Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Jamaica, synonymous with ganja abroad, will in January play host to the inaugural Miss High Times Magazine Stoner Beauty Pageant.

Inviting its readers to "bust out your bongs and bikinis," the event will be held in Negril, Westmoreland between January 10 and 17. The United States-based magazine will, amongst other more legal activities, take them on a trip to a local ganja plantation in Orange Hill.

However, despite its widespread use in Jamaica, ganja remains illegal in Jamaica due in part to pressure from the U.S. Government which, since the 1980s, has supported crop eradication efforts on the island as part of its 'War on Drugs'.

"We are going to have tonnes of hot babes, we are going to have bud, we are going to have parties. It's going to be a great time," said Bobby Black, High Times columnist and host of the event, in a video entitled 'Jamaica Me High!' posted on video sharing website YouTube.com.

"Fun, sun and um, oh yes, pot," read the description.

Famous for their principled promotion of the stoner lifestyle, staff at the magazine were unavailable for comment yesterday while the magazine is closed for the holiday season.

According to their website, High Times will fly down eight 'semi-finalists' for the event which will be in its second year of running. The magazine also hosts the Cannabis Cup, which is held annually in Amsterdam, Holland. The event allows participants to judge the world's most potent varieties of ganja.

Founded over 30 years ago, High Times featured Bob Marley on its cover in 1976.

- ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com