VETERAN singer Papa D has been an unapologetic ‘ganja man’ for decades. He looks at the commercial potential of the weed with Ganja Business, a self-produced song which was recently released.

The Manchester-born artiste — who performs on the March 8 Live In Concert at Jamaica Tamboo in Negril — commented on recent legislation in Jamaica to decriminalise ganja.

“It is a big deal, because we Jamaicans suffer over the years because we use it for meditation and it is a part of our Rastaman culture,” Papa D told the Jamaica Observer. “I wrote the song because I think it’s a big step for all to smoke and not be afraid of the police.”

Last April the government amended the Dangerous Drugs Act. It allows, among other things, individuals to use small amounts of ganja without fear of prosecution.

Researchers and ganja advocates consider the legislation progressive. They believe it opens the way for Jamaica to tap into the multimillion-dollar ganja industry.

According to Papa D, “I think it is the right time now to release Ganja Business.”

Papa D (given name Anthony Johnson) is well-known on the north coast scene. For over 20 years he has been a guitarist/vocalist for the Sixth Revelation band.

In the early 1990s, the eight-piece unit impressed a German tourist who took them to his homeland, settling them in Buchhausen, a town just outside of Munich.

Sixth Revelation became regulars on the club and festival scene in Germany.

Three years ago, Papa D branched out and recorded a solo album Guide Me.

— Howard Campbell