Bob Marley- The Marley Legacy

Music and cannabis have almost always gone hand in hand. Some would likely say that Bob Marley is one of the most well-known in the combined space. Additionally, if anyone knows anything about being in the cannabis community at any point, it is very likely to have come across, seen, or heard of the late, great Bob Marley.

However, to reduce Bob Marley to simply a man who partakes in cannabis is disrespectful to his legacy. For those that have not been fully acquainted with Bob Marley, the most basic description of him would be: a Jamaican, Rastafarian singer, songwriter, and musician who sold over 20 million reggae albums, he would ultimately become the world's leading ambassador for reggae music. Now, let’s get into who Bob Marley was and how he came to be such a well-known and revered person within both the music industry and the cannabis community.

Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. Marley’s mother was a young Black woman who was just a teen when he was born. His father was a traveling white man from outside of Jamaica who was much older than his mother, and he was not involved in Marley’s life. Marley’s young life was spent continuing to live where he was born and in the rural village known as Nine Miles. Nine Miles is a very small district of St. Ann Parish consisting of less than 500 people. Today, there is a Bob Marley Museum Tour that is located in Marley’s childhood home. People visit it daily to get a glimpse of where Marley was born and how some of his lyrics came to be. It must be a truly remarkable place to visit as a fan of the King of Reggae to get a deeper look into his early life.

Before getting too deep into Marley’s life, it is important to fully explain what Rastafari, or Rasta Fari, is. It is important to understand that in many circles it has been misappropriated and skewed by people who don’t fully understand it. Many know that some of the common beliefs of Rastafarians come from Jamaican nationalist Marcus Garvey.

What many do not know is that Rastafari’s name was derived from an Ethiopian emperor from 1930, His Imperial Majesty Halie Selassie I, whose pre coronation name was Ras Tafari. Rastafari is a religious and political movement that began in 1930s Jamaica but, has been adopted by many people all around the world. According to Britannica, it combines Protestant Christianity, mysticism, and pan-African political consciousness. Members of Rastafari are called Rastas, they look at their lives in a specific context. As Rastafari draws from the Old Testament, most commonly from Exodus.

Rastas see people of African descent be “exiles of Babylon” who are being tested by God through slavery and the years of economic and systemic injustice and racial oppression. They also draw from the book of Revelation, awaiting their eventual deliverance to Zion. Zion is the symbolic name for Africa.

In Jamaica, Rastas are typically descendants of enslaved people who were converted to Christianity by missionaries. Rastas believe that those missionaries had corrupted the word of God, this is not unfounded as it has been recorded that slave owners encouraged incorrect interpretation of the Bible to better control enslaved people. According to History.com, there are some that theorize that when enslaved African Americans were taught about Christianity they could not read certain passages, or some were removed from the text; this was mostly found to be parts of the Old Testament.

The Rastas also uphold the principles of a balanced lifestyle, they wear their hair long and locked in its natural state. They are often seen wearing red, gold, and black; each symbolizing blood, herbs, and Africa. Being vegetarian is also a huge part of the Rastafarian religion. This is where the smoking of cannabis, or ganja, comes in. Ganja is used in prayer services to achieve a higher state of meditation, and during the “binges,” nighttime drumming ceremonies. It is said that reggae music actually is derived from the Rastafarian movement, this is why Bob Marley is well known and associated with this religion.

As a young child, in 1950, Bob and his mother moved to Kingston, Jamaica, where they lived in an area called Trench Town. Trench Town is not known for being a particularly prosperous area and Marley lived in poverty. Although this can be a difficult thing to deal with, Marley found his inspiration in music, artists like Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, the Drifters, and Fats Domino. Were popular at this time and are said to have heavily inspired young Marley. One of Marley’s childhood friends, Neville "Bunny" O'Riley Livingston, attended the same school as he did, they both shared a love of music. It was actually Bunny who inspired Marley to learn to play guitar, according to Christopher John Farley’s book Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley. He also said that during this time, Bunny’s father and Marley’s mother ended up becoming involved and they all lived together in Kingston for a time.

This is when Marley began to dabble in making his own music. Bunny and Marley began to study music with a man named Joe Higgs, they would work on playing instruments and improving their singing voices. Higgs’ studies are where they met Peter McIntosh, he would later change his name to Peter Tosh and be a huge part of Marley’s musical career.

Time progressed and in the early 1960s, Marley’s vocals caught the ear of a record producer named Leslie Kong. Kong had Marley record a few solo singles, one of them was “Judge Not,” released in 1962. “Judge Not” may not have been extremely popular at the time but it is a wellknown song for big fans of Bob Marley. As a solo artist, Marley did not find much success so he went out to bring some of his friends along. It was 1963 when Marley, Bunny, and Peter formed the group they would be known for, the Wailing Wailers. The group at this time also had Cherry Smith, Beverly Kelso, and Junior Braithwaite. Commonly known as, and later renamed, the Wailers, had their first single released in January of 1964. The single was called “Simmer Down” and it quickly rose to the top of the charts.

Although the group was very popular in Jamaica, they had a difficult time making money. This issue caused Smith, Kelso, and Braithwaite to leave the group, causing the remaining members to drift apart for a short time. During this hiatus, Marley left Jamaica and went to the United States where his mother had moved. He also married his long-time girlfriend, Rita on February 10th, 1966. Rita Marley, also known as the Honourable Dr. Alfarita Constantia Marley, OJ, OD, LITT, is the mother of three of Marley’s children, their daughter Cedella and sons David and Stephen. Marley returned to his home country after eight months. Once he arrived, he met up again with Bunny and Peter and formed what we now know as the Wailers. It was this time when Marley began to explore his spirituality and his interest in the Rastafarian movement.

By this time, it was the late 1960s and Marley had begun working with pop singer Johnny Nash and producer Lee Perry. Both men helped Marley and the Wailers to become successful with songs like, “Stir It Up,” “Trench Town Rock,” “Four Hundred Years,” and “Soul Rebel.” As the Wailers hype grew, they added in two new members to the group, drummer Carlton “Carlie” Barret and his brother, bassist Aston “Family Man” Barret.

It wasn’t until 1972 that the Wailers got their big break by landing a contract with Island Records, a company founded by Chris Blackwell. This moment was the first time all of the group got together and recorded a full album called Catch a Fire. Catch a Fire has been critically acclaimed and listed by Rolling Stone as one of the top 500 albums of all time. A year later, to push the record's popularity, the Wailers did their first tour in the United States and the United Kingdom as an opener for the one and only Bruce Springsteen and the group Sly & the Family Stone.

That same year, 1973, the Wailers recorded and released their second album, Burnin’, this album featured one of their most wellknown songs, “I Shot the Sheriff.” Before the release of their third studio album, 1975’s Natty Dread, both Bunny and Peter left the group to pursue their own solo musical careers, each going their own way as Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. The group's third album was one that spent time reflecting on the heavy political tensions that were going on in Jamaica. The People’s National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party were butting heads and violence began to erupt across the country due to their conflicts. One of the album's songs was called “Rebel Music (3 O’clock Roadblock)”; it was reportedly inspired by Marley’s personal experience of being stopped by members of the army late one night before the 1972 national elections. The song “Revolution” has since been interpreted by many as Marley endorsing the People’s National Party. The next tour the group, now called Bob Marley & The Wailers, went on they performed with the I-Threes, an all-female group that included Rita Marley. These tours helped boost the popularity of reggae around the world, in 1975 Britain's Top 40 featured the well-known hit, “No Woman, No Cry.” In the United States the following year, the album Rastaman Vibration was a top hit.

When Marley was back in Jamaica, he continued to be seen as a supporter of the People’s National Party due to one of his songs called “War.” In this song, he sampled from a speech given by Halie Selassie, a spiritual leader in the Rastafarian movement, that delves into the freedom of oppression and the colonial racial hierarchy that was being enforced in Africa. Marley’s popularity and his support of the People’s National Party were seen as a threat to the party’s rivals.

Many believe that this was what ultimately led to the assassination attempt on Marley in 1976, the true motivation was never truly uncovered. During the night of December 3rd, a group of gunmen attacked the musical group just a few days before they were to have a concert in Kingston’s National Heroes Park. Marley was hit by one bullet that hit his sternum and bicep, another hit Rita in the head. Although they both were struck, neither were severely injured.

Unfortunately, their manager Don Taylor was not so lucky as he was shot five times and had to undergo life-saving surgery. Even with the attack, the group decided together that they should still play the planned show. However, after the concert, Marley left the country to London, England.

In London is where Marley wrote and completed the iconic album, Exodus published in 1977. Originally released as a single, “Exodus,” became a hit in Britain, as were the songs “Waiting in Vain,” and “Jamming.” Every single song on the album stayed in the United Kingdom’s charts for over a year. Now, the album is considered to be one of the best albums that Marley ever made. In the same year, Marley had a health scare for which he sought treatment. He had previously injured his toe and during his treatment, it was discovered that there were cancerous cells and the doctors suggested for the toe to be amputated. Marley refused to have this surgery as it was prohibited by his religious beliefs.

In 1978, Marley went back to Jamaica, and he and the Wailers released the album, Kaya. This album's theme was love and featured the hits ``Satisfy My Soul” and “Is This Love.”

Since Marley was back in Jamaica the group performed the One Love Peace Concert on April 22nd. This concert is the one where Prime Minister Michael Manley of the People’s National Party and the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, Edward Seaga, shake hands on stage. This was during the peak of the concert during a rendition of the hit song “Jammin’.”

Marley invited both men on stage and guided their hands together over his head while performing the way he always did. Marley said:

“We gotta be together and through the spirit of the Most High, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie, we’re inviting a few leading people of the slaves to shake hands. To show the people that you love them right, to show the people that you're gonna unite. Watch, watch, watch what you’re doing, because I wanna send a message right out there... I’m not so good at talking, but I hope you understand what I’m trying to say. Could we have up here onstage the presence of Mr. Michael Manley and Mr. Edward Seaga? I just want to shake hands and show the people that we’re gonna make it right, we’re gonna unite… we’ve got to unite… Jah Rastafari!”

Although some enjoyed what Marley had done on stage, some called it idealistic and it was meant with heavy criticism, one person that felt that was was Peter Tosh, his former bandmate, During his own set at the concert he went into what some would call a tirade, berating both Manley and Seaga for their failures to help the poor population in Jamaica or to legalize cannabis. Directly after his speech he played a version of the song “Legalize It.”

Even with the controversy of the handshake, the One Love Peace Concert still is revered as an important moment standing for hope, reconciliation, and shared humanity during a stark politically problematic time. However, the moment did not end up de-escalating the situation. As of the present day in 2015, Jamaica amended their Ganja Law and now allows for cultivation for medical patients and permits cannabis for sacramental use by Rastafarians. With this change, sugar plantations were converted to grow cannabis and they are known to export to Canada and other areas. T

The following years after the One Love Peace Concert, Marley traveled to Africa and visited areas that were important to him like Kenya and Ethiopia. These places are often seen as the homelands of Rastafarianism. The album following his travels was called Survival in 1979 and many see it as a call for greater unity. In 1980, Bob Marley & the Wailers played an official independence ceremony for the new nation of Zimbabwe.

This was the year that their album Uprising was released, it featured “Redemption Song.” One of his most famous lines comes from this song: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.”

The tour to promote Uprising was the last tour that Bob Marley would ever do. Unfortunately, after playing their dates throughout Europe, they were only able to play three shows in the United States, two at Madison Square Garden and one at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh. During this time, cancer that had been found in Marley had spread throughout his body. Marley then went back to Europe to undergo some treatments in Germany but was only successful in fighting off cancer for a few months. It suddenly became clear that Marley did not have much longer to live. He wanted to return to Jamaica for one last time before he passed away. Sadly, Marley did not complete his travels back home and passed away in Miami, Florida on May 11th, 1981, at the young age of 36. thechronicmagazine.com APRIL 2022 44

Before his untimely passing, the Jamaican government gave him the Order of Merit. According to the Jamaica Information Service, the Order of Merit is an honor that “may be conferred upon any citizen of Jamaica or distinguished citizen of a country other than Jamaica (an honorary member) who has achieved eminent international distinction in the field of science, the arts, literature or any other endeavor. It is not conferred upon more than two persons in any one year. The motto of the Order is “He that does the truth comes into the light”, and a member of the Order is styled “The Honourable”. He additionally received the Medal of Peace from the United Nations in 1980. As he was seen as a hero in so many areas of Jamaica, more than 30,000 people attended his memorial service that was held in the National Arena in Kingston. At this ceremony, his wife, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt all sang as did the remaining members of the Wailers.

Marley’s legacy is carried on by his children and now his grandchildren. Many of his children are musicians and they have also made their mark in the history books. As mentioned before, Rita had three of Marley’s children, Cedella, David “Ziggy”, and Stephen. While it has been reported that Rita has always been married to Marley, he did have other children while married to her. In total, Marley had eleven children and seven different mothers, including Rita. Other than the three that have been mentioned, Marley’s children include Sharon and Stephanie (Rita’s daughters from a previous marriage whom Marley adopted), Robert and Karen (who have chosen to live a very private life outside of the public eye), Robert Junior “Robbie”, Rohan, Julian, Ky-Mani, Damian “Junior Gong”, and Madeka.

Marley’s children’s accomplishments are integral to his legacy. Sharon, Ziggy, Stephen, and Cedella founded a group called The Melody Makers in 1979. The Melody Makers featured Ziggy as a singer and guitarist, Stephen as a singer, guitarist, and drummer, and Cedella and Sharon as singers as well. Sharon was a longtime member of the group before she left to perform her own work, she is now is the curator of the Bob Marley Museum, a community organizer, and an activist. After Cedella left The Melody Makers, she went on the pursue a career in fashion. She has worked for Puma, Barneys New York, and designed the uniforms for the 2012 Jamaican Olympic team. Ziggy, who got his nickname from the David Bowie album Ziggy Stardust, has earned critical acclaim for his work in the music industry with both The Melody Makers and his own works. He has won five Grammy Awards over his career and even wrote the theme song for the well-known PBS children's show “Arthur.” Additionally, he wrote and published his own comic book called, “Maijuanaman”. Marijuanaman is likely not to be the comic many would assume it is, the premise of the comic is an extraterrestrial being called Marijuanaman who has come to Earth with an important message while he must also save his own planet. Ziggy has also done some acting work as well, he was in Shark Tale, Bear in the Big Blue House, Wonder Pets!, and Hawaii Five-0.

Lastly, of the members of The Melody Makers, Stephen has worked in music his entire life as well. Stephen has won eight Grammy Awards as a musician and record producer. He has worked with his siblings as well as Nelly, Michael Franti, and The Fugees. In 1993, Stephen founded the record label Ghetto Youths International with Ziggy. (There is also a Ghetto Youths Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to benefit underprivileged communities in Jamaica and around the world.) One of Stephen’s albums called Chant Down Babylon featured a fusion of his father’s original vocal outtakes from some of the recording sessions he had done for Island Records in the 1970s. He has also started the annual Kaya Fest in 2017, a musical awareness festival that focuses on cannabis, its benefits, and its educational opportunities.

Another of Marley’s sons, Rohan, is a former collegiate and professional football layer; playing for both the University of Miami and the Canadian Football League’s Ottowa Rough Riders. He also co-founded the Tuff Gong clothing line and Marley Coffee businesses. (The Tuff Gong clothing line is based on the Tuff Gong record label that Bob Marley and the Wailers founded together in the early 1970s, apparel is available online but be careful, there may be some copycats out there! Marley Coffee can be found online and all over Canada. They call themselves “coffee with purpose,” they give back to One Tree Planted. One Tree Plants plants trees in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.) Marley’s adopted daughter Stephanie has focused on the business side of the family’s music and is the director of the Marley Resort and Spa; the converted former family vacation home in Nassau, Bahamas.

This resort is set on Cable Beach and surrounded by tropical gardens, it is highly rated and features 16 themed suites that blend the Marley family history and comfort perfectly. Marley’s daughter, Madeka, has made waves in the Black Lives Matter movement; she did a speech to a crowd during the 2020 Washington rallies.

The final three children have all also made their own waves within the family music tradition. Julian is a Grammy Award-nominated reggae musician and a devoted follower of the Rastafarian tradition, he is also the only son of Marley that was born in England. One of Julian’s most popular songs is “Boom Draw.” Ky-Mani, whose name means “Adventurous Traveler” in East Africa, makes both reggae and dancehall music, he has worked with artists like Shaggy and Young Buck. He has also starred in a couple of films as well, “Shotta” and “One Love.” Junior Gong is the youngest of all the Marley children. He also makes reggae music, has been awarded three Grammys and has worked with a multitude of artists like Skrillex, Nas, and Mick Jagger. He is still making music and touring like some of his siblings, he is actually going on tour later this year in a few places in Europe.

Since Marley had so many children, Marley has also been blessed with many grandchildren. They have also contributed to music and other creative outlets preserving the legacy of their grandfather. Having made such a movement in the music industry even after his death, Marley is quite the marvel of a man. Cedella has two children, Skip and Soul-Rebel, Cedella’s firstborn son. Skip is a singer-songwriter that has won two Grammy awards at the young age of 25. He also has songs featuring HER, Popcaan, Ari Lennox, Rick Ross, and, his uncle, Junior Gong. Ziggy has seven children: Daniel “Bombaata”, Justice, and Zuri are his adult children, Judah, Gideon, Abraham, and Isaiah are all still young children. Bombaata is a singer-songwriter, his first solo single was titled, “Live It Inna Fear,” and was produced by Junior Gong under the Ghetto Youth International label. Justice is a fashion designer with her own brand called More Justice. She focuses on streetwear that she calls “timeless,” a style that represents the well-needed message of justice. Zuri is also a singer-songwriter, she has her own music but has sung on a song by Dev Hynes called “Love Ya” under the pseudonym Blood Orange.

Stephen Marley might have the most children of all of the Marley siblings. He has twelve children whom he adores: Jo Mersa, Zipporah, Shacia, Jeremiah, Benjamin, Summer, Mystic, Yohan, Stephen Junior, Lailah, and Binghi. Jo Mersa is Stephen’s eldest child and a singer-songwriter, he has created music with his cousin Bombaata such as the single, “My Girl.” Shacia is a well-known DJ who creates her own music. The rest of his children tend to live a quieter lifestyle and are said to avoid paparazzi and social media, with a grandfather as renowned as theirs it is an understandable choice. Of Marley’s adopted daughters, Sharon and Stephanie, only Sharon is reported to have any children: Donisha, Inglemar, Peter-Shane, and Matthew. Donisha Prendergast is an actor, model, dancer, and poet. She has been the lead in many pieces for “Jambiz,” a production company in Jamaica. Her first role was Karen in “Puppy Love,” after that she played Cindy Relisha in “Cindy Relisha and the DJ Prince.” One of her latest roles was of the psychotic Shamika in “The Last Stand.”

Ky-Mani has children as well, however, the reports vary on how many, the only ones that are clearly listed as his are Ky-Mani Junior “KJ” and Kastin. There are other reports that claim he has six children, unfortunately, it is difficult to know for sure.

(Apologies if some of his children are unlisted.) Junior Gong has had two children: Elijah and Christian. Elijah is twelve years old and already making moves within the music industry, he recently did a few covers, published on Tuff Gong Television’s YouTube channel, like “Three Little Birds” and “Imagine” by John Lennon. Julian Marley did have one child, Caveri, and unfortunately, she passed away due to cancer at the age of eleven.

Some of Marley’s grandchildren are even from two celebrity parents like Rohan has had five children with, his now expartner, acclaimed musician and actress Lauryn Hill: Zion, Selah, Joshua, John, and Sarah. Rohan has three other children from two other relationships: Eden, Nico, and Maria. Selah is now a part of the modeling industry, she walked in Season 4 of Kanye’s Yeezy line as well as editorial shoots for magazines like Vogue. Her other noteworthy work was in Beyonce's Ivy Park campaign and in the luxury brand Miu Miu's lookbook, which she was the face of. John is also a model and has worked for the menswear line "The Brooklyn Circus.” Rohan’s son, Nico, is an American football player. He has played for Tulane and was signed by the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

With all his grandchildren keeping his legacy intact it’s important to recognize some of the other achievements from Bob Marley before his tragic passing. He was and is a pillar within the cannabis and musical community who is still widely recognized and loved. He earned an induction into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame in 1994 and was dubbed the first international superstar to come from a so-called “Third World '' country. Additionally, in January of 2018, Island Records founder Chirs Blackwell sold the majority of their rights to Marley’s music to Primary Wave Music Publishing, which also owns some of Whitney Houston’s catalog. Primary Wave is known for its branding and marketing campaigns for what they call “the icons and legends of the business.” The founder stated that “There isn’t a crevice of the world where Bob Marley isn’t a god.” Reports of this incident claim that they own eighty percent of Marley’s catalog at the cost of nearly 50 million dollars. As of last year, Primary Wave was invested in by Oaktree Capital Music LLP with 375 million dollars.

One of Marley’s main goals in his life was to fight oppression and we are able to continue his goal with the organization that was established in his memory by his family: The Bob Marley Foundation, founded by his wife Rita who has kept Marley’s spirit alive in various communities through her contribution both financial and cultural resources. His foundation is dedicated to helping people and other organizations in developing nations. The non-profit, non-government foundation’s vision is “to positively impact those around us and alleviate poverty by providing aid to vulnerable and underserved communities throughout Jamaica while enacting lasting change... through community upliftment initiatives focusing on Education, Sports, Culture, Healthcare and Sustainable Development with One Love, One Heart, One Voice.” Their continued dedication to Marley’s lifestyle is based in honesty, transparency, accountability, commitment, and integrity.

Some of the Bob Marley Foundation’s previous and current partners include Women’s Health Network – Jamaica, Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment Foundation, Golden Sand Foundation, The Integrative Clinic International Organization, Nine Miles Charitable Foundation, Nine Miles United Districts Citizens Association, Wrangler Jeans, Partners for Youth Empowerment, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Jamaica Football Federation, Sandals Foundation, and Citizens of Humanity. Each of these organizations donates to areas that share the vision as Marley.

Knowing the history of Bob Marley is one part of his legacy but the other is the real impact that his music continues to make today. Fun Fact: Sirius XM Radio has a Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong station on channel 19. One of the hosts is even one of Marley’s children, Cedella, she hosts her own monthly show called, “Nice Time.” This station originates from the Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica, once monthly they have a live music session called Jam-In that features Jamaica’s more popular sounds and artists, musical and otherwise. The Marley channel is meant to be dedicated to Marley’s work as well as the generation that follows him, including his own children and grandchildren. In December of 2020, the headliner of Jam-In was the comedy duo of Ity & Fancy Cat. That year was Marley’s 75th earth strong and the 40 year anniversary of the release of “Redemption Song.” It was the perfect year for Tuff Gong International and Rita Marley to partner with SiriusXM for this channel. Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer of SiriusXM, was quoted as saying, “Bob Marley and his music has transcended time, reaching fans and listeners of every generation across the globe. We are so proud to work with the Marley family to bring this full-time channel to life with his music, his message of social justice, and his legacy, represented by members of his family and those that knew him best.”

Having his own radio station is only further proof of how much the world wants to hear his music and reggae music in general. Let’s take a moment and look at one of Marley’s most well-known and impactful songs and their lyrics. This quote comes from “Three Little Birds”: “Don't worry 'bout a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right”. Although the line is simple in nature, it has made a huge impact on many different areas of media, even if you didn't know the line was from Marley, you may have heard it before. Part of this line's impact lies in how no matter what year it is, what era, there will always be something to worry about and people will always need to relax and have faith.

Now Marley can serve almost as a symbol for freedom of mind, spiritual awakenings, and ambassador of all things relating to health and wellness, both inside and out. His image calls for love, kindness, and unity. We fans can only look to the future and do our best to keep Marley’s ideals alive and strong. Within the cannabis community, it seems as if his ideas are already intertwined with them. One of his famous quotes is, “Don’t trust people whose feelings change with time. Trust people whose feelings remain the same, even when the time changes.” This may be one of the best quotes to live and to remember Bob Marley by, keeping fairweather friends is not conducive to one's mental health and wellbeing. Be sure to live by Marley’s words and his actions, we, as his fans, can be agents for change, peace, and love, not just by partaking in cannabis.