In addition to Rogie's three-piece backing band, the album also features the English double bassist Danny Thompson and guitarist Alfred Bannerman.

Sooliman Ernest Rogie was born in 1926 in the town of Fonikoh, Pujehun District in southern Province Sierra Leone,[1] and later became one of the country's most popular performers, achieving a hit single with "My Lovely Elizabeth".

[4] Seeking to escape his politically troubled country,[2] he emigrated to England in 1973, creating the record label Rogiephone, who issued his first album, African Lady, in 1975,[3] although in 1988, he moved back to his native Sierra Leone.

[8] Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana contains "sweet," syncopated folk songs in Rogie's distinctive palm-wine musical style.

[9] Rogie's gentle acoustic guitar playing is in a rolling, picking style,[2][10] and possesses a roots-tinged folk blues feel.

[13] While writing about the album shortly after Rogie's death, West Africa wrote that the performer "is ranked alongside other Sierra Leonean icons of music and culture such as Ebezener Calender, Ali Ganda, Dele Charlie, Salami Coker and Dr Oloh.

"[13] Jazz Times wrote that the album possesses "[a] softly jubilant sound [that] rises up," and noted that Rogie "wraps his baritone voice around sweet, syncopated folk songs in a style described with the term 'palm wine'.

"[2] Bret Love of AllMusic called the album "a sweet, stirring testament to an undeservedly little-known talent" which he hoped would immortalise Rogie following his death.

He praised the album's "deceptively simple charms" and complimented the "atmospheric, carefree feel of the tunes" which he felt evoked "images of relaxing times on breezy beaches watching lush, tropical sunsets.

"[9] World Music: The Rough Guide calls Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana "a delicious piece of music-cake – so long as you like his one tune, the basis of nearly all the tracks.

"[11] The authors of the Bradt Travel Guides book Sierra Leone felt the album's gentle guitar playing and melodies contributed to a "joyful, sultry listen.

: An Illustrated Guide to Contemporary African Music, writer Jack Vartoogian listed the album among Rogie's "fine recordings of his easy, delightful songs.