Wednesday, May 24, is the birthday of one of weed’s most prolific figures: Tommy Chong.
The as-of-today, 79-year-old has remained remarkably active in his later years, so to pay tribute to our favorite stoner grandpa, here are five ways to celebrate his birthday that Chong himself would surely be proud of.
1. Watch (Or Listen) To A Classic
Chong became widely known as half of the duo Cheech and Chong, finding wide fame in 1978 with the comedy Up in Smoke and continuing with Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie and Nice Dreams. They’ve released even more albums, so take your pick from Big Bambu, Los Cochinos and Cheech & Chong’s Wedding Album, among others.
2. Watch His Appearance On Dancing With The Stars
Despite his age, Chong can still dance. When competing on the 19th season of Dancing With the Stars, he made it all the way to the semi-finals, becoming the oldest celebrity to have made it that far. Of particular note is his and partner Peta Murgatroyd’s weed-themed Cha Cha. Despite him never achieving a top-scoring dance and scoring the lowest on several weeks, we still admire the tenacity that got him on the stage.
3. Smoke Some Chong-Branded Weed
Though it can be a little tough to track down, there’s a marijuana brand called Chong’s Choice for those lucky enough to be living in legal states. Different products are available in different states, but the line includes herbs, oils and even THC strips. And since it’s coming from Chong, you know you’re getting top-quality stuff—you don’t make it nearly 80 years smoking shitty weed.
4. Chow Down On Some Of Chong’s Favorite Stoner Snacks
First We Feast did a very important interview with Chong, where they discussed his favorite stoner snacks. The key takeaways: Chik-Fil-A (“I actually steal some from my grandson’s plate”), McDonald’s fries (“You cannot resist the fries”), ramen (“It’s a comfort food. There’s something about slurping the noodles”) and Bagel Bites (“It’s stoner food and teenage food too”). Most illuminating is the fact he’s never —ever—tried Nutella. We’d revoke his stoner card, if he wasn’t the one who invented it. [Editor’s Note: As someone who’s allergic to Nutella (and tired of hearing about it’s deliciousness), this actually makes me respect Chong more!]
5. Read Through Any Of His Three Reddit AMAs
Chong has joined the celebrity ranks of Barack Obama, Bill Gates and countless others by participating in a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA), where users can ask people, well, anything. Chong has done three in the past year, making this by far the best way to get to know him. Featured in the discussions: a user whose grandma dated Chong when he was 20, his favorite memory from That 70’s Show, and what sharing a jail cell with the Wolf of Wall Street himself was like.
