By OG Strain

There are event planners…

And then there are culture architects.

If you’ve ever pulled up to a 518 cannabis gathering and felt that unspoken energy — that mix of freedom, safety, good flower, and “we probably shouldn’t be here but somehow this feels historic” — chances are you were standing in a space created by Rob Robinson and the team behind Damn Sam Productions.

Let’s be clear right now.

Before legalization.
Before licensed dispensaries.
Before terpene charts printed on glossy packaging.

There was Rob Robinson.

And if you’re enjoying New York cannabis culture today, you are benefiting from groundwork that Rob Robinson helped lay brick by brick — sometimes under prohibition, sometimes under pressure, always under purpose.

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The Angry Kid Who Found a Plant Instead of a Problem

Rob Robinson will tell you straight — cannabis entered the picture early. Probably too early. Like many young people navigating anger and uncertainty, the plant didn’t escalate things… it soothed them.

From the very beginning, Rob felt an affinity with cannabis. Not just as a consumer — but as someone who understood it carried meaning. Healing. Culture. Resistance.

Some people discover weed.

Some people realize weed discovered them.

Rob always sensed it would be a major part of life. What wasn’t obvious yet was that it would become a lifelong mission.

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When Love for the Plant Became Activism

Raised in the 914 / 845 corridor, Rob eventually realized that if real change was going to happen, it would happen in Albany — the heart of the 518.

The state capitol.
The legislative office building.
The rooms where laws are written.

While many were quietly enjoying cannabis behind closed doors, Rob Robinson was organizing rallies, lobby days, senate meetings, assembly hearings, and press conferences — for years.

Under prohibition.

Back when attending a cannabis event meant real risk. Not just bad parking.

The early cannabis scene was solid — but underground. Community wasn’t built on marketing. It was built on trust. On safety. On protecting each other.

Rob used to say:

“We can’t get you here or home, but we can damn well keep you safe once you’re here.”

That wasn’t branding. That was a code.

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1989: The Moment Everything Changed

In 1989, High Times released a tri-fold flyer under the direction of Steve Hager:

Front: “The good news is we found a plant that can save the world.”
Middle: “The bad news is it is illegal.”
Back: A photo of a marijuana plant.

Inside that flyer was a spark that would ignite a life of activism.

Rob Robinson joined the High Times Freedom Fighters — at a time when “joining” meant publicly listing your phone number in a magazine. No encrypted apps. No anonymous usernames. Just conviction.

That same year, at Hash Bash in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Rob heard Jack Herer speak live for the first time. Alongside voices like Elvy Musikka, the message hit like lightning.

Overnight, Rob became a hemp activist. A cannabis reform advocate. A vegetarian. A believer in the power of this plant to change more than just mood.

That wasn’t a phase.

That was ignition.

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Hemp Splash & Learning From Legends

In 1990, Rob Robinson co-created the first Hemp Splash Environmental/Law Reform Protestival at Arrowhead Ranch in Parksville, NY.

Yes — Protestival.

Because when activism meets Deadhead energy, you don’t just protest. You celebrate resistance.

At Arrowhead Ranch, Rob learned event production alongside promoter legend Bill Graham and helped host events featuring artists like Phish, Blues Traveler, Ziggy Marley, Little Feat, The Band, and Richie Havens.

This wasn’t a hobby.

This was a masterclass in culture-building.

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The Cannabis Cup That Was Born Out of Pressure

In 1996, at the NY Harvest Festival & Freedom Fair, ABC World News Tonight showed up with Peter Jennings looking to interview cannabis growers.

Problem?

Under prohibition, nobody wanted to speak publicly.

So Rob pivoted.

If growers wouldn’t speak — let the flower speak.

That year marked the creation of the first-ever annual Cannabis Cup in the United States, organized by Rob Robinson and the team at Damn Sam Productions.

Today, that event stands as the longest-running Cannabis Cup in North America and the second longest-running in the world.

It ran for 24 years under prohibition.

That’s not luck.

That’s relentless commitment.

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“I Gather Our Community Together, Safely.”

When asked what role he plays in the industry, Rob keeps it simple:

“I gather our community together, safely.”

Public speaker.
Spoken word poet.
Grassroots activist.
Lobbyist for cannabis reform throughout his entire adult life until legalization arrived in New York in 2021.

And beyond the public work, there is family. In 2020, Rob Robinson met Emily Harper. Their partnership has evolved into a powerful blend of professionalism and magic — elevating events while maintaining the soul that built them.

The vibe stayed authentic.

The structure got sharper.

That balance is rare.

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What Makes the 518 Different?

According to Rob, it’s simple:

Unity and cooperation over competition.

The 518 cannabis community helps each other. Shares knowledge. Supports growers. Builds together.

In an era where many regions chase hype, the 518 builds legacy.

And Rob Robinson, through Damn Sam Productions, has been right in the center of that ecosystem.

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Legalization Didn’t Start the Movement

For over 30 years, Rob Robinson organized events under prohibition. Culture, as always, moved faster than law.

Now that legalization has arrived, there’s hope — but also work to be done.

Rob believes New York cannabis would benefit from a model similar to microbreweries and small wineries. Let legacy growers sell their own product. Let grassroots operators thrive. Build trust between community and industry.

And above all:

Remember the fight that got us here.

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What’s Next for Rob Robinson and Damn Sam Productions?

May 2nd marks the inaugural Growers Gathering in Palenville.

October 2026 brings the 30th Annual NY Harvest Fest Cannabis Cup — a milestone that very few in this country can claim.

Thirty years.

Most brands don’t last five.

Rob Robinson and Damn Sam Productions sustained a movement for three decades.

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Hall of Fame Status Is Earned

Rob Robinson didn’t arrive after legalization.

Rob didn’t wait until it was profitable.

Rob didn’t build community when it was easy.

The work was done when it was risky. When it required courage. When showing up meant something.

That’s why this recognition in the Cannabis Hall of Fame category isn’t symbolic.

It’s deserved.

From The Plug’s Pages Magazine to Rob Robinson and the Damn Sam Productions team:

Thank you for protecting the culture.
Thank you for building safe spaces before they were legally protected.
Thank you for fighting for freedoms many now enjoy casually.

If you’ve ever attended a New York cannabis event and felt safe, welcomed, and part of something bigger than yourself — understand that you’re standing inside a legacy that Rob Robinson helped build.

And that…

Is Hall of Fame material.

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— OG Strain

By Herbert Greenstein — The Plug’s Pages Magazine

In the world of cannabis culture, few names are as instantly recognizable — or as profoundly influential — as Cheech & Chong. To be inducted into the Cannabis Hall of Fame in The Plug’s Pages Magazine is more than recognition. It’s a statement: this individual or duo shaped the culture, challenged perceptions, and helped redefine an entire generation’s view of cannabis and comedy.

Not everyone gets this honor. To be featured here — in a Hall of Fame article written personally by me, Herbert Greenstein, CEO and lead writer for this magazine — a legend must be just that: exceptional, enduring, and deeply consequential. When it comes to Cheech & Chong, there are few better examples of true cannabis cultural impact.

How Two Strangers Became a Legendary Duo

The story of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong began in 1969 in Vancouver, when fate threw these two very different personalities together. Cheech, a young American avoiding the Vietnam draft, walked into a burlesque club looking for acting opportunities and met Chong, a comedic performer with the City Works improv troupe. What happened next wasn’t just a partnership — it was the birth of something iconic. (en.wikipedia.org (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheech_%26_Chong?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Cheech’s fiery energy paired exquisitely with Chong’s mellow, laid‑back style — a contrast that became their creative engine. Together, they crafted a brand of comedy that captured the spirit of the early 1970s: irreverent, hilarious, and unapologetically tied to cannabis culture. This was comedy that spoke to the counterculture, not around it. (en.wikipedia.org (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheech_%26_Chong?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

From Stand‑Up to Cultural Phenomenon

Their early success came through comedy albums, starting with their self‑titled 1971 release that connected instantly with audiences craving something fresh and defiant. They weren’t just telling jokes — they were shaping a cultural identity. (en.wikipedia.org (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheech_and_Chong_%28album%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

But the real breakthrough came in 1978 with Up in Smoke, the feature film that made Cheech & Chong household names. The movie — made on a humble budget — grossed an astounding $104 million worldwide, proving that counterculture comedy could move mainstream audiences. It was a seismic moment for stoner humor and for cannabis representation in media. (people.com (https://people.com/cheech-and-chong-made-only-usd50k-after-their-first-film-grossed-usd104-million-11717952?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Eight films, countless routines, and millions of laughs later, Cheech & Chong had solidified their place in entertainment history.

The Rift Behind the Jokes

Behind the laughter, however, lay real tension. By the mid‑1980s, creative differences and disputes over credit led to a split after Get Out of My Room in 1985. Cheech pursued solo projects in film and television, while Chong continued to perform and explore other ventures. (en.wikipedia.org (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheech_%26_Chong?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

That chapter in their story reminds us: even legends are human. They disagree. They struggle. They evolve. But their eventual reunions years later — onstage and on screen — underscore the power of legacy to bring talents back together. (leafmagazines.com (https://leafmagazines.com/culture/still-smokin-the-rebirth-of-cheech-and-chong/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Reunion and Revival

After a long hiatus, Cheech & Chong returned to live performance in 2008, touring North America and reconnecting with fans old and new. Their chemistry remained undeniable, their humor as sharp as ever. Even decades into their careers, they continued to celebrate what made them special: partnership, irreverence, and a love for making people laugh. (leafmagazines.com (https://leafmagazines.com/culture/still-smokin-the-rebirth-of-cheech-and-chong/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Their story was again put into focus through the 2025 documentary Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, offering a candid look at their legacy, their bumps along the way, and the cultural footprint they helped carve.

Cannabis and Legacy in the Modern Era

Today, Cheech Marin — age 78 — and Tommy Chong — age 86 — remain active, engaged figures. They perform stand‑up, appear at conventions like Comicpalooza, and embrace their role as elder statesmen of cannabis culture. Their influence has even extended into business ventures within the legal cannabis and hemp markets, applying their branding and wit to products that reflect their decades‑long connection to the plant they helped normalize. (sfgate.com (https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/cheech-chong-100m-cannabis-hemp-empire-21015051.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

In an era where cannabis continues its journey toward widespread acceptance, Cheech & Chong’s early work stands as a foundational pillar — entertaining, provocative, and impossibly timeless.

Why We Still Love Them

Cheech & Chong didn’t merely make people laugh about cannabis — they invited the world to look at it differently. Their humor was a vehicle for change, loosening stigma and inviting people in through joy rather than confrontation. They turned taboo into mainstream with nothing but jokes, authenticity, and charisma.

To be featured in the Cannabis Hall of Fame is more than an accolade — it’s a testament to impact. Not every artist, activist, entrepreneur, or legend earns this distinction. When someone does, it signals that their contributions didn’t just entertain — they transformed culture.

And Cheech & Chong did exactly that.

In every laugh, every line, and every legacy‑shaping moment, they helped take cannabis from the fringes and plant it firmly within our cultural landscape — forever part of the history we celebrate here in The Plug’s Pages Magazine.

And that’s no joke.

How a fearless cannabis grandma went from everyday life to everyone’s feed overnight

By OG Strain
Host of Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis)

Some people plan their rise.
Some people strategize.
Some people chase clout.

And then… there’s OG Granny.

One day, she was just being herself.
The next? She was everywhere — popping up on feeds, timelines, comment sections, and hearts across the cannabis community like a perfectly timed 4:20 alarm you didn’t even know you set.

And the wild part?

She didn’t change a thing.

OG Granny didn’t go viral because she tried to.
She went viral because authentic doesn’t need permission.

From Frustration to Facebook Fame

Like many creators in cannabis space, OG Granny’s journey didn’t start smooth. TikTok — notorious for being tighter than a dispensary childproof jar — wasn’t giving her the reach she deserved. Cannabis and alcohol content? Shadowed. Suppressed. Buried.

She was discouraged. Close to giving up.

That’s when her daughter, known online as Elevated Eating, stepped in and said what needed to be said: “Try somewhere else.”

Facebook was that somewhere else — and once OG Granny landed there, the internet did what the internet does when it meets realness.

It fell in love.

“When my Facebook page really took off, I cried like a baby,” she shared. “To think people liked me for who I am… it gave me confidence and let my personality explode.”

Explode it did — in the best way possible.

A 1971 OG (Yes, Really)

Before cannabis was cool.
Before dispensaries.
Before terp profiles and lab labels.

OG Granny was already there.

She’s been part of the cannabis culture since 1971, a time when using marijuana wasn’t just stigmatized — it was treated like a moral failure. So she stayed quiet. Lived her life. Let cannabis quietly help her along the way.

Only a handful of people knew.

Until now.

The name OG Granny wasn’t marketing — it was instinct. “Original Gangster,” she explains, “means someone who’s been there from the beginning, seen it all, and has knowledge to share.”

And trust me — she’s got knowledge and stories.

Mary Jane, Anxiety, and Getting By (Not Just High)

OG Granny doesn’t sugarcoat why cannabis matters to her.

She calls Mary Jane her friend — the one who holds her tight when anxiety comes knocking. Anxiety that’s been with her since childhood. Anxiety so strong she once chose a zero over speaking in front of a class.

Cannabis changed that.

“I don’t use it to get high,” she says. “I use it to get by.”

That single sentence alone has probably helped more people than she’ll ever know.

Humor, Heart, and a Little Mooning 👀😂

Yes — she’s goofy.
Yes — she’s fearless.
And yes… she once mooned her entire school.

(Icon behavior, honestly.)

Her humor comes from a childhood full of adventure, camping summers by the lake, parents who encouraged honesty, and a foundation rooted in family. That’s why her content hits — it’s funny, but it’s also human.

Her mission moving forward?
Normalize cannabis.
Remove the shame.
Make people laugh while telling the truth.

“Cannabis is a medicine, not a drug,” she says — and she means it.

What’s Next for OG Granny?

Brand partnerships? She’s open.
Collaborations? Bring ’em on.
Merch, giveaways, lives, community building? Absolutely.

Her platform is growing daily, and she’s using it with intention — reading comments, connecting with followers, and encouraging people who’ve been hiding in the shadows to come out and be themselves.

She’s also a strong advocate for federal and state legalization, determined to keep pushing the culture forward — with humor, heart, and a little bit of that OG sparkle.

A Personal Note from the Author

As the writer of this feature — and as the host of Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis) — I’d be honored to collaborate with OG Granny further. Whether that’s an interview, a sit-down, or a Sunday session if our paths cross somewhere in Upstate New York, the invite is open and genuine.

OG Granny is exactly the kind of voice this culture needs.

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OG Granny didn’t slowly build a following.
She arrived.

And judging by the love, laughter, and community she’s already created in just a few short months — she’s only getting started.

👇 Links to OG Granny’s platforms and contact information are included below for creators, brands, and collaborators interested in working with her.

Welcome to the spotlight, OG Granny.
The culture’s been waiting for you. 🌿🔥

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/14NhPytNFx4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Youtube Link: https://youtube.com/@o.g.granny4347?si=-twTP1PIgcntWMyR