Tim King Salem-News.com

Our thoughts go out to his wonderful wife Jeannie Herer, and we hope that Jack makes a full and speedy recovery.

Dr. Phil Leveque and Jack Herer at Hempstalk, September 12, 2009 Salem-News.com Photo by Tim King

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The most well known person in the world on the subject of marijuana, author Jack Herer, had a heart attack Saturday, after a fiery speech at the Portland Hempstalk Event at Kelly Point Park.

Ironically, Jack told our Doctor Phil Leveque, an old friend of his in the fight to legitimize and legalize marijuana, that he was feeling better Saturday than he had, "In the ten years."

Event staff came together quickly and called in the paramedic crew that treated Jack in the area backstage where he fell ill. Madeline Martinez, Executive Director of Oregon NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, says Jack didn't look like he felt well after the well received speech, and she told him he should get some water.

Shortly after that he apparently collapsed where he was sitting, and the emergency crews were called in. Bands kept playing and the medical personnel spent a considerable amount of time stabilizing Jack, before loading him in an ambulance and transporting him to the Emanuel Trauma Center in Portland.

Source report that Jack was in critical condition when he was admitted to the hospital with his son at his side. Soon after that, they were told that he was the victim of a heart attack, a result of arterial blockage.

Jack was was undergoing angioplasty surgery late Saturday.

Jack suffered a stroke several years ago that left him somewhat challenged in terms of speaking, but today more than one person watching him noted that his speech was much clearer than even the year before.

Jack Herer is beyond legendary with popular culture and his book, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" is the largest and first account of the real story of marijuana and the techniques used by big money corporations to demonize and criminalize it.

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This video clip from Saturday, recorded about two hours before Jack suffered a heart attack, shows him explaining to Dr. Phillip Leveque of Salem-News.com how how he has been feeling better recently:

Video

There are no equals to Jack Herer; he is a friend of Salem-News.com and has personally helped us on more than one occasion in our research. Our thoughts go out to his wonderful wife Jeannie Herer and we hope that Jack makes a full and complete recovery.

Dr. Phil Leveque, Jack Herer, Bonnie King and Allen St Pierre, at Hempstalk, September 12, 2009