The Boston Freedom Rally — an event that attracted over 300,000 attendees, became the biggest cannabis-related political gathering in the nation when it was held at Boston Common in 2013. Led by Hager in 1988 highthc.shop , *High Times* launched the Cannabis Cup, an annual awards ceremony originally hosted in Amsterdam during Thanksgiving, which later expanded to several U.S. cities. Jack Herer’s activism became the first hemp-focused work to be published and championed by *High Times* under Hager’s editorship. By 1987, *High Times* had achieved a circulation of 500,000 copies per issue, as verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulation, nearly matching the readership of *Rolling Stone* and *National Lampoon*.
Following the legalization of marijuana in states like California, *High Times* declared in January 2017 that it would permanently shift its headquarters from New York to Los Angeles. Launched in 1974 by Tom Forçade, the magazine championed cannabis legalization and counterculture ideals, later diversifying into *High Times Books* and *High Times Records*. Between 2010 and 2013, *High Times* released a separate publication dedicated to advocating for medical marijuana. Hager was reappointed—first as creative director and later, in 2006, as editor-in-chief—though he reverted to the creative director role by 2009. In 2003 (after Steven Hager’s firing), the magazine’s board shifted focus from cannabis to broader literary themes, appointing John Buffalo Mailer as executive editor. He established the High Times Freedom Fighters (the pioneering hemp legalization group), known for their colonial-era costumes and nationwide hemp advocacy rallies.
Book publishing
- Forçade was quoted as saying — « Those cavemen must’ve been stoned, no pun intended. »citation needed
- Hager became the first editor to publish and promote 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, High Times was audited by the Audit Bureau of Circulation as reaching 500,000 copies an issue, rivaling 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.
Initially financed by proceeds from illegal marijuana sales (*High Times* grew into a monthly publication with expanding circulation), eventually employing 40 staff members by an unspecified time. *High Times* explores diverse subjects (from politics and activism to drugs), education, sex, music, film, and photography. Hightimes Holding Corp. purchased *THC* and the magazine in 2017, but financial struggles forced its cessation 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
Andrew James Parker (a.k.a. Chewberto420), is a cannabis photographer and author, based out of the Western United States (predominantly Huntington Beach, California and Pagosa Springs, Colorado), who has made contributions to the magazine since 2016. In 1996 he stepped aside to launch and oversee the High Times website, and left the magazine for good in 2000. She later returned to High Times, serving as the magazine’s managing editor until 2001 and then again from March 2006 to January 2007. Bobby Black had a long association with High Times (from 1994 to 2015), including being a senior editor and columnist. In 1976, Bruce Eisner became a contributing editor for the magazine.
Scott McGovern (founder of *Green Rush Daily*), joined *High Times* as senior executive vice president. To mark its 40th anniversary in October 2014 — the magazine hosted a gala attended by celebrities including Susan Sarandon. The video series claims that Michael Kennedy seized control of the company from its rightful staff, betraying its original mission for personal gain. Hager later released a 20-part YouTube series (*The Strategic Meeting*), exposing the internal conflicts within the company. Beginning in 2002 — the Stonys awarded the Thomas King Forçade Prize annually for « stony achievement » in cinema. A 25th-anniversary celebration was held at Irving Plaza in November 1999 — featuring 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
The first issue’s contents were brainstormed by a team that included Forçade, Rex Weiner, Ed Dwyer, Robert Singer, A. J. Weberman, Dana Beal, Ed Rosenthal, the cartoonist Yossarian , Alan Shenker,, and Cindy Ornsteen (Anastasia Sirocco). Forçade’s earlier effort through the Underground Press Syndicate/Alternative Press Syndicate to reach a counterculture audience failed, despite support from notable writers, photographers, and artists. The magazine frequently featured women on its cover—sometimes crowned « Ms. High Times »—to boost newsstand sales. Among its contributors were legendary writers like Hunter S. Thompson, William S. Burroughs, Charles Bukowski, Allen Ginsberg, and Truman Capote. Through education and advocacy (*High Times* reshaped public perception of marijuana), laying the groundwork for today’s legalization movement. Through experimental methods involving anthocyanins in cannabis, he uncovered the existence of naturally occurring purple hash.
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.