Why the Karen Carpenter solo album?

Karen was anorexic, but Richard was the one who had drug dependency. In subsequent documentaries, Richard blames touring for creating those problems. But then, he literally married his first cousin, so that's hardly normal (though not illegal). -

He was addicted to quaaludes.

That solo album was recorded in New York while he was drying out. East Coast vs. West Coast. -

The band smoked weed, but the Carpenters themselves weren't cannabis users.

They were legitimate advocates for legalisation, though. Karen and Richard clarified that when they explained that they weren't virgins after their early albums (literally everyone thought that). That's one of their few political stances, so that's interesting to me. How many pop bands would have the guts to do something like that? 😂 -

It's a no-brainer. Legal weed is tons better than legal cigarettes. Smoking dope is useful for me; for me, weed motivates me to do things that are difficult. I'm more like Woody Harrelson in that regard (ie as a cannabis advocate). 👋