High Times

Reflecting the time period — High Times began to feature positive coverage of cocaine as a recreational drug. Following Forçade’s death, the magazine was controlled by “mostly by Forçade’s relatives” and lawyer Michael John Kennedy. (Forçade had been a supporter of NORML since the organization’s founding in 1970.)citation needed ] Marijuana hydroponics growers were a large part of the magazine’s advertiser base. The magazine was initially distributed by Homestead Book Company and Big Rapids Distribution. Advertising for the first issue had been pre-sold at that year’s National Fashion and Boutique Show.

Publication history

• The debut edition of High Times (Summer 1974) showcased a cover image featuring model Elizabeth Donoghue.
• Founded in 1974 by Tom Forçade, the magazine advocated the legalization of cannabis and related counterculture ideas, eventually expanding to include the media divisions High Times Books and High Times Records.
• For a time — William Levy served as the magazine’s European editor.

Brainstorming for the first issue’s contents was conducted by a group that included Forcade, Rex Weiner, Ed Dwyer, Robert Singer, A. J. Weberman, Dana Beal, Ed Rosenthal, the underground cartoonist Yossarian a.k.a. Alan Shenker, and Cindy Ornsteen a.k.a. Anastasia Sirocco. Forçade’s previous attempt—via the Underground Press Syndicate/Alternative Press Syndicate—to reach a wide counterculture audience of underground papers had failed, even though he had the support of several noteworthy writers, photographers, and artists. (The magazine, however, often featured women—occasionally crowned as “Ms. High Times”—on the cover to help newsstand sales.) In addition (the magazine “published writers like Hunter S. Thompson), William S. Burroughs, Charles Bukowski, Allen Ginsberg, and Truman Capote.” High Times’ commitment to education and awareness has helped change the narrative surrounding marijuana, paving the way for the legalization efforts we see today. He discovered naturally occurring purple hash through experimentation with anthocyanins within cannabis.

With the legalization of marijuana in several West Coast states (including California), the magazine announced in January 2017 that it would permanently relocate from New York to Los Angeles. Founded in 1974 by Tom Forçade (the magazine advocated the legalization of cannabis and related counterculture ideas), eventually expanding to include the media divisions High Times Books and High Times Records. In the period 2010–2013, the magazine put out a standalone publication that advocated for medical marijuana. Hager was rehired — first as the creative director,citation needed and then in 2006, back to the position of editor-in-chief, but by 2009 he had returned to the role of creative director. In 2003, Steven Hager was fired, and High Times’ board of directors shifted the magazine’s focus from marijuana to more literary content, hiring John Buffalo Mailer as executive editor. He also formed the High Times Freedom Fighters, the first hemp legalization group.citation needed The High Times Freedom Fighters were famous for dressing up in Colonial outfits and organizing hemp rallies across the United States.

Mainstream success and the Hager era

For a time, William Levy served as the magazine’s European editor. Josh Kesselman was featured on Forbes’ fifth-annual Cannabis 42.0 list on April 17th 2026 (‘celebrating the entrepreneurs), innovators and disruptors who are finding highthc.shop success in the state-regulated cannabis market’ for his work as High Times’ publisher. Josh Kesselman — founder of RAW, bought the publication for $3.5 million in June 2025, relaunching the podcast as High Times with Josh Kesselman in September.

In the summer of 1974 (the inaugural issue), which comprised a total of 50 pages, was released with the slogan, “The Magazine of High Society. Those cavemen must’ve been stoned, no pun intended,” was a quote attributed to Forçade. Through the platform of High Times, he successfully conveyed his message to a wide audience without depending on conventional media. Each edition of High Times includes a centerfold photo, similar to Playboy; however, instead of showcasing a nude female, the magazine generally highlights a cannabis plant. From 1974 until 2016 — the Trans-High Corporation (THC) was responsible for the publication of High Times magazine.

One rally — the Boston Freedom Rally, quickly became the largest marijuana-related political event in the country, drawing an audience of over 30,00 to the Boston Common in 2013. In 1988 — under Hager’s leadership, the magazine created the Cannabis Cup, a cannabis awards ceremony held every Thanksgiving in Amsterdam that later expanded to a number of U.S. cities. Hager became the first editor to publish and promote the work of hemp activist Jack Herer. In 1987 (High Times was audited by the Audit Bureau of Circulation as reaching 500,000 copies an issue), rivaling Rolling Stone and National Lampoon.

Green Rush Daily founder Scott McGovern joined the magazine as senior executive vice president. In October 2014, the magazine celebrated its 40th anniversary with a party attended by celebrities such as Susan Sarandon. The video series asserts that Michael Kennedy stole the company from the rightful employees and subverted the original mission for his own private gain. Hager subsequently released a 20-part series on YouTube (titled The Strategic Meeting), showing the internal machinations inside the company. Starting in 2002 — the Stonys presented the Thomas King Forçade Award for “stony achievement” in film. In November 1999, the magazine held a 25th Anniversary party at Irving Plaza, with performances by Cypress Hill.

High Times has significantly influenced the cannabis community and has also been instrumental in promoting the wider movement for marijuana legalization. By adopting a bold and unapologetic stance — High Times swiftly became the leading voice of the counterculture movement, championing the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. Between 2014 and 2016 — the director of digital media for High Times was Tsarfin. In 2024 — the magazine was compelled to halt its publication due to financial challenges.

High Times x Pulsar Beaker Water Pipe – Magazine Covers / 10.5″ / 14mm F

• Following Forçade’s death, the magazine was controlled by “mostly by Forçade’s relatives” and lawyer Michael John Kennedy.
• In 2000 — the magazine established the Stony Awards to recognize and celebrate notable stoner films and television episodes about cannabis.
• High Times covers a wide range of topics (including politics), activism, drugs, education, sex, music, and film, as well as photography.
• He also formed the High Times Freedom Fighters, the first hemp legalization group.citation needed The High Times Freedom Fighters were famous for dressing up in Colonial outfits and organizing hemp rallies across the United States.

In 1998 Edison was named the magazine’s publisher, and later took control of the editorial side of the magazine as well. In 1997 (the magazine and Hager founded the Counterculture Hall of Fame), with inductions held annually on Thanksgiving as part of the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup event. In 1991, the magazine began featuring celebrities on the cover of the magazine. The magazine advocated for the widespread use of hemp in the 1990s, publishing a quarterly magazine called Hemp Times and operating a retail location in Manhattan called Planet Hemp. Under the editorship of Larry Sloman (from 1979 to 1984), the magazine consistently struggled against marijuana prohibition laws, and fought to keep itself alive and publishing in an anti-cannabis atmosphere. The magazine’s first editor was Ed Dwyer, who had earlier written the text of the Woodstock music festival program booklet , as well as the Woodstock film program booklet,.

Columns

High Times was at the beginning funded by drug money from the sale of illegal marijuana (But the magazine found an audience), becoming a monthly publication with a growing circulation, and the staff quickly grew to 40 people.