Bob Marley: the links between the singer and cannabis

Do a test: say «Bob Marley» to the person next to you. They'll probably answer «reggae» or «cannabis». An obvious association, since Robert Nesta is so closely associated with the joints he smoked every day. Even if his life didn't revolve around dried flowers and rolling leaves, Newsweed did the math, and came up with five points that link the god of reggae to cannabis.

Bob Marley smoked cannabis as a practice of Rastafarianism

Robert Nesta Marley is a fan of the Rastafari movement from 1966. Often abbreviated to «Rasta», it is a true culture in its own right. Born in Jamaica in the 1930s, it can be summed up as a Black adaptation of the Bible. For Rastas, their prophet is Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1941 to 1974. Indeed, the word «Rastafari» comes from his title: he is the short (king, in Amharic) Tafari (his first name) Makonnen (his last name). Pronounced quickly, this means ras Tafari.

In Rasta culture, cannabis is a religious sacrament. It's not a hobby, as it may have become. Weed helps to elevate us to God, and is not considered harmful. That's why Bob Marley smoked joints: for rastas, it's akin to the host for Catholics. « When you smoke weed, it reveals itself to you, to your conscience, gives you clear ideas, because weed allows you to meditate».», said the singer.

How many joints did Bob Marley smoke a day?

Bob Marley smoked cannabis from morning till night, regarding the practice as a Rastafarian religious sacrament rather than a simple recreational habit. According to the testimonies of his close friends and members of The Wailers, he consumed between 7 and 10 spliffs a day, often very large ones.

Bob Marley supported the legalization of cannabis... because it was illegal

Incredible as it may seem, cannabis was banned in Jamaica in Bob Marley's day... and he was only decriminalized in 2015 ! At the time, the singer was taking big risks, by publicly displaying himself smoking joints.

He also supported its legalization: «Weed is a plant! Why do all these people who want to do good for their people, who call themselves governments, why do they tell us we can't smoke weed? They tell us it makes us rebels. Against who?», said Bob Marley in an interview in 1979.

The reggaeman wasn't the biggest advocate of legalization. His friend Peter Tosh was far more committed. In tribute to weed, he released the hit single Legalize It in 1976. Two years later, he went even further, lighting up a joint on stage at the One Love Peace Concert, in front of Jamaica's leading politicians. This provocation led to his arrest a few months later.

Bob Marley smoked cannabis landrace

Cannabis didn't appear in Jamaica with Bob Marley. The plant arrived on the island probably in the 1850s, with the « engagés» (indentured slaves), a pudique name for slaves deported to a territory for three years. At the end of this period, they were free. In Jamaica, many of the «engagés» were Indians. They brought with them cannabis, whose native region is the Hindu Kush, between modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. By the way, ganja is a Hindu word.

Marley used exclusively Jamaican weed, notably the famous Lamb's Bread (also known as Lamb's Breath), a local sativa renowned for its energizing and euphoric effects, which he described as an aid to creativity and spiritual connection. For him, smoking was not dissociable from his faith: cannabis - or «herb» as he called it - was a tool for meditation and revelation, at the heart of Rastafari doctrine.

Bob Marley smoked this type of variety, now called landrace. This is a generic name for the original strains of cannabis, which have not been modified by human hands.

Today, Jamaican landrace has all but disappeared. However, we know that it was rather mild, with much lower THC levels than today's herbs,« he says.« with rather unique characteristics, due to its flower, smell, taste and even euphoria. » according to botanist Machel Emmanuel, who is trying to revive this variety.. Another typical feature was that it was a very large variety, making it easy for Jamaican police to spot. This partly explains its virtual disappearance.

The cover of Catch a Fire opened like a Zippo lighter

True to his seal, Bob Marley innovated for Catch a Fire, album released in 1973. As the title can be translated as «grab a lighter», The original sleeve was made like the famous Zippo lighter: it opened from right to left, revealing a flame. A little gem reserved for the lucky 20,000 who bought the first press of this vinyl. On subsequent presses, the sleeve featured Bob Marley smoking a huge joint. Staying with the same theme.

What did Bob Marley die of?

Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981 in Miami, at the age of 36, as a result of acral melanoma - a particularly aggressive skin cancer - which had developed under the nail of his right big toe.

The cancer had been discovered as early as 1977, initially mistaken for a soccer injury. Doctors recommended amputation of the toe to stop the spread, but Marley refused: the Rastafari faith forbids mutilation of the body, considered a sacred temple. He opted for a partial removal of the nail and surrounding flesh, but this was not enough.

The melanoma gradually spread to his brain, lungs and stomach. In 1980, while on tour, his condition took a sudden turn for the worse. He died eight months later. Contrary to popular belief, cannabis was not involved in his death. In fact, it's one of the few things doctors have formally ruled out.