Tommy Chong Touts the Economic Benefits of Weed

Tommy Chong, along with co-star Ceech Marin, became famous in the 70s and 80s for the Ceeech & Chong movies, which satirized and glorified many aspects of hippie and stoner culture. Now, Chong is, unsurprisingly, advocating for the legalization of marijuana.

According to an Associated Press report, Chong recently stated that marijuana could be the cure for the ailing U.S. economy. Chong stated that legalizing and taxing marijuana and hemp could provide enough revenue to “save the world.” From the AP:

“Look at the situation we’re in now. Sequesters. Cuts. Everything cut across the board. Now, the government is tapped into the biggest cash crop in the world,” Chong said. “There’s little manufacturing cost. You don’t have to do anything except watch it grow and get a couple of hippies to cut it and then put it in a bag.”

Chong, who revealed last year that he battled prostate cancer, still tours occasionally with Marin. He is also using social media to promote marijuana legalization. His Facebook and Twitter accounts are filled with statements such as these: