In the tech world, Steve Jobs is hailed as a visionary, a genius who revolutionized the way we live. From the iPhone to the Macintosh, his innovations have left an indelible mark on modern society. But did you know that behind the scenes, the man who brought us Apple was also no stranger to the green scene? That’s right—Steve Jobs had a well-documented relationship with cannabis, and it played a surprising role in shaping his creative process and worldview.
In Walter Isaacson’s biography Steve Jobs, we get an inside look at how cannabis influenced the tech icon. Jobs famously said, “The best way I would describe the effect of the marijuana and the hashish is that it would make me relaxed and creative.” This candid admission sheds light on the potential intersections between tech innovation and a relaxed, creative state of mind. But Jobs’ relationship with cannabis goes deeper than just a few quotes—it’s a fascinating part of his story that reveals how unconventional thinking fueled his success.
Steve Jobs’ Early Experiments with Cannabis
Steve Jobs’ first experiences with cannabis date back to his high school years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time when counterculture movements were in full swing. Jobs attended Homestead High School in Cupertino, California, where he met Steve Wozniak, his future Apple co-founder. The two bonded over their shared love of technology and their curiosity about the world—including experimenting with cannabis.
Jobs once recalled a story from his teenage years when he and Wozniak would “get high and watch 2001: A Space Odyssey.” He described the experience as mind-expanding, saying it helped him see the world differently. This early exposure to cannabis likely shaped Jobs’ ability to think outside the box and envision a future that others couldn’t see.
The LSD and Cannabis Connection
While Jobs is often associated with his experimentation with LSD, he viewed cannabis as a complementary tool for creativity. In his own words, Jobs believed that using cannabis and LSD allowed him to “think differently,” a phrase that would later become synonymous with Apple’s brand identity. He once said, “Taking LSD was a profound experience, one of the most important things in my life… It reinforced my sense of what was important—creating great things instead of making money, putting things back into the stream of history and of human consciousness as much as I could.”
Cannabis, on the other hand, was more of a daily tool for relaxation and focus. Jobs often used it to unwind and tap into his creative flow. He wasn’t alone in this—many of the pioneers of Silicon Valley, including other tech luminaries, experimented with mind-altering substances during the 1960s and 1970s, viewing them as a way to break free from conventional thinking.
Jobs’ Cannabis Use at Reed College
After graduating high school, Jobs enrolled at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, but dropped out after just one semester. However, he stayed on campus for another 18 months, auditing classes and exploring his interests. During this time, Jobs continued to experiment with cannabis and other substances. He later described this period as formative, saying it allowed him to “drop in on the things that looked interesting.”
One of Jobs’ favorite pastimes at Reed was attending calligraphy classes, which he credited with inspiring Apple’s focus on beautiful, user-friendly design. It’s not hard to imagine that cannabis played a role in helping Jobs appreciate the artistry and detail of typography—a skill that would later define Apple’s products.
The Apple Years: Cannabis & Creativity
Even as Jobs built Apple into a global powerhouse, he didn’t completely leave cannabis behind. In the early days of Apple, Jobs, and Wozniak worked out of the Jobs family garage, often brainstorming ideas while smoking cannabis. Wozniak later recalled, “We’d get high and just talk about all the things we wanted to do with computers.”
Jobs’ ability to think creatively and envision products that didn’t yet exist was one of his greatest strengths. While it’s impossible to say how much of this was influenced by cannabis, it’s clear that Jobs saw value in using it to unlock his imagination. He once said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” For Jobs, cannabis may have been one of the tools that helped him think “crazy” enough to revolutionize the tech industry.
Jobs’ Views on Cannabis vs. Alcohol
Interestingly, Jobs was more critical of alcohol than cannabis. He believed that alcohol dulled the mind while cannabis enhanced it. In his own words, “I don’t like alcohol… but marijuana and hashish, when I used them, they relaxed me and made me more creative.”
This perspective aligns with Jobs’ broader philosophy of mindfulness and intentionality. He was known for his strict diets, meditation practices, and focus on mental clarity. For Jobs, cannabis was a way to achieve a relaxed yet focused state of mind—a balance that he believed was essential for innovation.
The Legacy of Jobs’ Cannabis Use
Steve Jobs’ openness about his cannabis use reminds us that innovation often comes from unexpected places. While not everyone may agree with his methods, there’s no denying that Jobs’ ability to think differently was a key factor in his success. His story also reflects the changing attitudes toward cannabis, especially in the tech world, where creativity and unconventional thinking are highly valued.
Today, as cannabis becomes more widely accepted and legalized, it’s worth considering the role it played in the life of one of the greatest innovators of our time. Jobs’ legacy is a testament to the power of exploring new ideas, whether they come from technology, art, or even a relaxed state of mind.
Fun Factoids About Steve Jobs & Cannabis
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The “Apple” Name Connection: Some have speculated that the name “Apple” was inspired by Jobs’ time working at an orchard in Oregon, where he also experimented with cannabis. While this theory has never been confirmed, it’s a fun piece of trivia that ties Jobs’ love of nature to his tech empire.
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Jobs’ Favorite Strain: While there’s no definitive record of Jobs’ preferred cannabis strain, he was known to enjoy hashish during his travels to India in the 1970s. He described the experience as “one of the most intense of his life.”
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The “Reality Distortion Field”: Jobs was famous for his “reality distortion field,” a term used to describe his ability to convince himself and others that the impossible was possible. Some have joked that this mindset was influenced by his cannabis use, though it’s more likely a reflection of his relentless optimism and determination.
Cannabis - A Key To Jobs' Success
Steve Jobs’ relationship with cannabis is just one piece of the puzzle that made him the visionary he was. Whether it was through meditation, calligraphy, or a relaxed state of mind, Jobs understood the importance of nurturing creativity in all its forms. His story reminds us that innovation often comes from unexpected places—and that sometimes, thinking differently means embracing the unconventional.
So, the next time you pick up your iPhone or MacBook, take a moment to appreciate the mind behind the technology—a mind that was, at least in part, shaped by the soothing influence of cannabis. As Jobs himself might say, “Stay hungry, stay foolish… and maybe take a hit or two along the way.”