US rapper Snoop Dogg surprisingly announces that he has quit smoking marijuana

The artist, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, made the surprise announcement on social media.

"After much consideration & conversation with my family, I've decided to give up smoke. Please respect my privacy at this time," Snoop Dogg posted on Instagram. "I'm giving up smoke," he wrote in the caption of the pensive black-and-white post. 

It is currently unclear if the hip-hop artist’s promise is genuine or whether the statement is part of an elaborate marketing campaign for his cannabis company, Leafs By Snoop. 

"This is probably just gonna be some viral campaign where he launches his own line of vapes or edibles or something,” one person responded on X (formerly Twitter).

Notably, Snoop Dogg's trademark has been smoking marijuana and many of his business ventures and media appearances are also about the drug.

Snoop Dogg's announcement comes just days after he and celebrity chef Martha Stewart released a line of 'Best Bud Bags' - designer clutches which come with a lighter and a compartment for weed.

The “Drop It Like It’s Hot” artist has been a weed advocate long before it was legalised across the US.

Snoop’s home state of California was the first state to legalise the drug for medical use. It later became legal for recreational use in the state in 2016 following the leads of Colorado and Washington, which did so in 2012.

His company Leafs By Snoop, which he founded in Denver, Colorado, in 2015, specialises in making its own cannabis strains, concentrates, flowers, and edibles. 

Snoop has often smoked joints on stage during his live shows and even on television appearances. 

Snoop Dogg rose to fame after making several appearances on Dr Dre's 1992 album, 'The Chronic', which had a marijuana leaf front-and-centre of the cover. He then went on to release his debut album 'Doggystyle' in 1993. Since then, he has released 19 albums and also famously performed at the Superbowl in 2022.