Howard Marks 647971 223736496 2008-07-05T14:58:27Z 212.9.29.190 /* Popular Culture References */ '''Dennis Howard Marks''', also known as '''Mr. Nice''', (born [[August 13]] [[1945]] in [[Kenfig Hill]], near [[Bridgend]], [[Wales]]) achieved notoriety as an international hashish smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as [[MI6]], the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]], and the [[Mafia]], and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American [[Drug Enforcement Administration]]. He attended the Garw Grammar School, followed by [[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 of Science (Dip. H.Ph. Sc.) and then on to the University of Sussex (1969 to 1970) to study Philosophy of Science. He now lives in Leeds, UK. He spent seven years imprisoned in the [[United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute|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 Marks|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]]; ''SeƱor Nice: Straight Life From Wales to South America''. In 2003 one of Howard's fellow drug smugglers, [[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 four seats at once: [[Norwich South (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwich South]] (against future Home Secretary [[Charles Clarke]]), [[Norwich North (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwich North]], [[Neath (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath]] and [[Southampton Test (UK Parliament constituency)|Southampton Test]]. The average vote was over 1%. This led to the formation of the [[Legalise Cannabis Alliance]] (LCA) by [[Alun Buffry]] in [[1999]]. Marks had a role in ''[[Ecstasy (2007 film)|Ecstasy]]'', based on the #1 bestselling book by [[Irvine Welsh]], as a customs officer. ==Popular Culture References== {{Trivia|date=October 2007}} * Howard Marks makes a [[cameo appearance]] in the movie [[Human Traffic]], describing [[Spliff politics]]. * He makes another [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] in episode one ("Germination") of the MTV UK sitcom about a pair of drug dealing flatmates, [[Top Buzzer]] * He also appears as the Devil in [[Dirty Sanchez: The Movie]] * He is the subject of ''Hangin' with Howard Marks'' a song by the [[Super Furry Animals]] released on their [[Fuzzy Logic (album)|Fuzzy Logic]] album, and appeared on the album cover in a variety of disguises - allegedly passport photos from his time as a drug trafficker. They later became friends with him, and earned a mention in his autobiography. * He also has another son, called Max Dolan,who only lived with him briefly,this can be heard on the Long Gone track on the Super Furry Animals ,Fuzzy Logic album. ==External links== *[http://howardmarks.co.uk/ howardmarks.co.uk] *[http://www.organized-crime.de/revmar01.htm review of 'Mr. Nice'] [[Category:British drug traffickers|Marks, Howard]] [[Category:Welsh criminals|Marks, Howard]] [[Category:Cannabis activists|Marks,Francois Benji]] [[Category:Welsh memoirists|Marks, Howard]] [[Category:Welsh non-fiction writers|Marks, Howard]] [[Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford|Marks, Howard]] [[Category:People from Bridgend county borough|Marks, Howard]] [[Category:1945 births|Marks, Howard]] [[Category:Living people|Marks, Howard]] [[cy:Howard Marks]] [[de:Howard Marks]] [[it:Howard Marks]] [[fi:Howard Marks]]