5 Famous Broadway Actors Who Smoke Weed

• Broadway performers are leading cannabis normalization — stars openly discuss strategic cannabinoid use for stress, pain, and sleep as part of a professional toolkit.
• Cannabis use has evolved from counterculture to professional practice — performers talk about targeted cannabinoids (e.g., CBD, CBG, CBN) with the same rigor as vocal technique.
• Theater District now features legal dispensaries — licensed shops operate near Broadway and serve theatergoers and talent alike
• Individual responses vary significantly — some find cannabis healing; others prefer complete control, underscoring that it isn’t universally appropriate.
• Herb’s Strain Guides help match effects to needs — curated profiles help map relaxation, recovery, and focus
• Clinical research supports anxiety reduction — CBD reduced performance anxiety in a simulated public speaking test; see peer-reviewed SPST trial.
• Cannabis may boost “feeling” creative more than output

Bex Robinson, currently starring in Broadway’s & Juliet, represents the new generation of performers who openly embrace cannabis as wellness medicine. In a direct statement to Stage and Cinema, Robinson declared, “Cannabis is a healing plant for me. Cannabis isn’t just recreational—it’s plant medicine.” 

This perspective reflects the professionalization of cannabis use in theater, where performers view cannabinoids as legitimate tools for managing the physical and mental demands of eight-shows-a-week schedules. Robinson’s openness helps destigmatize cannabis use among both performers and audiences, positioning it as part of holistic health management rather than counterculture rebellion.

Litty, who has appeared in “Vanities” and “Beauty and the Beast,” demonstrates the sophisticated approach contemporary performers take to cannabis wellness. As a brand ambassador for The Travel Agency dispensary, Litty explains her strategic cannabinoid regimen: “Cannabis isn’t just recreational—it’s plant medicine. I use CBD for stress, CBG for pain, and CBN for sleep after performances.” 

This targeted approach represents professional toolkit management rather than recreational use, with specific cannabinoids chosen for specific physical and mental health needs. Litty’s methodology shows how performers can integrate cannabis into their professional wellness routines with precision and intention.

Whoopi Goldberg—who has appeared on Broadway and shaped American comedy—offers a prominent example of a performer who treats cannabis as part of a deliberate wellness toolkit. In her Cannabist vape column, Goldberg described using medical cannabis for glaucoma symptoms and framed it as a measured, adult choice rather than counterculture flair. For theater professionals navigating chronic pain, inflammation, and the stressors of live performance, her candor reframes cannabinoids as practical supports that can coexist with discipline and responsibility. 

Goldberg’s visibility as an EGOT winner helps normalize informed, purposeful cannabis use among audiences and performers alike, demonstrating how thoughtful dosing, product selection, and timing can complement rather than compromise the demands of rehearsal, performance, and recovery in a rigorous professional context.

Tony winner Alan Cumming exemplifies a veteran stage performer who talks about cannabis without mystique or apology, framing it within an intentional, adult lifestyle. In a Honeysuckle interview profile, Cumming discussed why he appreciates cannabis and how it fits alongside craft, accountability, and health. For actors managing eight-shows-a-week schedules, his approach underscores moderation, self-knowledge, and context—key principles for integrating cannabinoids without eroding precision or stamina. 

By treating cannabis as one element in a broader wellness pattern that includes movement, rest, and professional focus, Cumming helps dispel caricatures and supports a culture where evidence, experience, and personal boundaries guide decisions. His openness contributes to a more honest, less stigmatized conversation across theater communities.

Susan Sarandon—an acclaimed actor with Broadway credits—has spoken frankly about cannabis, acknowledging she has shown up to industry events while high and treating the admission as neither shocking nor shameful. In a widely cited CBS News report, Sarandon’s comments highlight how mainstream, decorated performers can discuss cannabis use without sensationalism, reinforcing that adult consumption and professional excellence are not mutually exclusive. 

For theater audiences and practitioners, this candor helps reduce stigma and opens space for pragmatic discussions about dosing, setting, and personal limits. Sarandon’s long, visible career lends weight to the idea that openness—paired with responsibility—can advance more nuanced, health-centered norms around cannabis within entertainment, including the live stage environment where preparation, recovery, and composure are paramount.

Strategic timing matters.

• Pre-show calm: CBD tinctures/oils (sublingual) for quicker onset.
• Post-show sleep: consider CBN formulations.
• Rehearsal creativity: Some reserve THC for non-performance work where precision is less critical.

Prefer low doses. Many performers report benefits at low, carefully titrated doses to preserve cognition and coordination onstage.

• Not universally beneficial. Some roles or personal preferences favor complete sobriety; experimentation should be cautious and self-aware.
• Historical context. Substance experiences among theater legends span beneficial use to eventual cessation; modern practice emphasizes wellness integration and boundaries.
• Quality control is crucial. In New York, products undergo regulated lab testing for contaminants and potency; see NY OCM testing limits and OCM lab guidance

Several Broadway performers have publicly discussed cannabis use, including performers currently working in major productions. These performers openly discuss cannabis as a wellness tool rather than a recreational substance, with specific cannabinoid applications for professional demands. The growing openness reflects the broader cultural shift toward cannabis normalization in professional entertainment.

While specific strain preferences aren’t extensively documented, Broadway performers discuss using specific cannabinoids strategically: CBD for stress, CBG for pain, and CBN for sleep. For those exploring strain options, Herb’s Strain Guides provide detailed information about effects, terpene profiles, and recommended uses that can help match cannabis properties to performance needs.

Broadway actors can purchase cannabis from legal dispensaries in Manhattan’s Theater District. Performers and fans can use Herb’s Dispensary Directory to find licensed shops near Broadway venues, with state-and-city browsing capabilities for local discovery.

Touring performers must navigate varying state cannabis laws, as cannabis remains federally illegal while legal in many states with major theater markets. Herb’s Dispensary Directory helps touring actors locate licensed retailers in each tour stop, ensuring legal, compliant purchases while maintaining professional wellness routines across different jurisdictions.

While specific research on vocal strain is limited, clinical studies show CBD significantly reduces anxiety during simulated public speaking, which is relevant for performers facing stage fright. Additionally, performers report using CBG for pain management and CBN for sleep after performances, addressing the physical toll of demanding theatrical schedules. However, cannabis should complement rather than replace traditional vocal care and performance preparation techniques.