The Witty Stride

–Satyakam Ray

Disclaimer: The author doesn’t espouse the use of drugs at all, and it’s just opinionated writing.

Smoke’a de ganja when I am with friends,

We gonna smoke’a de ganja until the very end.

Whoo-oo Ganja Ganja

Whoo-oo Ganja Gun

The lyrics of Bob Marley’s song “Ganja Gun” may have influenced the administrators of certain countries. These countries include Canada, Georgia, South Africa, and Uruguay. These lyrics could have swayed their decision to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. Around 45-50 countries worldwide have already permitted the use of weed medically. Many states in the US, Australia, and the Netherlands have adopted psychoactive drugs on their premises in limited doses.

Weed, Bob Marley, and his work: 

Robert Nesta Marley, also known as Bob Marley, was an outspoken advocate for the legalization of marijuana. Bob Marley was the best-selling reggae artist of all time. He began to use cannabis when he converted to the Rastafari faith. His conversion was from Catholicism in 1966. He was arrested in 1968 after being caught with cannabis, but he continued to use marijuana following his religious beliefs. Of his marijuana usage, he said, “When you smoke herb, herb reveals itself to you. All the wickedness you do is revealed by the herb. It exposes itself to your conscience. You must show yourself clearly because it makes you meditate. It is only a natural thing, and it grows like a tree.”

Bob Marley received the United Nations Peace Medal of the Third World. This occurred on Thursday, June 15, 1978. The award ceremony took place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The medal symbolized the respect Bob had garnered from the African people. He was admired for his defiant approach to addressing global problems through music.

The Rastafari movement is a way of life that advocates smoking herbs and wearing dreadlocks. Marley saw marijuana usage as a vital factor in spiritual growth and a way to philosophize and become wiser.

Author Dave Thompson, in his book Reggae and Caribbean Music, wrote Bob Marley believed in freedom; and the fighting which is necessitated, and dressed the part on an early album sleeve, whose heroes were James Brown and Muhammad Ali; whose God was Ras Tafari and whose sacrament was marijuana.

 The immortal single “No Woman, No Cry” from his “Live!” album made Marley a worldwide household name. 

Bob Marley is regarded as a forthright advocate of peace and a liberal viewpoint. He is one of the all-time great songwriters globally. Marley is also a champion of freedom. Based on the principles of equality and liberalism, the song advises a woman not to cry. People outside of Jamaica have misunderstood the lyrics. They misinterpret them as “if there is no woman, there is no reason to cry.” Others think it suggests having secret feelings towards women.

The concept of liberalism:  

Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy. It is based on the principles of liberty. It emphasizes the consent of the governed and equality before the law. It supports free markets, free trade, and limited government. It also upholds individual rights, including civil and human rights.

The French Revolution of 1789 paved the way for the spread of liberalism worldwide. It served as a last resort to counter the atrocities of fascism, monarchy, hereditary privilege, traditional conservatism, and state religion. In Victorian Britain, political critiques targeted the establishment. They appealed to science and reason on behalf of the people. Liberals sought a constitutional order. They established a system that prized essential individual freedoms. These freedoms encompass freedom of speech and association. They include an independent judiciary and public trial by jury. This framework also promotes the abolition of aristocratic privileges. Liberals have advocated for gender and racial equality to promote civil rights and a global civil rights movement.

The connection between weed and liberalism: 

A new study from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found interesting results. Young people living in liberal states in the US consume more marijuana.

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”- Jim Morrison.

A more “liberal” form of liberalism was the hippie movement of the 1960s. Its fundamental ethos includes harmony with nature and communal living. It also emphasizes artistic experimentation, particularly in music. Additionally, there was the widespread use of recreational drugs. The flower children of the Counterculture movement participated in the Summer of Love in 1967. They celebrated the new way of living. Many were suspicious of the government, rejected consumerist values, and opposed the war in Vietnam. A few were interested in politics, while others were more concerned with art, spirituality, and meditative practices.

Relevance in Current Context:

Leaders worldwide are often seen as autocratic despite being elected as democratic representatives. The last president of the United States did not concede defeat. He attempted to cling to the office by any means. Religious extremities in almost all religions are taking the lead. They are pushing the world into a crazy and chaotic war-mongering conundrum. White supremacy, racism, and jingoism have engulfed the world of politics. Millions of people have been denied their fundamental rights due to fascist regimes working in so-called democracies.

At this critical juncture in human history, a liberal viewpoint is greatly needed. Whether in freedom of expression or religious/racial equality, a pluralistic mindset is essential. It enables people with diverse opinions to convene on a single platform. There is no need to use psychedelic drugs, though, as they are very detrimental to health.

This is precisely what Bob Marley espoused during his time. He constructed an album of songs about oppression, rebellion, religion, and the urgency of African unity. Many do not entirely support him on the controversial use of recreational marijuana. Still, he will be regarded as a champion of freedom and liberalism for eternity.