John F. Kennedy (JFK) was known to utilize various medications to manage an injury sustained during his service in World War II. According to accounts, including "John F. Kennedy: A Biography," there is a description of a scene in the White House on the evening of July 16, 1962. Reportedly, Kennedy and Mary Meyer smoked marijuana together, as recounted by Washington Post executive Jim Truitt. It is said that the president smoked three of the six joints provided by Mary. Initially, he felt no effects, but then, after a while, he closed his eyes and declined a fourth joint, expressing concern, "Suppose the Russians did something now."

Former President Bill Clinton gained notoriety for his statement, "When I was in England, I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn't like it. I didn't inhale and never tried it again," when discussing his marijuana use. However, additional accounts suggest there may be more to the story. Christopher Hitchens, who attended Oxford University around the same time as Clinton, mentioned in his memoir "Hitch-22" that Clinton, like many marijuana enthusiasts, preferred consuming his cannabis in the edible form.

Former President George W. Bush, often hesitant to discuss his past, especially concerning cannabis, hinted at marijuana use in a conversation recorded by former George Bush Sr. aide Doug Wead. In the taped dialogue, Bush, also known as "Dubya," tacitly acknowledged his marijuana usage by stating, "I wouldn't answer the marijuana question. You know why? 'Cause I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."

During his presidential campaign in 2008, President Obama became renowned for his candid statement: "When I was a child, I frequently indulged in inhaling. That was the intention." Additionally, in his memoir, "Dreams from My Father," he openly acknowledged his past use of marijuana. His support for pro-cannabis legislation in the latter part of his term underscored his preference for the plant compared to previous administrations.