Back in the 80s, I sheepishly bought my first copy of High Times out of a smoke shop in New York and hid it under my jacket. The moment I opened those pages, I stepped into another world: free, creative, rebellious, alive. It changed me and I realized there was a whole incredible community of like-minded smokers that I wanted to join.
Now here we are, a lifetime later and I still can’t believe I get to be part of bringing this iconic magazine back to life. It feels surreal. Like, eighteen-year-old Josh would be laughing his ass off right now.
Let me be clear: this is not about making money. This is about giving back to the community that raised me. High Times belongs to all of us: the growers, the artists, the weirdos, the scientists, the dropouts, the dreamers. It’s always been a place for truth, laughter, culture, and connection. And that’s exactly what it’s going to be again.
We’re keeping the journalism strong and independent, the storytelling fearless, and sharing the exuberant fun! We’re bringing back the Cannabis Cups the way they should be: fair, transparent, and worth celebrating. We’re opening these pages to new voices while honoring the legends who built this movement.
My hope is simple: that this magazine sits on your coffee table forever. It will make you think, laugh, maybe even change your life a little, the way it once did for me!
So roll one up, flip through these pages, and celebrate what we’ve built together. High Times isn’t just back. It’s better than ever, and it’s here for the people. Together we will expand human consciousness.
With love and gratitude,
Josh
