Rohan Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, is an entrepreneur, father, thought leader and cannabis advocate, sharing his roots and passion for life through a host of unique companies. With an opportunity to inspire and educate, Rohan’s using his platform to move culture forward through the Lion Order movement.
Rohan graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School in 1991 and went on to play football as a linebacker for the University of Miami Hurricanes. With his undeniable talent and relentless work ethic, Rohan made an instant impact on the field, posting a Miami Hurricanes team high, 95 tackles in a single season. After a breakout college football career, Rohan took his talents to the CFL playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Today, Rohan Marley has created Lion Order, a roots luxury lifestyle brand focused on positive vibrations, unity, love, respect and the Lion Order mantra. To help share his vision with the world, Rohan’s built a superstar team and appointed cannabis industry leader, Chloe Villano as the Chief Executive Officer of Lion Order. Retired NFL athlete, cannabis advocate and entrepreneur, Mike James, has also joined the Lion Order team to help drive education and awareness.
No stranger to setting records, Rohan Marleys’ Lion Order is set to dominate the 2022 landscape with the launch of their first strain which will be hitting shelves in the near future.
Photographers : Ton Gomes | Baravniflix
Jay Morzaria of Sports Cannabis sat down with entrepreneur and global icon, Rohan Marley to learn more about his movement and all things Lion Order.
Jay Morzaria :
You grew up playing soccer and once you’re in America you pivoted to football. What was it about football that made you want to pursue it through high school, college and professionally?
Rohan Marley :
“Well, it started in the sixth grade and it’s funny you say that because the other night, I ran into the person that really made me play football, it was Dan Marino. I remember in 1984, going to school here in the sixth grade and they had a great season. They kept on playing that song “Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins are Number One”… and whenever they would lose I would go home, take the Atari and beat the team they lost to. It’s really Dan Marino and that dolphin era from 85 to 88’89 that made me really love football. I loved the excitement that he played with and how special he was as a quarterback. He made me love the game and from there I fell in love with other players in the NFL. I started to really gravitate towards the game and thought, maybe, if I really put my heart into this, I can help myself go to school, and not have my grandma or my family pay for my college tuition…so I worked hard to get a scholarship, and that’s the main reason why it was American football”
JM :
When you played football, how prevalent was the cannabis scene during those days?
RM :
“At the time, it wasn’t legal to do, but it was always accepted at my home. I really didn’t use cannabis as much in regards to pain relief because I didn’t have much pain back then. I smoked a little bit of cannabis with my grandmother… you know, if my grandma was smoking a spliff, I would take a drag of her spliff without her knowing… I did that to just mellow out, and to discover cannabis, because you know, you’re too young to really understand all of the benefits of cannabis… In college, I would sneak away and do whatever I had to do, because I just wanted to elevate my mind while I was going through all the different changes. You know, whether it was with the coaching staff, or all the different burdens of trying to be a star player and trying to keep your position…and at times, the coaches be moving you around a little bit, not working with your mood, not understanding that there’s an emotional side to this. I used to have to use cannabis to control my emotions, you know what I mean?, in regards to how I was being dealt with at that time as a player.”
JM :
Most people wouldn’t consider the emotional aspect, and I’m glad you’ve brought that up. It’s a huge component for athletes and often overlooked. Was there a moment in High School or University when you experienced an injury and noticed cannabis helped?
RM :
“I hurt my MCL in my junior year. I left and I didn’t stay with the medical practitioners in school with regards to their regiment. I went to Jamaica to heal myself and obviously I was smoking cannabis every single day and I came back without ever seeing any medical attention… I was just smoking cannabis in Jamaica and was able to come back and play without any of those doctors ever touching me…”
JM :
We’ve talked a lot about cannabis over the last few months, the ability it has to allow someone to tap into a different state of mind. How does cannabis help you today?
RM :
“For us, we like to elevate our way of thinking, become more aware, and for myself, when I smoke cannabis, it really levels everything out. If I’m worried about these emotions and these things, I tell you, it puts me in the perspective of a way of thinking, it really organizes my emotion and helps bring me above the little things, above my ego, you know, it makes me non egotistical. I really appreciate and love the medicines for that. It’s like music, you know’, the same way I relate to my father’s music, is the same way I relate to cannabis. Cannabis enlightens me, helps me to tap into the right side and left side of my brain to unify my mind and really become a whole other person, it helps tap into that.”
JM :
I find cannabis helps people give thanks and give gratitude.
RM :
“Absolutely, give thanks for self, give thanks for the moment, give thanks for being present in this existence of now, and cannabis is a part of that awakening.”
JM :
Earlier on, we talked about mental health and in 2021 we witnessed a tragedy with Sha’Carri Richardson, having her race stripped from her for testing positive for cannabis. She alluded to using it to help cope with her grandmother’s passing…
RM :
“You know, it lets you accept life, because there’s nothing you can do about what has already happened… It’s already happened, right? What cannabis does is open up your brain for you to get the understanding that this is the reality. It allows you to understand what took place and what is taking place. It allows you to move on with your life.”
JM :
Moving forward, how do we shift that conversation?
RM :
“The people that are in charge of these situations, they’re not spiritual people. People need to look more into the spiritual realm of life, and accept that there’s certain plant life that are made for the betterment of mankind. There’s plant life that is here to heal us, and we have to accept what God has given to us. In this universe we have free will to choose what plant we want to heal ourselves with and there’s a plant for every ailment. The pharmaceutical people need to just ease up a little bit, you know, they don’t have to make so much money and instead they should say; “it’s okay for everyone to choose what they want”. They have to realize, there are some people that will never smoke herb…. and there are some people that will only smoke herb. Let those people have that same freewill of choice for their own bodies, their own selves, their own mind and what they choose to put into themselves as the guy that drinks 5000 bottles of beer every year. That’s his choice. We want the same choice…you know, it’s my choice. It’s my right. Give us our right of freedom and our free will.”
JM :
Today, you’ve brought the Lion Order movement to America and across the world. Talk to us about that movement, what Lion Order means and what it represents?
RM :
“Lion Order represents the Lion of Judah. The way of man, Strength, Power, Courage, Determination. Doing things the right way. Moving as a King or Queen, moving with dignity, self respect and wanting to be a part of a movement and a lifestyle. It’s a way of life and how one should live. Lion Order is a way for us to unite as a people, whether it’s with cannabis, water, psilocybin, coffee or food. We want to get together around a table, all different ethnicities, different religions, nations and have a real talk about life and love.”
JM :
Talk to us about your team and some of the individuals helping you make that ripple.
RM :
“The first person on the team would be Chloe Villano. She is a mastermind in the cannabis space. She has her own cannabis university to teach people about the business of cannabis as well as the best practices for the cannabis industry and has helped write a lot of different legislations. She’s just a super cannabis woman and I really love that about her. We are blessed to have her on our team, someone that really understands the space, the regulations and legislation of how to conduct the business in the right way as well as to drive the brand forward into the next dimension. We have my son, Nico who graduated with a business marketing degree and is working now to help guide and lead the brand as we continue to grow. We have Cole, who is the creative director, who really understands what I’m looking for with the passion and also putting that soul in the brands movement. There’s Arthur who is an herb enthusiast and connoisseur and Eric who’s our company shaman, and really understands how to connect plant life to the business world. We have Mike James, who played in the NFL and once was on opioids and appealed to the NFL to allow him to use cannabis to help him with healing. And we have the guys out of Detroit, Heavyweight Heads, with Aaron and Trick Trick. They are master growers that really understand what I’m looking for in the cannabis space and the type of the quality and herb that I want to present to the world. These are the players on our team that are going to take this brand to where it needs to be. Lion Order is a roots, luxury brand, with the highest order in the cannabis space. We’ve made sure the herb is the top of the line and with a great stream of legacy strains that really tell you about my home country Jamaica. We are Rastafari people, and we’re the ones who have led the movement ever since day one, you know, so this is the Rastafari brand. This is a real Rastafari Brand, the Lion Order, the King of Cannabis.”
JM :
Looking forward, what can we expect this year?
RM :
“We are going to launch in Detroit in February. Our goal is to get the brand on all the shelves of America across the nation and the world.”
JM :
Last year, you made waves and continue to push the needle forward in 2022. Looking back, which moment stuck out to you the most?
RM :
“A big moment for me was when my family called me and told me they wanted me to return to the family business and become an ambassador of the Marley Brand and accepted what I’m doing as an individual.”
JM :
You have, and continue to inspire the Kings and Queens of our world. For others that are following in your footsteps, what advice would you give to them?
RM :
“My advice to all these people would be to stay steadfast and stay true to self. The truth of vision will give you the drive to want to do what you’re doing. Stick to that and never forget the beginning of why you started what you’re doing and make sure you complete those thoughts.”
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