Dan Herer and Somai Pharmaceuticals Take Jack Herer Legacy Global with Medical Cannabis Breakthrough
In the halls of the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC), legacy meets innovation. And no one embodies that intersection better than Dan Herer, son of the legendary cannabis activist and cultural icon Jack Herer. Sitting down with Honeysuckle at the Berlin event, Dan was calm but energized—like someone standing at the edge of something massive, ready to take the next leap.
“This isn’t just about selling flower,” he says. “This is about taking a standard that my father helped set and delivering it globally with the integrity and intention it deserves.”
That standard is now getting a serious upgrade: The Jack Herer brand has announced a major partnership with Somai Pharmaceuticals, a European pharmaceutical and biotech powerhouse known for its research-driven approach to cannabis medicine. With this move, the Herer name—long synonymous with activism, education, and elite flower—steps boldly onto the international stage.
“We’ve been very intentional,” Dan explains. “There have been offers over the years, but Somai shared our vision. They understand what it means to build something that isn’t just profitable—but purposeful.”
The Emperor’s Seeds
Purpose has always been the cornerstone of the Herer family mission. Known as “The Emperor of Hemp,” Jack Herer dedicated his life to fighting misinformation about cannabis and restoring its rightful place in medicine, agriculture, and industry. His 1985 book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, remains one of the most cited resources in cannabis legalization circles and helped ignite the global hemp movement. He campaigned fiercely for the environment, for human health, and for freedom—believing the cannabis plant was key to all three.
Jack’s passion wasn’t about trend-chasing—it was about truth. He toured the country in a converted van, hosting teach-ins, handing out flyers, and speaking to anyone who would listen. He inspired a generation of activists, including future legislators, researchers, and cultivators. The eponymous sativa strain named after – Jack Herer - became legendary not only for its uplifting effects and signature citrus-pine aroma, but as a symbol of quality and conscience.
Now, decades later, Dan is carrying the torch—not just to preserve a name, but to expand a movement.
“Jack was about the plant and the people,” Dan says. “It was never just about consumption—it was also about liberation and freedom. That no one should be in jail or go to jail for this plant.”
A Global Vision with Somai
With Somai Pharmaceuticals, the Jack Herer brand is entering new markets across Europe and beyond. The partnership includes cultivation, product formulation, and clinical research—ensuring the legendary genetics that represent his name, and values stay intact while expanding access. GMP-certified Herer-branded products will soon be available to patients who’ve never had access to this level of legacy-informed medicine.
“One of the most exciting things is that we’re combining our heritage with scientific validation,” Dan notes. “The storytelling is still there—but now it’s backed by data, pharma-grade standards, and international distribution.”
It’s a striking evolution for a brand that grew out of grassroots advocacy. From underground zines to global pharma deals, the Herer legacy reflects the arc of the cannabis industry itself: raw, revolutionary—and now refined.
But don’t expect the soul to get lost in the scale.
“At the end of the day, my job is to make sure that everything we do reflects my father’s teachings,” Dan says. “We’re not chasing trends. We’re anchoring truth.”
And the truth, it seems, is catching on. From Lisbon to Berlin to Tel Aviv, the Herer name commands respect—and curiosity. Younger consumers are discovering this strain for the first time, while industry veterans recognize it as one of the original benchmarks for quality cannabis.
Somai’s CEO has echoed that reverence, calling the partnership “a once-in-a-generation alignment of history and science.” With the genetics that represent the Jack Herer brand, under Somai’s pharmaceutical-grade production capabilities, patients in emerging medical markets will access precision-formulated cannabis therapies rooted in legacy wisdom.
“It’s about building a bridge,” Dan concludes. “Between past and future, passion and precision, advocacy and access. My father opened the door. Now we’re walking through it—and bringing the world with us.”
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Stay tuned for more coverage from ICBC and Honeysuckle’s global cannabis leadership series. Follow @honeysucklemagazine and @jackhererbrands, https://jackhererbrands.com for updates on the Herer–Somai collaboration. Follow jackhererbrands.com for more
All photos c/o Dan Herer
The ‘Emperor Wears No Clothes’ is available digitally for 9.99 or hardcopy for 34.99 on amazon
