The Rebel Salute reggae festival, founded in 1994 by Rastafarian sing-jay Tony Rebel, can also now openly advertise as a marijuana festival for the first time.

Rastafarians consider marijuana as a sacred plant and most artists who’ve performed on Rebel Salute over the past 22 years have promoted ganja use — prompting the government to finally, but begrudgingly, grant exemption to the concert.

Rebel Salute is the biggest reggae festival in Jamaica where weed is illegal.

But the government has agreed a dispensation for the festival meaning marijuana can be freely used throughout the proceedings and the Jamaican Tourist Board will also promote the concert.

Exemption from ganja laws will also be extended to this year’s Steppin High and Rasta Rootz festivals.

Jamaican companies as well as individual ganja farmers spearheading the move towards a regulated, legal medical marijuana industry on the island will be participating in daytime symposiums at the festivals.

Rastafarians consider marijuana a sacred plant and since Rebel and most artists who’ve performed on Rebel Salute over the past 22 years have extolled the plant’s usage, the government has finally, if somewhat begrudgingly, sanctioned what Rastafarians have consistently championed.