The world of cannabis is littered with influential figures, from activists and breeders to scientists and celebrities. Among these titans, some stand alone as true icons in cannabis culture. Without their efforts and achievements, cannabis culture as a whole might very well be different than it is today.
What Makes A Cannabis Icon?
Unlike other fields like sport or entertainment, becoming an icon in cannabis is about more than mere popularity or recognition. Sure, it doesn’t hurt to be well-known, and some of the names on this list certainly reflect that. But what sets these people apart is their influence. You don’t become a cannabis icon just for smoking joints. Each entry on our list of icons has earned the right to be there by kicking down doors, breaking glass ceilings, working tirelessly to further the science or the culture of cannabis down the decades.
In tribute to their achievements, we bring you ten of the most important icons in cannabis.
Jack Herer
If we’re talking about influential figures who’ve helped shape the culture into what it is today, Jack Herer simply has to make the list. The man known as The Hemperor is probably the greatest cannabis activist of all time. As the founder and director of HEMP – Help End Marijuana Prohibition, Herer worked tirelessly throughout his life to spread the truth about the plant’s potential as a medicine, as well as its other uses for clothing, fuel, food, fibre and paper. His now-infamous book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, has been quoted and cited in countless attempts to decriminalize and legalise cannabis.
So influential is Herer that he has a cannabis strain named in his honour. The Jack Herer sativa was originally produced by Sensi Seeds, and now almost every major seed bank offers their own version of the legendary tribute strain.
Jorge Cervantes
Master cannabis grower, author, and good friend of Seedsman Jorge Cervantes is a true living legend in the cannabis industry. Thanks to a career spanning 39 years, and a comprehensive library of books and DVDs on marijuana horticulture, Jorge’s legacy to cannabis is already assured.
Jorge has sold over 1m books on the subject of cannabis horticulture, the most famous being Indoor Marijuana Horticulture. First published in 1983, the grower’s bible has been translated into numerous languages, and is so widely respected as a guide that many cannabis universities in the USA use it as their main textbook. His latest book, We Grow Cannabis, was written in conjunction with Seedsman and is available to download free from our website. As the most influential writer on the subject of marijuana horticulture, Cervantes is more than worthy of icon status.
Cheech & Chong
Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong’s contribution to cannabis culture cannot be overlooked. Sure, they’re stoners – and two of the most recognisable stoners on the planet, even to this day. Many of us have seen at least one Cheech and Chong film, but their body of work throughout the 1970s and 80s has become timeless. Their names are a by-word for someone who smokes, and their adventures in film captured much of the silliness a lot of us have been through while having high times of our own. Face it – we’ve all got at least one story that could be lifted from a Cheech and Chong movie.
The Cheech and Chong films summed up cannabis culture through cannabis-themed comedy, joint-related japes and stoner stereotypes based very much in truths. After stepping away from the silver screen, the two remained beloved – but rest upon their laurels they did not. Countless smaller roles in film and TV followed, including cameo appearances and voiceover work. Tommy Chong carried on his love affair with the herb, launching his own cannabis brand, Chong’s Choice, in 2016.
Bob Marley
As synonymous with cannabis culture as joints and bongs, Bob Marley is as important to cannabis as he is to Jamaica and as he is to Reggae music. Often pictured with a joint in his hand or on his lips, Marley famous advocated for the herb in many interviews.
Many people don’t know that Bob Marley used cannabis as part of his religion. As a practising Rastafarian, Marley saw the plant as a means of connecting with the spiritual, to assist meditation and gain a deeper understanding of the universe. Far out. Bob didn’t light up for the fun of it - rather, every time he blazed. He was participating in a holy ceremony. Marijuana allowed Bob to access and harness his spiritually divine gifts – in his case, music and poetry. Marley once claimed, “Herb is the healing of the nation”, and heal he certainly did. His music and memory are synonymous with peace and love to this day, and his image still adorns the bedroom walls of students, activists, and peace-loving people worldwide.
Sam The Skunk Man
What do we owe Sam The Skunk Man? A pretty big debt of thanks, if you’re a fan of Skunk cannabis strains. Legend tells that it was he – or possibly a group of growers overseen by Sam – who first brought Skunk cannabis to bear, and would work hard to stabilise the genetics of the variety that would go on to become the mother of countless other new varieties.
Sam’s links to the Haze Brothers and the Sacred Seed Collective are enough to cement his place in cannabis lore. Indeed, few would argue that Sam (real name Dave Watson) changed the game. To this day, Skunk #1 is a best-seller, and a breeder’s staple (thanks to those stable genetics) when creating new strains. Quite the legacy.
Notable mentions: Ben Dronkers, DJ Short
Raphael Mechoulam
You may have come across the name Raphael Mechoulam before, but if you haven’t, it’s worth remembering. Stoners and scientists across the world owe Dr Mechoulam a debt of gratitude. Known as the Godfather of THC, it was Mechoulam who isolated and identified tetrahydrocannabinol through his work in 1964. If this wasn’t enough of an achievement for legacy, Mechoulam also discovered the entourage effect, which hypothesises that other compounds in cannabis work with THC to create the positive effects of the drug.
Put simply, Dr Mechoulam is the world’s leading authority on cannabinoids. It was his research team at the University of Jerusalem who discovered the endocannabinoid system, when, in 1992, they isolated the first known endocannabinoid in the human brain. It’s beyond any doubt that, thanks to the work of Dr Mechoulam and his team, the medical community has the understanding of the therapeutic potential of cannabis it does today.
Willie Nelson
Known to many as a legend of Country Music, Willie Nelson has been around for so long that he may be older than grass itself. His status as a cannabis icon is thanks to his open advocacy and activism for the plant both publicly as a bona fide legend of the music industry, and in his role as Co-Chair of National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
In addition, Nelson threw his hat in the ring as an entrepreneur of sorts, opening Willie’s Reserve, a line of marijuana products that celebrates Willie’s love of cannabis and cannabis culture, in 2015. Willie famously quit smoking cannabis in 2019, but remains a proud activist, even at the ripe old age of 89. How big a stoner was Willie Nelson? He famously outsmoked rapper Snoop once. That, alone, is enough to achieve icon status in our book.
Keith Stroup
He may not be a household name, even among the stoner set, but attorney and marijuana activist Keith Stroup’s efforts will be etched in cannabis history forever. As the founder of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), Stroup has arguably done more for the legalization of marijuana than any one individual. Founded by Stroup in 1971, NORML is the oldest lobbying organization fighting for and end to prohibition. The group has advocated for the reform of marijuana laws, both medical and non-medical, and the removal of all penalties for possession and responsible use. Throughout the 1970s, NORML successfully lobbied to decriminalise minor marijuana offences in 11 states, and lower penalties significantly in all others. NORML’s tireless advocacy continues to this day, and you can view their achievements here.
With Keith Stroup at the helm, NORML continues the fight for marijuana reform and is still racking up wins.
Jane West
Founder of the national cannabis networking organisation, Women Grow, Jane West is a longtime cannabis enthusiast whose achievements in the cannabis industry are beyond impressive. Starting in 2014, when she co-founded Women Grow as a business network for women in the cannabis industry, West then raised $1m in capital financing to develop the Jane West lifestyle brand, which luxury smoking products such as high-end glass bongs and other smoking products, before expanding the business to include CBD products such as CBD coffee and capsules.
One of the most successful modern-day activists in the cannabis industry, West’s legacy includes designing and inventing products for better cannabis consumption.
Dennis Peron
Co-author of Prop 215, Dennis Peron played a huge part in reshaping the legal framework surrounding marijuana use in the 1990s. Put simply, Peron is the father of legal medical marijuana. It’s not a stretch to say Peron changed the world. His efforts to legal medical marijuana in California had a knock-on effect that echoed round the globe in the years after Prop 215 was accepted and brought into being. Peron realised the relief cannabis was bringing to patients with AIDS, and took it upon himself to make legalisation a priority. Beginning by scoring a win in San Francisco, Peron then set his sights on the state of California, eventually achieving his goal of legalisation in 1996.
Fast-forward to today, and medical marijuana is legal in 37 states across America, with others expected to follow suit soon. Dennis Peron started the ball rolling, and it hasn’t stopped since. Dennis, we salute you.
