More than a third of popular US hip hop and rap music videos mentioned marijuana in 2024, according to a new government-backed study. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Artists like Dre have helped fuel the trend by promoting a “cool” lifestyle, the researchers said.

According to the analysis, which was funded by the Ministry of Justice and Health of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, 37 percent of US hip hop and rap videos in the top 100 YouTube charts in 2024 contained references to cannabis, while an additional 4 percent discussed marijuana and nicotine.

That adds up to 41 percent of the genre’s top videos featuring marijuana, contributing to the cultural normalization of the plant through art.

While 41 percent of hip hop and rap music videos talked about cannabis, the study by researchers at the German Institute for Therapy and Health Research found that only 2 percent of songs from other genres originating in the US mention marijuana.

“Cannabis has been firmly anchored in the US hip-hop scene since the 1990s, and has particularly influenced artists on America’s west coast,” says the study, published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse. “Rappers like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and The Game are particularly associated with cannabis and convey a ‘chill’ lifestyle.”

“Historically, cannabis has been embedded in American hip-hop culture through Afro-Caribbean and African-American subcultures and is in favor of widespread legalization,” they said. he said.

The study also looked at depictions of cannabis and nicotine in German music videos, and found that US trends were reversed, with nicotine being more prevalent in the videos than marijuana.

Hip-hop and rap have helped inform culture and politics over the years, and it will come as no surprise that Snoop Dogg’s influence in the US will continue to play a role in the movement.

Beyond his hit songs like “Gin and Juice,” which have become staples of cannabis music culture, Snoop has also expanded his cannabis business in recent years. Last June, for example, artist brought another direct-to-consumer hemp lifestyle platform to market under his Death Row Records label.

Snoop acquired music label Death Row Records in 2022, and the cannabis icon has used that legacy platform to create an intersection between culture and the plant.

In 2024, it also expanded the Smoke Weed Every Day (SWED) brand with a separate retail platform for consumers. sells hemp-derived cannabinoid products, smoking supplies and other merchandise.

That platform works as a directory SWED’s physical retail marijuana locations, including the Los Angeles dispensary and a Cafe in Amsterdam.

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel recognized Snoop’s cannabis legacy in 2023 the artist’s birthday, October 20, was called “a new high holiday”. DoggFather’s Day.

While he may be known as a lavish consumer, Snoop has championed reform, meaning Calling for a policy change in the NBA to allow players to freely use cannabis off the court

He said last year that he supported the reform “on the medical side, on the health benefits and if it could really help alleviate opioids and the pills and injections that are given.”

Snoop has long been supporting athletic organizations to adopt soft marijuana policiesoften emphasizing the point that cannabis can serve as a less addictive and risky alternative to prescription opioids.

Meanwhile, underscoring an anecdotal observation common among cannabis users, a group of Canadian researchers released a study in 2024 indicating that marijuana can make music more enjoyable. concluded that “cannabis’ effect on auditory experience may be generally enhanced” compared to simple listening.

A separate study published in 2021 examined the intersection of music and psilocybin-assisted therapy and it undermined the conventional wisdom that classical music is somehow more effective in that environment.

Image courtesy of TechCrunch.

India’s supply of coir for export remains stable despite processing hiccups due to heavy rains, says Krishna Patil of Maharashtra-based produce export consultancy Krishna International Trade. “Availability is now stable due to improvements in coconut processing infrastructure in southern India. The flow of raw materials is now better managed than before, supporting both domestic consumption and export commitments.”

According to Patil, this year’s production has increased by 5-8% over last year, backed by better processing efficiency, mechanization and planning, with manufacturers also meeting export requirements. He said, “Supply generally appears balanced, but commodity fluctuations, container shortages and strict quality controls on EC, pH and moisture keep India’s coco peat exporters on the lookout. Strong process controls are essential to convert domestic grade material into export-matched quality.”

© Krishna International Trade

Patil’s coco peat export markets include Europe, particularly Spain, the Netherlands and Italy, as well as the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. As he explains, “these markets are in regular cycles of planting and regeneration, so demand remains stable rather than sudden. Importers go beyond spot deals to find long-term partners. Domestically, local buyers often encounter quality differences and do not fully meet export specifications, although more users are now looking for export quality and standards.”

© Krishna International Trade

Coir peat is now more expensive to source, which Patil attributes to processing rather than demand. “Prices are 10% higher in recent months, mainly due to raw material shortages, higher logistics costs, slower drying due to two years of erratic rains, and not due to increased demand. Even if demand is stable, limited materials available for shipment and longer processing times are putting upward pressure on prices in the short term.”

Looking ahead, Patil sees demand growing steadily in the coming weeks and months as planting ramps up in key markets in Europe and the Middle East. “Prices may remain firm in the short term due to ongoing processing delays and limited ready stock due to the prolonged rain pattern. A gradual stabilization is expected over the next month or two. Once the weather normalizes, production lead times and material availability should improve, leading to a smooth return to balance.”

For more information: © Krishna International Trade
Krishna Patil
Krishna International Trade
Telephone: +91 90 22 810 343
Email: (email protected)
www.patilinternationaltrade.com