HIT FOR BRAINS
Musk’s (pot) tokin’ gesture burns Tesla stock
Elon Musk's high caused Tesla's low.
Tesla stock dropped 10% Friday — before making a slight rebound — after Musk, the company's CEO, took a puff of a joint on the set of Joe Rogan's podcast.
The famed inventor was offered the joint toward the end of their two-hour conversation on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” which was streamed online late Thursday.
The cigar featured a blend of marijuana and tobacco, Rogan said.
"I mean, it's legal right?" Musk asked before taking a hit.
Musk would go on to say he didn't feel “any effect” of the marijuana a few minutes later and noted he “almost never” smokes weed.
“I'm getting text messages from friends saying ‘What the hell are you doing smoking weed?'” Musk said on the podcast.
Also Friday, the company's newly installed chief of accounting, Dave Morton, announced his resignation.
Musk's puff may have conflicted with Tesla's code of ethics, according to CNBC, as the policy states: “Employees should report to work without being under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
“The use of illegal drugs in the workplace will not be tolerated.”
While marijuana is legal in California, where the filming took place, it is still considered illegal under federal law.
It's also worth considering whether Musk appearing on the popular podcast and discussing Tesla should be considered him being at work.
Musk also sipped whiskey throughout the interview.
Musk's behavior was condemned Friday by Loup Ventures, a venture capital firm, which wrote on its website, “Elon's actions are making it harder and harder to support Tesla as a company.”
The podcast episode also featured a moment where Rogan asked Musk if he ever thought about the lack of people on earth who are as devoted to innovation as he is.
“I don't think you'd necessarily want to be me. I don't think people would like it that much,” Musk said.