Bob Marley and Cannabis

Bob Marley, the most iconic reggae artist of all time, preached love, peace, and connection throughout his life. He has been associated with cannabis, and many people do not know why this is. We often walk into a smoke shop or dispensary and can see the prevalence of Bob Marley throughout, whether it be through rolling papers or general merchandise.

To respect what Bob Marley stood for and appreciate his message, it is important to understand from where his association with cannabis came.

Why do we associate Bob Marley with cannabis?

Bob Marley was from Jamaica, and he practiced the Rastafarian faith. Rastafarians believe in the use of cannabis as a religious form of finding oneself through self-examination. 

Did Bob Marley smoke weed?

Yes, Bob Marley smoked "herb" or "ganja," as he called it. He used ganja as a means of peering into his inner self for reflection and self-actualization.

Cannabis is a substance that causes your perception of yourself to shift, and the Rastafarians, including Bob Marley, use this shift as a tool to peer more deeply into their inner selves in a spiritual manner.

Homage to Bob Marley

Bob Marley felt strongly about the lyrics of his music: that we can free ourselves from the chains of the world by knowing ourselves and our tendencies. It is important that we recognize cannabis as the tool that it was for him to remain in touch with himself and humanity around him. It helped him think outside the box and question the structure of society, rather than complying with habits with which he disagreed.

How much weed did Bob Marley smoke?

Average Rastafarians smoke around seven joints a day. Joints can range in size, but taking in various research studies and history, we can say that average joints generally weigh 0.3 - 0.7 grams.

At this rate, Bob Marley smoked about an eighth of weed, or 3.5 grams, per day. This means he smoked around an ounce of weed per week. Keep in mind that cannabis plants were not as potent decades ago.

There are some rumors that Bob Marley smoked a pound of herb every week. This is most likely more of a myth, as a pound would be over 16 times the average Rastafarian intake. If it were true, then Bob Marley would have to smoke over 115 joints per day, which would be quite intense.

There were rumors that Snoop Dogg smoked over a hundred joints a day, which he put to rest when he was asked about it, saying, "What am I, a f****** machine?"

Meditation and Ganja

Bob Marley has been an inspiration to many people because of his spiritual beliefs and preaching of unity and peace. To know oneself is to find inner peace. Cannabis can help you find that inner peace. The tools to find inner peace are powerful, and so are the distractions that pull us from ourselves. When you notice you are distracted from yourself, give your mind a gentle reminder to remain present and in touch with yourself by focusing on your breath and holding a gentle smile on your face.

Check out our article on meditation and cannabis for more insight into how the two are tied together, and learn how you may be more intentional about meditating when smoking.

Wrap up

As a Rastafarian, Bob Marley smoked his fair share of ganja. He smoked to increase his ability to be aware of his inner self. With a strong spirit, Bob Marley hoped to instill this sense of freedom from the shackles of society in the population. He believed very strongly that herb helped people break from the materialistic society that has become so particularly pervasive.

Let's all show our regards and respect to Bob Marley. Next time you light up, take sixty seconds to examine your inner self; focus on the sensations of your breath, and acknowledge the distractions that come up from your mind.

Rest in peace. Bob Marley, you are an inspiration to us all.