Stoner ‘South Park’ Fans Grapple with Randy’s All-Too-Real Warning

A wise dad once told his son, “Pot makes you feel fine with being bored.” Maybe that’s why we sat through so many Tegridy Farms episodes.

Anyone who has ever glanced at the novelty bong shelf in a head shop knows that there is a serious intersection of South Park fans and daily pot smokers. From the introduction of Towelie in Season Five to the aforementioned overgrown arc in more recent seasons, marijuana manufacturing and consumption is a constant topic for comedy on the long-running series, and the bright colors, crass humor and abundance of over-the-top musical numbers makes the cartoon an easy sell for the average stoner. Weed-smokers love South Park as much as Trey Parker and Matt Stone love writing about weed, but in 2002, the pair offered a powerful portent to potential potheads that should have put so many thirty-somethings who are currently ripping a Randy Marsh-branded bong on the straight and narrow.

The South Park episode ”My Future Self ‘n’ Me” satirized the efforts of anti-drug organizations like The Partnership for A Drug-Free America and D.A.R.E. to scare kids away from marijuana with hyperbolic claims about the dangers of doobies. In the climatic scene, Randy explains the actual harm pot could do to Stan’s future in simple terms that still have some fans stressing over their spliffs — and in a recent post on the South Park subreddit, one user posted a screenshot of the speech with the title, “I didn’t want to come to terms with this but Randy is right.” This inspired many South Park fans to open up about how abusing weed had a negative effect on their future success, while more still stayed in denial, furiously shooting back, “No, you’re a towel!”

“This hits home, especially after stopping four days ago due to the realization I’m spending money to enjoy being bored when instead I could be spending money to enjoy not being bored lol,” one user wrote, while another added, “I feel seen but not in a positive way. Especially shitty when you no longer smoke but this could apply.”

However, for as many current and former South Park stoners who admitted that they would have done well to follow Randy’s advice earlier, even more fans were on the other side of the issue, arguing that marijuana hasn’t impeded their ability to grow and develop — in fact, it’s done the opposite. “I don’t know what y’all are talking about. I bleed green, and I’m absurdly productive and have lots of exciting things going on. I don’t think I’m special in this either. I hate this stereotype,” one such stoner cut through the fog. Another Redditor suggested an alternative to Randy’s eventuality, writing, “Or you get high and dial in on what you want to do.”

But the few South Park fans who heeded Randy’s words were in agreement — warning kids that pot can sap them of their motivation and impede their personal development is a much more effective method of drug education than the scare tactics that were laughably popular in 2002. Whether or not those who smoke weed every day are willing to admit it, a regular pot habit is more than capable of leading people with potential into creative dead ends.

Case in point: Randy Marsh.