Bill Gates reveals LSD and cannabis use in youth
Billionaire shares experiences in new memoir, 'Source Code'
The co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, revealed in his new memoir, Source Code, that he experimented with LSD a half dozen times during his youth and also smoked cannabis. According to Marijuana Moment, he believed this could help him impress girls. Despite the experiences, he emphasizes that he does not recommend substance use.
Girls were not impressed
Gates shared that he used LSD about four or five times, with the last experience around age 21. In one of the reported episodes, he took acid during a school event and still felt the effects the next day during a dental appointment. He joked that his late friend and Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, was an influence for these experiments, as well as Jimi Hendrix.
"I'm a big risk taker willing to try new things, but I also like my mind functioning well," Gates stated. "After a few experiences, you wonder: 'Did I scramble my brain?'"
In addition to LSD, the entrepreneur revealed that he smoked cannabis in his youth to 'look cool' and fit in with the group. He admitted that his attempt to impress girls was unsuccessful.
Reflection on cultural changes
Gates also commented on the evolution of cannabis politics and culture, highlighting that in his time, smoking was seen as a rebellious act. In a conversation with actor Seth Rogen in 2023, he stated that cannabis regulation needs to be clearer and noted that the potency of the drug today is much higher than when he used to consume it.
"When it was illegal, the dosage was quite modest. Today, products, especially edibles, can have extreme doses," he reflected.
The biography Source Code will be released next week and promises to bring more revelations about the billionaire's life before becoming one of the most influential men in the world of technology.