Politics

Book details Obama’s weed smoking days as member of the ‘Choom Gang’

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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A new book on Barack Obama reveals fresh details about the president’s youthful days as an avid smoker of marijuana — a time when he and his fellow weed smokers called themselves the “Choom Gang.”

The website BuzzFeed obtained a copy of the book, “Barack Obama: The Story” by David Maraniss, and excerpted the parts about Obama’s pothead youth. (SEE ALSO: Pelosi tells Obama to end his crackdown on medical marijuana)

Among the highlights:

— Obama was known for his interceptions. This is the act of joining a circle of people passing around a joint, taking a hit and yelling, “Intercepted!”

— Obama and his friends at the Punahou School in Hawaii called themselves the “Choom Gang” — choom means smoking weed — and drove around in a Volkswagen bus called the “Choomwagon.”

— Obama and his crew enjoyed what they called “roof hits,” smoking pot inside a car with all the windows rolled up to maximize the amount of smoke they inhaled.

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