Podcast Summary: The John Clay Wolfe Show – "JCW ARCHIVE: Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em"
Episode Date: January 9, 2026
Host: John Clay Wolfe

Episode Overview

In this throwback archive episode, John Clay Wolfe and his lively crew take listeners on a humorous and nostalgic journey through the underbelly of the marijuana business in the 1970s and '80s, share anecdotes about rolling your own cigarettes on job sites, and riff about changing times in the legal cannabis and media landscape. As always, the conversation is candid, irreverent, and peppered with colorful stories and playful banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Perils and Regrets of the Old Weed Game

(00:39 – 03:27)

• John reflects on his past as a weed dealer:

  • The crew opens by asking John ("Baba") about his experience selling marijuana back in the late '70s and early-to-mid '80s.
  • He jokes about being a "private contractor" – “It's more of a 1099 form. Private contractor, self employed, kind of. You know what I mean?” (01:43 – John Clay Wolfe)
  • John admits the changing legal landscape (with states like California and Nevada going legal) made him second-guess leaving the business too soon.
  • He discusses the negative impact of health care reform: “No, because you got to declare, man. They're getting you in the subsidies to kill you… I can't afford your health care.” (02:00 – John Clay Wolfe)
  • The crew wonders why John didn't go legit when the industry shifted: “I should have done that. I should have seen that coming… I'll never be free of the shame that it's caused me. Giving up on marijuana when I did.” (02:17, 02:25 – John Clay Wolfe)

• Discussion of missed opportunities and celebrity pot moguls:

  • John laments not becoming a marijuana mogul, citing Willie Nelson as an example: “Willie. You know, our Texas treasure Willie Nelson is in the pot business. He's got his own strain of legal marijuana he's selling in Oklahoma. He's gonna be billionaire. You better remember to pay your taxes this time.” (03:05 – John Clay Wolfe)

The "Antigua Connection" & High Times Magazine

(03:27 – 05:18)

• Legendary strains and the art of weed hype:

  • John shares tales of scoring a legendary batch said to have come from Antigua, equating its mystique to fine Colombian coffee.
  • The crew riffs on how stoners romanticize origins: “Everything's better in Denmark. The strawberries are better than Denmark. If we were in Denmark, this would be better.” (03:40 – Interviewer)
  • John compares strains: “Plain old Mexican dirt weed, basically. Indica. Yeah, right. And then there is sensimilla… When you get that really fine red haired, partially crystallized…” (04:11 – John Clay Wolfe)

• Media investment in cannabis culture:

  • The show notes that iHeartRadio invested $10 million in High Times magazine. The team riffs on the commercialization of weed culture:
    • "If that's true, then they really need to get off my case." (05:08 – Interviewer)
    • “I Heart media seeks to light up marijuana market with high time stakes there. You're right. They invested $10 million in the High Times magazine.” (05:23 – Commentator)

Rolling Your Own: Cigarettes, Status, & Economy on the Job Site

(05:47 – 07:17)

• Roy and John reminisce about job site culture:
  • Interviewer asks Roy about why Black men on job sites roll their own cigarettes:
    • “Well, I think it's kind of ghetto. It's a little bit cheap.” (05:59 – Roy)
    • “Okay, so it's a monetary thing. I thought it was a taste thing or a I'm cool thing.” (06:03 – Interviewer)
    • Roy and John detail the practical side: a $6 tin of tobacco and papers could last a week. Bugler and Prince Albert are the favorite brands.
  • The weekend vs. weekday smoking ritual:
    • On weekdays: cheap, self-rolled cigarettes. On weekends: “They smokes it during the week, and then they buy them a pack of Winston and Coos on the weekend.” (06:57 – Roy)
    • The upgrade is about image: “You want to look cool in front of the ladies on the weekend.” (07:09 – Commentator)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I'll never be free of the shame that it's caused me. Giving up on marijuana when I did.”
  (02:25 – John Clay Wolfe)

• “Willie… Our Texas treasure… He's got his own strain of legal marijuana he's selling in Oklahoma. He's gonna be billionaire. You better remember to pay your taxes this time.”
  (03:05 – John Clay Wolfe)

• “Everything's better in Denmark. The strawberries are better than Denmark. If we were in Denmark, this would be better.”
  (03:40 – Interviewer)

• “Well, I think it's kind of ghetto. It's a little bit cheap.”
  (05:59 – Roy)

• “You want to look cool in front of the ladies on the weekend.”
  (07:09 – Commentator)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Throwback to John’s weed-dealing days: 01:22 – 03:27
• Discussion on legendary weed batches & High Times magazine: 03:27 – 05:18
• Rolling your own cigarettes & job site economy: 05:47 – 07:17

Tone and Style

The tone is loose, conversational, and brimming with playful sarcasm and nostalgia. The banter is irreverent but affectionate, balancing humor with true-life wisdom.

In Summary

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of cannabis culture from backroom hustle to big business, all through the irreverent lens of John Clay Wolfe and his crew. With wild tales, economic insights, and sharp one-liners, the episode is an ode to old-school hustles and changing times.