Whether celebrating 4/20 or simply unwinding after a long day of work, finding the best rock songs about weed will surely add to your high. Fortunately, we’ve taken the guesswork out of creating the perfect high playlist with this song ranking.

We wanted to create a list as diverse as all of the marijuana strains available, and we’re pretty confident we met our goal. From very strange cautionary tales to basically declaring your love for the herb, here are the ten best rock songs about weed.

But First, Some Facts About Legalized Marijuana

Despite marijuana being federally illegal, a number of states have voted to fully legalize it in recent years. In fact, the Pew Research Center reported that 54% of Americans now live in a state that has fully legalized the drug for recreational use. When factoring in states that have legalized medicinal marijuana, that figure jumps to 74%.

Pew Research also reports that there are nearly 15,000 cannabis dispensaries in the United States. To the shock of probably no one, the state with the most dispensaries is California, with 3,659. Interestingly enough, Oklahoma has the most marijuana dispensaries per capita, with 36 dispensaries for ever 100,000 residents.

Where is Marijuana Legal in the United States?

Marijuana legalization has been on an ever-changing pace for a number of years now. Frankly, it’s difficult to keep straight where it’s fully legal, where it’s not and where there’s a bit of a gray area. However, we have done the research and have broken down all of the various levels of legalized marijuana for you.

The following states have fully legalized marijuana as of April 2024: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

States that have legalized medical marijuana include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

Some states have legalized medical marijuana and have decriminalized it. Those states include Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire and North Dakota.

Some states have only allowed for the sale of CBD oil with THC. Those states are Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. However, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bil 47 into law on March 31, 2023, which legalized medical cannabis beginning on January 1, 2025.

Finally, states where marijuana is fully illegal are Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina and Wyoming.

• 10. Neil Diamond - ‘The Pot Smoker's Song’

  Neil Diamond has written some of the most popular songs in history, but “The Pot Smoker’s Song” is one of his deep cuts. The song is rather bizarre. It features a jaunty chorus and spoken word verses of people warning of the use of weed. It’s super dated today and is more funny than anything. It’s basically the song equivalent of that “Marijuana Kills” ad from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

• 9. Sublime - ‘Smoke Two Joints’

  Originally released by The Toyes in 1983, Sublime covered this tune for their album 40 Oz. To Freedom. The song’s essence is exemplified in this lyric:  “But then, one day, I met a man who came to me and said:/‘Hard work good and hard work fine, but first take care of head.’”

• 8. Bob Dylan - ‘Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35’

  If you want to get technical, this Dylan classic isn’t really about weed. The man himself said in a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone the song has a Biblical meaning and is a reference to the Acts of the Apostles. However, Dylan is also no fool and likely knew he was having a bit of fun with the “Everybody must get stones” lyric in the chorus. Frankly, haven’t must of us, too?

• 7. Jefferson Airplane - ‘Mexico’

  Grace Slick penned this song as a blistering take down of then-President Richard Nixon and Operation Intercept, which shut down the border between the United States and Mexico in order to deter Mexican-grown marijuana from entering the country. Tricky Dick is likely rolling in his grave at the thought of all the legal dispensaries operating in the country today.

• 6. The Beatles - ‘Got to Get You Into My Life’

  Those lads from Liverpool were quite cheeky with this one. On the surface, it seems like just another silly love song written primarily by Paul McCartney, but it’s actually inspired by the first time Macca blazed up.

• 5. Bob Marley & The Wailers - ‘Kaya’

  Truthfully, there could be a separate top ten list of just Bob Marley & The Wailers tunes about weed. We opted for “Kaya” on this list since “Kaya” is literally slang for pot, and the song is just vibes.

• 4. Tom Petty - ‘You Don't Know How It Feels’

  Remember how the lyric “Let’s roll another joint” would often get terribly censored on the radio and MTV? It’s almost quaint now when you think about it, but a little controversy can yield major returns. As a result, “You Don’t Know How It Feels” remains a pensive stoner classic decades later.

• 3. Peter Tosh - ‘Legalize It’

  The stigma of marijuana is practically nonexistent compared to 1976 when former Wailer Peter Tosh released his debut solo album Legalize It. Its title track makes a point to recognize people from all walks of life use weed. (“Doctors smoke it, nurses smoke it/Judges smoke it, even the lawyer do.”) The song also touts pot for its medicinal benefits. (“It’s good for the flu/Good for asthma/Good for tuberculosis/Even umbra composis.”) Tosh later said in a 1978 interview with NME, “Herb will become like cigarettes.” Honestly, he wasn’t wrong.

• 2. Black Sabbath - ‘Sweet Leaf’

  A tender love song about ganja written by some kids from Birmingham, England set to a moody, doomy metal riff? Yep, that’s a pretty simple receipt for a stoner classic that holds up decades later. Tony Iommi’s coughing at the top of the track really sets the mood too, as does Bill Ward’s drum solo.

• 1. Willie Nelson - ‘Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die’

  I’m sure some of you will take issue with Willie Nelson topping this list about the best rock songs about weed, but Willie transcends and has done so for decades. Get over it, please and thank you.

  Now that that brief rant is over, this song is featured on Willie’s 60th (!) studio album, 2012’s Heroes. Willie isn’t alone on this track; he’s joined on vocals by Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson…and Snoop Dogg! “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” was released, appropriately, on April 20, 2012. The song showed Willie’s outlaw nature was alive and well, as was his sense of humor. It’s the perfect ode to a plant that has clearly brought Willie much joy over the years. There’s a chance if you’re reading this right now, you can relate. 

  “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” is unapologetic about loving weed until the bitter end. When 4/20 rolls around every year, it truly is an iconic soundtrack whether you’re passing a joint or waiting for your edible to kick in.

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