Very Important Potheads: Richard Branson by Farida Billa

 Richard Branson doesn't like being called a billionaire; he prefers being called a creative. He is an easy-going personality who enjoys his endeavors in business and beyond. He encourages people to have a larger-than-life appetite and live a life of adventure and curiosity.  

Who is he 

Born on 18th July 1950, Richard Branson is a British billionaire, entrepreneur (founder of Virgin Group), business magnate, humanitarian, and advocate. He is a known advocate for cannabis and has often spoken out for its decriminalization for years. As a member of the Global Commision on Drug Policy he has advocated for reforming policies that criminalize drugs, citing issues such as medical cannabis. He points out its ability to help people with chronic pain and diseases, to cope with suffering, and bring a measure of normalcy to their lives. 

His Thoughts 

At a conference in San Francisco, he said to a crowd of about 1000, "take a spliff or two...why not?...The future of cannabis, now". In his recent blog post titled Changing the cannabis conversation, he states that "From Uruguay to Canada, from Spain to Luxembourg, lawmakers and regulators have begun to see the futility of demonizing a drug that is widely used and may offer medical benefits to millions of people". He believes that a drug policy reform will save lives, improve public health, reduce the burden on public resources and the criminal justice system, and break the cycle of marginalization. He shares his thoughts further in his blog -Rethinking drug laws in a new global moment stating, "For decades, without credible scientific basis, cannabis has been scheduled as a substance with a negligible medical or therapeutic value that is considered as harmful as heroin or cocaine ". He often cites Portugal's system as one to emulate to help governments take back control and direct resources to public health and safety, allowing addicts to find treatment instead of facing jail time. He says, "I would like to see hundreds of thousands of people languishing in American prisons and prisons worldwide for smoking pot be released'. He believes a reform in the US will have a domino effect worldwide. 

His Use & Interest 

Branson credits learning how to roll a joint to Musician  Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who admitted to occasionally consuming cannabis in 2016. His progressive parenting advice on sharing an occasional spliff with your kids in 2016 at the Sage Summit in Chicago has made global headlines and was thought to be controversial. Branson said to conventioneers, "If they're going to have a joint, do it with them... don't let them sneak off and do it on their own." He occasionally mentions sharing cannabis with his son on their trip to Australia in 2007. Branson has entertained the idea of entering the cannabis market and spoken about it often, even encouraging farmers in New Zealand to cultivate cannabis in replacement of the cows they rear and arguing for the legalization of the crop in New Zealand. He relaxes to be creative. He takes off his shoes, dresses comfortably, and lays in his hammock. He reveals, "I have never worked in an office. I prefer to find a comfy lounge than being hunched at a desk. I do some of my best thinking in unconventional working environments". His night time routine is also about relaxing and unplugging.  

Branson's position on cannabis is clear. He encourages governments worldwide to reform their policies while using his position on the Global Commision on Drug Policy and influence as a public figure to speak on its decriminalization.