Cannabis Comic Rob Cantrell
What happens in Amsterdam...is fucking awesome. 
When it comes to weed-friendly comics, Rob Cantrell is definitely in the top three of funnymen who have helped spread a healthy attitude about marijuana consumption to the general public. High Times loves Cantrell so much they had him host Cannabis Cups and comedy festivals in cities like Amsterdam, San Francisco, and Michigan. And they also had him host segments like “High at the Movies” for Highwitness News. Cantrell is known to drop the science on occasion and his new album, Stay on the Grass, contains funny rap songs like “Coffee and Weed.”
This former kindergarten teacher first gained national attention when he was a top 10 finalist on the very first season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and since then he’s been on fire—touring with the Marijuana-Logues, performing at SXSW and Bonnaroo fests and making appearances on programs like Flight of the Conchords and The Late Late Show.
Originally from Washington DC, Cantrell now resides in Brooklyn. And according to Cantrell’s story below, New York is not the best state to smoke a joint on the street with a professional violinist unless you like getting arrested. Hear all about his weekend in Tombs Prison, and about the time he dined at a restaurant that serves weed pizzas, below.
Big Buds Mag: How does marijuana enhance your comedy or quality of life?
Rob Cantrell: It enhances whatever mood I am in; it also keeps me very relaxed. [Smoking while writing comedy] is all about editing, cutting to the chase, what is funny? Herb can help.
BBM: Can you tell me about some of the highlights performing and touring with the comics from The Marijuana-Logues?
Cantrell: We did a fun Northern California trip with shows in Humbolt and Grass Valley. It is beautiful country and the people are very nice. They really loved the show up there. It was like a trippy homecoming.
BBM: I know that you have hosted the Cannabis Cup. Do you have a fun anecdote about Amsterdam?
Cantrell: What happens in Amsterdam...is fucking awesome.
BBM: Can you please tell our readers the story about getting busted for smoking a roach on the street in the Upper Westside of Manhattan? It’s pretty amazing.
Cantrell: It was on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a pretty shady spot. I wasn't thinking, and there a are ton of cops down there that I didn't know about. I got popped with a professional violinist. We were smoking a joint behind a little club down there. I did two and half nights in a jail, in a place the NYPD call the TOMBS. I went in on Friday, didn't get out till Sunday. It was brutal, but some great material for the stage. Check it out on YouTube:
BBM: You’ve toured all over the place with your comedy. How does marijuana culture and attitudes about it differ in the different cities/countries you’ve visited? I know you visited Asia when you were younger.
Cantrell: California is the most educated and cool about weed in the world, besides maybe Amsterdam. Stoners in general are nice, and I like those people at my comedy shows. Stoner crowds can be the best once you get them going. I have been to Cambodia. There is a restaurant that serves weed pizzas there. That was cool.
BBM: What would you be doing if you weren’t a comic? Would you still be teaching kindergarten? Or would you still be performing music or rapping?
Cantrell: Teaching or rapping would be dope.
BBM: Do you have any tours, appearances, shows, CDs/DVDs to mention?
Cantrell: I will be playing in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve at the Nob Hill Masonic Center. I have a new music video called “The Smoke Joint” that I am plugging and will soon have the music on iTunes.
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Wednesday, 02 November 2011
