Marijuana Joint Backed By Bob Marley’s Son May Come To Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Rohan Marley, entrepreneur and son of legendary reggae musician Bob Marley, is part of a group that’s trying to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Montclair, a report says.

Marley is partnering with Colorado-based dispensary Lightshade on the endeavor, and would help with marketing and hiring if their application is approved. The staunch advocate for cannabis legalization raised his children in South Orange, NorthJersey.com reported.

Marley and Lightshade are members of a venture partnership with retired OB-GYN Anthony Caggiano, Erik Caggiano, a cannabis manufacturing facilities manager, and Montclair-based labor and employment attorney John Zidziunas, NorthJersey.com reported. (Read the full article)

Unlike his brothers Ziggy, Damian and Stephen, Rohan Marley didn’t follow in his father’s musical footsteps.

According to his website, Marley was born in Jamaica in 1972 and later moved to the United States in 1984. He studied sociology at the University of Miami, where he also played as a linebacker for the Hurricanes. After school he went on to play one year as a professional in the Canadian Football League.

The co-founder of Marley Coffee, he recently signed on as the spokesperson for agricultural biotechnology company Zero Gravity Solutions Inc. as it explores the “rapidly expanding legal hemp and cannabis grower markets.”

Like his father, Marley has been a vocal supporter of legalizing recreational marijuana, and has touted cannabis as a powerful medicine, a stance recently supported by the U.S. FDA.

“It’s about awakening ourselves to a plant that has tremendous value, and so many positive things it can do,” Marley recently told The Daily Beast when asked about the benefits of marijuana.

• See related article: FDA Calls Marijuana Ingredient 'Beneficial,' Wants To Know More
• See related article: New Jersey Marijuana Patients Offer Human Side To Weed Debate

Currently, Montclair is home to one of New Jersey’s six licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, Greenleaf Compassion Center. Other Alternative Treatment Centers are located in Egg Harbor, Woodbridge, Cranbury, Bellmawr and Secaucus.

The state’s medical marijuana landscape is on the brink of a massive expansion, however. In December 2018, NJDOH officials announced the locations of six new proposed dispensaries in Phillipsburg, Paterson, Elizabeth, Ewing, Atlantic City and Vineland.

• See related article: NJ Names 6 Towns Up For New Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

In June – at the urging of Gov. Phil Murphy – the New Jersey Department of Health announced that it's clearing the way for up to 108 new dispensaries to open their doors.

• See related article: NJ Plans Huge Increase In Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Hopefully, the new dispensaries will help more than 47,000 medical marijuana patients in New Jersey cope with a chronic shortage of cannabis and sky-high prices, officials say.

• See related article: New Jersey Marijuana Patients Need Lower Prices, More Weed

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