Who Is Jack Herer and What Was His Role in Cannabis?

When you hear “Jack Herer,” you probably think of the award-winning cannabis strain. But who is Jack Herer? If you don’t know the answer, you should. As cannabis and hemp lovers, we owe a lot to this fearless trailblazer. Sadly, he’s no longer with us, but his legacy lives on—and his larger-than-life story is worthy of its own sweeping Hollywood biopic. 

You know the strain. Now meet the man behind it. 

Who Is Jack Herer? 

Jack Herer was a cannabis activist who dedicated his life to raising awareness about the benefits of both marijuana and hemp. He was also committed to raising awareness about the government’s role in covering up these benefits—which landed him in a lot of hot water over the course of his lifetime. 

He was born in New York in 1939, but he spent most of his adult life on the West Coast, making his way between the cannabis-rich meccas of Northern California and Oregon. The so-called “Emperor of Hemp” was a hard man to miss: 6 feet tall, 230 pounds, with disheveled hair, a scraggly beard, and hippie-inspired clothing. He was a mainstay at cannabis and hemp conventions and rallies along the coast, and his passionate voice helped ignite the spark that would help to change the course of cannabis and hemp legalization in the U.S. 

Jack Herer’s Early Life 

Jack Herer dropped out of high school and served in the Korean war as a military police officer. Once his service was complete, he worked a number of odd jobs—including as a sign painter—to support his family. He brought his wife and kids to Los Angeles in the late sixties, and that was where he discovered cannabis. 

Herer was 30 years old when he smoked his first joint, and within a few short years, he would dedicate his entire life to changing public attitudes and public policy regarding cannabis. He developed one of the first marijuana grading systems (the Great Revolutionary American Standard System) and designed a number of cannabis consumption tools. 

Jack Herer the Activist

Jack Herer wanted to change public policy. He traveled across the country speaking to the public and to public officials in the hopes of winning hearts and minds. He also co-created a political action committee known as the Reefer Raiders, which used some confrontational tactics to get their message across. For instance, the Reefer Raiders would gather outside of federal buildings and smoke weed right in the open—much to the frustration of the lawmakers inside. 

In 1981, Herer spent two weeks in jail for this fearless brand of protest. In 1983, he was given two years’ probation and slapped with a $1,500 fine for running a head shop that sold cannabis and hemp paraphernalia. But he was still largely unknown at this point. In 1985, the activist would truly make a name for himself.

The Emperor Wears No Clothes 

In 1985, Jack Herer published his magnum opus, The Emperor Wears No Clothes. It was the culmination of years of firsthand research, a damning book chronicling the sordid history of cannabis criminalization in the U.S.—complete with stories of government cover-ups and hypocrisies through the years. It also detailed the practical benefits of hemp (and its applications for paper, fiber fuel, and beyond) and the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis—long before these topics went mainstream. 

The book remains in print today, and it’s widely regarded as one of the most important books on cannabis ever written. At the time of its publication, however, it was profoundly controversial. Many of its themes remain controversial today. 

President Jack Herer? 

Jack Herer twice attempted to parlay his fame into a political career—which would have given him much more influence over public policy. He ran for President of the United States twice: once in 1988 (when he received nearly 2,000 votes) and once in 1992 (when he received nearly 4,000 votes). 

Though a Goldwater Republican in his early life, he ran for president as a Grassroots Party candidate. And while both campaigns were unsuccessful, they helped him to spread his message even farther and wider. 

The End of an Era 

Jack Herer’s health took a turn starting around 1990. He spoke at 60 different events around the country that year, and his heart health was suffering as a result of his brutal schedule. While he did slow down over the next few years, he didn’t give up the public speaking circuit entirely, and his health issues would eventually catch up with him. In 2000, he suffered a simultaneous stroke and heart attack while attending a hemp festival. 

Though he was able to recover from his 2000 health scare, his cardiac issues would come back to the surface a few years later. In 2009, he suffered a heart attack on stage while speaking at Hempstalk in Portland. A few months later, he died at his home in Eugene Oregon. He was 70 years old.

Jack Herer’s Legacy Lives On 

Jack Herer’s legacy remains strong. In the early 1990s, Sensi Seeds dedicated a strain to the tireless trailblazer. The Jack Herer strain is an energizing sativa, the winner of nine Cannabis Cup titles. It remains one of the most popular strains on the market, and you can usually find Jack Herer pre-rolls in Seattle at Higher Leaf. 

Herer’s name also lives on through the Jack Herer Cannabis Cup, a massive cannabis competition that spans across multiple continents and shines a light on the best up-and-coming cannabis strains and products. 

So next time another state legalizes recreational cannabis, removes long-held hemp restrictions, or approves new research on the medicinal uses of cannabis, be sure to take a moment and thank Jack Herer for helping to lay the groundwork that made these advances possible. May his legacy live on forever!