The image of a pineapple has become a symbol of Cannabis culture. Why, might you ask? There are a few good reasons. The most obvious is that the pineapple is commonly accepted in many cultures as a symbol of friendship, hospitality, is seen as a sign of openness and sharing – Values that are shared within the Cannabis community.
Another reason for this movement comes from Reddit, which is a social platform where individuals post and rate news and blog posts online. When upvoting new submissions on this platform, an orange round icon appears and in conjunction with the Cannabis leaf on top, it resembles a pineapple.
Pineapple images often appear outside of stores selling bongs and rolling papers, indicating they are ‘open for business’ in a time when selling Cannabis related paraphernalia is illegal in many places. This symbol also appears on all types of retail items like glass bongs, pipes and various clothing. Some individuals have been known to use the pineapple fruit itself as a bong!
Then there’s the stoner action comedy ‘Pineapple Express’, which was released in 2008. It has continued to gain a cult-like following within the Cannabis community, inspiring the creation of the ‘cross joint’ and many ‘stoner’ quotes. There is even a strain named after this film.
“It’s almost a shame to smoke it. It’s like killing a unicorn…with, like, a bomb.” -Saul ‘Pineapple Express’.
The pineapple emoji is also considered to be the ultimate weed symbol, along with trees, fire and the cloud symbolizing blowing smoke. There are many options for those enthusiasts who wish to text their Cannabis experience to others.
With all these factors in mind, it is no wonder the Cannabis community has adopted this symbol into their culture. This trend will continue with the recreational use of Cannabis becoming legal in Canada later this year. If you care to share your next blunt look for the pineapple, you never know who might be down!
References:
Southern Living, REBRN, Reddit, Atlas Obscura, Stuff Stoners Like, UpRoxx, and MARY JANE’S DIARY.