Afroman Remixed ‘Because I Got High’ Into A Positive Message About Legalizing Marijuana

Afroman’s hit single, “Because I Got High,” is basically an anthem to Jeff Spicoli-esque stoner apathy. When you really listen to it, the message of the song is everything that’s wrong with smoking pot: Go to work? Nah, let’s bong rips instead. Clean my room? I’d rather smoke blunts and live in my own pizza box filth. Go to class? Nah, there are joints to smoke! Go to court and pay child support? Are you kidding me? Sour Diesel is expensive! La da da da da da da da da..

This all comes around in the original song, with Afroman realizing — Hey! — substance abuse can seriously fuck up your life.

I messed up my entire life because I got high
I lost my kids and wife because I got high
now I’m sleeping on the sidewalk and I know why (why man?) yea heyy,
– cause I got high

Ugh. When you read it without the cheerful jingle, it kind of takes on another meaning, huh?

It’s a very strange anthem for the stoner community to embrace since, yes, you can smoke marijuana and still be a functional, contributing member of society. Afroman’s cautionary tale about getting high goes against the lame pot smoking stereotypes that many marijuana activists have worked hard to change.

“Because I Got High” was recorded in 2000, existing the cultural wake of Half Baked and Friday all the other (very funny) stoner comedies that trivialized what it means to maturely smoke marijuana. It’s a comedy song, not one for anti-drug crusaders to rally around and say “THIS COULD BE YOU” like Reefer Madness did decades earlier.

The cultural climate about marijuana is dramatically different 14 years later, with legalization in full-effect in Colorado and Washington and other Prohibition-busted measures sprouting up around the country. So Afroman teamed up with Weedmaps to remix “Because I Got High” in a positive way, demonstrating why the ganj isn’t so bad after all while cruising around Los Angeles on a couch.

Video + lyrics below.

I had problems with glaucoma, but then I got high
Smelled the cannabis aroma, and I got high
Glaucoma’s getting better and I know why
Because I got high
Because I got high
Because I got high

I used to smoke cigarettes, but then I got high
Getting tired and call it quits, but then I got high
I’m playing basketball and jogging and I know why
Because I got high
Because I got high
Because I got high

I used to drink beer and wine, but then I got high
I woke up feeling fine, because I got high
My hangover’s over and I know why
Because I got high
Because I got high
Because I got high

Anxiety attacks, but then I got high
I used to take Xanax but then I got high
No more prescriptions pills and I know why
Because I got high
Because I got high
Because I got high

The state made revenue, because I got high
they built a school or two, because i got high
now the state can fund drug treatment and I know why
Because I got high
Because I got high
Because I got high

Brandon Wenerd is BroBible's publisher, writing on this site since 2009. He writes about sports, music, men's fashion, outdoor gear, traveling, skiing, and epic adventures. Based in Los Angeles, he also enjoys interviewing athletes and entertainers. Proud Penn State alum, former New Yorker. Email: brandon@brobible.com