Comedian Louie Anderson has revealed his stance on marijuana legalization in his new memoir Hey Mom: Stories For My Mother But You Can Read Them Too.
“I’m all for it,” Anderson writes of cannabis legalization.
In the critically-acclaimed FX comedy “Baskets,” Louie Anderson plays Christine Baskets, mother to Zach Galifianakis’ character. Galifianakis, who co-created the show, nabbed Anderson for the role original because of the “nagging, little droney” quality of his voice. But he didn’t realize that Anderson would be channeling his own mother, who died in 1990, in his performance.
In fact, Anderson has been using his mother as inspiration during performances for years. But with the production of “Baskets” and the character such a close representation of his mom, Anderson began writing letters to his mother, updating her on major life events and dealing with unresolved feelings. Those letters eventually led to his memoir.
In the book, Anderson discusses growing up with an alcoholic and abusive father. He writes what effect that had on their family, as well as how everyone needs something to deal with life’s pains. That conversation leads Anderson to reflect upon marijuana legalization and his feelings toward the movement.
“It makes more sense to legalize weed than alcohol. Let’s legalize marijuana in all states, and not just for medical purposes,” Anderson writes. “Because we all need something to help us get through the pain. I get that’s why people drink. Weed is a lot better.”
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Leave it to Anderson, though, to lighten the mood with a joke. He is a comedian after all and can’t resist a good punchline.
“Then again, fans and friends come up to me after shows, wanting me to smoke pot with them, and I told them, ‘Do I look like I need another reason to be hungry?’”
Hey Mom: Stories For My Mother But You Can Them Too is available for purchase on Amazon.
