The man known as the father of marijuana, Jack Herer, whose 1985 book The Emperor Wears No Clothes created serious controversy and sparked the marijuana legalization movement, passed away today at 70. Herer suffered a heart attack in September after speaking at a Portland rally. He recouperated under the care of his wife Jeannie, who rented a house in Eugene where he could recover, however, sadly, Herer succombed to complications from the heart attack.
Herer had been fighting for the legalization of marijuana, campaigning across the country for the last 40 years.
In his book, The Emporer Wears No Clothes, Herer wrote that marijuana could save the world. Besides its medicininal purposes, one could make fiber, clothing, rope, fuel and high-protein food.
Jack is survived by his wife Jeannie and his six children.
April 16th, 2010 at 12:15 am
RIP Jack. You started the movement and we will see it to the end for you!!
April 16th, 2010 at 12:47 am
memorial for Jack Herer. Add your memories and thoughts:
http://lifestrand.net/jack_herer
April 16th, 2010 at 1:30 am
It is always hard to lose someone who fights for the rights of the people like Jack did for us. What must be done for him is to remember the good times that the loved ones where able to spend with him and to know him. May he rest in peace and I am sure he is
April 16th, 2010 at 2:52 am
He was a true icon to those of us who use, and support the legalization of marijuana. He dedicated his life to fight for the legalization for us. I say we all give back to him and continue to fight for him. If you support marijuana write your congressmen go to as many rallies as possible. He never got to see the day marijuana becoming legal like alcohol, but if we fight for it hard enough we could be the generation that does…
April 16th, 2010 at 5:51 am
R.I.P. Jack.
The Emperor Wears No Clothes “Should be read by all scholars”
April 16th, 2010 at 6:36 am
Damn…Won’t see another one like this one. R.I.P
April 16th, 2010 at 7:08 am
Rest in peace my fellow Stoner, one day ill meet you in the eternal void.
April 16th, 2010 at 8:04 am
may jack rest in peace, thank you for never giving up on something you believe in, even if I dont agree with everything you said, I admire your strength, to fight for what you believe is right. the world needs more people like you.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:37 am
R.I.P. Mr. Herer, we will miss you and are very thankful for your lives work.
April 16th, 2010 at 10:52 am
I had a chance to know this man and work with him in the fight to legalize one of the worlds most important plants. He had a good soul and he will rest happy in eternity with whomever his creator may be.
April 16th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
R.I.P JACK HERER MUCH LOVE FROM MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
April 18th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
my condolences …
I support the legalization of marijuana in Indonesia …
October 19th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
“Overgrow The World” is continuing Jack’s efforts…hope to see you ALL planting a few seeds in honour of The Emperor this coming spring!
“In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within the supervised routine of medical care.”
–Francis Young, US DEA Administrative Law Judge, 1988
“What we’re seeing is a global revolution that’s going to end this insane prohibition against cannabis in this country. Who in their right mind would outlaw an anti-aging drug that kills cancer cells and uses the same activity that’s found in mother’s milk?”
– Dr. Robert Melamede, president and CEO, Cannabis Science Inc.
“It is not only vain, but wicked, in a legislator to frame laws in opposition to the laws of nature, and to arm them with the terrors of death. This is truly creating crimes in order to punish them.”
-—Thomas Jefferson, Note On Crimes Bill, i, 159. Ford Ed., ii, 218. (1779.)
“Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.”
– Abraham Lincoln: Dec 18, 1840, Speech in the Illinois House of Representatives
“Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, and sow it everywhere!”
– George Washington in a note to his gardener at Mount Vernon (1794), The Writings of George Washington, Volume 33, page 270 (Library of Congress)
“when I was a kid, I inhaled…frequently…that was the point!”
–Barack Hussein Obama, 2 years before becoming US President in 2008
“Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.”
– Bob Marley.
“I don’t know if hemp’s gonna save the world, but I’ll tell you this…it’s the only thing that can.”
– Jack Herer