If there were a Mount Rushmore of hemp, Jack Herer’s head would be the first to be etched in the side of a mountain, solidifying an homage to the fight for the legalization of hemp. Jack Herer is as synonymous with hemp as Santa Claus is with Christmas, or fireworks on the 4th of July. In this article we will look deeper into the life of Jack Herer, his pursuits in the hemp industry, and why Jack Herer is considered the “Godfather” of hemp.
Conservative Beginnings
Born in Brooklyn, New York on June 18th, to a traditional Jewish family, Jack Herer did not start out as a hemp advocate. Rather, Jack Herer was, by his own account, a “Goldwater Republican”, with traditionally conservative views. During the time of the Korean War, 17-year-old Jack Herer joined the United States Army, where he was an MP (Military Police). As a matter of fact, he didn’t experience cannabis until he was in his thirties. His first strain was Acapulco Gold, and after the experience, it is said that he became a “most vigorous zealot ” for the cause of cannabis legalization everywhere.
“This girl wanted me to experience something I'd never experienced. She tried three times to get me high. Finally it worked, and I had the most incredible sex I'd ever had.” - Jack Herer
The Beginning of a Movement
The early 1970s is when you can begin to see Jack Herer become active in the hemp movement. After a divorce and moving to California, he opened the first head shop on Venice beach in 1973 where he sold glass pipes.
Jack Herer also began writing. He collaborated with friend Al Emmanuel in the writing of a cartoon book called “Grass: Revolutionary American Standard System. The Official Guide for Assessing the Quality of Marijuana on the 1 to 10 Scale”. Check it out here.
It was also during this time that Jack Herer began to write “The Emperor Wears No Clothes: The Authoritative Historical Record of the Cannabis Plant, Marijuana Prohibition & How Hemp Can Save the World”. This publication, first appearing in 1985, is considered by many to be the ‘Hemp Bible’, and is in its 14th edition. It is a compilation of information gathered by Jack Herer and collaborator “Captain” Ed Adair regarding the many uses of hemp, as well as cited reasons that led to the criminalization of hemp.
Within the book, Jack Herer can be cited as showing the many benefits of hemp, including, “repairing the atmosphere, reversing the effects of pollution, transport fuel, clothes, and restoring the soil”.
“Hemp for Victory! Let our people go. Let our people grow. And never allow our politicians again impose such fanatical prohibition laws against any natural substance in its natural form. We almost lost the seed and knowledge to save the planet.” - The Emperor Has No Clothes, Jack Herer
Jack Herer continued his pursuit of bringing hemp to legal status with the formation of H.E.M.P. (Help End Marijuana Prohibition), where he served as director. Using the organization as a platform to help advocate for the use of hemp, Jack Herer rallied support from across the nation in favor of hemp reform.
“Growing hemp as nature designed it is vital to our urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases and ensure the survival of our planet.” - Jack Herer
Jack Herer: The Strain
His advocacy inspired the strain “Jack Herer”, originally developed by Sensi Seeds, a Dutch cannabis seed bank. This was done as a homage to Jack Herer’s fight for the decriminalization of hemp, and his pursuits of informing the world of hemp’s benefits.
Many companies like Cloud 8 have developed their own versions of the strain in homage to the man that advocated for hemp rights. With its Sativa/Hybrid properties, the strain of Jack Herer has been a long-chosen favorite for both newcomers to the hemp world as well as long time users. Its original recipe combined a “hybrid Haze with Northern Lights and Shiva Skunk.”
