Afroman returns with a pro-marijuana legalization version of 'Because I Got High'

As a show of support for marijuana legalization, Afroman is back with an updated version of his stoner classic "Because I Got High."

The original came out in 2001, and was about the dumb things done while under the influence ("I was gonna go to court before I got high/I was gonna pay my child support but then I got high/They took my whole paycheck and I know why/Cause I got high"), but the 2014 Positive Remix extols the benefits of marijuana for people with glaucoma and anxiety, and even mentions what a state could do with revenue from sales ("They built a school or two because I got high/Now the state can fund drug treatment and I know why").

Afroman teamed up with the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Weedmaps to release the song. The singer-rapper told Rolling Stone he wanted to revamp the pot anthem to give back to the drug that gave him so much. "Getting high — and rapping about it — got me to where I am today and I'll be forever grateful for that," Afroman said. "With the current political battle with states trying to legalize weed, I thought it was a good time to educate — or set the record straight — about marijuana's benefits, which is why I wanted to remake the song." Grab something to munch on, and watch the video below. --Catherine Garcia

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up