Skunk Magazine. Volume 2, Issue 4, page 70

 

Comedian Howard Dover


They say a journey of a thousand miles starts with a simple step. In the same sense, a fundraising event starts with the first dime. Or if comedian Howard Dover had his way it would start with the first dime bag. I guess you could say Dover is the marijuana world's Bob Geldof.


"Sir" Dover's aim is to raise awareness about the benefits of medical marijuana. He helps raise much needed scratch for local compassion clubs through his comedy shows extrava-ganjas. With an A-list of comic pals (Bill Maher and Joe Rogan, to name just a few) eager to aid, Howard and crew are just the hit the compassion clubs need. Well, almost.


Marijuana was the medicine his cousin needed a few years back. Suffering from AIDS, marijuana fueled his appetite and helped keep down the drugs he was taking, reducing his nausea. It woke the comedian up and ever since he's been preaching that medical marijuana should be legalized.

Being a stand-up comic is a funny job but according to Howard there's "nothing funny about denying a suffering person a substance that brings him/her relief."
I caught up with Dover as he prepared to take to the stage in a few choice cities.

ML: Having the reputation as that med-marijuana comic, how nasty are the strip searches every time you travel? Who's seen your little brown ring more: your lovers or airport security?
HD: Luckily, I'm a Canadian comic so no one has ever heard of me! And the answer to the second part is probably airport security. It's not that they asked or wanted to search me, I just like showing off my hairy ass and the way I have it parted to the right. It's quite a sight.
ML: Having been married for the last 18 years what are the chances of getting marriage on the list of ailments so med pot can help me with that pain in the ass, a.k.a. the wife?
HD: I think a better idea would be to tell the wife to stop wearing the dildo to bed. I think that if anyone wants to smoke, well, that in itself is a good enough reason to get med pot. Doctor?
ML: This is from Greentherapy.com: "In the United States, marijuana (and, for that matter, industrial hemp) is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, a category reserved for dangerous and medically useless drugs, such as heroin and LSD. Methamprietamine, PCP and cocaine fall into a lesser serious category." This is just insane. You're the comedian. How can you make us laugh at this nonsense?
HD: This is the part of the interview where I cry,actually. Hopefully, things will improve as the reefer madness generation start suffering from Alzheimer's, which should be any day now. I like marijuana. I like the fact that it allows you to enjoy the simple things in life, like M&Ms!
ML: Let's get to your standup. Who are your biggest influences?
HD: So many, so little time. But let me whip off a couple of names: Gary Shandling, Steven Wright, all those who came before me, and even a couple of locals, including Lawrence Morganstern. There are a couple of photos on my website [www.greentherapy.com] that I'm especially proud off: me with Sid Caesar, Red Buttons, and Shelley Berman.
ML: Finally, fill in the blanks here: the ideal place to torch up a fat one and just kick back and chill. Where? With who? And what are you listening to as you enjoy Mother Nature's leaf?
HD: To chill is, wherever you are at that given moment, with whomever you are with. Since burning a phattie heightens your senses, any music you already enjoy will sound that much better. With that said, I enjoy all smoking tunes but do have a special fondness for Cab Callaway's "Funny Reefer Man." I always like to think he's talking about me: A funny reefer man.