Today would’ve been the 80th birthday of famed American writer Hunter S. Thompson. A respected (for the most part) journalist, author, and creator of the surreal nonfiction subgenre known as “Gonzo Journalism,” Hunter S. Thompson was known just as much for his avant-garde works of literature as he was for his wild antics and adventures, which were so entertainingly portrayed by actor Johnny Depp in the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He was also known for his love of various recreational pleasures, including alcohol, a variety of chemical drugs, and of course, cannabis! So with today being his birthday, we thought it only appropriate to tell you about a new line of cannabis with his name on it.
Apparently Anita Thompson, widow of the late literary icon, has saved six strains of the author’s choicest buds and is currently working with several professional growers and distributors to create an entire line of cannabis from them.
“Since cannabis became legal I get approached probably once a month by cannabis growers and dispensaries,” Anita recently told The Aspen Times. “I always end up saying ‘No’ because it’s the same story every time: somebody wants to slap Hunter’s name on their strain.”
This time, instead of just slapping Hunter’s name on a random strain, Anita has finally come around to offering consumers the real deal. “For 10 years we were always careful to steer the conversation back to Hunter’s work,” she said. “Because it was never guaranteed that Hunter’s work would be appreciated into this generation. I was always steering toward his work and away from his lifestyle.”
However, now that time has passed and cannabis has gone mainstream, so too have her reservations. “Now I feel like I can talk more openly about his lifestyle. I’m proud to do it now. Before, it was a little too risky. I’m looking forward to being a drug lord,” she quipped.
Indeed, so are we. And lest you think that this is all an underhanded attempt at making a quick buck off her late husband’s fame, Anita is actually planning on using the profits for the famed author’s prized retreat, Owl Farm Ranch—a sprawling 43-acre plot of land in Pitkin County, Colorado where Hunter S. Thompson lived and played, with stories surrounding the ranch and all his adventures—or shall we say, misadventures—more entertaining than the next.
