John Miller
Steve Jobs was open about his experimentation with psychedelic drugs, including LSD, marijuana, and hashish. He described his experiences with LSD as profound and one of the two or three most important things I have done in my life. Jobs attributed his LSD use to opening his mind and enabling him to see the world differently, which he believed helped spark his creativity. While there is no specific mention of him consuming magic mushrooms, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, has been linked to long-term positive personality changes, enhanced creativity, and improved psychological health. Jobs' interest in consciousness and spirituality may have aligned with the potential benefits of psilocybin, but there is no definitive evidence of his usage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Steve Jobs' use of LSD | Profound experience, one of the most important things he had ever done in his life, helped him see the world in a different light, a positive life-changing experience |
| Steve Jobs' use of other drugs | Marijuana, hashish, and magic mushrooms |
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What You'll Learn
Steve Jobs took LSD 10-15 times between 1972 and 1974
Steve Jobs is known to have had a history of recreational drug use. According to a questionnaire he filled out in 1988 for security clearance from the government, Jobs did LSD or acid 10-15 times between 1972 and 1974, after which he claimed to have stopped using it. He also admitted to smoking marijuana once or twice a week between 1973 and 1977 and smoking hashish about five times in total. In the questionnaire, Jobs also mentioned that he used drugs anywhere from once a week to once a month during that time period.
Jobs described his experience with LSD as profound and life-changing. He said that it was one of the “two or three most important things” he had ever done in his life, as it helped him see the world from a different perspective. Jobs also mentioned that he usually ingested LSD when he was alone, either on a sugar cube or in a hard form of gelatin.
The Department of Defense (DoD) documents, released through a Freedom of Information Act request, provide interesting insights into Jobs' drug use and his thoughts on the matter. Jobs' affinity for marijuana and hashish is also well-documented, with him mentioning that he used to smoke with friends and even consumed pot brownies.
Jobs' history of drug use, including his experience with LSD, has sparked discussions on the potential impact of such substances on creativity and innovation. Some have suggested that Jobs' LSD experiences may have influenced his approach to technology and design, contributing to the widespread passion for Apple products.
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Jobs said LSD was one of the most important things he ever did
Steve Jobs was known to indulge in recreational drug use, including the use of LSD. In a Department of Defense (DoD) interview, Jobs shared that he used LSD from 1972 to 1974, ingesting it approximately ten to fifteen times during that period. He would typically take LSD by himself, absorbing it through a sugar cube or gelatin.
Jobs reflected on his experiences with LSD, stating that it was one of the "two or three most important things" he ever did. He credited LSD with expanding his mind and offering a different perspective on the world. According to Jobs, the impact of LSD was profound and life-changing, though he struggled to put the experience into words.
In the same DoD interview, Jobs disclosed his history with depression and acknowledged his penchant for anger and quick temper, which he attributed to his relentless pursuit of perfection. He also mentioned his experimentation with other drugs during the 1970s, including marijuana and hashish, which he consumed with friends and in the form of edibles. Jobs's last reported use of marijuana was in 1977, and he claimed that it helped him relax and enhanced his creativity.
The impact of LSD on Jobs's life and work has been a subject of fascination, with some attributing his creative spark and the enduring inspiration behind his technological innovations to his experiences with psychedelics. Research supports the notion that psychedelic experiences can lead to long-term personality changes, fostering greater openness, curiosity, intellectual engagement, and creativity.
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He also smoked marijuana and hashish
Steve Jobs was known to have experimented with hallucinogenic drugs, including LSD, marijuana, and hashish. He was open about his experiences with these substances and even credited them for helping to spark his creativity. In a Department of Defense (DoD) interview, Jobs revealed that he used drugs anywhere from once a week to once a month during a particular period in his life. He also stated that the last time he got high was in 1977.
Jobs's use of marijuana and hashish was part of his broader experimentation with drugs during his formative years. He explained that he would smoke marijuana and hashish with friends and even consumed pot brownies. Jobs attributed his marijuana usage to its ability to help him relax and enhance his creativity. This experimentation with mind-altering substances was not uncommon in Silicon Valley, with many tech leaders and entrepreneurs partaking in similar pursuits.
The impact of Jobs's drug use extended beyond his personal experiences. He believed that his LSD trips were one of the "two or three most important things" he had ever done, as they opened up his mind and enabled him to perceive the world differently. Jobs's openness to psychedelic experiences has been invoked as a way to understand his genius and his ability to "think different," a phrase famously associated with Apple's marketing campaigns.
While Jobs's use of marijuana and hashish may have been less publicized than his LSD experiences, it was nonetheless a part of his overall relationship with hallucinogenic substances. His willingness to discuss his drug use, even in a government security clearance context, provides insight into his beliefs about the value of these experiences. Jobs's statements about his drug use offer a glimpse into his mindset and the influences that may have shaped his approach to creativity and innovation.
In conclusion, Steve Jobs's experimentation with marijuana and hashish was a notable aspect of his life, alongside his more widely discussed use of LSD. His openness about these experiences and his reflections on their impact contribute to our understanding of his perspective on creativity, innovation, and personal growth.
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Jobs worked on an LSD apple farm in the 70s
Steve Jobs was indeed vocal about his experimentation with LSD and marijuana in the 1970s. In a background check for Top Secret security clearance with the Department of Defense (DoD) while he was working at Pixar, Jobs revealed that he ingested LSD from 1972 to 1974, approximately ten to fifteen times during that period. He also disclosed that he smoked marijuana or hashish, or consumed it in chocolate brownies, once or twice a week between 1973 and 1977.
Jobs described his experience with LSD as positive and life-changing, and he credited it as one of the most important and profound experiences of his life. He elaborated on how it transformed his understanding of information storage, management, and transmission, and he even attributed the name "Apple" to his LSD experiences, specifically to his time working on an apple farm with another "tripper" from Reed College, Daniel Kottke. Jobs and Kottke were friends who used to take LSD together and engage in activities like reading, hiking, and wandering the rose gardens at Reed College.
Jobs's use of LSD and other drugs is a well-known aspect of his life, and he was never shy about discussing his experiences and the impact they had on his life and the creation of Apple.
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He stopped taking LSD when he launched Apple
Steve Jobs was known to experiment with psychedelic drugs, including LSD, during the 1970s. Jobs himself described his experiences with LSD as profound and life-changing. He attributed his use of the drug to opening his mind and allowing him to see the world differently. Jobs also admitted to using other drugs, such as marijuana and hashish, during this period.
However, by the late 1970s, when Jobs became involved with Apple, he had reportedly stopped taking LSD. Daniel Kottke, one of Jobs's early friends, confirmed this, stating that once Apple started, Jobs was entirely focused on making the company successful, and no longer needed psychedelics. This shift in focus towards his career and the success of Apple marked a transition away from his earlier experimentation with drugs.
The specific reason why Jobs stopped taking LSD when he launched Apple is not explicitly stated by him or those close to him. However, it can be inferred that his changing priorities and increased dedication to his professional endeavours influenced his decision to discontinue the use of psychedelics.
Jobs's experience with LSD during his formative years has been cited as an influence on his creativity and approach to technology. Despite stopping the use of psychedelics, he continued to credit the experience as one of the most important in his life, even decades later.
It is worth noting that while Jobs's drug use may have influenced his perspective, it does not diminish the hard work and dedication he put into building Apple. Jobs's focus and drive towards success were evident in his commitment to making Apple a leading technology company.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Steve Jobs was open about his experimentation with psychedelics, including LSD and marijuana.
Jobs' experimentation with psychedelics stopped once he launched Apple.
Jobs described his experiences with LSD as "profound" and "one of the two or three most important things I have done in my life." He also said that it completely transformed his understanding of how information could be stored, managed, and transmitted.
Yes, Jobs also smoked marijuana and hashish, and ate pot brownies. He said he used drugs anywhere from once a week to once a month during that time period.
In 1975, Jobs was arrested for failing to pay a speeding ticket. However, this arrest was not disclosed in his security clearance questionnaire.
