A Voice Also for Cannabis: Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman has selflessly supported marijuana ever since the first U.S. states started to introduce legislation for its free recreational use. 

The Oscar-winning actor began using medicinal cannabis back in 2008, to treat pain following a car accident that battered bones in his left arm, shoulder and elbow. He told the Daily Beast at the time that cannabis was the only thing that actually helped him alleviate the pain from the injury. 

He reportedly first tried cannabis thanks to his first wife, and since then he has used it in various ways, including as edibles, beverages, and smoking. 

Morgan Freeman on Cannabis and Alcohol

Freeman has reflected on both cannabis and alcohol use in his past interviews. He believes that cannabis is way less harmful than alcohol, and the very idea that it can help children with severe epilepsy is proof enough that it should be a legal medicine. 

“Now, the thrust is understanding that alcohol has no real medicinal use. Maybe if you have one drink it’ll quiet you down, but two or three and you’re fucked,” he has said in an interview for the Daily Beast. 

Freeman added in the same interview: “Marijuana has many useful uses. I have fibromyalgia pain in this arm, and the only thing that offers any relief is marijuana. They’re talking about kids who have grand mal seizures, and they’ve discovered that marijuana eases that down to where these children can have a life. That right there, to me, says, ‘Legalize it across the board!’”

The Dark Knight Rises actor reiterated his view on cannabis and alcohol a few years later as a guest in an episode of Larry King Now, where he said that cannabis is much safer than alcohol, which is legal. 

“They can’t continue to say that it's dangerous drug when it’s safer than alcohol,” Freeman told Larry at the time. 

And while the whole world seemed to agree with Morgan Freeman, the Russians were not so convinced.

Russian Media’s Infamous Backlash on Morgan Freeman 

It was so bad that it still makes for a good read. A memorable episode in Morgan’s life is that time when he appeared in a video for the group “Committee to Investigate Russia,” following allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. elections in 2016. Freeman was also one of the founders of the non-profit group. 

This prompted some pretty wild reactions in Russia. The state-owned Russia 24 media network did not hide its discontent over the video and called out the actor for saying that the United States “came under attack by the Russian government.” 

The Russian media had him labeled as “Hysterical Freeman” and the network anchor went as far as to blame Freeman’s “marijuana use” for the actor’s personal views on Russia. 

To rub salt into the wound, the news channel even hosted a panel of psychiatrists and during the live broadcast one of the doctors claimed that Freeman was suffering “a Messianic complex” from having played so many roles of Gods and presidents in several of his movies. 

The propaganda about Freeman on Russian television continued for quite a while after that. He was also called “drunk grandpa” by famous film director Yuri Grymov, and for the Russian Channel Five television network he was an “American propaganda mouthpiece.” 

Morgan Freeman is turning 86 this June 1 and for all we know he is none of those nasty things. He will always have a special place in the heart of his many millions of fans, as well as that the greater cannabis community will never forget the much-needed endorsement he gave for the plant in times when things were still standing thin. 

Also read on Soft Secrets:

- Willie Nelson to Release First Ever Cannabis Cookbook

- What Was Bob Marley Favorite Strain of Weed?

- A New Study Challenge Common Beliefs About Cannabis