Bob Marley and marijuana have been put in the same sentence for decades, and now his name will officially be attached to the first global brand of marijuana. It will be called Marley Natural, "a premium cannabis brand rooted in the life and legacy" of the reggae legend and the Marley Family, who has recently licensed a variety of lifestyle products but hasn't until now moved into the sale of the plant itself.
As Billboard points out, the New York City-based company will sell marijuana-infused creams, accessories, and strains of "heirloom Jamaican cannabis." The branding will be handled by Heckler Associates, the agency behind branding New Balance and Starbucks Coffee. The cannabis itself will be sold as "loose packed" buds, oils, and concentrates.
"This is what the end of prohibition looks like," said Brendan Kennedy, CEO of Privateer Holdings, which owns Marley Natural. "Bob Marley started to push for legalization more than 50 years ago. We're going to help him finish it. ... We're committed to social change, environmental sustainability and building a professional, responsible and legal cannabis industry."
As The Guardian points out, the plan is to grow, distribute and sell the products in places where the plant is legal by the end of 2015, despite having its headquarters in New York, where the plan is currently only decriminalized.
Marijuana reform has been moved to the forefront of the national conversation following the legalization of weed in Washington and Colorado earlier this year with Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C. right behind them.
Almost three decades after his death, Bob Marley's is more popular now than in his lifetime. His likeness can be seen on posters, T-shirts, and other products all around the world. Over the past year (ending in October), the reggae legend was the ninth highest paid dead celebrity according to Forbes with $20 million in earnings.
Watch a trailer for the new company below, and let us know what you think in the comments section!
