Snoop Dogg Has a Message for Fans: 'I'm Giving Up Smoke'

Snoop Dogg says he is giving up smoking.

On Thursday, the rapper, actor and media personality — whose image is closely tied to smoking marijuana — shared a surprising message with fans on Instagram.

"After much consideration & conversation with my family, I've decided to give up smoke," read the post. "Please respect my privacy at this time."

Snoop, 52, reiterated his commitment in the caption: "I’m giving up smoke."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Following Snoop's announcement, fans immediately started speculating about whether the rapper is being serious or if he's joking. Other people wondered if the post is his way of sharing that he plans to switch to edibles or other forms of cannabis use — or even to launch a new line of non-smoking products like vapes.

"Did I miss something? Are you alright Snoop?" wrote one Instagram user. "I don't believe you," another person writes.

Someone else commented: "It's most of Snoops image, but there is never anything wrong with sobriety."

His team did not yet respond to a request for comment.

Throughout his career Snoop has been vocal about his love for smoking. He's also shared stories about getting high with a handful of with other musical artists including Ed Sheeran, Matthew McConaughey and Willie Nelson.

In October during his recent Rolling Stone cover story interview, the "Gin and Juice" rapper recalled a time when he was forced to muster up some producing skills after Pharrell Williams accidentally got too high in the studio, leaving Snoop alone with the legendary Stevie Wonder.

"I got so many [favorite studio sessions]. One that stand out to me is when me, Pharrell, and Stevie Wonder was in the studio. We smoking. We in a little-ass room," recalled Snoop, speaking with Latto for the conversation. "Pharrell’s done got high, he got secondhand smoke. Now Stevie in the booth and Pharrell ain’t saying s---."

Wonder didn't know "what to do," explained Snoop. "I'm like, 'Pharrell, produce this n----.' This n----'s so high, he leaves Stevie in the booth and don't give him no direction."

Snoop wasn't sure how to proceed. "I'm trying to tell Stevie what to do. I don't know what the f--- to do. I'm not a producer," he told the outlet. "I told the n----, 'Just play anything.'"

Somehow, the pair was able to record some usable material. "When we finished, Pharrell took all of the good s--- that he played. Because he was playing harmonica, singing and s---, and it ended up working," explained Snoop.