I'm happy to see Snoop Dogg on the cover of High Times for the third time. I was instrumental in making the first two happen.

Back in 1999, when I was the weed mag's music editor, I'd long had my sights on Snoop but he was playing hard to get. Snoop had had legal problems and his label Death Row put the kabosh on any interviews or photo shoots in High Times. But when he moved to a new label, No Limit, the door suddenly opened and Snoop walked through, literally.

We invited him to be on the cover of the first issue of the 21st Century (Jan. '00). The photo shoot was set to take place at Michael Benabib's studio on 5th Ave. in Manhattan. Snoop was already there when I arrived. He had a scowl on his face that said, "Where the weed at?" It was on the way, I told the lanky rapper as he leafed through Benabib's portfolio.

It was on of those days in New York when a large bag of top-shelf pot was difficult to come by. Ad reps Rick Cusick and Mike Czerhoniak went out looking, but hadn't showed up yet. About a half-hour later they walked in with a quarter pound. The bag was passed to Snoop. He opened it and stuck his nose deep inside and inhaled. Knowing that he was used to to the best Cali weed, we we worried that Snoop would not be impressed. As he pulled his nose out of the back, he flashed a big knowing smile. The shoot was on!

In the April 2012 issue of High Times, Snoop and Wiz Khalifa share the cover with the Cannabis Cup and a mound of marijuana (photos by Mark Mann). Chris Simunek's interview with Snoop refers to the 1999 shoot. "I remember going to the High Times photo shoot and getting blessed with a big-assed garbage bag full of dope," he recalls. "It was Chronic, when nobody had Chronic. They had bullshit out there then, and High Times were the only motherfuckers who knew where it was at."

It was a fun shoot. At one point we gave Snoop a gift of a large cola bud. He said thanks and then asked for another. And another. And another. At this point I asked Rick and Mike (who both still work at HT) to handle the negotiation. Five hours into the shoot, and long after the photos had been taken, he was sitting on Benabib's couch fast asleep. "Hey Snoop," I tapped him several times. "It's time to go."

The next morning Snoop appeared on The Howard Stern Show, which Snoop also mentions in the current interview: "I was blazing up on Howard Stern and I was like, 'You know what? High Times is the realest motherfucking magazine in the world! I said it then and I say it now..." Photo by Michael Benabib

That morning as I walked into the office I was informed that Snoop had told Stern that "High Times has the bomb weed" and so forth. The powers-that-be were worried about blowing the mag's "cover," so to speak. I said something about all publicity being good publicity and ducked into my office.

A few hours later Snoop and his entourage were at the door. It was time for his interview. Turns out he needed more weed. They'd gone through several ounces since the night before. After the lengthy interview Snoop held court in my office and signed autographs for everyone who worked at High Times. He gave  me a special present: a signed sweatshirt with his face replacing the bearded Zig-Zag rolling papers dude.

Two and half years hence Snoop was back on the cover of High Times. This was not a photo shoot per se. He came to the Stony Awards to accept several trophies, including Stoner of the Year for his performances in The Wash, Bones, Baby Boy and Training Day. George Clinton presented the latter award at B.B. King's in New York on Mar. 3, 2002. After the show, Brian Jahn photographed Snoop in his fine outfit, blunt hanging from his mouth as he clutched two Stony Awards. It appeared on the cover of the July '02 issue.

Now a decade later, Snoop Doog (and his protege Khalifa, who are starring in Mac & Devin Go to High School, this spring) has returned to High Times. "You all stay true to whattcha all do," he tells Simunek. "You all open your doors up to real people like me and Wiz, and you all let us speak out minds, say what we feel and do what we do. At the same time, you all educated people on the that real 'Mmmmmm, do it' flow."

Church.

Steve Bloom left High Times in 2007. He publishes CelebStoner.com.

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