THE STORY OF CHEECH & CHONG
![Tommy Chong and Ceech Marin, sit on a couch in front of a modern painting. Tommy smiles as Cheech holds a book while talking.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/story-bnr-img-1.jpg)
“You can smoke marijuana, you can eat it, you can wear it, it’s a perfect plant!”.
![Stylized image of Cheech and Chong's head in blue.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/story-tomy-img.png)
ABOUT CHEECH (THE MUSTACHE ONE)
![A blue Stylized drawing of Cheech wearing his beanie and laughing.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cheech-img-1.png)
Stoner, actor, director, author, and avid art collector. From “Up in Smoke”, to “Born in East LA” to “Lion King”, there’s nothing he touches that isn’t iconic.
ABOUT CHONG (THE BANDANA ONE)
![A black stylized drawing of Tommy wearing his bandana and smiling.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/chong-img.png)
The ultimate irreverent activist. Almost as famous for his lifetime of cannabis advocacy as he is for the string of genre defining comedy records and hit movies.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF POT
We swear… This is the short version!
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line1.png)
8000 BC
![Landscape photo of a mountian side covered in trees.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mountains.jpg)
First Evidence of Cannabis Cultivation
Originally found in ancient China… (Tommy always said “Pot was in his blood”.)
Historians say this early pot was too low in THC to get you high… We think historians underestimate how much free time people used to have… Anything’ll get you high if you smoke enough of it.
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
500 BC
Pot is definitely used as a drug now..
Burial sites (in China again), from 2500 years ago show the remains of pot that WAS strong enough to get you high…
Historians think people used to burn it to get stoned at funerals… (That’s our kind of funeral)
![Hands holding a bowl with sage burning inside.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ceremonial.jpg)
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
1936
![Retro image of a woman lounging. The image reads Reefer Madness.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/reefer.jpg)
Reefer Madness
Probably the second most famous movie about pot…
They said pot was dangerous. That if you smoked just one joint, you’d end up going crazy and becoming a sex maniac (I mean… that part’s kinda true…) and you’d kill yourself. (Definitely NOT true.)
Today, Reefer Madness is remembered as a case study in Bullshit propaganda.
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
1937
US Outlaws Pot (Marihuana Tax Act)
Here comes the bullshit.
After thousands of years of happy, peaceful, safe use all over the world… All it took was one very determined billionaire to lie to the whole damn world and demonize pot.
Millions of people suffered so that this dickhead could corner the paper market. True Story.
Dark days…
![File photo of William Randolph Hearst with the caption "Fuck This Guy"](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RHF.jpg)
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
1955
![An old picture of Cheech and Chong from the 70s. Tommy in his red bandana, and cheech with his large mustache. Tommy smiles and Cheech holds a microphone.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Tommy-high.jpg)
Tommy Smokes a Joint
“He gave me a Lenny Bruce record and a joint… and I got high for the first time. It was the first time I ever smoked. It changed my life. The next day I quit school.”
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
1965
Cheech Gets High
“My dad was a policeman, LAPD, 30 years, and I got that line growing up: ‘Marijuana, don’t you ever try marijuana or I’ll end your short little life right now!’
After I smoked my first joint, I kind of thought, ‘Wow, what else have they been lyin’ about?’”
![Black and white photo of Cheech and Chong from the 70s. Cheech laughs, and Tommy holds a can of spray paint looking confused.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cheech-High.jpg)
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
1968
![A still image of Cheech and Chong from the movie up in smoke.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/meet.jpg)
Cheech & Chong Meet
What else is there to say?
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
1971
The First Record
That first record, “Cheech and Chong”, showed the world the fun side of pot.
The next record, “Big Bambu”, became the highest selling comedy record of all time.
The one after that, “Los Cochinos”, won a Grammy. (Not bad for a couple guys on the devil’s lettuce)
![Cheech and Chong's first record album cover sit in front of sveral records and a guitar.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/first-record.jpg)
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
1978
![A poster from Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/up-in-smoke.jpg)
Highest Grossing Comedy of The Year
Tommy and Cheech wrote, directed and produced the movie that redefined stoner comedies for an entire generation…
And kicked off a decade long string of hits like “Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie”, “Still Smokin’”, & “Nice Dreams”.
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
1996
California Legalizes Medical Marijuana
Federally, pot is still a Schedule 1 Drug.. Meaning it “has no medicinal value”.
But in California, it’s medicine for cancer patients.
Go Figure.
![A medication pill bottle tipped over with Hemp spilling out of it.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mmj.jpg)
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
2003
![A mug shot of Tommy Chong.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mugshot.jpg)
Tommy Goes To Jail
The DEA stormed Tommy’s house for selling bongs.
If you’re keeping score at home, (medical) pot is legal in California…
But the pipes to smoke it are illegal in Pennsylvania. Nice!
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
2005
Cheech & Chong Reunite
Reunited and it feels so good.
![Cheech and Chong sitting and preforming on stage together.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/reunion.jpg)
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
2018
![Tommy and Cheech stand side by side, posing for the camera at an event.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ftr-row2-img1.jpg)
2018 Farm Bill
Hemp-derived CBD and THC are finally available to (almost) everyone who needs them.
(Looking at YOU Idaho!)
![](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/year-line2.png)
2020
Cheech & Chong's Cannabis Company
You’re here now. Welcome.
![Cheech and Tommy stand together smiling and laughing.](https://cheechandchong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/s4-img-m-1.jpg)