ONE OF Wales’ most notorious and well loved sons has passed away. Howard Marks, AKA ‘Mr Nice’, died at the age of 70 having suffered from cancer.
Howard Marks shot to notoriety as a drug smuggler, becoming known through the media after his US conviction for smu ggling marijuana. 80’s. He was a writer, musician, campaigner and performer, whose most famous piece of work was his autobiography ‘Mr Nice’.
Marks was born in 1945 in Kenfig Hill near Bridgend and educated at Oxford University.
He became one of the World’s most notorious criminals according to police who claimed that he was at the centre of the world’s biggest cannabis deals in the 1970s and ‘80s. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the US after being caught smuggling cannabis.
Howard Marks had been a life long campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis and saw his aim realised, but not in his native country. Ironically it was to be in parts of the very country where he had been imprisoned.
Marks said: “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.”
Howard Marks may be remembered most for his one man comedy show where he talked about his lifetime of experiences. He was immortalised on film when his friend Rhys Ifans played the part of Mr Nice. He was also a musician and a columnist for the magazine ‘Loaded’.
Howard Marks has been described as a man with a great sense of humour, a kind heart and a tireless campaigner for the reform of drugs laws. He even stood for election in four parliamentary constituencies.
Speaking to The Herald in Laugharne, Howard Marks reflected on his life and his time in prison.
He began by saying that he loved Laugharne and did not visit it enough: “I have been visiting Laugharne since I was a teenager. I like the lack of arrogance and the levelling of the town.”
Asked what the high point in his life had been Marks replied: “The highest point in my life was being acquitted of bringing in 50 tonnes of dope when I was guilty.” He said the low point was when he was in prison and he learned that his son had jumped off a roof and broken both of his legs.
Reflecting on his time in prison he told The Herald: “When I was in prison I had to end up submitting without resigning and I had to find peace. Once you realise you are powerless you learn more about yourself than ever before.
“It works out alright in the end. I didn’t become a born again christian or anything but I spent a lot of time reading religious text and I was very eclectic in my religious beliefs.”
We asked Howard if he enjoyed touring, speaking and writing: “I do still lecture, although I think the sixties are still going on. I have a vague academic involvement. If I am writing a non fiction piece of course I have to be guarded so I have to be careful. I would hate for anyone to get into trouble so I take all those precautions.
“Anyone who is still at it has nothing to be afraid of from me. Anyone who was at it and got away with it has nothing to fear from me. I will keep the secrets with me until I die.”
We asked Howard Marks if he could change anything in his life what that would be. Without the need to think for very long he smiled and said: “I wouldn’t change anything because I am alright now. I might not be alright if I changed anything in the past. It is too f**king risky.”
Asked if he could change anything politically, without hesitation he said: “I would like to legalise drugs and see people not punished for deciding to take marijuana. If I could have any impact on that – and I have tried – I feel I would be trying to make the world a better place.”
Comparing the impact of alcohol with drugs Howard said: “I drink a lot so I am very happy it is legal and we are allowed to do it. There is less of a capacity for harm in other drugs than there is in alcohol but I am not anti alcohol, I love the f**king stuff. You’re going to find someone who dies from eating a peanut.”
Howard Marks was diagnosed with cancer and he said that it was another leveller.
He told The Herald: “I have stopped making long term plans. Any plan longer than three months in advance won’t happen.”
Howard Marks – Born: August 13, 1945, Kenfig Hill – Died: April 10, 2016
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