The forbidden romance between marijuana and “reggae”

Marijuana is forever linked to a musical style and a country: reggae music, which originated in Jamaica towards the end of the sixties. The genre’s representatives, traditionally linked to the Rastafari movement, have defended the legalization of cannabis down through the decades.

The musician Peter Tosh, one of the finest reggae performers of all time, was a staunch defender of both human rights and cannabis regulation. He became a very well-known activist. He made his solo debut with the song “Legalize it” in 1976. The song soon became a hymn for all marijuana lovers. However, Tosh was murdered in 1987 and did not live to see his dream come true.

Bob Marley, the king of reggae, was also a firm defender of cannabis legalization. In fact, it was recently announced that he will be the face of a new brand, Marley Natural, although it will be a company in Seattle who will benefit from using his image.

However, despite the commitment of the abovementioned artists, things are still very complicated in Jamaica. Over the last few years, some reggae representatives have suffered persecution at the hands of police and have even been given jail sentences.

Fortunately, these artists are now a little closer to achieving their dream. Marijuana is still illegal; however, last September, the Jamaican Ministry of Justice proposed new legislation to decriminalize possession of up to two ounces of marijuana. The move came following pressure from growers on the island as well as doctors, and the influence of regulations passed in other countries such as the United States or Uruguay.

Jamaica is already an important supplier of marijuana to its neighbours in the United States and the Caribbean. It is estimated that over 37 thousand hectares of land are used to grow cannabis on the island. Additionally, both the island’s inhabitants and tourists would benefit from consumption being made legal, given that Jamaica provides the perfect natural and cultural environment for smoking marijuana. Could there be any better way to spend our holidays than smoking cannabis on a heavenly island whilst dancing to the rhythm of reggae music?

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Information taken from Billboard and La Vanguardia