Matthew McConaughey arriving at a red carpet event in a stylish suit
Celebrity

Matthew McConaughey Blames Janet Jackson Hit for Quitting Weed

The Oscar winner says a single puff of super-strong hydroponic pot paired with a 1993 jam sent his birthday plans into a tailspin.

By Nina BrooksPublished Updated 2 min read

Matthew McConaughey has delivered plenty of iconic pop-culture moments throughout his Hollywood career, but his latest confession might be his most hilarious yet. The Oscar-winning actor recently revealed that an R&B classic from Janet Jackson directly caused him to swear off smoking marijuana forever. While walking through the tracklist of his life for *Rolling Stone* magazine's "My Life In 10 Songs" feature, the beloved star selected Jackson’s smash 1993 single "That’s the Way Love Goes." He dubbed the hit a "cool, groovy little tune" before letting out a high-pitched laugh and dropping the bombshell that the track marked the official end of his pot-smoking era.

Why did Matthew McConaughey stop smoking weed According to the Texas native, his departure from cannabis culture coincided with the moment weed transitioned into modern, high-potency hydroponic strains. McConaughey broke down the difference between the traditional rolled joints of his youth and the heavy-hitting strains that eventually took over the market. In his view, older cannabis was a far gentler social experience where friends passed a joint around, shared a few laughs, raided the kitchen for snacks, and attempted to find someone to snuggle with. But once hydroponic cultivation became widespread, the mental side effects shifted from relaxing to downright overwhelming. He noted that taking a single hit from these newer varieties created mental subplots that quickly became impossible to manage, causing smokers to spiral internally.

Matthew McConaughey arriving at a red carpet event in a stylish suit
Matthew McConaughey arriving at a red carpet event in a stylish suit

What Janet Jackson song made Matthew McConaughey quit pot The definitive breaking point occurred right before McConaughey was set to celebrate his own birthday party. After renting out a nightclub for the big night, the actor was gearing up to drive himself to the venue when a friend offered him a joint inside the car, promising it would be a super fun time. McConaughey took a single puff before setting off, only to instantly realize this new strain was unlike anything he had ever sampled before. As Jackson’s sultry vocals floated through the speakers, the hallucinatory high kicked in with full force, turning a routine ride to his birthday bash into a surreal experience that convinced him to retire from smoking for good.

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People also ask

Why did Matthew McConaughey stop smoking weed?
Matthew McConaughey quit after a single puff of strong hydroponic marijuana before his birthday party caused an unmanageably intense trip.
Which Janet Jackson song made Matthew McConaughey quit pot?
The actor cited Janet Jackson's 1993 hit single "That's the Way Love Goes" as the soundtrack to his bad trip.