Bob Marley's family has launched what it calls the first global cannabis brand based on the life and legacy of the Jamaican icon.
"My dad would be so happy to see people understanding the healing power of the herb," Marley's daughter Cedella told The Guardian. "He viewed the herb as something spiritual that could awaken our well-being, deepen our reflection, connect us to nature and liberate our creativity."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bob Marley died of cancer in 1981 and spent much of life championing the benefits of marijuana as part of his Rastafarian lifestyle, reportedly smoking up to a pound of it a week.
The venture is a result of a deal made between Marley's family and a US private equity firm, Privateer Holdings. As a result, "some may doubt that [the] humble Rastafarian would support the frank capitalism of Marley Natural," writes NBC's Tony Dokoupil.
However, his widow Rita Marley insists it was what her husband spent his life fighting for. "You can depend on Bob. He's 100 percent behind what is happening. He's happy because this is what we dreamed of," she said.
"There is probably no better known cultural icon related to cannabis than Bob Marley," said Brendan Kennedy, chief executive of Privateer Holdings. "He called cannabis 'the herb', and he said the herb is the healing of the nation. And he wasn't talking about a country, he was talking about mankind."
Cannabis is now legal for recreational use in the US states of Washington and Colorado and earlier this month residents of Oregon and Alaska voted in favour of legalising the drug.
-
Pope Leo wants to change the Vatican’s murky financesThe Explainer Leo has been working to change some decisions made by his predecessor
-
October books: an academic analysis of Taylor Swift and the solution to your digital addictionThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘Taylor’s Version’ by Stephanie Burt, ‘Enshittification’ by Cory Doctorow and ‘Minor Black Figures’ by Brandon Taylor
-
Auto loans: Trouble in the subprime economyFeature The downfall of Tricolor Holdings may reflect the growing financial strain low-income Americans are facing
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
