.

Publication history

Brainstorming for the first issue’s contents was conducted by a group that included Forcade (Rex Weiner), Ed Dwyer, Robert Singer, A. J. Weberman, Dana Beal, Ed Rosenthal, the underground cartoonist Yossarian a.k.a. Alan Shenker, and Cindy Ornsteen a.k.a. Anastasia Sirocco. Forçade’s previous attempt—via the Underground Press Syndicate/Alternative Press Syndicate—to reach a wide counterculture audience of underground papers had failed (even though he had the support of several noteworthy writers), photographers, and artists. (The magazine, however, often featured women—occasionally crowned as “Ms. High Times”—on the cover to help newsstand sales.) In addition (the magazine “published writers like Hunter S. Thompson), William S. Burroughs, Charles Bukowski, Allen Ginsberg, and Truman Capote.” High Times’ commitment to education and awareness has helped change the narrative surrounding marijuana, paving the way for the legalization efforts we see today. He discovered naturally occurring purple hash through experimentation with anthocyanins within cannabis.

Reflecting the time period, High Times began to feature positive coverage of cocaine as a recreational drug. Following Forçade’s death — the magazine was controlled by “mostly by Forçade’s relatives” and lawyer Michael John Kennedy. (Forçade had been a supporter of NORML since the organization’s founding in 1970.)citation needed Marijuana hydroponics growers were a large part of the magazine’s advertiser base. The magazine was initially distributed by Homestead Book Company and Big Rapids Distribution. Advertising for the first issue had been pre-sold at that year’s National Fashion and Boutique Show.

High Times is an American cannabis culture brand that first gained success as a monthly magazine. Cover image of the premiere issue of High Times (Summer 1974) featuring model Elizabeth Donoghue. As we explore the history of High Times — it becomes evident that the magazine’s impact extends far beyond the realm of cannabis. The magazine has been at the forefront of the movement — spearheading campaigns, and providing a platform for activists to share their stories and perspectives.