Question: what was the meaning of the song puff the magic dragon?
Answer: the hardships of growing older

The authors of the song have repeatedly rejected this interpretation and have strongly and consistently denied that they intended any references to drug use. Leonard Lipton has stated "Puff the Magic Dragon is not about drugs." Peter Yarrow has frequently explained that the song is about the hardships of growing older and has no relationship to drug-taking.  He has also said of the song that it "never had any meaning other than the obvious one" and is about the "loss of innocence in children", and dismissed the suggestion of association with drugs as "sloppy research".