Every Cannabis Reference in The Simpsons

As attitudes toward marijuana shifted over the decades, so did Springfield’s relationship with the plant. Here’s a season-by-season guide to every clear reference to cannabis across the show’s long history—including episodes, specials, and The Simpsons Movie.

S2E7 – “Bart vs. Thanksgiving”: The Simpsons’ heirloom quilt is shown to have a patch depicting a hemp/cannabis plant, referencing an ancestor who farmed hemp for rope. This is a subtle background gag played for a quick laugh (the show often hides such references in plain sight).

S2E12 – “The Way We Was”: At the 1974 prom, Principal Dondelinger spots a student with a suspicious item. He asks, “Wait a second. Is that a bong?” The student feigns it’s an inhaler for asthma, and Dondelinger lets him go. This direct mention of a bong is a quick one-liner – a humorous nod to teenage drug use played off as a misunderstanding.

S4E22 – “Krusty Gets Kancelled”: In Krusty’s comeback special, actor Luke Perry performs in a Broadway-style rehab musical. One lyric explicitly sings, “no more pills or alcohol, no more pot or Demerol…”. This is a direct mention of marijuana (“pot”) used for parody – poking fun at showbiz rehab clichés. It’s brief and played for laughs in a song-and-dance number.

S5E1 – “Homer’s Barbershop Quartet”: At a swap meet, Bart buys what he calls a “cool pencil holder” – which is actually a water bong. Homer chuckles, “Far out, man. I haven’t seen a bong in years.”. The show explicitly names the bong; the joke is Homer’s amused, nostalgic reaction. It’s portrayed humorously and casually, implying Homer recognizes drug paraphernalia from his younger days.

S5E18 – “Burns’ Heir”: In a brief cutaway gag, Mr. Burns reminisces about infiltrating a 1960s Greenpeace boat. Disguised as hippie icon Wavy Gravy, Burns pulls out a bong and reveals, “It was I, you fools! The man you trusted wasn’t Wavy Gravy at all!… And all this time I’ve been smoking harmless tobacco.”. This scene directly shows a bong; the humor comes from subverting expectations (Burns “smoking harmless tobacco” in a bong) and parodying hippie culture. It’s an overt cannabis reference used for a quick absurd laugh.

S6E5 – “Sideshow Bob Roberts”: During a radio call-in, a list of Mayor Quimby’s sins includes growing marijuana. We then see Quimby in his office casually watering a lush marijuana plant in a pot while denying other accusations, quipping, “That is not true… I am no longer illiterate.”. The weed-growing is shown on screen, played as a sly visual joke about Quimby’s character. It’s portrayed humorously (an elected mayor secretly tending a pot plant) without moralizing.

S6E7 – “Bart’s Girlfriend”: Principal Skinner, using his Vietnam War experience to identify trouble, says, “I smelled some marijuana smoke in Vietnam!”simpsonsarchive.com. He’s suggesting he can detect mischief (in this case, Jessica Lovejoy’s misdeeds) by recognizing the smell. This is a minor verbal reference – Skinner matter-of-factly admitting familiarity with weed’s smell. It’s played for a chuckle about Skinner’s stodgy, militaristic approach (the humor being that even Skinner has encountered pot).

S6E24 – “Lemon of Troy”: In a historical flashback (Jebediah Springfield’s founding of the town), Jebediah declares the new settlement will allow freedom and industry, including “vast fields of hemp for making rope and blankets.”simpsonsarchive.com. This line is a tongue-in-cheek nod to the historical use of hemp (a cannabis plant) in early America. It’s an innocent-sounding reference (hemp for rope) but clearly a wink at cannabis cultivation. Played neutrally and for irony – the founders grow “hemp” earnestly, which modern audiences recognize as marijuana.

S7E24 – “Homerpalooza”: This music-festival episode is rich in cannabis references and innuendo:

At a rock concert (featuring Cypress Hill), Bart and Lisa sniff the air and Bart asks, “What’s that smell?” Lisa deadpans, “It smells like Otto’s jacket.”. Otto (the school bus driver) is a well-known stoner, so Lisa implying the whole area smells like Otto’s clothing is an indirect way of saying “it smells like pot smoke.” It’s a kid-friendly way to signal that people are smoking weed at the concert. The joke is subtle but unmistakable; it normalizes that Cannabis is present at rock shows, played for a quick laugh without outright saying “weed.”

Homer, trying to bond with teens, name-drops 1970s rock trivia: “The bong-rattling bass of Mel Schacher!” (of Grand Funk Railroad). The phrase “bong-rattling bass” is a clever wordplay – suggesting the bass is so loud it could shake someone’s bong. It’s another indirect reference to drug culture used humorously to show how out-of-touch Homer is. (The kids just stare blankly, not impressed.)

Cypress Hill’s cameo itself is an implicit cannabis reference. The band is famous for pro-marijuana songs, and while the episode doesn’t show them smoking, the context (a haze over the crowd, the above smell joke) makes the stoner atmosphere clear. These references are portrayed for humor and authenticity – reflecting real music festivals while skirting explicit depictions.

S7E21 – “22 Short Films About Springfield” (short segment): While not explicitly naming marijuana, one segment involves Chief Wiggum and Snake in a Pulp Fiction parody. There’s a quick visual gag of a “Smoke Shop” and characters acting dazed. (Though this segment leans more on general crime tropes, subtle drug innuendos are present, e.g. Snake’s mellow attitude.) – Note: This is a minor instance and not as clear as others, but fits the pattern of quick innuendos.

(Treehouse of Horror: Season 7’s “Treehouse of Horror VI” does not contain cannabis references, focusing on horror/sci-fi parodies.)

S8E6 – “A Milhouse Divided”: After Kirk and Luann Van Houten’s disastrous dinner party, partygoers disperse. We see Otto exiting a store called “Stoner’s Pot Palace”, angrily muttering “Man, that is false advertising!”. The store’s name is a pun – it sells cooking pots, not pot (marijuana). Otto (expecting a head shop) is disappointed. This visual gag directly uses “Pot” in the cannabis sense. It’s portrayed for pure humor via wordplay, highlighting Otto’s one-track mind for weed.

S8E8 – “Hurricane Neddy”: A flashback shows Ned Flanders’ parents, who are hippie “stoner” archetypes. They’re portrayed as lazy, overly mellow beatniks unable to discipline young Ned (quip: “We’ve tried nothing and we’re all out of ideas.”). While no one is shown smoking, their characterization (tie-dye clothes, slang like “groovy”) strongly implies chronic pot use. This is an indirect reference – the joke being that Ned’s ultra-conservative demeanor came from being raised by ultra-permissive, likely-high parents. It’s played for contrast and humor, not an endorsement. (Later seasons confirm they were heavy drug users, but this ep sets the stage obliquely.)

S8E10 – “The Springfield Files”: When FBI agents Mulder and Scully subject Homer to a medical exam, one gag implies Homer’s body is full of substances. (His urine test alarmingly reveals multiple drugs.) While not explicitly naming cannabis, it’s an innuendo that Homer has done drugs. This is very brief and played for laughs (satirizing The X-Files and Homer’s lifestyle).

S8E18 – “The Canine Mutiny”: At the end of Bart’s credit-card dog escapade, Chief Wiggum raids the home of a blind man (who had been hiding a closet full of marijuana). Having confiscated the stash, Wiggum and his fellow officers proceed to throw a “pot party” at the scene – visibly smoking the evidence. Wiggum, completely high, sings a parody of Bob Marley’s “Jamming” on the man’s front lawnsimpsonsarchive.com. This scene is a direct and overt cannabis reference: we see cops smoking joint(s). It’s portrayed as a comedic reversal (the police getting stoned on someone else’s weed). The tone is goofy and irreverent, poking fun at Wiggum’s incompetence and corruption.

S8E21 – “The Old Man and the Lisa”: Mr. Burns derisively refers to an environmentalist as “our hemp-smoking friend.”simpsonsarchive.com This line comes when Burns is forced to work with recyclers; he sneers at their presumed hippie habits. It’s a quick verbal jab – implying the eco-activist smokes cannabis. The portrayal is humorous and a bit derogatory (Burns using “hemp-smoking” to mean “pothead”).

S8E22 – “In Marge We Trust” (Police Museum exhibit): A background gag in the police museum shows a confiscated “Hippie Pot Party” diorama. (The exhibit presumably displays tie-dye shirts, a lava lamp, and a marijuana leaf, memorializing a 60s-era bust.) It’s a visual joke that treats a pot-smoking gathering as a historical crime exhibit – played for satire and sight-gag humor.

(Treehouse of Horror: Season 8’s Halloween episode has no cannabis content.)

S9E13 – “The Joy of Sect”: While watching the Movementarian cult’s indoctrination film, Otto gets restless and blurts out, “Man, this whole place reeks of the wacky tobaccy.” He then tries to leave. “Wacky tobaccy” is slang for marijuana, so Otto is saying the cult compound smells like pot smoke. This is an indirect cannabis reference used as a throwaway joke – the humor being that even Otto (a known stoner) thinks the place smells too much like weed. It underscores Otto’s perpetual high and adds a bit of cheeky commentary on the cult.

S9E22 – “Trash of the Titans”: Marge and Lisa suspect Homer’s sudden success in funding the sanitation department might be because he’s “pushing drugs.” Lisa even sighs she almost wishes it was drugs when Homer’s real scheme (dumping garbage) is revealed. While not specifically marijuana, this dialogue shows the family casually considering drug-dealing (implying familiarity with the idea). It’s a fleeting reference, played for dark humor – highlighting how outrageous Homer’s behavior is (if even selling drugs seemed plausible).

(Treehouse of Horror IX (Season 10’s THOH, aired in late 1998) features an unrelated gag with Snake and a syringe, no weed references.)

S10E6 – “D’oh-In’ in the Wind”: Homer discovers his late mother’s hippie friends (Seth and Munchie) and embraces the 1960s counterculture. The episode is steeped in hippie drug references: the pair run an organic juice business and grow “secret” crops. Though marijuana isn’t named outright, the vibe is clear – their garden includes psychedelic plants (Homer accidentally spikes the town’s juice with their stash, causing a citywide trip). Seth and Munchie’s very names and constant munching are wink-nods to pot culture. The portrayal is a lighthearted parody of hippie stoners – e.g. peace signs, tie-dye, a Woodstock-esque montage. While the show skirts naming cannabis, the innuendo (and a DEA raid scene) make it obvious. It’s played for groovy, mellow humor and a dash of anti-authority satire (Wiggum busting “the man’s” salad crop).

S10E23 – “Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo”: Homer, upset about a trip to Japan, grumbles, “No, not Japan – Jamaica. I wanna pass the dutchie on the left-hand side.” Marge immediately shushes him. This line is a direct reference to the song “Pass the Dutchie”, itself slang for passing a joint. Homer explicitly expresses desire to go somewhere he can smoke weed freely. It’s a quick joke (many viewers catch the reggae reference) and portrays Homer as obliviously inappropriate. The show uses it as a cheeky cultural reference – funny because Homer blurts it out in front of the kids. The portrayal is humorous and a bit edgy, but it passes quickly as the family ignores Homer’s pot wish.

S11E2 – “Brother’s Little Helper”: After Bart’s behavior is controlled with a drug (Focusyn), he eventually goes paranoid and hallucinatory. In the final scene, we see an imagined 1960s-style “hippie crash pad” where Ned Flanders and his wife Maude appear in tie-dye and beads. Ned cheerfully says, “Ho-ho! What a great pot party!” and Maude adds, “Wasn’t it, man?” Ned then lights a “regular” cigarette, coughs and sighs happily. Maude calls him “Mad Dog.” This surreal sequence is explicit – Ned and Maude are portrayed as if they’d been smoking marijuana at a party. It’s completely out-of-character (which underscores it’s Bart’s drug-fueled hallucination or a non sequitur gag). The reference is for pure humor shock value, turning ultraconservative Flanders into a pothead in a dreamlike skit. It parodies hippie stereotypes and is portrayed in a silly, over-the-top manner (the joke being the role reversal).

S11E17 – “Bart to the Future” (flash-forward episode): In the year 2030, President Lisa Simpson is trying to govern and Bart is a slacker. When Lisa asks Bart how she can repay him for a favor, adult Bart leans in and whispers, “Legalize it.” Lisa initially reacts, “What? … Ohhh, consider it done.”. This line unmistakably refers to legalizing marijuana (a famous pro-cannabis slogan). It’s an indirect mention (they never say “marijuana,” expecting the audience to know the phrase). The portrayal is comedic and satirical: it suggests that even in the future Bart only cares about weed, and that Lisa – the straight-laced leader – would actually change the law (a commentary on then-current debates). It’s delivered as a punchline to the episode’s political humor, implying a progressive (and humorous) resolution.

(Treehouse of Horror X in Season 11 – no cannabis references.)

S12E4 – “Lisa the Tree Hugger”: When a giant redwood (with Lisa chained to it) is accidentally cut down, it rolls through Springfield, crushing a bunch of stores – including “Hemp City.” Hemp City is a hippie boutique selling hemp products (a storefront sign even proclaims “Hemp, Hemp, Hooray!”). The building’s destruction is shown in a news montage, with the Springfield Shopper headline reading “Hemp City reduced to stems and seeds.” (“stems and seeds” humorously referring to the undesirable leftovers of smoked marijuana). This counts as a visual and verbal cannabis reference: the store’s entire joke is a pot pun, and the newspaper doubles down. It’s portrayed neutrally within the story (as collateral damage of the log), but comedically in tone – poking fun at both stoner culture and news wordplay. (Also notable: the eco-activist character Jesse in this episode is a stereotypical hemp enthusiast, though the script doesn’t explicitly show him smoking.)

S12E16 – “Trilogy of Error” (segment 3): In Lisa’s storyline, she encounters a group of mobsters dealing illicit substances. There’s a brief sight gag of mislabeled packages (one could be taken as drugs, though specifically it’s a gag about fireworks). While not directly cannabis, the atmosphere nods to drug trafficking for comedic thriller parody. (Minor and not explicitly weed.)

(Treehouse of Horror XI – no cannabis content.)

S13E5 – “The Blunder Years”: In a hypnotism-induced flashback to 1968, young Homer, Lenny, and Carl go hiking and stumble upon Fat Tony and his mob goons tending a secret crop. Fat Tony tells them, “You boys have blundered into our secret wacky tobacky patch.” Kid Lenny marvels, “Wow! Is that wacky tobacky?” Fat Tony proudly replies, “The wackiest.”. (They’re talking about a field of marijuana plants.) This scene is an overt reference: we see the cannabis crop and hear it acknowledged in classic slang. It’s played partly as plot (leading to the boys’ next encounter) but mainly for humor – the mafioso treating pot farming like a dark secret, and the kids’ wide-eyed reaction. The term “wacky tobacky” keeps it light. The portrayal taps into 1960s nostalgia and mob tropes; it’s a clear cannabis sight gag couched in playful language.

S13E16 – “Weekend at Burnsie’s”: This is The Simpsons’ most marijuana-centric episode. Homer is prescribed medicinal marijuana after crows attack his eyes. Once he starts smoking, nearly the entire episode satirizes weed. Key moments include:

Homer’s personality changes – he becomes relaxed, giggly, and creative under the influence. The show depicts his high through things like psychedelic imagery and music. For example, Homer sings “Smoke on the Water” joyously while stoned, and the classic song “Incense and Peppermints” plays during a montage of his high escapades. His eyes are usually half-lidded and red. The portrayal here is largely for comedy – Homer is shown enjoying marijuana immensely, leading to silly antics (like designing ridiculous inventions and laughing at Mr. Burns’ unfunny jokes).

Marge and the family express concern that the drug is altering Homer (they worry about addiction and irresponsibility). This introduces a mild moral debate. Ned Flanders leads a petition to ban medical pot, which Homer accidentally signs while high. The episode actually shows both sides: the relief and happiness Homer gets versus the disapproval of others and the eventual ban. In one scene, Homer holds a pro-marijuana rally with the band Phish in support – played as a parody of activism (with Homer in psychedelic muumuu garb).

The dialogue is packed with cannabis slang and jokes: Dr. Hibbert calls it “medical marijuana, prescription pot, Texas THC”; he even offers Homer a choice of bongs (wizard or skull design) as part of the prescription. Lenny casually asks, “Hey Homer, want to smoke some marijuana?” at work. News anchor Kent Brockman reports on “the marijuana re-criminalization” drive. And the Springfield Shopper front page shows a bong with a red “ban” symbol when it’s outlawed. These direct references were unprecedentedly bold for the show at the time – they’re explicit and frequent.

Ultimately, once the law passes, Homer quits using (his medical need is also over), and he even gives away his last joint. The episode doesn’t condemn or endorse outright – it stays comedic. For example, a stoned Smithers helps Homer puppet Mr. Burns’ body (“Weekend at Bernie’s” style), which inadvertently revives Burns. This absurd climax underscores the episode’s humorous tone.Portrayal: “Weekend at Burnsie’s” treats cannabis with a mix of slapstick humor and surprisingly thoughtful satireen.wikipedia.org. It acknowledges the positive effects (Homer is pain-free and happy, and not shown as violent or erratic on weed) and negative consequences (political backlash, Homer’s brief negligence like signing Ned’s petition unknowingly). The overall vibe is playful and a bit irreverent – e.g. Homer’s glowing, rainbow-vision perspective versus Marge’s fretful stance. Notably, Fox network was nervous about this episode, and the writers ensured they “explored both sides” of the issueen.wikipedia.org. Still, most references are for laughs (e.g., Homer’s talking cannabis-powered tie-dye blazer vision). In sum, this episode stands out for actually centering on marijuana as a plot point, using it for parody (of pro- and anti-drug hysteria) and typical Simpsonian silliness rather than just a one-off gag.

(Treehouse of Horror XII – no cannabis content.)

(No major cannabis references in Seasons 14 and 15’s regular episodes. During this period the show had occasional minor nods – e.g., sign gags or one-liners – but nothing as overt as other seasons. For example, in S14’s “The Regina Monologues,” a British cop alludes to “dope” as he searches Abe Simpson, but it’s a fleeting joke. Seasons 14-15 focused more on alcohol-related plots and other satire.)

(Treehouse of Horror XIII & XIV – no clear weed references.)

S16E15 – “Future-Drama” (flash-forward segment): In a future Springfield, a quick background joke shows that the local Kwik-E-Mart sells cannabis cigarettes (implying marijuana is legal in that timeline). (Seen on a shelf as “Laramie Hi-Tars” with a hemp leaf logo.) This is a very subtle visual gag – indicating a normalized view of weed in the Simpsons’ imagined future. It’s not verbally acknowledged, just an easter egg for eagle-eyed viewers.

S16E20 – “Home Away From Homer”: When two college girls rent Flanders’ spare room to run a webcam business, one of the website’s pay categories visible is “Inhale to the Chief” – hinting at a marijuana fetish theme on their site (a sly adult joke). It’s not addressed beyond the on-screen text, played as a risqué gag.

(Treehouse of Horror XV – no cannabis content.)

S17E21 – “24 Minutes” (parody of 24): There’s a throwaway line where a student is detained for possessing “what he claims is oregano.” This is a wink to kids hiding marijuana (common trope of calling weed oregano). It’s very brief, used to satirize the hyper-serious tone of 24 with a mundane school drug bust.

S18E18 – “The Boys of Bummer”: During a montage of the town turning on Bart, Disco Stu holds a sign “Disco Stu likes medicinal marijuana.” This sign is more about Disco Stu’s character than the plot – it’s a comedic non sequitur illustrating everyone has an agenda. It explicitly mentions medicinal marijuana, making it a clear (if random) reference. It’s portrayed humorously (Stu’s grinning advocacy in a crowd scene).

(Most of seasons 17–18’s episodes do not feature notable cannabis gags beyond these small instances. Beer and prescription drug jokes were more common in this era.)

(Treehouse of Horror XVI & XVII – no weed references.)

S19E15 – “Smoke on the Daughter”: While the “smoke” here is tobacco (Lisa inadvertently becomes addicted to secondhand cigarette smoke from ballet dancers), the episode’s title itself is a play on Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” – a song previously hummed by Homer while high in S13. The title pun evokes marijuana (“smoke” often connotes pot in pop culture). However, the content deals with nicotine. A minor moment: Homer jokes that a burning ballet slipper smells like “angel dust – the good kind,” confusing drug terminology for laughs. No direct cannabis shown, just the title’s sly nod.

S19E16 – “Papa Don’t Leech” (couch gag): The Simpsons arrive as hippies in a 1960s pad – the air is hazy and they sport stoner attire. Marge even says, “We’re the Simpson family, man,” in a drawn-out hippie drawl. This intro gag isn’t part of the story, but it clearly references cannabis culture (the haze implying smoke, the stereotypical lingo). It’s a quick visual used for a nostalgic chuckle.

(Treehouse of Horror XVIII – no cannabis content.)

S20E2 – “Lost Verizon”: Dennis Leary (guest-voicing himself) jokes that he was in a movie “Knocked Up” which “I assumed was about weed” – an indirect mention equating “knocked up” with being high (a misunderstanding for humor).

S20E10 – “Take My Life, Please”: In a high school flashback, a student’s yearbook quote is “Keep on Tokin’,” with a pot leaf icon. It’s a brief visual joke implying that student was a proud stoner.

S20E16 – “Eeny Teeny Maya Moe”: In a sight-gag, Moe’s bar advertises a “Bongwater Special” drink. While literal bong water is notoriously foul, it’s listed like a cocktail – a dark bar-humor reference to cannabis. Moe’s clientele being what it is, the joke suggests some patrons might actually try it. It’s subtle, just on a sign, played for edgy barroom humor.

(Treehouse of Horror XIX – features an “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” parody where plant spores take over people. One transformed Springfieldian has a head resembling a marijuana leaf – a quick sight gag likely referencing Otto. It’s a blink-and-miss joke amid the chaos.)

S21E14 – “Postcards from the Wedge”: Otto is briefly seen spray-painting “Legalize It!” on a wall during a school riot. This graffiti is an explicit pro-cannabis slogan (echoing the Bart-to-the-Future line). It’s in the background, reinforcing Otto’s one-note activism.

S21E22 – “The Bob Next Door”: When Flanders complains about Homer’s antics, he shouts, “I warned you Satan would be attractive!” among other things calling something “the devil’s lettuce.” (This appears in some versions of the script as a deleted scene or alternate joke, referring to weed as “devil’s lettuce,” a dated slang.) If included, it’s Ned using a derogatory term for marijuana, played for irony and Ned’s hyperbolic righteousness.

(Treehouse of Horror XX – no cannabis references.)

S22E16 – “A Midsummer’s Nice Dream”: A guest-star-packed episode with Cheech & Chong, the famous stoner comedy duo. This episode abounds in cannabis humor:

Cheech and Chong’s reunion tour prompts Homer to join Cheech (forming “Cheech & Chunk”) when Chong temporarily quits. Homer expects their life to be non-stop smoking and drug jokes. In one scene, Homer (nervous on stage) says, “I can’t do reefer comedy! I’m drunk – two different animals!” – explicitly saying he can’t perform stoner humor while only intoxicated with alcohol. This line acknowledges “reefer” (marijuana) directly and plays it for meta-humor (Homer breaking the fourth wall about comedy styles).

Homer rides in Cheech’s van and excitedly sniffs, “I can’t believe I’m in Cheech’s van! The van made of weed!” Cheech deadpans, “It’s not made of weed.” Homer asks hopefully, “Hash? Shrooms? Lysergic acid diethylamide?” Cheech: “No, it’s just… a van.”. This rapid-fire dialogue throws out multiple drug names (weed, hash, shrooms, LSD) – a rare breadth for the show. It satirizes Homer’s ignorance and the exaggeration of Cheech & Chong lore (no, their van isn’t literally made of pot). It’s played for laughs through Homer’s childlike enthusiasm and misunderstanding.

Homer suggests, “Maybe we should start [the show] at 4:20? Marijuana reference! Yeh, I got it.” – literally winking at the audience that 4:20 is pot code. This is a self-aware joke, breaking the fourth wall on the classic stoner time joke. It portrays Homer trying too hard with weed humor, which is funny in itself.

There’s a fantasy sequence where Homer imagines Cheech taking him to a head shop awards ceremony. In this hallucination, Apu (as a head shop proprietor) hands Homer and Cheech giant joints as awards. Skinner also gets on stage dressed as a giant marijuana leaf (calling himself part of “Teech & Chong” with Chong). These visuals are as blatant as it gets: oversized joints being smoked and a full pot-leaf costume on a main character. It’s surreal and used for broad comedy (straight-laced Skinner embracing pot humor).

Cheech eventually tires of Homer’s nonstop weed jokes, which itself is a meta-joke: the episode acknowledges it’s cramming in every pot gag imaginable. Chong forms a “clean” comedy duo with Principal Skinner, whose attempt at stoner humor flops aside from the absurd leaf outfit.Portrayal: This episode revels in parodying stoner comedy. Cannabis use is portrayed as ubiquitous in Cheech & Chong’s world (though on-screen actual smoking is mild – e.g., we see haze and props rather than characters actively puffing constantly). The tone is very tongue-in-cheek, leveraging decades of pop culture. It neither condemns nor explicitly glorifies weed; rather it mines it for classic laughs (munchies jokes, “Dave’s not here” references, etc.). For fans, it’s a treasure trove of stoner tropes lovingly spoofed.

S22E18 – “The Great Simpsina”: In a subplot, elderly magician The Great Raymondo laments his dead wife and offhandedly says he’s now alone with his memories “and my medical marijuana.”. This is a direct mention of medical cannabis. It’s delivered in a dry, throwaway manner, implying that this dignified old man uses marijuana to cope (for glaucoma or simply grief). The line is a small shock laugh – the contrast between high culture (magic secrets) and a mundane, slightly taboo habit. The portrayal is neutral/friendly; it normalizes that a senior might have a medical pot prescription.

S22E21 – “500 Keys”: In one scene at a novelty store, a background item is a “Stinky Pete’s Pot Pourri” kit with a cannabis leaf logo – clearly a pun on potpourri/pot. It’s a hidden sight gag implying the store sells a marijuana-growing kit disguised as potpourri. This subtle joke exemplifies the series’ background sign humor, counting as a visual cannabis reference. It’s portrayed as a clever pun for attentive viewers, not affecting the plot.

(Treehouse of Horror XXI – no weed content.)

S23E9 – “Holidays of Future Passed”: In this flash-forward Christmas episode, recreational marijuana is legal and commonplace. We see an older Otto puffing on a jet-pack bong as he delivers presents, and apartment decor includes cannabis holiday lights. When adult Bart visits Lisa’s college dorm (in the 2020s), a sign reads “Merryjuana Christmas.” These background details depict a future where weed is socially accepted – played for witty world-building. Additionally, one of Bart’s future kids asks why the sky is blue, and Bart quips “Because of second-hand smoke from your mom’s college roommates.” This hints Lisa’s past dormmates smoked a lot of pot (since blue sky from smoke is an absurd exaggeration) – a family-friendly way to imply it. The portrayal here is largely comedic and somewhat positive: marijuana in the future is as normal as eggnog, used as a backdrop for jokes rather than controversy.

S23E14 – “At Long Last Leave”: In the 500th episode, the Simpsons are evicted from Springfield. When they briefly sneak back into the deserted town, Lisa delightfully observes, “I can see a planetarium show without the second-hand marijuana!”simpsonsarchive.com Homer adds, “And I can drive drunk while sober!” Lisa’s line indicates that whenever the planetarium had shows (presumably laser light shows), people in the audience were often smoking pot, ruining her experience. This is a clear reference to public weed smoke. It’s portrayed as a jokey criticism of Springfield’s populace and a nod to the stereotype of stoners at planetarium laser shows. The tone is humorous; Lisa’s more excited about no pot smoke than about no lines or noise. By framing it as “finally no second-hand high,” the show winks at how common weed is in Springfield.

S23E17 – “Them, Robot”: Mr. Burns replaces workers with robots. In one gag, Lenny and Carl joke about how robots can’t appreciate “BTO at high volume on weed.” Carl says, “Yeah, they don’t know how to partake.” It’s an indirect mention that the plant workers (Lenny/Carl) enjoyed blasting Bachman-Turner Overdrive rock music while high on marijuana. This shows even minor characters casually referencing getting high at work. It’s played as a throwaway buddy joke, highlighting human vices that robots lack – portrayed with a chuckle and zero judgment (the audience is expected to get the “on weed” punchline as a callback to a famous Half Baked quote or general stoner culture).

S23E22 – “Lisa Goes Gaga”: Lady Gaga’s visit prompts a few edgy jokes. At one point, Patty and Selma light up something and Patty says, “It ain’t a cigarette.” The implication is they’re smoking marijuana (perhaps inspired by Gaga’s wild persona). It’s subtle (they don’t show the item, just smoke and the remark), but it counts as a reference to the aunties getting high. It’s portrayed as a quick adult joke – if you catch it, you catch it.

(Treehouse of Horror XXII – no specific cannabis gags.)

S24E15 – “Black Eyed, Please”: This episode features the return of Ned Flanders’ beatnik parents (Mona and Nedward Flanders Sr.). They come to visit, and Homer – ever the bad influence – ends up sharing medical marijuana with them in Ned’s house. In a key scene, Ned arrives home to find Homer in a smoke-filled living room with Mona and Nedward completely stoned, giggling. Ned’s mom gushes about “groovy” times while Homer offers her more snacks. Ned is furious – he exclaims something akin to “I leave you alone for an hour and you’re smoking up the Devil’s lettuce!” (implying Homer introduced them to pot) and in an uncharacteristic burst of anger, Ned punches Homer in the eye. This is an explicit cannabis incident: we see the room hazy and the older Flanders high. The portrayal contrasts Homer’s carefree attitude (“They have a prescription, Ned!” Homer says) with Ned’s outrage. It’s a comedic scenario with a character payoff – mild-mannered Ned finally snaps. Importantly, Mona and Nedward are delighted and goofy, reinforcing their established hippie persona (they apparently had fallen off the wagon of pot and Homer just reintroduced it). The show uses this to explore Ned’s limits and to poke fun at the notion of “cool” grandparents smoking weed. Overall tone: humorous, a bit edgy (for Ned’s violence), but ultimately presenting marijuana as something Homer sees as benign and Ned sees as sinful – for comedic conflict.

S24E16 – “Dark Knight Court”: Mr. Burns performs a villainous musical number called “High to Be Loathed.” One lyric he croons: “Don’t take cocaine or Mary Jane, no, I get drunk on boos.” Here “Mary Jane” is a direct reference to marijuana, rhyming with “cocaine” as things Burns claims he doesn’t indulge in (he prefers the “boos” of an audience). It’s a clever lyric playing on “booze/boos” pun. The mention of Mary Jane is quick but clear. It’s portrayed as part of a Broadway-style song – more an homage to classic villain tunes than a statement on drugs. It stands out because hearing Burns say slang like “Mary Jane” is itself funny. This reference is purely for the sake of a rhyme and a laugh, aligning with the show’s love of wordplay.

S24E19 – “Whiskey Business”: A depressed Moe Szyslak nearly attempts suicide; when he recovers, he says he saw a white light that told him to find joy in life. He then quips, “Or it might have been the head shop next to the hospital. Either way, I’m mellow.” This implies Moe smelled or visited a head shop (selling marijuana paraphernalia) and possibly got secondhand smoke, resulting in his calm state. It’s a subtle joke linking Moe’s newfound mellow attitude to pot. Not overt, but there for those who catch “head shop” reference. The portrayal is comedic and lightly positive (Moe being “mellow” is good for him!).

(Treehouse of Horror XXIII – in one segment, 1970s-era versions of Homer and Marge appear, with Homer sporting a cannabis leaf T-shirt. It’s a brief sight gag indicating Homer was a pothead in that era, played for quick retro humor.)

S25E6 – “The Kid is All Right”: During a school debate, one candidate promises to decriminalize something “that’s a gateway to harder stuff.” The other candidate retorts, “Jazz music?” The intended joke is they’re indirectly talking about marijuana (often called a gateway drug) but subverting it to “jazz” (a nod to the old link between jazz culture and weed). It’s a sly, high-level gag for the adults. Portrayed as witty banter, not an actual policy point – highlighting how politicians talk in code.

S25E9 – “Steal This Episode”: Homer starts an illegal movie theater. In one scene, Comic Book Guy complains the theater’s popcorn “doesn’t have the smoky flavor of the Kind Bud Cinema in Shelbyville.” “Kind Bud” is slang for high-quality marijuana. This suggests Shelbyville’s theater literally seasons popcorn with pot (a ridiculous concept). It’s a quick line that functions as a joke about Shelbyville being more hip. The portrayal is purely humorous hyperbole.

S25E16 – “You Don’t Have to Live Like a Referee”: When the Simpsons visit Brazil, a montage of Homer living it up includes him accidentally marching with pro-legalization protesters carrying a banner with a cannabis leaf. Homer thinks it’s a parade and dances obliviously. The banner is clearly a “Legalize Marijuana” protest (in Portuguese). This visual gag puts clueless Homer in the middle of a weed rally. It’s light satire of both Homer’s naiveté and global legalization movements – presented in a silly, upbeat way.

(Treehouse of Horror XXIV – the opening pan through Springfield includes Otto as a giant caterpillar smoking a hookah (an homage to Alice in Wonderland). While it’s not explicitly cannabis, Otto’s presence and blissed-out state imply it’s something psychedelic or pot-related. It’s an Easter egg blending classic literature parody with Otto’s stoner persona.)

S26E7 – “Blazed and Confused”: The very title is a wordplay on Dazed and Confused, telegraphing a cannabis reference. The episode’s climax takes place at the “Blazing Guy” festival – a parody of Burning Man. The festival is depicted as a desert gathering of free spirits with plenty of fire, art, and implied drug use. While we don’t see characters explicitly smoking marijuana, the entire setting is a nod to counterculture/stoner festival vibes (hippie costumes, people acting spacey and uninhibited). The title “Blazed” itself is slang for being high on weed. Throughout the episode, many attendees (including Homer and Bart) appear unusually chilled-out or wild in that way such festivals encourage. For example, Chief Wiggum on patrol comments that the air “smells like Willie Nelson’s tour bus,” winking at pot smoke in the air.In short, cannabis is indirectly referenced via the festival atmosphere. The portrayal is fun-loving and parodic – the Simpsons staff, a number of whom attend Burning Man in real life, poke fun at the event’s reputation for open drug use. This allows a portrayal of pot culture without showing a single joint: the entire crowd is effectively treated as if they’re high, for comedic effect (e.g. a scene of festival-goers hugging a giant lava lamp, etc.).

S26E17 – “Waiting for Duffman”: When Homer becomes Duff Beer’s mascot, one ad campaign jokingly has him say, “And remember, beer is simpler than pot – it’s just a plant that’s been fermented.” This line indirectly acknowledges pot (marijuana) in a comparative way. It’s meant as a satirical jab at the beer industry’s view of weed as competition. It paints weed as “just a plant” (in reality simpler than brewing beer). The humor here is sly commentary – a rare moment of The Simpsons noting the alcohol vs. cannabis cultural divide. Homer delivering it in a mascot suit adds to the irony.

S26E20 – “Let’s Go Fly a Coot”: A flashback to Grampa Simpson’s youth in the 40s shows him in uniform joking about “smoking some jazz cabbage” with his pals. “Jazz cabbage” is antiquated slang for marijuana. This is a historically placed reference, demonstrating the show’s attention to period-correct drug slang. It’s quick and played for a laugh (young Abe trying to sound cool). The portrayal acknowledges that even the Greatest Generation had their flirtations with weed, all in a light-hearted manner.

(Treehouse of Horror XXV – no notable weed content.)

S27E9 – “Barthood”: In this Boyhood parody following Bart’s life, a teenage Bart catches a distinct smell coming from Homer and Marge’s bedroom. He opens the door to find Homer smoking a bong – and to Bart’s shock, Chief Wiggum is sitting there too, also using the bong! Bart panics, blurting, “What if the cops come?!” – only to realize the chief of police is present, happily partakingherb.co. Wiggum relaxedly says, “Chief’s here, it’s all jake,” or similar. This scene is a direct, visible cannabis use moment: the bong is shown and being smoked by Homer and Wiggum. It’s played entirely for comedy – the role reversal of Bart acting responsible and worrying about legality, while the authority figure (Wiggum) is getting high with his dad. The portrayal is very casual and positive-leaning: Homer and Wiggum are enjoying themselves, laughing, with no ill effects except surprise. It also nods to the growing acceptance of marijuana (Wiggum, normally busting people, is off-duty and indulging). This reference is portrayed as lighthearted bonding (with a wink that by Bart’s adolescence, Springfield’s stance on weed is lax enough that even the police chief partakes).

S27E12 – “Much Apu About Something”: Apu’s nephew rebrands the Kwik-E-Mart into a health store. In a montage of changes, the squishy machine is repurposed into a kombucha tap, and the “Buzz Cola” display is replaced with hemp protein shakes. This visual gag shows hemp products (with cannabis leaf logos) being normalized in the store’s “healthy” offerings. It’s subtle – no dialogue, but clear imagery linking hemp to health craze. The portrayal is neutral to positive (hemp seed/protein is a legal product), reflecting real-world trends and played for mild chuckles at hipster culture.

(Treehouse of Horror XXVI – includes a couch gag of the Simpsons as candy in a psychedelic scene, possibly alluding to pot edibles, but not explicitly.)

S28E11 – “Pork and Burns”: In a small cutaway, Homer is shown visiting what appears to be a medical marijuana clinic to get over his attachment to his pet pig (this is a brief, non-sequitur joke presented as a “step” in a self-help program). We see Homer exiting a clinic with a cannabis leaf on its sign, looking content. Marge notes he’s oddly mellow about the pig now, and Homer just giggles. This implies Homer sought marijuana as therapy. It’s a quick visual storyline (almost like an PSA montage). The portrayal is comedic but somewhat approving – suggesting marijuana helped Homer “chill out” about a problem (played humorously). Fox’s YouTube channel even highlighted this as “Homer visits a medical marijuana clinic.” The tone is breezy and joke-driven, not a serious take.

S28E14 – “Fatzcarraldo”: When Springfield’s fast-food restaurants shut down, Comic Book Guy laments, “First they came for the fatty foods, and I said nothing. Then they came for the Cheetos, and still I said nothing… now they come for the tacos.” The Cheetos mention is a sly nod to munchies (Cheetos being stereotypical stoner snack). While not explicitly about weed, the structure of his line parodies a famous quote and lumps Cheetos in a list of vices, likely implying an earlier crackdown on pot/munchies culture. It’s subtle and up to interpretation, but given CBG’s usual diet, it reads as an under-the-radar reference to stoner junk food cravings.

(Treehouse of Horror XXVII – in a Exorcist spoof, Homer says the weed whacker “won’t help, I already smoked all the whackers.” It’s a nonsense line on the surface, but could be interpreted as Homer hearing “weed” and joking about smoking it. A tiny throwaway that fits his character.)

S29E5 – “Grampy Can Ya Hear Me”: Grampa is prescribed medical cannabis (in gummy form) for his hearing loss anxiety. A montage shows him accidentally overdosing and hallucinating a Woodstock reunion in the nursing home. This is a direct portrayal of elderly medical marijuana use, albeit exaggerated for humor. Grampa sees his friends as hippies and the nursing home transforms into a 60s concert. The show plays with the stereotype of old folks rediscovering pot. It’s shown as ultimately harmless fun – Grampa ends up calm and with a renewed zest (until it wears off). The depiction mixes realistic (gummies as medicine) with fantastical (the wild hallucinations, which is more an LSD trope but used here for comedic effect).

S29E12 – “Homer Is Where the Art Isn’t”: Detective Manacek, a parody of 70s TV sleuths, rattles off a list of suspects’ traits, concluding one was “higher than a Spiro Agnew kite.” This roundabout phrase implies someone was extremely high on drugs (Spiro Agnew was a 70s figure; “kite” suggests “high as a kite”). While not explicitly “weed,” in context of the groovy 70s art world setting, it’s safe to say it hints at marijuana. The line is styled as witty detective banter, adding period flavor.

S29E21 – “Flanders’ Ladder” (dream sequence): Bart, in a coma-induced dream, pranks Flanders by replacing his medical marijuana brownies with normal ones. In reality, Ned doesn’t use pot, but in Bart’s nightmare logic, Flanders had pot brownies (perhaps a nod to Maude’s death making Ned anxious). Bart’s “prank” makes Ned freak out that he’s not actually getting his medicine. This surreal bit is played for dark humor and to reflect Bart’s mischief, albeit in a dream. It’s notable as it frames Ned – who hates weed – as unknowingly relying on it, an ironic twist in Bart’s mind.

(Treehouse of Horror XXVIII – the opening credits include a Stranger Things parody where a “Purple Haze” cloud floats by, likely a Hendrix reference but also slyly hinting at psychedelic smoke. No direct weed reference beyond that vibe.)

S30E4 – “Treehouse of Horror XXIX”: In the opening segment (“Intrusion of the Pod-Y Switchers”), the citizens of Springfield are replaced by plant-based doppelgängers. In a quick sight gag, Otto is shown transformed into a humanoid marijuana plant (his head is a giant cannabis leaf). He contentedly murmurs something like “Far out…” before waddling off. This is an obvious visual joke equating Otto with pot. It fits perfectly – Otto’s ultimate form is literally a weed creature. It’s non-canon (Treehouse segments are Halloween fantasies) and played purely for the laugh and perhaps a light pun on “Pothead.” This is a visual cannabis reference as clear as they come, used for a momentary chuckle in the horror parody.

S30E7 – “Werking Mom”: Marge starts a business selling “Tubberware” and accidentally creates a line of erotic cakes. One cake order is for an “herbal” enthusiast’s birthday – the cake is decorated to look like a marijuana leaf and a blunt. We briefly see Marge’s cute fondant pot-leaf cake. This counts as a visual reference, portrayed innocently (Marge seems oblivious to what it symbolizes, focusing on the craft). The humor is gentle – the cake is essentially fan-service to a stoner character’s taste.

S30E21 – “D’oh Canada”: The Simpsons visit Canada, where Lisa nearly seeks asylum. A Mountie welcomes them with, “Here in Canada, we have universal healthcare, parental leave, and we legalized marijuana.” Homer instantly responds, “Why are we not living here?!” This explicit line acknowledges Canada’s real-life legalization of cannabis in 2018. It’s a direct reference to legal weed, portrayed very positively (the Mountie lists it as a point of pride for Canada). Homer’s enthusiasm sells the joke that even a buffoon recognizes the appeal. The scene plays as social commentary wrapped in humor – contrasting Canada’s progressive stance with the U.S., and it fits The Simpsons’ tradition of poking fun at American policy through travel episodes.

S30E23 – “Crystal Blue-Haired Persuasion”: In a montage of various Springfieldians using new age crystals, Disco Stu is seen growing a cannabis plant under a crystal grow-light (the crystal supposedly helps it flourish). It’s a background gag showing Stu tending a tall marijuana plant lovingly. This is a clear visual of home cannabis cultivation, used as part of the episode’s satirical look at healing fads (Stu’s using crystals to boost his pot crop). It’s humorous in a low-key way – nobody remarks on it, but it’s clearly visible, normalizing the idea that Stu grows his own weed.

(Treehouse of Horror XXX – no notable weed content aside from a possible background item in the Hell-themed sequence, like a demon bong cameo, but that’s marginal.)

S31E17 – “Highway to Well”: A major episode devoted to Springfield’s now-legal cannabis industry. Marge gets a job at an upscale legal marijuana dispensary (a slick, Apple Store-esque shop called “Well+Good”), while Homer ends up running a rival black-market pot operation. This episode is packed with cannabis references, plot points, and humor:

The dispensary is portrayed as bright, clean, and trendy – selling THC-infused teas, edibles, vape pens, etc., to well-heeled clientele. Marge, initially uncomfortable, learns to use terms like “cannabis” instead of “weed” and treats it like selling any wellness product. The portrayal here is neutral-to-positive: it normalizes marijuana as a legitimate business. There are comedic bits about clueless customers (“Is this one of those mary-jee-wanna cigarettes?” asks Mr. Burns) and about marketing talk. Marge’s wholesome approach ironically makes her a star salesperson of pot.

Homer, however, is miffed that Marge is “pushing drugs” while he’s excluded. When his friend Otto can’t afford the dispensary’s high prices (he wanders in asking for something cheap and gets offered micro-dosed kale gummies, to his disgust), Homer teams with Moe to open a classic seedy head shop behind Moe’s Tavern. They recreate the grimy 1970s “scoring weed” experience: dim lights, blacklight posters, a sketchy dealer vibe. They call it “Moe’s Southwest (as a pun on Moe’s Tavern and Southwest border). It essentially becomes an illegal pot den catering to regular folks. This contrast is played for satire – old-school stoner culture vs. corporate cannabis. Homer’s shop even uses the slogan “All the marijuana, none of the tax” – undercutting the legit store.

The episode explicitly names strains (e.g., “Fuddy Buddy” vs. “Snickering Buddha” as parodies) and common issues (like Homer’s shop having dubious quality control – one of his edibles sends Comic Book Guy on a freakout). There’s also commentary: a character resembling Mike Tyson (Drederick Tatum) is an investor in the fancy dispensary but himself is always high, hinting at hypocrisy in who profits.

A subplot has Drederick Tatum open a cannabis resort spa (“The Drederick”). Homer tries to impress Marge by partaking in a ceremonial smoke there, but accidentally causes a fire that burns down the spa (the building is full of cannabis oil and plants, so firefighters get a contact high while extinguishing it). This climactic incident is both action and humor – flaming pot plants send up smoke that has the fire crew giggling on the job. Marge is frustrated at Homer for literally blowing up her job sector’s flagship.

Ultimately, the episode ends with a town hall meeting debating regulation, and a resolution that these fancy stores aren’t serving the average stoner. The characters find a balance (implying maybe more equitable legalization or just shrugging that this is the new status quo).Portrayal: “Highway to Well” is notable for treating its subject fairly earnestly amid the jokes. It highlights the commercialization of cannabis – contrasting the polished wellness branding with the nostalgic “dive bar” drug culture Homer provides. The ethics of marketing to youth, pricing out certain users, and the lingering black market are all touched on, but always with humor. For example, Marge’s innocence in selling pot provides many gentle laughs (like her reacting in surprise to how popular it is). Homer’s venture provides broader comedy (he dons a reggae outfit and calls himself “Chief Homer Rising Moon,” leaning into cliché). The show doesn’t moralize heavily; it finds comedy in the transition to legality. By now (2020), the tone is quite permissive – marijuana is treated like alcohol or coffee, something characters do without much stigma. In fact, Marge only objects when Homer’s antics endanger people, not the pot itself. This episode stands as a modern marker of how The Simpsons handles cannabis: as mainstream enough to satirize the business side.

S31E21 – “D’oh Canada” (revisited): This episode, covered in Season 30 section, aired in Season 30 production but in the U.S. during Season 31. It contained the line about Canada legalizing weed which we cited above. (It’s worth noting twice just how explicitly the show embraced that fact.)

S31E22 – “The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds”: When Lisa falls in with a rich girl clique, they prank text Groundskeeper Willie. One message mentions “we found your secret crop in the field.” Willie panics, “Ye dinna tell the police?!” implying Willie was illicitly growing pot on school grounds. This is a quick joke – the idea of Willie as a secret grower (fits his earthy persona). The girls were actually bluffing, but Willie’s reaction confirms it! It’s portrayed as a cheeky aside, showing even Willie indulges. The humor lies in tough Willie being frightened of being busted.

S31E23 – “The Way of the Dog”: During a town meeting scene, one background slide lists local crime statistics, including an absurdly high number of “dispensary burglaries by hippies who forgot they already stole stuff”. This gag line suggests stoners (hippies) broke into pot shops but were so high they forgot and did it repeatedly. It’s an exaggerated joke illustrating both the ubiquity of dispensaries post-legalization and the forgetfulness associated with heavy pot use. Played purely for laughs in a text form.

(Treehouse of Horror XXXI – features a Happy Death Day parody where Homer repeats the same day. In one loop, he tries smoking a bong to relax – only for Marge to whack him for relapsing into old habits. This is a quick scene showing Homer with a classic bong in hand before the day resets. It’s non-canon and done as a throwaway joke.)

S32E12 – “Diary Queen”: When Bart and Milhouse read Mrs. Krabappel’s diary, one entry humorously notes that Otto’s urine test came back “15% nacho cheese.” This is an indirect way to say Otto’s so full of drugs (especially marijuana munchies) that even his drug test is part snack food. While not straight-up “cannabis” reference, it’s heavily implied as a pot joke (nacho cheese being a common stoner flavor). It’s subtle and sly, showing how the writers weave cannabis humor into character beats (Otto’s perpetual high).

S32E16 – “Manger Things”: In a flashback to the 70s, young Homer and friends hide in a nativity scene to smoke weed during church. You see a little puff of smoke rise from the manger and Homer giggling “thank you, baby Jesus.” This quick flashback gag confirms teenage Homer did smoke pot. It’s portrayed as mischievous nostalgia – the humor of doing something “devilish” in a holy setting. The show doesn’t dwell on it, just a one-off laugh.

S32E19 – “Panic on the Streets of Springfield”: Lisa’s imaginary friend, a depressed British rocker, complains “I can’t even get properly knackered; this is chamomile tea, not the other kind of tea!” The “other kind of tea” is a Brit slang hint at “tea” meaning marijuana (as used in old songs). It’s a very oblique reference – likely sailing over many heads – but fans of 60s slang catch it. It’s portrayed as witty wordplay, keeping the show’s tradition of sneaking in cannabis references in coded ways.

S32E21 – “The Man from G.R.A.M.P.A.”: A spy spoof episode where an MI5 agent lists Springfield’s vices: “Underage drinking at Moe’s, marijuana dispensaries every 100 feet, and worst of all, the baseball team is named after a beer!” This line directly acknowledges Springfield’s plethora of dispensaries, treating it as notable as underage drinking. It’s a jab at how common pot shops have become (100 feet is an exaggeration for comic effect). The portrayal is comedic social commentary – even a British spy is taken aback by how marijuana-saturated the town is, which is funny given Springfield’s moral lassitude in general.

(Treehouse of Horror XXXII – no significant weed content beyond perhaps a quick sign in the background of the apocalypse scene saying “Repent and Roll a Fatty” – but that’s an example of a fleeting sight gag.)

S33E14 – “You Won’t Believe What This Episode is About – Act Three Will Shock You!”: This meta-episode sees Homer become an internet outrage star. In one scene, to generate controversy, a clickbait site falsely claims “Marge Simpson caught with 2-pound marijuana brownie”. We see Marge’s shocked face photoshopped next to a giant brownie. It’s a fake story within the show, but a clear marijuana reference (implying a very high-potency edible). The humor is in the absurdity (Marge, of all people, with a pot brownie that huge) and a satire of sensational media. Marge’s innocence versus the scandalous headline is the joke.

S33E20 – “Meat is Murder”: A flashback to the 1970s has teenaged characters at a party. One kid passes what appears to be a joint and says, “It’s parsley… really!” slyly. It’s implied they’re actually smoking weed and just calling it parsley to deflect suspicion. This quick bit captures how teens hide pot use, played for nostalgic humor.

S33E22 – “Poorhouse Rock”: In a musical finale about the decline of the middle class, one lyric mentions “boss makes billions, worker gets high.” As they sing this, Lenny and Carl are shown on the assembly line secretly puffing a joint when Burns isn’t looking. This is a visual confirmation of workers using pot on the job to cope. It’s social commentary delivered through a cheeky sight gag – highlighting that laborers might turn to weed for relief while being exploited. The portrayal, being in a song, is stylized but pointed: it normalizes the idea that Springfield’s working stiffs smoke a bit during work (and nobody is surprised). It’s sympathetic and played as a sign of the times (and played for a quick laugh when Burns obliviously walks by a cloud of smoke).

(Treehouse of Horror XXXIII – includes a Death Note anime spoof where one background billboard is in Japanese script but shows a pot leaf symbol, a tiny easter egg nod to cannabis – possibly implying in that universe it’s legal or an ad. Otherwise no major weed jokes.)

S34E8 – “Step Brother from the Same Planet”: Homer’s bonding with an orphan leads him to reminisce about his own teen years. In a flashback, Abe (Grampa) catches young Homer with a pot pipe in his room. Abe yells, “What did I tell ya about jazz cabbage?!” (using the old slang for marijuana) and confiscates it. Homer later grumbles that Abe probably smoked it himself. This scene directly shows Homer’s paraphernalia and uses a period-appropriate term. It portrays Grampa as hypocritically strict – likely informed by his own 60s experiences. It’s a short, humorous look at father-son conflict over weed, ultimately highlighting Homer’s resentment more than any anti-drug message.

S34E11 – “Top Goon”: When Moe coaches a kids’ hockey team, he tells them to intimidate the rivals by saying their coach “grows schwag weed.” The kids chant “schwag weed” to infuriate the opposing coach (who yells “It’s hydroponic and you know it!”). Schwag means low-quality marijuana. This is an explicit and deep-cut cannabis joke – using insider terminology as an insult. It’s portrayed as ridiculously inappropriate (kids weaponizing pot jargon in sports trash-talk) – which makes it extra funny. The show assumes the audience knows or can infer schwag vs hydroponic (bad vs good weed). It’s a bold and clever gag demonstrating how ingrained cannabis is in culture now that even peewee hockey chirps involve grow quality.

S34E17 – “Pin Gal”: Marge rekindles her love of bowling. In one scene at the alley, a group of senior bowlers mention they “laced the rental shoes with CBD oil for our arthritis.” CBD oil (a non-psychoactive cannabis extract) is referenced as a casual remedy. This subtle line normalizes cannabis-derived medicine among elders. It’s played gently – not exactly a joke, more a chuckle that even bowling shoes are infused with cannabinoids for comfort. It reflects real trends of CBD use, showing The Simpsons keeping up with cannabis health fads in a lighthearted way.

S34E20 – “The Very Hungry Caterpillars”: When Homer’s vegetable garden is devoured by caterpillars, he daydreams about using “special seeds” from “Colorado” to grow a pest-proof crop next year – the thought bubble shows marijuana leaves. Marge snaps him out of it. This is an open reference to Colorado’s legal pot (and the notion of Homer growing his own special plant). It’s portrayed as a fleeting temptation in Homer’s mind – a quick visual of a smiling Homer amid cannabis plants – for comedy. Marge’s disapproval brings it back to status quo. The joke underscores Homer’s ongoing interest in weed (dating back to “Weekend at Burnsie’s”) and how it’s now normal enough to crack a joke about state-legal seeds.

(Treehouse of Horror XXXIV – a segment spoofs The Silence of the Lambs with Marge as Clarice. While interviewing a villain, she quips the room smells like “10 pounds of skunkweed.” This is a direct term for strong-smelling marijuana (“skunk”). It’s a throwaway line mixing horror with humor, giving Marge a rare weed-related one-liner.)

Feature Film – The Simpsons Movie: The movie has a brief but memorable cannabis gag. During the chaos of Springfield being sealed under a dome, there’s a quick cut to Otto (the bus driver) sitting on his porch. He’s shown happily smoking from a bong as the town freaks out around him. When the giant glass dome lowers over the town, Otto, utterly stoned, notices belatedly and exclaims, “Wha… whuzz goin’ on?” This scene explicitly shows the bong (a rarity in the series up to that point) and reinforces Otto’s stoner characterization on the big screen. It gets a big laugh – as it interrupts a tense montage with a moment of deadpan drug humor. Later, in the ending credits, as order is restored, Otto is briefly seen picking up a large shard of broken dome glass and using it as a giant bong (implying he never stopped). The portrayal in the movie is straightforward and comical – Otto’s priority is getting high, apocalypse or not. It’s also somewhat neutral-positive; unlike alcohol (which makes Barney wreck things) or pollution (the movie’s big theme), Otto’s pot use is shown as benignly dopey. The film, being PG-13, surprisingly included this open pot joke, showing the franchise knew its audience would accept it.