The family of reggae legend Bob Marley has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Silo Wellness, a company operating in the newly developing psychedelic and functional medical mushroom industry.
The deal offers Silo the exclusive worldwide rights to brand, market, and sell a product line of functional and psychedelic mushrooms with the name and likeness of the reggae superstar, who died in 1981.
“Our family is happy to collaborate with Silo Wellness to create the first ever global mushroom brand,” said the singer’s widow, Rita Marley. “When Bob and I were young we followed a strict, natural diet and we would include medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms fit with our vision of a world transformed for good through natural products.”
This is not the family’s first foray into licensing deals for products based on what were once Schedule 1 narcotics. In 2014, as Canada and various US states embraced the legalization of medical and later recreational cannabis, the Marley estate signed a 30-licensing agreement with Privateer Holdings, which among other things owns Canadian cannabis company Tilray, and the Marley Natural cannabis brand. Now, as US states like Oregon and Colorado move to decriminalize the so-called ‘magic mushrooms’ containing the psychedelic drug psilocybin, the Marley family has once again chosen to ride the leading edge of a new legalization wave.
“These are transformative times in which we are living,” said Cedella Marley, daughter of Rita and Bob Marley. “Our family seeks to use our platform to help facilitate positive change. Mushrooms have been used for centuries, and we believe they offer a natural pathway for healing and positivity.”
One factor in the family’s decision is that Jamaica, where Rita and Bob Marley were born and lived, is the only country in the world where psilocybin is not illegal to grow, extract and sell. Several psychedelic mushroom companies are positioning themselves to work with the Caribbean country on research or opening medical clinics dedicated to treating various mental illnesses with psychedelic mushroom extracts.
The agreement with Silo allows for the creation of a Marley brand portfolio, similar to the way Privateer created a Bob Marley cannabis brand. Under the agreement, Silo Wellness has agreed that a percentage of sales will be donated to charitable organizations to be mutually agreed upon by the Marley family and Silo.
“We are incredibly excited to strike a long-term licensing agreement with the most iconic brand to ever emerge from Jamaica,” said Douglas K. Gordon, chief executive officer of Silo Wellness. “There is deep respect for the legacy of Bob Marley, and we are honored to be entrusted as good stewards of a brand that stands for universal wellness and natural healing. We look forward to introducing a portfolio of quality branded products with instant name recognition and global visibility, enabling Silo to introduce what we intend to become the leading brand name in the functional and psychedelic mushroom category.”