Bob Marley Attached To First Global Marijuana Brand

The family of reggae icon Bob Marley and a Seattle-based private equity firm said Tuesday they were launching the first global cannabis brand with marijuana products sold under a name long tied to a plant he lovingly called "the herb."

The brand, dubbed Marley Natural, marks the first time the family's name will adorn packages of cannabis products. They'll range from strains similar to those Bob Marley might have smoked in his homeland, Jamaica, to concentrates, oils and infused lotions sold in countries and U.S. states that have taken steps to decriminalize and legalize pot use and sales.

Marley, credited with helping to spread Jamaican music to a worldwide audience with hits like "No Woman, No Cry" and "I Shot the Sheriff," died of cancer in 1981 at age 36.

"He viewed the herb as something spiritual that could awaken our well-being, deepen our reflection, connect us to nature and liberate our creativity," Cedella Marley, Bob's daughter, said in a statement announcing the deal.

The agreement came weeks after two states voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Retail shops selling such products already operate in Colorado and Washington state.

The sale of cannabis remains illegal in much of the world, but countries mainly in Europe and the Americas have decrminalized it by varying degrees.

The Netherlands permits the sale of marijuana in "coffee shops." Israel, Canada and nearly half of U.S. states have allowed its medicinal use. And Uruguay has legalized its use.

In the U.S., marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration did not immediately respond to requests for interviews about about the Marleys' plans.

The Marley Natural brand would likely be seen on cannabis and other products and accessories by late 2015 under the 30-year global licensing arrangement between the family and Seattle-based private equity firm Privateer Holdings.

The brand, a wholly owned subsidiary based in New York, will produce and sell hemp-infused topicals and accessories in countries around the world. It could enter into licensing agreements governing production and packaging requirements with growers and processors that sell cannabis and cannabis-infused products in the U.S.

Marley's family said in 2009 it would partner with Hilco Consumer Capital to license products ranging from apparel to video games.

I got that Marley …..

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