As Canada prepares to go up in smoke, it’s only fitting that Tommy Chong is getting in on the action.

The Edmonton-born actor, comedian and activist has been synonymous with pot culture since the early ’70s, when he rose to fame as half of Cheech & Chong, the legendary marijuana-themed comedy duo with Cheech Marin, who had a string of hit and Grammy Award-winning comedy albums and films. Since then he’s had a long career acting, appearing on That ’70s Show and even Dancing with the Stars. But he is a legitimate pot icon, who has mixed activism and entrepreneurship throughout his 50-plus-year career. It even landed him in jail at one point.

Despite the fact that he’s supposed to appear in Kelowna, B.C., for legalization day — “O, cannabis...” he sings to tune of our national anthem — the man who made the line “Dave’s not here, man” famous might not be here, man. Turns out, he’s facing a very common stoner problem.

“Are we going to be in Kelowna tomorrow? We’re trying. Right now, I’m stuck here. I lost my passport, so we’re going through the dance of a celebrity trying to get a passport fast,” says Chong, 80, on the line from California on Tuesday afternoon. “But we’re going to be positive about it.”

Chong is nothing but positive these days, as he is in demand to make public appearances and talk about weed, as various jurisdictions legalize marijuana and feed the pot economy, of which he owns a piece, with his Chong’s Choice weed brand available in the U.S. He says he knew this day was always going to come.

“It was inevitable, because weed is such a positive medicine for the planet,” he says. “The biggest thing is the change in attitude around it. There was a time where if you went to a cocktail party, and if I wore a weed T-shirt, it was like ‘who invited this guy?’ Now it’s all changed. The exciting part about it, it’s now presentable. We don’t have to hide. I’m like a walking marijuana information bureau.”

Chong knows first-hand how fast attitudes haves changed, as 15 years ago, he was sentenced to nine months in U.S. prison for his involvement with his son’s business selling glass bongs. He says he felt persecuted at the time.

“I went to jail for selling bongs. They kind of forced me into it. The government, when they want you, they find ways to get you. I could have beat the charge, but they would have gone after my son and my wife,” Chong says. “It was my son’s company, and my wife signed the cheque that started the company, so technically she was at risk. So they gave me a choice: either you plead guilty, or we go after your family. And so I didn’t hesitate for a minute. But it all turned out really well.”

Chong’s classic stoner persona is still serving as a warning for Canadian cannabis users who might want to visit the U.S. A month ago, Bill Blair, Canada’s Minister of Border Security, told the CBC’s Power and Politics: “Frankly if you show up at the border looking like Cheech and Chong, you’re going into secondary. But I think for the overwhelming majority of Canadians, they won’t experience a significant change in the way in which the border operates.”

When I tell Chong about this, he howls with laughter.

“That’s probably the biggest honour that anybody could bestow on us. I mean, we’ve ended up in the dictionary as an adjective — ‘this is like a Cheech and Chong film.’ I love it. I just love that.

“Although I guess (legalization) is not really good for Cheech and Chong. It’s going to ruin our career. I think we’re going to probably have to retire, or just be an oldies group.”

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