“Cannabis is peace and love. It’s stupid that it’s not legal, bro.” The phrase sets the tone for Jon Z from the start. The Puerto Rican trap star speaks about marijuana with conviction, without hesitation. For him, the plant isn’t an accessory: it’s part of his life, his music, and his way of being in the world.
Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Jonathan Resto Quiñones, known as Jon Z, was one of the first Latin urban artists to show himself publicly with a joint in his hand. And not as a pose, but as a declaration of identity.
From teenage curiosity to daily ritual
His story starts early, though he recommends people not follow his example and wait until they’re of legal age to use cannabis. “I was 14 the first time I tried cannabis. I was at a party and felt weird, so I didn’t do it again. But at 17 I started smoking more often with my friends and I liked it,” he recalls.
What began as teenage curiosity became routine. While many insisted cannabis led to laziness, Jon Z integrated it into an active lifestyle. “I work out every day and I can smoke a philly [joint] before or after training and it’s all good. It’s not like alcohol: if you get drunk, the next day you can’t train at all.”
Over time, he realized weed didn’t just accompany his workouts; it also helped him calm down. “I’m explosive, really fast-paced. Cannabis helps me relax, think things through, not make rash decisions.”
The tolerance break that changed everything
At one point, he took a break: three months without smoking. The famous tolerance break. What did he learn? “It was hard, I couldn’t sleep well. I was too impulsive, making quick decisions that I later regretted. Weed gives me calm, inner peace. When I have a problem, I light a philly and think better.”
The plant became a compass. “With cannabis, I think more about the consequences. I call my wife, talk to my boys, ask for opinions. I don’t make desperate decisions. That’s what I like most about cannabis: it makes me think a lot.”
‘We were miseducated about cannabis’
The stereotype is everywhere: the stoner is lazy, unproductive, couchlocked. Jon Z breaks it with a smile and a hyperactive routine. “I wake up, smoke a quick philly and get active: make breakfast, take care of my dogs and cats, head to the gym. That’s before, during, and after training. My trainer also smokes with me,” he says, laughing.
The trapper practices martial arts, trains hard. And always with the plant by his side. “The thing is, we were miseducated about cannabis. Cigarettes and alcohol kill people, and they’re legal. Cannabis has more pros than cons.”
He even points to evidence: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients who improve with cannabis. For him, there’s no doubt. “It’s a plant. If cannabis is illegal, then all plants should be illegal. Our ancestors used plants to heal. Cannabis has always been here; it wasn’t born yesterday.”
From Puerto Rico to the world: cannabis ventures
In 2017, when talking about cannabis was still taboo for many urban artists, Jon Z broke the mold: he was the first in Puerto Rico to launch a line of prerolls. “I was the first one who dared. At first, no artist wanted to because of the fear of being canceled. But I couldn’t pretend to be something I’m not: I like lighting a philly on stage, smoking anywhere.”
That same year, he got his medical license and later released his own strain, Tormenta Z, grown on the island. Now he plans to go further: a new strain designed not just for Puerto Rico but also for every country where it’s legal.
The trapper knows he opened a door. “After me, a lot of artists started putting out their own products. Someone had to do it first. I broke that door.”
La Perla, RAW, and the rules of the barrio
In Jon Z’s world, RAW rolling papers are a true passion. “I’ve always been a fan of RAW and of Josh, because he invents new things. I like rolling long phillies, experimenting with weed. One day, I wrote to him and he answered. Since then, we’ve had the connection: he sends me boxes, I make content. I’m dying to meet him; he seems to have a super good vibe.”
His dream is for RAW founder Josh Kesselman to visit Puerto Rico. “If I don’t bring him to an event there, I’ll see him in the U.S. soon. And if I do bring him to Puerto Rico, I’ll take him down with me to La Perla,” he says, laughing. But he quickly clarifies: in that San Juan neighborhood, there are rules. “If you record with your phone, there are consequences. But if you show respect, people treat you well. I want to show people our reality.”
The ‘Latin Wiz Khalifa’ and the dream of a song with Snoop
His U.S. connection opened doors he never imagined. He shares a track with Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg, two of his idols. “It was a dream. Wiz is humble. I’ve followed him since Black and Yellow. I hope to see him again in Los Angeles. I also want to collaborate with Snoop Dogg. He’s always been an inspiration to me. I think we’d connect a lot because we’re the same: we don’t care about smoking anywhere.”
It’s no accident that people call him the “Latin Wiz Khalifa” or the “Latin Snoop.” Jon Z embraces the labels and turns them into ambition: he wants solo tracks with each. “Those are goals I have: Wiz and Snoop in my catalog. That would be historic.”
Art, creativity, and ambition
In the studio, cannabis is never missing. “If I don’t have weed, I don’t go. There’s always a philly lit: before recording, during, and after,” says Jon Z. The plant is part of the creative process, a ritual that guides every song.
His ambition, he insists, isn’t about money or chains. “My ambition is to progress, succeed, help my people, represent Puerto Rico everywhere. Inspire the kids so they see you can come up from the bottom.”
He says it from experience: he worked at a pizzeria, recorded freestyles in his car and posted them online until the world noticed him. Today, he acknowledges that getting here required sacrifices: leaving the clubbing, the partying, the drinking behind. “To succeed, you have to give things up and focus.”
‘I want to be remembered as a dreamer’
Jon Z doesn’t just want to be remembered as a trapper. “I want to be remembered as a dreamer, humble, with my feet on the ground. Someone who cared more about his fans than about money. That every show, every photo, was a good experience.”
His vision for the future of cannabis is clear: “It’s not for everyone. If it gives you a bad trip, don’t use it. But for those of us who benefit from it, we shouldn’t be made afraid. I never jumped from cannabis to other drugs; that’s a lie. Hopefully I’ll see it fully legal, in the U.S. and in Latin America.”
And he leaves a phrase that feels like both a farewell and a manifesto: “When I die, I’ll go, but my vibe will stay. My music will live forever.”
Photos courtesy of Jon Z.
