A biologist attempts to recreate the Jamaican landraces consumed by Bob Marley

In a greenhouse at the University of the West Indies Botanical Garden in Kingston, biologist Machal Emanuel is attempting to revive the landraces Jamaican. These original varieties grew wild on the island in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s and notably inspired reggae legends Peter Tosh and Bob Marley.

In Search of Our Roots

These varieties, which were native to the island, all disappeared following the widespread outbreak of the war on drugs in the 1980s. These natural varieties were not with high THC content. They were also larger and therefore easier for the police to spot. That is why growers opted for hybrid cannabis strains artificially made smaller and more discreet.

To revive these heirloom varieties, the biologist traveled throughout the Caribbean in search of seeds. In Guadeloupe and Trinity, he visited the Rastafarian communities that have preserved these original cultivars. He tells the Daily Mail how he walked for six hours in the mountains to meet an old man Rastafari who had been living as a hermit for nearly 40 years. He left with a single seed.

The approach is not merely historical; it is also a marketing strategy. He presents these varieties as «heirloom and pure strains used by Bob Marley.» He also suggests that Jamaica should establish designations, a identity centered on cannabis «like Champagne in France»: «Jamaica’s reputation is based on these plants. Jamaica was known for these cultivars »landraces,« he explains. »There's a nostalgic value that can be leveraged in terms of marketing.".

His initiative has already attracted the attention of several companies and individuals, but the biologist is committed to maintaining a focus on fair trade and organic farming. «What would the university and the farmers who have preserved these seeds get out of it?» he asks.