EDIT: I just watched the video of herself getting another tattoo while smoking and miming the lyrics to her new single "Skinny Little Bitch". I stand by my words.
What about Gretchen Carson: huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/09/jon-stewart-calls-out-gre_n_385158.html ? Do you think she's dumb too?
The truth is the world can be incredibly hostile to smart people, and it's particularly hostile to smart women... particularly in show business. It's a supremely smart woman with a very sharp, dark sense of satire who creates a persona like courtney love in response to that hostility.
Also, I know you probably think your doubts come from her drug use, but i'm pretty sure you only doubt her because she's a woman. Would you question Tom Waits if he put out that article? Do you often question the authorship of Salon articles? How carefully have you checked your sexism here?
This is the first time I've read something this profoundly insightful and moving about the music industry, and Courtney Love is the last person I would have expected to see as the author.
Drugs are no good for sutpid people - the ones that get most out of them are smart people. For drugs to get the most effect being smart helps a lot.
I find it a big problem with heroin users. Anyone who knows some knows how elaborate schemes they create to acquire drugs. Also talking to addicts when they are sober (high they don't make any sense mostly) knows how complex personalities they are.
Being stupid helps one from acquiring a drug habbit IMHO. While being smart only multiplies ones problems if one manages to get into drug usage.
EDIT: ok on re-reading your post it seems that was not quite your point, as you just argue they are not necessarily dumb.
Looking at her Twitter stream, though, reinforces the drug use - and also, her very unique personality:
(just kidding)
And what's up with drug use discrediting her intelligence? That's just stupid.