Cannabis References in Futurama
From bongs hidden in retro vans to entire universes named after cannabis slang, the series doesn’t shy away from green-hued humor. Whether it’s visual gags or characters indulging in galactic “sacred herb,” Futurama consistently weaves marijuana references into its futuristic storytelling. Here’s a complete breakdown of every time the show acknowledged cannabis—whether explicitly mentioned or implied—episode by episode.
Episode 13 – “Bendin’ in the Wind”: In this episode, Fry excavates a 1970s Volkswagen van buried under New New York. While cleaning it out, he discovers a bong hidden under the seat – a clear nod to 20th-century cannabis culture. The sight gag is played subtly: Fry pulls out the bong when Professor Farnsworth asks where the “device” to alter time perception is (implying that using cannabis warps one’s sense of time). Notably, none of the Planet Express crew overtly reacts to the bong except Hermes; the Jamaican accountant is visibly startled, while the others remain nonchalant. (According to the creators, the script euphemistically described the bong as a “crazy bottle” to slip the joke past censors.) No direct dialogue addresses the bong, making it an implicit visual gag referencing cannabis use.
Episode 15 – “The Farnsworth Parabox”: This episode features a multiverse of alternate universes, including Universe 420, an obvious allusion to the number 420 (commonly associated with cannabis). When the crew briefly visits Universe 420, they encounter hippie versions of themselves surrounded by smoke and tie-dye attire. The Professor’s counterpart in this universe – dubbed “Professor Freaksworth” by hippie Amy – speaks in a spaced-out, mystical manner (“Baby, they’re somewhere… Place is kinda au naturel right now.”). In a comedic exchange, Hippie-Farnsworth says, “Dude, there’s a universe in all of us,” to which the real Professor Farnsworth retorts, “Get a job!” The entire scene parodies 1960s counterculture: everyone in Universe 420 is portrayed as a cannabis-using hippie, as the title number hints. This is an explicit cannabis reference, reinforced by the use of 420 and stereotypical hippie dialogue and imagery.
Episode 16 – “Yo Leela-Leela”: Hermes announces, “Time for my 4:21 daiquiri,” a cheeky spin on 4:20, the time often associated with cannabis use. This timing pun suggests he’s not just craving a drink but is engaging in a daily ritual similar to cannabis users. It’s subtle, but unmistakable for those familiar with the cultural reference.
Episode 16 – “T.: The Terrestrial”: This episode contains perhaps Futurama’s most direct cannabis-themed plot. Professor Farnsworth sends the crew to Omicron Persei 8 to harvest the “sacred herb of Omicron” – a rare plant needed for his arthritis and glaucoma medicine. The term herb is used repeatedly in dialogue. Leela objects to risking danger for a “quack remedy,” but Farnsworth insists, “Ha! The Sacred Herb of Omicron is a serious plant.” Upon hearing the word herb, the crew’s tone shifts: “Sacred herb, you say? Sweet toke of Ocracoke, this stuff’s the Omichronic!” – a line packed with cannabis slang (toke, a hit of smoke; chronic, slang for high-quality marijuana). During the mission, Bender’s electrical field causes the alien plants to glow, leading Farnsworth to excitedly order the crew to collect samples in “dime bags” (street jargon for small baggies typically associated with marijuana). The Professor even drops into counterculture lingo when the herb is secured, exclaiming to Bender, “Dude! That herb you scored cleared up my arthritis and my glaucoma.” This episode is rich with cannabis references—from the open discussion of therapeutic plant use to multiple in-jokes (glowing crops, dime bags, medical applications), all wrapped in Futurama’s signature humor.
Episode 19 – “Saturday Morning Fun Pit”: One segment of this anthology episode parodies the cartoon Scooby-Doo (titled “Bendee-Boo and the Mystery Crew”), and it carries an implicit cannabis reference through its Shaggy parody. Fry plays the role of Shaggy, a character long associated with cannabis stereotypes (e.g. constant hunger and a laid-back demeanor). Throughout the parody, Fry’s Shaggy-esque character speaks in the famous drawl (“like, yikes!”) and is constantly thinking about food or sleep, mirroring Scooby-Doo’s perpetually snack-seeking, mellow slacker. While the show never explicitly mentions marijuana here (since it’s mimicking a children’s cartoon style), the satire is clear. The episode exaggerates Shaggy’s counterculture traits – using 70s slang (“zoinks”/“like…”) and portraying him as absurdly hungry and chilled out – to humorously acknowledge the well-known cannabis subtext of the original Scooby-Doo character without directly saying it.