We were lucky to catch up with Stoney-Doom recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stoney-Doom, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Stoner groups in general are still highly scrutinized in our country… Now imagine being an obnoxiously bold Stoner Metal band in KANSAS of all places – The state that is often joked about to likely be the last state to legalize Cannabis (if ever)… Cannabis prohibition began almost 100 years ago. Even after all this time, we are still fighting to get that personal freedom back – All while crisis from addiction and health issues run rampant with substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and opioids, which are not outlawed. As a musical artist with an extremely controversial political/social agenda, we are constantly faced with challenges and censorship. The online and social media networks continue to be quite restrictive of content related to “illegal substance use”, despite the fact that support for Cannabis law reform continues to increase across the country.
So far in our journey, we have been very satisfied and surprised by the growing number of people who have expressed interest and/or support for our cause and our message.
We intend to continue implementing as many creative tactics as we can, to further spread our message and our cause. We hope to face our obstacles with strength and perseverance as we strive for the end of Cannabis prohibition. FREE THE LEAF!

Stoney-Doom, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Stoney-Doom is a Kansas-based music project advocating for Cannabis legalization. This group was created as a means of musical experimentation and creative expression. This project aims to embody several different subgenres such as Sludge, Progressive Metal, Stoner Rock & Doom Metal. With its weed-themed antics, Stoney-Doom falls in the same Stoner/Doom groups as bands like Sleep, Stoned Jesus, Weedeater, Rezn, and Dopelord. In less than a year as active performers, the band has already fulfilled opportunities to play shows with notable bands such as Bongzilla, Kottonmouth Kings, and Radkey.

Lyrical themes include medical benefits, government overreach, and the realities of Cannabis use. Although the themes are fairly serious, the message is meant to be conveyed in a fun, engaging, humorous and witty way. All of the creative contributors that have had a part in this project have been credited for using satirical pseudonyms to protect their privacy and keep the focus on the bigger message… Legalize Cannabis! Advocating for Legal Cannabis means being honest and transparent about the realities of the substance and its use. Sometimes, factors such as setting, mood, and even strain can negatively impact our experience with unwanted side effects like anxiety and paranoia. While this is not always avoidable, steps such as proper education and a comforting environment can help you to guide and better control your experience.

The band consists of 3 core members. However, there are several special guests featured on the debut record. In total, there are more than a dozen contributing musicians on the project recordings – all from various local acts such as Bleed The Victim, Damned by the Pope, Gourmand, Kohnerah, and more! Each of the four songs on the debut release differ in sound and are meant to resemble some of the many various Stoner Rock and Doom Metal subgenres. The musical inspiration was influenced by fellow Kansas-area bands such as Hyborian, The Midnight Ghost Train, Youngblood Supercult, and Orphans of Doom. Other musical influences include Sleep, Mastodon, Bongzilla, and Cephalic Carnage.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

Our mission is to increase support and raise the voices of our fellow people who wish to see reform in Cannabis laws across the state and federal levels. We are tired of hiding in the shadows, and we wish to end the many harsh stigmas that have been completely fabricated by our society and its leaders. Our goal is to see the end of Cannabis prohibition once and for all. Cannabis is an incredibly beneficial and resourceful plant – and for far many reasons beyond just the psychoactive effects (AKA “getting high”). We have allowed ourselves to be cast into ignorance, and we have been complacent with our circumstances for far too long. There are far too many people in great need of the kinds of assets this plant can provide, and there are also far too many people whose lives have been ruined by non-violent drug-related criminal convictions. There is strength in numbers – And we are stronger together!

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

All of the capital for this project came from the project creator’s personal savings, and for the most part, that continues to be the case. Fortunately, we’ve gained enough steady traction to break even on most expenses. Now that the band is actively working and performing with a core group of members, some of the operational expenses such as travel and gear have been divided up amongst the band members. This has been a grassroots project from the beginning, and if we can streamline some steady revenue, we would really like to be able to donate some of our proceeds to more formal/legitimate organizations who share our goals and ideals for Cannabis law reform.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stoneydoom.wixsite.com/music
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/stoney_doom
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/stoneydoom
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/stoney_doom
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stoney-doom8864
• Other: linktr.ee/stoneydoom

Image Credits
Paper Anchor Media, Bong Water