Marijuana, which comes from the Cannabis plant, produces chemical compounds called cannabinoids, responsible for the psychoactive effects, which commonly include relaxation, altered senses, and a heightened mood, as well as stimulating appetite.
Apart from medicinal purposes that can be traced back to ancient civilizations, Cannabis also has been used for various ritualistic purposes, and recreational purposes, all of which are heavily influenced by cultural, legal, and social factors.
Because of this, Cannabis has become part of pop culture, and associated with counterculture movements, especially in the 1960s and 1970s.
Bob Marley, for example, incorporated it into his art, contributing to its acceptance and popularity. Additionally, the association of cannabis with rebellious or alternative lifestyles helped propel it into mainstream culture.
In more modern days, it's Snoop Dogg, the American rapper and actor.
Snoop Dogg who made his debut on Dr Dre's 1992 album The Chronic, whose title is a slang name for high quality marijuana, is nothing like Bob Marley, in terms of their connection with Cannabis.
Whereas Bob Marley openly embraced marijuana, he made it an integral part of his Rastafarian beliefs and lifestyle, considering it a sacrament and part of his spiritual connection.
His advocacy for the herb is well-documented, and it became a symbol associated with his music and cultural influence.
Snoop Dogg on the other hand, is an avid marijuana user whose work's accolades include an American Music Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a number of nominations at the Grammy Awards.
While he is also vocal about his love for cannabis, and incorporates it into his lifestyle, Snoop Dogg embraced Cannabis use as a choice and a public image, and part of his public persona and brand.
Not only that Snoop Dogg's persona is tied with Cannabis, because besides smoking and advocating it, he has also been conducting business out of it.
In April 2015, he invested on Eaze, a California-based cannabis delivery startup that promises to deliver medical marijuana to persons' doorsteps in less than 10 minutes. Then, in October 2015, he launched his digital media business, Merry Jane, that focuses on news about marijuana.
After that, in November 2015, he also announced his own cannabis products, Leafs By Snoop, which creates products that include marijuana flowers, concentrates and edibles.
"Leafs By Snoop is truly the first mainstream cannabis brand in the world and proud to be a pioneer", he said.
Since then, Snoop Dogg became the first major celebrity to brand and market a line of legal marijuana products.
So here, when he said that he wants to stop consuming marijuana, the announcement caught pretty much everyone by surprise.
"After much consideration & conversation with my family, I’ve decided to give up smoke. Please respect my privacy at this time," he posted on Instagram and X.
"Today isn’t April Fools day Snoop," said one commenter on X.
"Snoop without smoke is like earth without water," added another.
As a person who once said to have smoked 80 cannabis joints a day, and once revealed that he had a full-time staffer whose sole job is to roll his blunts, his love for weed is unrivaled.
So stopping cold turkey is not what the rapper is ever known for. He shocked fans because his statement is something fans thought would never come out of his mouth.
Because of this, fans speculated that the post was part of a marketing stunt for his cannabis company Leafs By Snoop.
I’m giving up smoke. pic.twitter.com/DDVl9Syixw
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) November 16, 2023
It's worth noting though, that Snoop Dogg, who has built a public persona around his copious marijuana consumption, said that he is "giving up smoke," not "smoking."
The singer, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., did not specify what form of smoking he was stopping, or even whether he was serious.
While fans had plenty to say about the singer giving up smoking, as many cannot didn’t hearing the former Death Row rapper quitting, others pointed to possible health issues being the reason for the decision.
When he made the statement, Snoop Dogg is 52 years old.