What are creative people? Well, according to Mihaly Csiksgentmihalyi of Psychology Today,they are remarkable people because they are able to adapt to any situation, and use what they have on hand to achieve goals. So, does cannabis help bring this creativity out?
Creative people have a way of alternating between fantasy and imagination. However, they consistently remain rooted in reality. It takes a vivid imagination that differs from what society considers “the norm” to truly show creativity.
Maya Angelou
Marguerite Annie Johnson, better known as Maya Angelou, was born in St. Louis, MO on April 4, 1928. She was a dancer, screenwriter, author, actress, memoirist, civil rights activist and African American poet. Over the course of her successful career, Angelou published multiple poetry books, books of essays and autobiographies. She was also credited, over a 50-year span, with a long list of TV shows, plays and movies.
When she was young, her parents broke up. She went to live with her paternal grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas, along with her older brother. There, Marguerite, now nicknamed Maya, experienced the stereotypical racial discrimination and prejudices of the South. She was also sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend when she was about seven years old, during a visit with her mom.
The young girl’s uncles set out for revenge against the rapist, and killed him. This entire affair was so traumatic, that she went back home to Arkansas, and basically became a mute for years.
Maya Angelou, The Star, is Born
During World War II, Marguerite Johnson won a scholarship to study dance and acting at a school in San Francisco, CA. In 1944, she became an unwed mother at the age of 16, later marrying Anastasios Angelopulos in 1952. She took her nickname, Maya, and added it with a shorter version of her husband’s last name, Angelo. With a little creativity, Maya Angelou was born!
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, her 1969 memoir, made history in the literary world. It became the first best-seller non-fiction written by an African American woman. By 1971, Angelou was on her way to success and fame as a poetry writer. Her work Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Die, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
Maya Angelou Builds a Successful Career
Over the decades, Maya Angelou went on to writer many more works. She, and her poetry, were featured in films, TV shows, she even appeared as a guest on talk shows, including Oprah Winfrey. The OWN channel mogul has told fans that she read Maya’s 1969 memoir as a child, and Dr. Maya Angelou instantly became her mentor.
Angelou went on the write one of her most famous poems of all, On the Pulse of Morning¸ written specifically for President Bill Clinton. She was given an honor never before bestowed upon an African American woman in the US. The politically active poet was honored to recite this poem in January 1993 at Clinton’s inaugural ceremony. This same poem, in audio version, won her a Grammy Award for best spoken word album
In 1995, Maya Angelou broke yet another record with her works. She received literary acclaim for remaining on the New York Times’ non-fiction paperback bestseller list for two years. That was the longest-running best seller record in the history of the chart.
Maya Angelou Speaks on Smoking Pot
Angelou famously wrote about “Mary Jane, hash, grass, gauge, weed, pot” in her title Gather Together. Most notably, she made it clear that she has no fear whatsoever of using cannabis.
According to Maya Angelou, she smoked weed for the first time at the age of 18. The creative activist says she inhaled the marijuana smoke so casually, you would’ve thought she was smoking a regular cigarette, as opposed to weed.
She went on to explain how she kept her tongue flat while she opened her throat. This helped to trap the smoke inside her mouth, so it could flow to her throat freely without escaping. The activist says food had never tasted better, with every single morsel she ate bringing her sheer delight.
Maya Angelou admitted that cannabis allowed her to “lose herself” in what she calls a “haze of sensual pleasure,” noting:
“The weed always had an intense and immediate effect.
Before the cigarette was smoked down to roach length, I had to smother my giggles.”
Stephen King
Stephen Edward King was born in Portland, ME on September 21, 1947. Some of his early works were published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. But, all of his works reached some form of critical acclaim over the years.
He’s sold over 350 million copies of his books worldwide, many of which have been adapted into TV movies and motion picture films. King is one of the most successful and famous horror writers of all time.
After graduating high school, King began writing for the school newspaper as a student of the University of Maine at Orono. That’s when he published his very first short story, which he was proud to find published in Startling Mystery Stories. In 1971, he married Tabitha Spruce, a fellow writer.
The Creative Works of Stephen King
Carrie, the author’s first horror novel, was published in 1973. It was a major success, which allowed him to become a full-time author. Later, the movie-adaption was released, staring Sissy Spacek. From there, the best-sellers just kept coming… Salem’s Lot, The Shining, Firestarter, IT, Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork and The Running Man. Many of these novels were written under his pseudonym. King didn’t believe the public would be receptive to more than one book release from the same author within a year.
Then came his big screen debut, which started with the 1983 theater release of Cujo. This was followed up with the 1984 big screen release of Firestarter. The 1980 release of The Shining starring Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall threw the movie into the category of one of the most renowned horror thrillers ever.
Stephen King Speaks on Creativity
King has said in interviews that he advises newbies to read and write four to six hours per day. Some say, for the published writer, this equates to him spending about 25% of his time writing.
And, according to King, this is not unusual. For most creative people, taking the majority of the distractions of the outside world out of the equation is the norm. This allows them to stay focused on their own worlds, those within their heads.
However, many of these creative people spend just a few hours per day exploring, building new things and carefully excavating the fossils of new ideas. He says there’s only so much intensive imagining and thinking one person can do. Their lives are organized around their creative works.
Stephen King Approves Marijuana Legalization
Back in January 1981, Stephen King spoke with High Times about legalizing cannabis. He told the marijuana magazine that he did indeed endorse cannabis legalization. King also believed that by legalizing the sale of the controlled substance, Maine’s struggling economy could be saved.
The author was quite adamant and confident about his beliefs. King said he believes marijuana should be legal, and it should be a “cottage industry.” Apparently, the state of Maine’s source of revenue is basically potatoes, lobsters and an abundance of poor people.
Stephen King: Legalizing Marijuana Could Help Save Maine
His wife also believed pot legalization could be the key to the state’s success. She told King it would be nice if it was legal, and could be sold in “dope stores”maintained much like state-run liquor stores. Her husband agreed.
In 2016, Maine’s ballot included an initiative to legalize marijuana for recreational drug use. King had his own ideas for making the sticky green more popular in Maine. He suggested that the state have its own official cannabis strain.
In an honor to its past with Gold, King says people could come into a local dispensary to buy Acapulco Gold, Augusta Gold, Bangor Gold or some other cool named strain. As it becomes more popular, people would come from all over the country to buy it. And, of course, those sales would be taxed by the state. Then, “everybody in Maine could have a Cadillac.”