Howard Marks Diagnosed With Inoperable Cancer

Hot Press is saddened to learn that Howard Marks, the notorious former dope smuggler turned celebrity author and cannabis legalisation campaigner, has been diagnosed with inoperable bowel cancer.
“I’ve come to terms with it in my own way – which for me was about learning how to cry,” the 69-year-old told The Observer. “It’s impossible to regret any part of my life when I feel happy, and I am happy now, so I don’t have any regrets – and have not had any for a very long time.”
The cancer was first diagnosed in autumn and Howard – whose 1997 cult autobiography Mr Nice was turned into a movie starring fellow Welshman Rhys Ivans in 2010 – was told nothing could be done to stop the disease, which has already spread to his liver and lungs.
Howard, who has four children and an ex-wife, Judy, plans to carry on with his call for cannabis to be legalised. “Of course the legalising of marijuana for medical purposes is to be welcomed,” he said, “but personally I never wanted to have to wait until I had cancer before I could legally smoke.
“I want it to be legalised for consuming recreationally – and I’m pleased to see they have now done this in four US states. After my experiences at the hands of the US legal system, America is the last place in the world that I thought would be leading the charge.”
A long-time campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis, he has already received messages of support from his wide-ranging circle of friends. Artist Tracey Emin, the journalist Peter Hitchens, Sir Richard Branson, broadcaster Zoe Ball and DJ husband Norman Cook, actor Keith Allen, and Hot Press’ ‘Writer-At-Large’ Olaf Tyaransen have all sent best wishes this weekend.
“I’ve known Howard for almost twenty years and he has always been a loyal, generous and wise friend – as well as an incredibly bad influence,” says Olaf. “We both ran on cannabis legalisation tickets in general elections in 1997, albeit in different countries. Neither of us got elected, but we successfully made our point.
“Howard has always been a great supporter of mine and I owe him a lot. He wrote the foreword to my memoir The Story of O in 2000, and used an article of mine in his collection The Howard Marks Book of Dope Stories. He also mentioned me in his introduction to the reissue of Robert Sabbag’s classic cocaine smuggling tale Snowblind, thereby featuring me in one of my all-time favourite books.
“He was supposed to launch my interview collection, Selected Recordings: 2000-2010, back in November 2010, but unfortunately the big freeze of that period caused his flight to be cancelled on the day.
“Ultimately, all I can say is that there’s a very good reason he’s called ‘Mr Nice’. I’ll always be grateful to him for his unwavering help and support over the years. Not to mention all the drugs.”
Rhys Ifans has confirmed he will be involved in a celebratory concert in north London at the end of next month. The event at the Kentish Town Forum on 27 February will see the actor joined on stage by Howard, members of the Welsh band Super Furry Animals and DJ Greg Wilson, alongside many other musicians – including Larry Love and his Alabama 3 cohorts. Funds raised will help Howard and his dependents through his cancer treatment, set up a charitable foundation and complete a Sam Rowland documentary about Howard’s life, which has been shot over the last two years.
Howard, who was once famously described as “sounding like Richard Burton and looking like a Rolling Stone,” is currently receiving treatment in his adopted hometown of Leeds, and being cared for by his long-term partner, Caroline Brown.
“I’ve never cried before. In prison I cried deep in myself, but I had to be the tough guy, I couldn’t let any vulnerability show,” he told The Observer. “But then I think, how long am I going to be living for anyway? I don’t want to be living until I’m 350! The strange thing is I haven’t actually felt a moment’s depression at all. I feel people have come back from a lot worse than this, and it’s about trying to resume a normal routine as soon as possible … and just carry on living.”
Hot Press wishes the lovable old rogue all the very best. And as Wilko Johnston hs shown: you never know…