Footage shows Snoop Dogg allegedly smoking cannabis before Super Bowl halftime show

A viral video doing the rounds on social media appears to show Snoop Dogg "warming up" for his Super Bowl halftime show by smoking what looks to be cannabis. 

The 'Gin and Juice' hitmaker opened a star-studded performance that also featured Dr Dre, Mary J Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and 50 Cent. 

Now a clip of him "toking" on what the Daily Mail described as a "massive joint" just moments before taking to the stage has attracted attention online. 

The footage appeared to be captured by production cameras, showing the rap icon smoking while crouched down behind the set. 

While the National Football League (NFL) has strict policies against drug use, recreational cannabis is legal in California, where the Super Bowl was held. 

Fans of the rapper, who is well known for his love of marijuana, were so convinced he would light up on stage that some betting companies allowed people to gamble on the possibility. 

Snoop Dogg may not have been the only performer to defy the NFL, with Eminem taking a knee Colin Kaepernick-style at the close of his song 'Lose Yourself', despite widespread reports he was instructed against making the political gesture against the oppression of people of colour in the United States. 

Meanwhile, Dr Dre was said to have felt "disgustingly censored" by the league, who apparently took issue with the lyrics "still not loving the police" featured in his hit 'Still D.R.E'.