Hundreds stand in line to meet cannabis celebrity
Hundreds of people lined up at Quick Grow and Diablo Nutrients in Kelowna Friday evening for a chance to meet celebrated pot smoker Tommy Chong at an event celebrating this week’s legalization of recreational marijuana use in Canada.
Chong, 80, starred in 1970s and ’80s pot-themed film comedies such as Up in Smoke and Still Smoking with Cheech Marin.
“When it comes to counterculture and marijuana in North America, he’s an icon,” said Darryl Borsato, owner of Quick Grow, a retail hydroponic garden centre that sells everything one needs to grow marijuana, and Diablo Nutrients.
Wayne Corbeil of West Kelowna brought a commemorative print for Chong to autograph which included a photo of Chong from his Up in Smoke days and a current photo of Chong, as well as a symbol commemorating legalization day.
The print will go on the Brush with Greatness Wall in his man cave.
Corbeil said he has been a fan of Chong since elementary school when he heard a cut from one of Cheech and Chong’s first albums on the radio.
“I thought it was hilarious,” he said, adding he has watched everything Chong has done since.
Michelle Behr is a self-proclaimed “cannactivist” who belongs to Canadian Women in Cannabis, a national activist group that promotes social advocacy for women in the cannabis industry and the representation of women in the field of cannabis.
“It feels like I’m coming out of the cannabis closet to meet my personal mentors and heroes,” said Behr, who has used cannabis medicinally for 20 years.
“I’m proud to be from Canada,” Chong said between meeting fans. “Canada’s like me. I was the first of a lot of people to realize that the weed is a godsend.”