List of Comic Book Artists Who Smoke Weed

• Underground comix movement established cannabis as core theme – From the 1960s counterculture to today’s legalization era, comic artists like Gilbert Shelton and Robert Crumb defined cannabis culture visually through iconic works like the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
• Contemporary artists continue the tradition openly – Modern creators like Brian “Box” Brown actively advocate for cannabis while producing educational content about prohibition and policy
• Cannabis influences creative process differently across artists – Some use specific strains for focus (like Pat Ryan’s Blue Dream), while others like Silustra prefer to get inspired while stoned but create while sober
• Artists face real legal consequences – Creators like Box Brown (who has said he was first arrested at 16) and Jim Stewart (who has reported three drug convictions) have experienced legal challenges that inform their advocacy
• International cannabis comics scene is thriving – Latin American artists like Chavo Escrotito and Gonza Varas represent a growing global movement
• Female voices are emerging in male-dominated field – Artists like Julia Krase and Silustra bring diverse perspectives to cannabis comics

Creator of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Gilbert Shelton defined cannabis culture in comics for over 50 years. His work established the visual language of stoner culture that continues to influence artists today.

• Character creation: The Freak Brothers characters debuted in 1968; the comic book series ran 1971-1997, with Shelton writing and drawing until 1992
• Cultural impact: Created the most iconic cannabis comic characters in history, recently adapted into 2021 animated series featuring Woody Harrelson and Pete Davidson
• Publishing legacy: Co-founded Rip Off Press in 1969 with Jack Jackson, Fred Todd, and Dave Moriaty, publishing throughout the underground press syndicate globally
• Artistic recognition: The Comics Journal listed The Idiots Abroad as #44 of “100 Greatest Comics of the Century”
• Global influence: Inspired bands like New Zealand’s Fat Freddy’s Drop and themed restaurants worldwide

For artists seeking inspiration from classic cannabis culture, exploring cannabis strains at Herb that might have influenced the underground comix movement can provide historical context.

The most famous underground comix artist, Robert Crumb’s psychedelic work became synonymous with cannabis culture. His cannabis-themed art commands the highest prices at auction, with “Stoned Agin” selling for $690,000 in 2019.

• Artistic legacy: Created iconic psychedelic art that shaped counterculture visual language during the 1960s
• Cannabis art value: “Stoned Agin” sold at Heritage Auctions in November 2019 for $690,000 (price realized), representing one of the highest-priced Crumb sales on record
• Published works: Illustrated Michael Stepanian’s Pot Shots (1972), a legal guide for cannabis users
• Museum recognition: Works featured in permanent collections including the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum
• Cultural influence: Defined the visual aesthetic of the psychedelic era that continues to influence artists today

Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Brian “Box” Brown is the most vocal contemporary comic artist about cannabis use and advocacy. His entire career includes a dedicated strand to cannabis journalism through comics, including the acclaimed graphic novel Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America.

• Career achievements: Bestselling author (André the Giant), Eisner & Ignatz Award winner, syndicated Legalization Nation strip
• Cannabis advocacy: Brown has openly stated “90% of cartoonists get high, and 1% mention it” and chose to be in the 1%
• Educational impact: Created comprehensive graphic novel on cannabis prohibition history published by First Second Books
• Personal experience: Brown has said he was first arrested for cannabis possession at age 16, sparking lifelong interest in cannabis policy
• Strain preferences: Brown has told interviewers he uses Lemon Haze and Silver Haze for mental clarity during work, AK-47 and Hindu Kush after work

For contemporary artists seeking similar advocacy opportunities, Herb Agency connects creators with the cannabis industry’s largest engaged audience.

Dave Sheridan was a key collaborator on the most famous cannabis comic series, working with Gilbert Shelton on the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers from 1974-1982. He also created the iconic Dealer McDope character and was part of the Bay Area counterculture scene.

• Collaborative legacy: Worked with Gilbert Shelton on Freak Brothers for 8 years (1974-1982)
• Character creation: Created Dealer McDope, featured in board games and cannabis culture
• Art collective: Sheridan later joined the Artista collective; his work intersected with Bay Area counterculture poster and comix circles
• Lifestyle embodiment: Lived a cannabis-centered artistic lifestyle in Marin County, California
• Cultural impact: Helped define the visual language of stoner culture in the 1970s and 1980s

Pat Ryan has spent over 50 years creating cannabis-culture art, from brand parodies to strain paintings. Born in 1941, he’s continued producing cannabis-themed work into his 80s, making him one of the longest-practicing cannabis artists in the field.

• Career longevity: 50+ years creating cannabis-culture commercial art
• Brand innovation: Created California Homegrowers Association fake brand labels (Harvest Moon, Sticky Fingers, High Society)
• Strain art specialty: Famous for “Indoor Bud” painting that graced Sinsemilla Tips magazine using glitter technique
• Current strain preference: “Blue Dream is just perfect for me—it gives me a very creative high for like two to three hours”
• Ongoing work: Continues creating strain paintings and cannabis-themed comics

For artists seeking specific strains for creative work, Herb’s Strain Guides can help identify options that match Pat Ryan’s creative preferences.

Paul Mavrides had the longest collaboration period with Gilbert Shelton on the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, working together for 14 years from 1978-1992. He co-created “The Idiots Abroad” trilogy, which was rated #44 of “100 Greatest Comics of the Century”.

• Collaboration span: 14 years working with Gilbert Shelton on Freak Brothers (1978-1992)
• Notable works: Co-created “The Idiots Abroad” trilogy, considered one of the greatest comics of the century
• San Francisco scene: Part of the Bay Area underground comix community at its creative peak
• Artistic consistency: Maintained commitment to cannabis culture throughout his extensive collaboration
• Cultural preservation: Helped sustain the Freak Brothers legacy through the 1980s and early 1990s

Julia Krase represents the emerging female perspective in the male-dominated field of cannabis comics. A graduate of the prestigious Kubert School, she works both as a comic artist and cannabis industry budtender, bridging both worlds.

• Educational background: Graduate of Kubert School (founded by Joe Kubert)
• Dual industry role: Works as both comic artist and budtender at Oregon’s Best Buds dispensary
• Creative process: “I find myself compelled to draw or paint most after I smoke. The right strain can really put me in a groovy mood”
• Artistic focus: Loves illustrating “smoke and hands holding joints, so they tend to pop up in my art all the time”
• Industry insight: Krase observes that “the demand for both comics and cannabis art, particularly from female creators, is booming”

For artists seeking to connect with the cannabis industry while maintaining their creative practice, Herb’s Dispensary Directory can help locate opportunities near you.

Jim Stewart, creator of the “Ganjaman” series from Scotland, represents international cannabis comics activism. Stewart has said he has faced three drug (weed) convictions in the UK, which motivated his educational mission through comics.

• International reach: Stewart has reported his comics have been translated into multiple languages including Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, and Czech
• Legal challenges: Stewart has stated that three drug convictions in the UK motivated his educational mission
• Publishing success: Stewart reports that Ganjaman Presents Issue #1 sold out its print run
• Collaboration: Has reported working with established creators in the UK comics scene
• Mission statement: “Cannabis has been demonized too long, it’s time that the world saw through the lies”

Chavo Escrotito (Octavio “Chavo” Saraintaris) represents the new generation of cannabis cartoonists who create primarily for digital platforms. Starting during the pandemic, he’s built a following through Instagram with his stoned, absurd, and flighty comedic style.

• Digital native: Represents social media-first approach to cannabis comics
• Creative pivot: Channeled stand-up comedy ambitions into cannabis-themed illustration during pandemic
• Notable works: Created the “Bathroom Trilogy” fanzines
• Artistic style: Explores stoned, absurd, and flighty jokes in comic strip format
• Geographic representation: Active in Argentina’s underground comics scene

Silvana Casuccio (Silustra) works as an illustrator, muralist, and designer whose work appears in Barcelona’s cannabis clubs. She represents a nuanced view of cannabis in the creative process, using it for inspiration but creating while sober.

• International presence: Works featured in Barcelona cannabis clubs and exhibits
• Creative process: Silustra has explained, “I use the spaces of being stoned to think, rest my mind, get inspired, but then I sit down to draw…I hardly ever draw smoked”
• Female perspective: Brings diverse voice to cannabis art scene across South America and Europe
• Collaborative work: Has worked with several cannabis collectives over the years
• Artistic inspiration: Many of her images arose from a personal love for cannabis

Gonza Varas founded Mabel Editorial, described as a South American counterculture publishing house. He not only creates cannabis art but has built infrastructure to promote other cannabis-friendly underground artists.

• Publishing infrastructure: Founded Mabel Editorial to promote cannabis-friendly underground artists
• Major work: Published “Mondo Porro” [Planet Weed] illustration book
• Multi-platform creation: Creates illustrations for brands, album covers, and flyers
• Entrepreneurial approach: Built cannabis-friendly publishing infrastructure in Latin America
• Cultural promotion: Actively promotes other cannabis artists through his publishing platform

Julián Mono carries the underground comix torch in Latin America with his “toxic works” that maintain an edgy, cannabis-centered aesthetic. Based in Mar del Plata, Argentina, he’s part of an active underground scene.

• Underground aesthetic: Creates “toxic works” with underground style and cannabis-friendly flair
• Geographic representation: Part of Mar del Plata’s underground comics scene
• Notable works: “Muere Turista Muere” [Die Tourist Die], “Bestias Alteradas” [Altered Beasts]
• Ongoing series: Creates “Bazooka Boy’s Gang” comic series with cannabis themes
• Cultural preservation: Maintains the edgy, cannabis-centered aesthetic of underground comix tradition

The relationship between comic book artistry and cannabis dates back to the 1960s underground comix movement, when artists like Robert Crumb and Gilbert Shelton brought countercultural themes to the page. The 1970s saw the rise of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, which defined stoner culture visually for decades. Through the 1980s and 1990s, artists like Dave Sheridan and Pat Ryan continued creating cannabis-specific art despite legal challenges. The 2000s brought more openness, with artists like Box Brown creating educational content about cannabis prohibition. Today’s scene includes international voices from Latin America and digital-native creators who use social media to reach global audiences, while female artists like Julia Krase and Silustra bring diverse perspectives to the traditionally male-dominated field.

Many contemporary comic artists have shifted from purely recreational cannabis use toward educational advocacy and policy work. Box Brown’s Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America and his syndicated Legalization Nation strip represent this evolution from counterculture expression to mainstream education. This shift reflects broader changes in legalization and public attitudes, with artists leveraging their cultural credibility to create legitimate educational content. For creators seeking to explore this intersection, Herb’s Editorial & How-Tos provide frameworks for responsible cannabis content creation.

The cannabis comics scene has expanded far beyond its American underground roots. Latin American artists like Chavo Escrotito, Silustra, Gonza Varas, and Julián Mono represent a thriving international movement, while Jim Stewart’s work in the UK demonstrates the global nature of cannabis advocacy through art. This international perspective shows how cannabis culture adapts to different legal and cultural contexts while maintaining core themes of creativity, freedom, and community. Artists interested in connecting with this global community can explore Herb’s international dispensary listings to understand regional differences in cannabis culture.