UCA
Underground Cannabis Archives
History
Thomas King Forcade first issues of High Times magazine arrived in Greenwich Village, NYC in
the summer of 1974. One night while tripping on
sunshine (LSD) Tom had an idea he said I'm going to start a magazine and I'm going to sell people information about drugs. Tom started moving forward with his plans for his new magazine that he described as 'Playboy for the Counterculture.' Tom wanted to present his new magazine at the National Fashion and Boutique show in New York City.
Tom thought what a better place for a pot magazine to find new investors and advertisers. Paraphernalia companies and Head shop owners from all over the world would be there, but the magazine wasn't ready yet. The solution was a four-page gold colored fold out promotional flyer. The flyer was originally prepared in 1973 at Attorney David Michaels West Village, house. A meeting of potential magazine investors gathered there. This was the very beginning of the push to publish High Times magazine.
Tom presented this brochure at the National Fashion and Boutique show in New York City.
He would have fund raising parties to try and find investors and gain interest in his new magazine. The first 1000 copies of High Times magazine arrived at the Underground Press Syndicate office in Greenwich Village, NYC it was an instant success. The first 1000 copies sold out immediately. Tom had the magazine reprinted three more times before he was adle to publish the second issue of High Times magazine which
arrived at news stands in the fall of 1974.
High Times magazine would lay the foundation for all other counterculture companies to build on.
Trans-High corporation was started to help other
subsidiaries of High Times like Dealer magazine and National Weed magazine to get published.
High Times also started the first cannabis cup in
Amsterdam in 1988.
High Times was the first counterculture magazine
to go completely digital in September 2022.
High Times opened its first cannabis dispensary
on April 1, 2021, in Oakland California named
the High Times Market. In September 2025 High Times started printing the magazine again. Starting with the 50-year anniversary issue. High Times magazine has been around for more than 50 years. Their versatility and willingness to try new things has made High Times one of the greatest counterculture companies of our time.
