Howard Marks

The Profile

Welsh author, cannabis advocate, and former drug smuggler known as “Mr. Nice.” Studied at Balliol College, Oxford; wrote the bestselling memoir Mr. Nice; later toured with spoken-word shows; died in 2016.

Born in 1945 in Kenfig Hill, Wales; studied Physics and History and Philosophy of Science at Balliol College, Oxford. Known as “Mr. Nice,” he was convicted for cannabis smuggling, served seven years in a U.S. prison, and later campaigned for cannabis law reform. Author of the autobiography Mr. Nice.

One review covers Howard Marks’s autobiography Mr. Nice, portraying him as a cultured Welsh author and ex–drug courier. The piece highlights his Oxford background, DEA arrest, seven-year sentence, and later cannabis-legalization advocacy. It praises the book’s mix of feelings, high-risk tales, and identity changes. Overall tone is sympathetic and irreverent.