Stephen Marley moves to educate J'cans about marijuana

His brothers, Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley and Julian 'JuJu' Marley, are involved in the medical marijuana industry in the United States. The latest album released by Jr Gong features a song, Medication, which is a collaboration with Stephen Marley speaking about marijuana.

The track is one of the most significant to them, as it is a succinct way to introduce and educate listeners about the plant without a repetition of the ordinary focus of 'getting high'.

Stephen told The Gleaner that he is on a mission to educate persons about the benefit of marijuana as a medicinal plant.

"With medication, we wanted to touch on the topic of the many uses of the plant as everybody knows it to smoke and get high but the plant has many benefits, that persons are unaware, of and it was important to emphasise that," said Stephen said.

The Marleys, among other Jamaican reggae and dancehall artistes, have advocated for the use and legalisation of the cannabis plant. They are now using education, through the music, as one way to press the claim for the freeing up of marijuana.

USES OF THE PLANT

The Marley brothers recently hosted Kaya Fest in Miami, a two-day festival that included seminars exhibiting the uses of the plant as an industrial material and as a medicine.

"More than other countries, we [Jamaica] understand the medicinal value because it is a part of our culture. The part that persons that do not understand is the pesticides used on the plant that goes into their body," said Marley. He explained that 'the plant has oils and fibres that are also valuable', all of which react to various chemicals.

The festival is set to take place in California next year adding to that an entertainment event which will be called Sessions at 56, is expected to launch in September at the Bob Marley Museum.

"It is a nice setting that will have an organic vibe with live acoustic performances and musical improv," said Marley.

The forthcoming event will be kept once monthly and expectantly act as an avenue to teach individuals in attendance on both present and unfamiliar issues including marijuana.