By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Jamaican-American singer-songwriter Gramps Morgan has revealed that he has never smoked ganja despite being a Rastafarian, challenging the perception that cannabis use is an essential part of the Rastafari faith or reggae music.
The Jamaican-born musician, a member of Grammy Award-winning reggae group Morgan Heritage, said his decision not to smoke ganja is largely influenced by his commitment to music and his desire to protect his voice.
Speaking in an interview on 3Music, Gramps Morgan said being a Rastafarian did not automatically mean a person had to smoke ganja.
He explained that Rastafari is fundamentally a spiritual and religious movement, with individuals having different interpretations and practices within the faith.
He also rejected the idea that artistes must smoke ganja to perform reggae or dancehall music, saying musicians should not feel pressured to adopt lifestyles based on stereotypes associated with the genres.
Gramps Morgan said reggae and dancehall should not be defined primarily by references to ganja, violence, vulgarity or other negative themes.
He called for greater emphasis on positive messages and music that could influence young people constructively.
For him, music and spirituality remain separate from the decision to smoke ganja, with his own relationship with music rooted in his voice, beliefs and the messages he seeks to communicate to his audience.
