20 Old School Photos of Tree Smoking

It seems like, for too long, we’ve been taught to fear and be ashamed of the pejorative “stoner” label by what has – until now – been the dominant culture.

That’s why it’s extremely refreshing to see things begin to change. Marijuana is becoming the norm again; where it’s finally being seen not as “bad” by the dominant culture, but as a bigger part of society than more people realize.

In fact, when I look back on these old school tree smoking pictures, I don’t see much change. Many circles, family, friends and dealer relationships spark the same feelings I get when I look back on our history.

And that feels pretty good.

There are a lot of similarities to draw between generations, and there are plenty of ways we’re different. Bongs thought? Bongs are a forever thing. Along with goofy hats.

It doesn’t matter what year it is, there’s always someone willing to help another out in getting a hit and learning the ropes. There’s a chill sweetness of “No dude, like this,” to this picture and I love it.

This is exactly what I’m talking about. Public consumption in any form is the true representation of freedom; of reclaiming the things we embraced back then. It seems so simple, but it’s so meaningful to be able to gather publicly like this.

Or get naked in the woods and smoke down. That’s cool, too.

Those were chill times then, and it wasn’t just about chasing a high. It was about slowing the pace, enjoying music and being together. The tree was just one more thing helped us root ourselves in those unforgettable moments.

It didn’t matter who you were. Everyday Joes on up to celebrities like Grace Slick seen in this picture at Woodstock would smoke down. It was absolutely the norm. I like to think this is where some of the best music inspirations came from.

It also inspired a lot of fringe dangles on clothing. But hey, I’m not judgy. Comfort is an absolute necessity – in anything you wear – whether that’s fringe tops or rainbow underoos.

You wonder, when you look at pics like this, what inspired the feeling of freedom. Was it an ideal at the time? Was it the music? Did it have anything to do with all the tree smoking?

I love the idea that it’s the tree smoking. That sharing is caring and it’s what brought a lot of us together to places like Woodstock.

Of course it’s not just a tree smoking hippie thing. Pot has always been prolific in every industry and walk of life. Especially Hollywood. From every movie set…

… to every production studio. Marijuana was appreciated. It was respected. It has always been a part of our culture.

Compare the other images to this one – a protestor at Occupy Portland – and you understand just how close we are to the like minds of a few decades past. A little legislation and some black and white filters away from being one, in fact.

Louis Armstrong was never concerned over smoking pot. Despite convictions, and despite racism in the early 1900s, he still smoked pot before performances and during recordings. It was a part of who he was and was central to his place in the history of jazz.

We’re probably at a point where you can look to the 80s and even the 90s as old school – and if that is indeed the case, then here’s a young Brooke Shields smoking tree with HR from Bad Brains.

Because it really doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity artist or just another woman in the crowd at Woodstock, it’s all about the feeling and the freedom. And by the look on her face, I’d say she’s found a zen place that most of us have trouble finding these days.

Tree smoking gives us pause – it creates chill opportunities no matter the year. Just like we see here with Big Youth and John Lydon hanging out with a fat spliff.

A lot of the time we smoke down to enjoy ourselves. Sometimes, it might be the only enjoyment we get. You have to take time to respect and appreciate the history of not only the tree, but of our own people.  

Like in this photo taken from video of the Vietnam war, soldiers in fire-support base Aries, a small clearing in the jungles of War Zone D, 50 miles from Saigon, smoke marijuana using the barrel of a shotgun they nicknamed "Ralph," to get high on November 13, 1970. It’s crazy to think about, but for them it was probably one of their few moments of peace.

This is a strong contrast to the grimness of the previous picture but it’s representation of the cultural mindset at the time; a J to share with everyone. Everyone gets a hit.

Did you honestly think there would be a post of old school tree smoking without a picture of Bob Marley?

We’re a resourceful lot. We find new and exciting ways to embrace our craft as well as enjoy old school traditions. I look forward to the years ahead where the freedom to smoke spreads to more places. More people deserve to know what that peace of mind feels like akin to what we’ve seen in these pics.

Got another great old school pic to share? Shoot me a link in the comments below:

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