By our count, 93 musicians or music industry figures passed away in 2016, up from 62 in 2015 (a 33% increase). They include: David Bowie, Prince, George Michael, Maurice White, Glenn Frey, Paul Kantner, Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, Leon Russell, Leonard Cohen, Merle Haggard, Phife Dawg, Bobby Vee, Billy Paul, Sharon Jones, Guy Clark, Mose Allison, Buckwheat Zydeco, Bernie Worrell and Dan Hicks.
Like last year, there wasn't a boffo box office stoner movie hit in 2016. But, as usual, there were plenty of movies that featured drugs. Check out our extensive list of the Top Stoner Movies of the year.
There 20 celebrity drug arrests in 2016, up from 8 in 2015 (a 60% increase). Fifteen of them were college and professional football players, two were rappers (Twista, Montana Millz), another was NBA player Travis Outlaw and the others were "Chumlee" Russell from "Pawn Stars" and Madonna's son, Rocco Ritchie.
George Michael's career had cooled off quite a bit around the time he first ran into problems with the law over his marijuana use when he was busted for possession in London in 2006. Eight months later, Michael explained: "This stuff keeps me sane and happy… I'd say it's a great drug."
Many of you out there know that I worked for High Times for nearly 20 years, from 1988 to 2007. Towards the end of my run with Trans High Corp. (the parent company), I hatched the idea for CelebStoner.com. That was in 2006.
The first season of "High Maintenance" on HBO (six episodes) is now available as a digital download. We're offering free downloads to two lucky CelebStoner readers. Enter the contest now!
"He needs cannabis," a NFL source says about Bills offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, who suffers from Crohn's disease and has been suspended twice this season for failing drug tests. "You can't take painkillers with the way his intestines are."
Film director Josh Gilbert, who was best known for his documentary, "a/k/a Tommy Chong," succumbed to leukemia on Saturday. He was 54.
Fans of "Breaking Bad" should immediately binge-watch "Narcos" on Netflix. It's the the best drug drama on TV since "Breaking Bad," and may be the best ever.
California edibles company Altai Brands has apologized for using a woman as a serving board for cold cuts at a party at House of Blues in Las Vegas on Nov. 15.
