Author and hemp activist Jack Herer has died

Author and activist Jack Herer died Thursday in Eugene, Ore. The 70-year-old activist was in ill health following a heart attack he experienced after leaving the Hempstalk festival stage in Portland last fall.

Herer, pictured in 1996, was a longtime marijuana activist and the author of the landmark book "The Emperor Wears No Clothes: The Authoritative Historical Record of Cannabis and the Conspiracy Against Marijuana." By 2004, it had been through 16 printings and published more than 600,000 copies. In 2004, the L.A. Times wrote:

Today, Herer is widely credited with launching the modern hemp movement, a persistent campaign by an eclectic coalition of environmentalists, legislators, rights activists, farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs and others to end the maligned plant's banishment and tap its potential as a natural resource. ...

When Jack Herer began his quest to emancipate hemp, he just assumed that everyone would find the essential facts about the plant's qualities so compelling that the battle would be won in six months -- two years, tops. That was 29 years ago.

One of the many people intrigued by Herer's book was Dave West, a Midwest plant breeder with a doctorate in breeding and genetics. His curiosity about hemp had already been piqued by something he witnessed in the mid-1980s as he toiled one sweltering day in a Wisconsin cornfield. A helicopter suddenly appeared low in the sky, then hovered over an adjacent field while several men rappelled to the ground. It was a drug-enforcement operation going after wild marijuana. "Which, as a plant breeder and as somebody who grew up in Wisconsin, I knew was preposterous," West recalls. "I knew this was feral hemp and nobody wanted it, and that's why it was growing as a weed out there and nobody was picking it."

Herer, known to some as "the Hemperor," posted half of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" online. Though he used to sell copies of the book from his website, sales have been suspended since September; now it is listed from Amazon resellers for $33-$93.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

Photo: Jack Herer in Venice Beach in 1996. Credit: Steve Dykes

Comments

[Micah]

Herer did more to bring cannabis hemp back into the world's consciousness than probably any other single person, and we're all the better for it. Without him and his book, we still might be unaware of hemp's prominent role in world history.

Godspeed, Jack, and thank you.

[BCBud]

Rest in Peace Jack- I have followed your work for years... Your work is unfinished but many others are here to carry on. You will be missed.

[Herbal Rx]

What a sad day for us all-he was an inspiration-Without Jack I wouldnt be able to be where I am today. Its almost scary without him-Peace-Relegalize!!!!!!!

[El_Jardinero420]

Jack Herer is the sole reason why I decided to become part of the cannabis movement and to attend Oaksterdam University in Los Angeles and to become the 3rd class to graduate from the LA area , Thank You Jack for your courage and relentless effort to improve all of our lives and to guide us away from ignorance to educated bliss.

[Green]

RIP. Great guy. Great book. He'll be sorely missed, but not forgotten.

[Phil E. Drifter]

R.I.P. Jack! You will be sorely missed and I'll never forget your good humor and the short discussion I had with you after I sent you a note to let you know of a very minor typo on your website, jackherer.com

Your battle will not be lost! It's a shame you didn't live to see California legalizing it this November.

the 'war on (some) drugs' was waged to replace outlawed slave labor with prison labor. Who in their right mind would think of outlawing naturally growing plants that grow right from the ground? But it was the minorities who were using it instead of drinking the white man's alcohol which kills tens of thousands every year, not this nonlethal plant. It's impossible to overdose on cannabis, which cannot be said of alcohol.

Read timyurl.com/1mn for the real history of the 'war on (some) drugs.'

[malcolm kyle]

Thank you Jack for all you did to save us from our own wanton ignorance!

The only people that believe prohibition is working are the ones making a living by enforcing laws in it's name, and those amassing huge fortunes on the black market profits. This situation is wholly unsustainable, and as history has shown us, conditions will continue to deteriorate until we finally, just like our forefathers, see sense and revert back to tried and tested methods of regulation. None of these substances, legal or illegal, are ever going to go away, but we CAN decide to implement policies that do far more good than harm.

During alcohol prohibition, all profits went to enrich thugs and criminals. Young men died every day on inner-city streets while battling over “turf" while we wasted a fortune on enforcement instead of on treatment. On top of the budget-busting prosecution and incarceration costs we also missed out on billions in tax. Finally the economy collapsed. Sound familiar?

[Damien Margo]

As a friend of Jack's, and as a freedom fighter for hemp since the late 80's, I must make sure that the spirit of Jack Herer lives on. America: we need to legalize marijuana in all its forms if this country is to survive! There is no other option for this country or this planet but to embrace this incredible natural sustainable resource. Prohibition of marijuana is one of the greatest crimes the human race can commit. If we are to honor this man, or the truth itself, we will end prohibition and fully legalize marijuana. Nobody who smokes marijuana or grows marijuana is a criminal unless an unjust law is imposed. Marijuana is not a crime in any way, shape, or form. To evolve as a human race would be to realize this fact, and adjust our actual laws accordingly. Write your congressman: the alcohol model can work for marijuana. Anyone over 21 should be able to buy immaculate marijuana anywhere alcohol is sold. Let's tax it, regulate it, and become the agricultural force that the USA is meant to be. There is no more time.

[Corlee R]

Jack Herer touched me. I watch his movie called "Emperor of Hemp" that monday and wrote a report for my english class. I was looking up more infomation on him and relized he had died. i was devistated and sad, now im doing a commerative speech on him. Jack Herer was strongwilled and i wish i could be like him someday. Thank you for all you did, Jack. Bring love and peace to the family.

[Koen]

Shall we not lay his hard work undone. We must continue

[Ken Nabis]

The epitome of a Hemp Warrior...Freedom Fighter Jack Herer's spirit lives on. Thank you for your persistence and determination. Rest assure the mission you and Captain Ed Adair set out for is now ours...the torch has been passed.

Peace Be With You!

[Hempology 101]

The Hemperor will go down in history as the man who brought together a movement and taught us to be proud of who we are and what we believe. The few precious hours I spent in his company will forever be etched in my heart. I learned so much through his impassioned and determined energy. We need to honour Jack's legacy and see that California legalizes so that his dream may become reality... May you live for ever as a giant hemp plant for all the people of this earth. Long Live the Hemperor! Love, peace and pot.

[Ted Couillard]

Jack's book inspired me when I was in my twenties, and I worked in hemp activism for many years to follow, even hosting Jack and Elvy Musikka for a debate with a local DEA official at the University of Miami (c 1994). I was fortunate enough to bump into Jack two years ago at Seattle Hempfest and say, "Hi". It was good to see him after all those years. Jack was a fascinating person, a firebrand speaker and the world is a bit dimmer without him.

Thank you Jack, for everything. I know the CA voters will do you proud in November.

[Eve Lentz]

Jack Herer, may we continue to HEAR the thunder of your voice calling us to action, to SMELL the heavenly aroma of the Cannabis Hemp Plant, to TASTE the lovely fruits of hemp foods that are so healthy for us, to FEEL the luscious touch of hemp clothing against our bodies and to SEE Cannabis Hemp legalized and respected ,as it once was in the past! You brought us all so much knowledge about Hemp, that was hidden from us for decades! Thank you for not giving up, when people didn't, at first, believe you. You told me that everyone even laughed at you, thought you were a "crazy loon" and wouldn't even read your book. You walked Venice Beach and talked to every person who would listen to you about Hemp. You walked your talk and talked your walk until "THEY", finally, believed you! The truth came to light, as it always does! I have found COURAGE & FREEDOM with your words of advice and wisdom! I miss your beaming smile that always lit up when you were happy to see someone you loved, your strong but gentle hugs and your calls asking me "what are you doing, now?" For NOW is when we need to act to see the change we desire. What you brought to the WORLD was a gift of love and hope for a dying planet! Your Mom, I'm sure, is so proud of you (as we all are) and I know she is happy to have you with her, now! (You've always missed her, so!) Jack, I wish you sweet, sweet peace, dear heart, and may the rest of us aspire to continue what you have started!

[North Florida Family]

Jack, you touched our lives in such a profound way, we will love you forever more. Founder of this explosive movement, know that your work will continue with the next generation and will be accomplished one day very soon. A lifetime of hardwork, you brought the rest of us into awareness, we will miss you dearly and love you always. Find peace & rest well....

[John McCabe]

Sad to hear this news. I'm glad we had you while we did. You did so much good. More people should be as brave as you. Thank you for being.
John McCabe, author: Hemp: What the World Needs Now!

[Tom McCarty]

I'm so sorry for this great loss, however let's celebrate his great gifts. Jacks gifts were great and he enlightened so many, about so much. The true waste is that not enough people listened to Jack. Hemp could have saved the planet, but de-regulated and out of control Capitalism ruined all that.

Thanks anyway, for things that could have been: and still may be.

R.I.P. Jack, We all love and respect you

Peace, Tom

[mrbigbud]

THANKS JACK FOR ALL UR HARD WORK FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO HAVE TRYED TO DO THE SAME WORK.ITS HARD TO FORGET THE HEMPORER GONE BUT NOT FORGOTIN.ONE LAST THING THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD SMOKE.YOU LOST WAS A SAD ONE FOR ME WHEN I FOUND OUT I HAD TO GET ME SOME OF UR BEST STRAINS. REST IN PEACE JACK.........!

[Ray Perry]

Jack STOMPED the Terra! He was a heavy weight water buffalo who could walk through a concrete block wall, come out the other side wiping dust and caked sand off of this lapel, speaking out the entire time for justice, AND LOOK GOOD DOING IT!! When I was at this home in the San Fernando Valley on Christmas Eve, Jack went out of his way to make he feel at home with him, and his family, and in the absence of my family. Jack was a very, very good, neat, and cool guy, who I'm glad I got the chance to meet and enjoy his friendship! He was a real man and true - true in words, deeds, friendships, and Love in his heart for every humans being. --THE WORLD WILL MISS HIS PASSING--
R.I.P. Jack, Ray Perry, Des Moines, IA.

[Budda Smoker]

Rest in peace Jack. Much respect and love. Im gonna blaze this bowl of cush with hash oil in your memory. A man who was willing to risk it all for something he believed in.