George Carlin's 'Grass Swept the Neighborhood'

George Carlin, who passed away on June 22, 2008, was born 78 years ago today (May 12, 1937). Our tribute to Carlin is a short pro-pot bit he did on Occupation: Foole in 1973 called "Grass Swept the Neighborhood," in which he makes the point that marijuana promoted peace in his rough and tumble Harlem 'hood. 

Carlin: 'In 1951, I was 14 when grass swept the neighborhood. We hadn't been into grass before. We were into gang fighting and wine and beer in the park, punching the shit out of people… Then pot came along and gang fighting went away. In one semester in shop class guys went from making zip guys to hash pipes. Guys would say (making inhale sound), I'll catch you after the fight on the corner.'

Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.