“I want them to mix my ashes with soil and plant marijuana,” cannabis activist Fernanda de la Figuera, also known as Abuela Marijuana, Granny Marijuana, asked before she died.
Fernanda died on April 24 at the age of 78, after a life of fighting against cannabis prohibition in Spain. As a result of her struggle, she was the first Spanish woman to be granted the right to cultivate this plant herself, in 1995.
Abuela Marihuana, born in Madrid in 1943, founded and chaired one of the first cannabis associations in Spain, the Ramón Santos Association for the Study of Cannabis in Andalusia (ARSECA).
Fernanda also created the Cannabis Party for Legalization and Normalization (PCLYN) and the Federation of Cannabis Associations (Federación de Asociaciones Cannábicas). She was also spokesperson for the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies (ENCOD) and chair of the cannabis party Luz Verde.
As she liked to say in an interview, in 1982, Fernanda understood that her relationship with cannabis would last a lifetime: thanks to this plant, she was able to fight depression and her physical ailments.
“It’s the best medicine I’ve ever had and the best medicine I own. If it wasn’t for the marijuana I wouldn’t be here now, of that I am absolutely convinced,” Fernanda said in 2019.
On social media, the international cannabis community bid him farewell.
The official account of the Confederation of Federations of Cannabis Associations of Spain tweeted: “Today the sun shines a little less. Grandma Marijuana rest in peace and freedom. For those of us who love #Cannabis, you will always be in our thoughts. »
Hoy el sol shone un poco menos. @AbuelaMarihuana Descanse en Paz y libertad 😢🙏
Aquellos que amamos la #Cannabis estarás seempre en nuestros pensamiento. Mientras que existenta tu recuerdo, vivirás por siempre en nuestros corazones.
🖤Adiós Fernanda, seguimos tu ejemplo de lucha pic.twitter.com/uqOWP5yzML— ConFAC (@FederacionFAC) April 24, 2022
Or, on the Spanish account of the World Cannabis March: “From today, Fernanda de la Figuera will be missed. Abuela Marijuana, feminist, fighter, absolute reference of the cannabis movement in our country, who supported the cause until the end. We will continue to plant in your name, comrade! »
😢Desde hoy our falta Fernanda de la Figuera. La Abuela Marihuana, feminista, luchadora, referente absoluto para el movimiento cannábico en nuestro país, que apoyó la causa hasta el finale.
🌱Seguimos plantando in you number, compañera!
🖤In memoriam pic.twitter.com/1jO6QFHpxf— #MarihuanaenMarcha (@MarihuanaMarcha) April 24, 2022
The Dutch VOC also paid tribute to him by sharing a photo of Abuela Marijuana with Ben Dronkers, Richard Branson, Freek Polak and Todd McCormick.
Sad to hear the news of the passing of Fernanda de la Figuera, Abuela Marijuana (Grandma Marijuana), mother of the Spanish cannabis movement, pictured here at the @HempMuseumBCN in 2012 with Freek Polak, Ben Dronkers, @richardbranson and @toddpmccormick (photo © Gonzo Media). pic.twitter.com/MKrhu8j6yK
— VOC Nederland (@vocnederland) April 25, 2022
