Cannabis brand named after Marley

A US private equity firm has joined the family of late reggae star Bob Marley in hopes of building what it calls the “world’s first global cannabis brand”.

Seattle-based Privateer Holdings announced it has reached a licensing deal with Marley’s heirs to offer pot strains where regulations permit by late 2015. It also plans to sell weed-infused lotions and accessories.

But the move to create “Marley Natural” has stirred some grousing in Marley’s Jamaican homeland, notably among those who share his Rastafarian faith.