Lighting up and playing video games is the perfect night for many. The crisp yet focused atmosphere created by many cannabis varieties and products is ideal for focusing on the controller. This connection runs so deep that cannabis is now making an appearance in video games. Cannabis is frequently featured in themes, scenes, and missions of best-selling games. Those who already love games may not be surprised by these cannabis references, but newbies may be.
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Life is Strange
Square Enix released a supernatural adventure video game series. Life is Strangeeach episode has a marijuana theme, one of the most prominent being the third episode, The Pot Farm. Life is Strange 2.
Someone at the studio probably knew that, because one of the explorable locations is set in Humboldt County. The plant also appears in the first game, where protagonist Chloe gets in trouble for marijuana possession. Cannabis is often part of the theme in Life is Strange games, as the character embodies youth and rebellion.
Overwatch
in Overwatchthe gas canister is the most prominent inhalation reference, and no one is saying that it's not marijuana. This multiplayer shooter game was created by Blizzard Games and features heroes completing different missions.
One of the heroes is named Roadhog, and has the ability “Take a Breather,” which is the act of inhaling from a canister to heal yourself if your life gets low during combat. The game explains that the canister is filled with a gas called Hogdrogen, but in fact, we're pretty sure that refers to marijuana.
Grand Theft Auto V
Those familiar with the popular game will not be surprised to learn that marijuana and other vices feature prominently in its themes and challenges. Grand Theft Auto Vthe world included a dispensary that players could visit, there's also a mission called “Grass Roots” in which the protagonist ingests cannabis and experiences hallucinations, and another that takes up the legalization movement.
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Final Fantasy VII
Unlike Overwatch, Final Fantasy VII It has an effect on whoever ingests it. Locoweed is a substance that can confuse opponents during combat. In the real world, the term refers to livestock feed that contains certain bacteria that are poisonous to animals. With the words confusion and weed, we can confidently say that this is yet another video game reference to cannabis, and not a reference to livestock bacteria.
The Last of Us Part II
Before it became a hit show, The Last of Us It was a beloved game that was acknowledged for not having a good balance between the amount of time you spent playing and the amount of time you spent watching cutscenes, but few people complained because the game itself was praised for its cinematic and compelling story.
Early in the sequel, protagonists Ellie and Dina discover a marijuana grow in their basement. The two hide out together, finding solace among the girls and passing around marijuana that Dina rates a 7 out of 10. As the characters bond in this moment, they experience something many of us go through. Until, of course, Cordyceps continues to ravage their world.
Related: 30 Movies to Watch While Smoking Mushrooms
Cannabis references in popular video games
Cannabis and video games have had a longstanding relationship both in and out of gameplay. Smoking a bowl or rolling a joint before starting a game is a beloved pastime, and slowly the plant has made its way into the games themselves. As cannabis permeates more aspects of the culture, it's only a matter of time before that stigma disappears completely.
