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Kaya Fest to Combine Cannabis Awareness,

‘Marley Magic’ in One Memorable Event

BY VANESSA ORR Hercules. “It's a second stage for us with purpose is even more critical: to educate
pure dancehall vibes; a little dance floor people on the many uses of the cannabis
In 2017, the inaugural Kaya Fest was for the people to move and feel good, and plant as well as to inspire and encourage
held in Miami, FL, before moving to a fresh DJ line-up,” said Marley. “It's a positive public awareness,” said Marley.
southern California in 2018. This year, the great addition to the festival experience.” “I read about this kid who went from
annual celebration of music and cannabis Other performers at Kaya Fest include 600 seizures a day to six—just from the
returns to its roots, bringing positive ener- Busta Rhymes, Davido, Sean Paul, Chi Chi medical benefit of the plant,” he contin-
gy, good vibes, education and awareness to Ching, Protoje, Third World and many ued. “I don’t know what a miracle is if
the Bayfront Park Amphitheater on April more, including a special appearance by that’s not a miracle. To go from 600 to six,
20, 2019. Farruko. just using the extract from a plant.
“Kaya Fest is different than most con- While music is the main attraction, Kaya “All these years, doctors have not been
certs in that it is just that—a festival,” Stephen Marley Fest also highlights the importance of allowed to research it; most of them
explained curator and performer Stephen part of the greater whole when we are cannabis, a cause especially important to haven’t really studied it at all,” he contin-
Marley, an eight-time Grammy Award- together,” he said. “Some have called it Marley. “My birthday is 4/20, so I wanted ued. “There must be some kind of conspir-
winning singer, songwriter, musician and Marley Magic!” to do something significant. Education is acy with this plant—why don’t they want
producer. “This is an all-day experience The audience will also be treated to per- key because this plant has so many bene- us to reap the benefits? And why use the
where you can immerse yourself in music, formances by Bob Marley’s grandchildren fits to humankind in so many different whole stigma of smoking and getting high
culture, awareness ... it is like a cultural Skip Marley, Yohan Marley, Jo Mersa ways,” he explained. “Kaya Fest is not a to put a cloud over it?”
community of oneness, created in our Marley, Mystic Marley, and DJ Shacia smoke-out thing. It’s really trying to get Marley hopes that by bringing people
father's legacy of One Love and unity.” Päyne Marley. people to learn about the medical uses, the together to share music and knowledge,
The festival will feature Stephen Marley, “The third generation is stepping industrial uses, the environmental bene- the conversation will continue.
along with brothers Ziggy, Damian, Ky- squarely into the legacy and making their fits, the healing potential of the plant.” “As a music and awareness festival we
Mani and Julian Marley, who will all mark,” said Marley. “Some have a more As part of Kaya Fest, a symposium will are shining a light on this issue for the
appear together. dancehall flavor, some are more lyrically be held on Friday, April 19 at the public, bringing our cultural and spiritual
“When we touch the stage as the broth- driven, and some are great vocalists. Each HistoryMiami Museum from 11 a.m. to 4 sensibilities forward,” he said. “My father
ers, it’s very unique; the whole energy of us one has to follow their own pathway, and p.m., focusing on cannabis in three main was at the forefront of the movement to
onstage at once is a great vibe,” said for us, it is just a joy to see our children areas: medical, industrial and spiritual. educate people about the benefits of
Marley. “It’s for all of us, the people. take the stage.” Panels will include industrialists, medical cannabis. It's good to see that change is
During Kaya Fest, we are one.” One new feature this year is the experts, lawyers and spiritual practition- finally coming.”
According to Marley, something remark- Constance Bubble, a project created by ers.
able happens when the brothers combine Marley’s daughter, Shacia Päyne, which “With more and more states approving For more information, visit
their talents. “We all have our distinct will feature female DJs, including She-J the use of medical marijuana, such as KayaFestivals.com.
styles and flavors; each one is different, but Florida where it became legal in 2016, our

Back Cover Story: Meet Florida’s New Cannabis Czar: Holly Bell

Continued from Back Page like a road map. We want to be able to over to convince her that medical mari- books, and get out and interact with
This is a very large group of people who look back 3, 5 or 10 years from now and juana can be good for patients. For years advocates,” she says. “I also went to visit
can benefit from this program and it can see an economic impact we made around we had been debating and talking about a dispensary. I did my own research and
be a huge economic impact in the state.” the state.” this. We grew up with the war on drugs did my own due diligence. I started to
Once the hemp program is started in Someday, Bell hopes that cannabis will and a lot of fear mongering. I have form my own opinions about the indus-
Florida, Bell says it will begin to benefit be rescheduled at the federal level. always been that person if someone tries try and cannabis that was not based on
farmers with an alternative crop and allow “Only then, can we actually research it to persuade me with emotion or fear, I what I was taught. That’s what I chal-
the state to re-deploy some factories and and study it,” she says. “That would be step back and listen, but I also want to lenged my sister with. She recently came
hire manufacturing processing workers. fabulous if that would occur. I would know some facts. I need some data to around and gets it now.”
“This will allow them to add some end also love for advocates for and against to back that up and some science.” As Bell delves deeper into the new
products into retail stores—all grown, come to the table and talk, and come to The biggest misconception on position this year, she says hopes she can
processed, manufactured, sold here in a consensus where cannabis can be used cannabis is the fear mongering that has bring Fried’s vision to life.
Florida or exported to other areas,” she for those who can benefit from it. That gone on for over 70 years, notes Bell. “I love seeing something come to life
says. would be wonderful.” “That fear is not based on science,” she and people around me engaging in it,”
Another priority for Bell is to help the For any physician who is contemplat- says. “If you’re hesitant, conduct she says. “That’s why I am having so
State Department of Health finalize regula- ing recommending cannabis for their research that has some facts and science much fun here so far. We’re educating
tions pertaining to the edible cannabis patients, Bell says to look at it from a sci- behind it. And then make a decision on people and helping them along the way. I
products portion of the cannabis state law. entific mind and truly be open to the cannabis after you do that.” talk to many patients whose lives were
Bell says that there is a lot of work to be research outside the United States. Bell recommends watching The changed by cannabis. I attend conferences
done. “Also, be willing to engage with others Scientist, a documentary about Dr. and people will tell me their stories and
“Anytime you start something from new about their experience,” she says. Raphael Mechoulam from Israel. He there’s always one that will get me teary-
and you’re creating something that never Bell can speak from experience. Her managed to isolate and identify the eyed. That means something in life when
existed before, it can be an overwhelming older sister who is an anesthesiologist chemical compounds of the cannabis you get to be my age.”
task,” says Bell. “You have to step back, see was opposed to medical marijuana for plant. The Scientist offers a riveting
the clear big picture, understand the vision years. account of this breakthrough discovery. For more information,
of where you want to go and then method- “Doctors are strictly trained,” says Bell. “After watching that documentary, it visit www.freshfromflorida.com
ically start to build out a way to get there, “It was the biggest hurdle I had to get led me to do other research, read other

40 April 2019 cannabisnewsflorida.com Cannabis News Florida