Ganja (Marijuana)

Contrary to popular belief, ganja, or marijuana was not used for simply "getting high". Marijuana was used to gain clairvoyance by Rastas, atonement and wisdom. 

Even though it was prohibited, Rastas cultivated, maintained and sold the herb for financial support. For Rastas, the plant has many medicinal purposes and has a cultural and spiritual use that allows the mind to be less conditioned and more divine. Unlike western culture that uses marijuana solely as a social drug, Rastas use marijuana very seriously for Nyabinghi sessions to “reason” and gain a serious tuning with the forces of life, among other rituals.

Despite the pervasive use of marijuana in Rasta culture, there are many who do not smoke at all yet 'overstand' the plant and its many uses. Sadly, many get stereotyped into this image, and it is not always so. The false stereotype of Rastafarians smoking herb, growing dreadlocks and carrying less than productive lives are incorrect depictions and create a false image and idea as to what the lifestyle is really about(“Rastafari – Way of Life | JahWorks.Org | The Intelligent Online Caribbean Music, Culture, and Travel Magazine”).