Margaret Cho Photo: Pixie Vision Productions
Do you have any nicknames? What are your favorites?
Magrat, Marg, Maggie (per Kathy Griffin) and Moran, my Korean name, M-Cho and MC! Everyone has their own nickname. If I’m close to someone, they will have their own way of addressing me.

Have you ever been featured in a cannabis publication before?
I’m sure I have been, but I’m such a stoner I forgot.

So I heard you quit the ganja back in 2010, what gives? And were you smoking sativas or indicas?
I quit all the time! I quit and I come back. I quit and I come back. I quit drinking and come back too. I love the freedom to be able to do whatever I want. I’ve definitely smoked a lot of pot, but I quit often. I’m working, traveling and being so busy that I can forget to start smoking pot. One time I didn’t buy a lighter, so I didn’t smoke for a whole year. I prefer indicas, definitely. I get a lot of relief and joy from it. And also, I’m an insomniac; it’s a major help with that. I also really like edibles. I have a card in CA and the edibles available commercially are much too strong! They put me out!

You are headlining San Diego Pride, are you excited? What’s your relationship to SD Pride? How does it compare to LA Pride or San Fran Pride?
I love SD Pride; it’s such a major Pride celebration. I love the city; my parents live there. I spend a lot of time there when I’m with my family. I’ve been going to gay prides for 30 years. San Diego is the most conservative city compared to LA or San Francisco, and that’s why it’s so important to have a communal voice and a communal moment in a really conservative city.

Is it true you have a ‘stoners’ bit in your set, something about stoners being the true Christians and good Samaritans?
It really has to do with if you’re traveling and you can’t get weed. When stoners know you can’t get weed, they’ll help you out. Stoners are the true people of God!

Is it true that you’ve officiated gay weddings before?
I was given the title of Marriage Commissioner to marry gay couples when Gay Marriage was legal, right before Prop. 8. I‘ve officiated in Massachusetts and look forward to doing it again all over the country. We are really focused on marriage equality and I think it’s going to happen soon; I’m excited about it.

What are your favorite TV shows or comedies?
I love Jersey Shore, which is a popular show on my tour bus that is filled with other stand-up comics as we drive thru the night. My favorite comedy is a film from the ‘80s about the ’60s in London called, Withnail & I.

Who inspires you the most in terms of other comedians who really make YOU laugh?
I love Kathy Griffin, Joan Rivers, Selene Luna, Rosie O’Donnell, and Chris Rock.

You got your start in comedy by getting involved with your high school’s improv comedy group in San Francisco. Do you have a story to share about high school improv in San Fran?
I was doing comedy with Sam Rockwell, who is a very successful actor now. We did Sunset Comedy Clubs and were so young, BUT our teacher signed us up. We were way underage, but it was a supervised thing. I’m grateful for our teacher taking us there and introducing us to that world. I feel most joyous and comfortable there. I love comedy and other comics.

What is your recipe for a good life?
Just enjoy your work and the time that we have on earth. That’s when you can really enjoy your life and do whatever it takes to do that. To me, my work is playtime too. It involves social aspects and I’m friends with everyone I work with. It’s fun. I’m really lucky that I’ve been able to structure my life that way.

You look so young. What is your secret to feeling and looking great?
I work out like a maniac, which is hard. It gets harder when you get older. The older you get, the more you have to exercise to feel good and keep everything working.

Any last words to our readers?
People should come, hang out, smoke a bowl and party – it’s Pride! My DVD of Cho Dependent will be out soon, so look for that on margaretcho.com. I’ll also be on tour in Australia, Scotland and England. I’m going to be around. Come Party!