Has Snoop Dogg stopped smoking weed? Internet blows up after rapper's announcement

• Snoop Dogg said he was giving up smoke.
• The announcement was posted on the rapper's official X and Instagram accounts. 
• Searches for terms like "quit smoking" and "stop smoking weed" increased around the same time as Snoop Dogg's announcement.
• For more lifestyle news, go to the News24 Life front page.

After Snoop Dogg, 52, said he was giving up smoke, more people are searching for information on how to quit marijuana.

New findings by an organisation called Go Smoke Free show that online searches for "quit weed" have skyrocketed more than ten times the normal average volume in one week.

The organisation cites Google search data to highlight this monumental spike in people Googling the phrase "quit weed."

"Analysis of Google search data reveals that online searches for 'quit weed' exploded 1,152% worldwide in the same week Snoop Dogg announced he was 'giving up smoke' after much consideration and conversation with his family," said the organisation. 

Searches for terms like "quit smoking" have risen 492% worldwide in the last week. This coincides with searches using the term "stop smoking weed" increasing 511% around the same time as Snoop Dogg's statement.

The organisation believes that the announcement has encouraged fans to look into how to give up smoking because searches for "how to quit smoking"  have also seen a 308% spike worldwide in the past seven days.

READ | Is cannabis good for your sex life? Expert shares three commonly asked questions

Snoop Dogg (Calvin Broadus) is an American rapper, actor and globally renowned weed enthusiast. 

He even has a personal blunt roller named Renegade Piranha.

In an announcement posted on Snoop Dogg's official X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram accounts, the rapper - who has 82.5 million followers on Instagram - gained a further 59 413 Instagram followers in just 12 hours after his announcement.  

"Snoop Dogg's bombshell news has come as a massive shock to fans as the hip-hop star has always been very open about his smoking habits and has even ventured into numerous businesses, including weed strains and edibles. So, it's no surprise fans who lead similar habits are questioning their own lifestyle and may be thinking of a change," said a spokesperson for Go Smoke Free.

"These findings highlight how much influence a celebrity can have on its fans, with the latest announcement of Snoop Dogg changing his lifestyle creating a monumental spike in searches for quitting weed."

It is worth noting that the rapper specified that he was "quitting smoke" and not necessarily that he was giving up weed. 

South Africans prepare for cannabis expo

Over in South Africa, the Sandton Convention Centre is set to welcome the continent's cannabis enthusiasts to Africa's most prominent cannabis event, The Cannabis Expo, at the end of November. 

Industry professionals, investors and entrepreneurs will come together to explore the latest innovations, trends and business opportunities in the continent's cannabis industry.

This year, more than 200 exhibitors will have over 1000 cannabis products on display. Talks and workshops will also take place on all three days of the event.

Discounted pre-sale tickets are available online at the official Cannabis Expo website, starting at R150.

- Information supplied by Journo Research and The Cannabis Expo.