Thirteen comedy shows in 13 days in 13 states.

Those who know Doug Benson's act know the common denominator for Doug Benson's barnstorming comedy tour, which ends Tuesday night at Pipeline Café.

All 13 states he's performing in, including Hawai'i, have legalized the use of medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana is always a hot topic between those who don't want to see it legalized and those who do, often pointing to studies showing it can relieve certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis, pain from spinal-cord injuries, various cancers and glaucoma.

There's no mistaking where Benson's loyalties lie. He wants it legalized yesterday, and he isn't shy about sharing his opinion.

He talks freely about getting high, partly because he's armed with a medical marijuana prescription to relieve pain for a back ailment that, honestly, he once answered a doctor's question about how long he'd had the weak back by saying, "about a week back."

Tough to say if he was joking on that one, but his point is that at least in California, medical marijuana prescriptions are easy to come by, and he tests that theory by going to a different doctor annually to renew his prescription. He's been to three so far with zero hassles.

"They really push the herbal vaporizers on you," Benson said during a phone interview last week. "I don't know if they get a kickback or what, but I will say the vaporizers do work well. It's 12:30 on a sunny California day, and I will say I have one in front of me right now."

Benson is a rarity, a stoner with a purpose and career focus. He is a recurring character on VH1's "Best Week Ever," and a regular on "Attack of the Show." He'll have his own Comedy Central special coming out toward the end of the year or beginning of next, and his podcasts of movie reviews can be found on iTunes.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" fans may know him for putting Larry David in a headlock. "Friends" fans may remember the episode where he asked Jennifer Aniston's Rachel out. (He was shot down.)

"I have a career without the marijuana stuff, but it's definitely helped me," Benson said.

Part of his goal in touring from Rhode Island to Alaska to Hawai'i and states in between in just 13 days is to dispel the notion that marijuana users can't function daily in society and have no drive.

"I've never felt addicted to it, but it's something I enjoy doing," he said. "I feel it should be legalized. It's not like alcohol. You don't wake up the next morning with a hangover. When you're high, you don't do things normally out of bounds for you. You don't start fights, you don't use racial slurs. When you drink, alcohol makes you stupid, and it comes out. Pot doesn't do that."

Benson's Medical Marijuana Tour comes as his documentary DVD "Super High Me" is emerging as a cult classic.

"Super High Me" mimics Morgan Spurlock's "Super Size Me." But where Spurlock ate fast food for 30 days straight, getting sick and gaining weight, Benson documented 30 days without smoking pot followed by 30 days of smoking pot. He took various tests each month for comparisons. The results: He was happier high. No less productive, but he gained eight pounds.

"I was a pot smoker for a long time before I made that movie," Benson said. "What's funny is Morgan and I each had movies at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, a few years ago, and he was asked about 'Super High Me' and he laughed. I think he likes it. I actually talked to him before I did the show after a Jimmy Kimmel show. I think he's shocked I actually did it."

Benson said he plans to stick around O'ahu for a few days after Tuesday's show. He may check out fellow comedian and friend Steve Byrne Wednesday night, and he may stick around for the Hawaii International Film Festival.

"Movies and poker, those are my other hobbies," he said. "I want to take some time and enjoy my time in Hawai'i."