Howard Marks
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Dennis Howard Marks (born August 13, 1945 in Kenfig Hill, near Bridgend, Wales) achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, connections with groups such as MI6, the IRA, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug Enforcement Agency.
He attended the Garw Grammar School prior to going attending Balliol College, Oxford between 1964 and 1967 to study Natural Science, Physics (B.A., Oxon). After this he studied Physics (Grad. Inst P.) at the University of London (1967 to 1968). Then, back to Balliol, Oxford (1968 to 1969) to study History and Philosophy (Dip. H.Ph. Sc.) and then on to the University of Sussex (1969 to 1970) to study Philosophy of Science (M.A., Oxon).
He now lives in Palma de Mallorca. He spent seven years imprisoned in the United States Penitentiary, in Terre Haute. During his smuggling career, he allegedly did not use violence and refused to deal with hard drugs. Both he and his now ex-wife Judy Marks were extradited from Mallorca, Spain to Florida. They have three children together Amber, Francesca and Patrick. He has an older daughter, Myfanwy, from a 5 year relationship with Rosie Lewis
Since his release, Marks has published a best-selling autobiography, Mr Nice (Secker and Warburg, 1996), which has been translated into many languages. Along with 'Mr Nice', Howard has also compiled an anthology called The Howard Marks Book of Dope Stories (Vintage, 2001) and more recently a follow on from his autobiography; Señor Nice: Straight Life From Wales to South America (Harvill Secker, 2006). In 2003 one of Howard's partners in the 'movement of beneficial herbs industry', Phil Sparrowhawk published his autobiography, written with Martin Knight, entitled Grass, (Mainstream 2003). Marks is a campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis and tours the world with a one-man show. He also appeared in the documentary Stoned in Suburbia aired on Sky One in the UK.
Judy Marks has also written her autobiography of their life together entitled "Mr Nice and Mrs Marks" published by Ebury Press, 2006.
Howard Marks stood for election to UK Parliament in 1997, on the single issue of the legalize cannabis campaign. He contested 4 seats at once: Norwich South (against future Home Secretary Charles Clarke), Norwich North, Neath and Southampton Test. The average vote was over 1%.
This led to the formation of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) by Alun Buffry in 1999.
- Howard Marks makes a Cameo appearance in the movie Human Traffic.
- He also appears as the Devil in the Dirty Sanchez Movie
