The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published July 03, 1996 Updated November 24, 2023

The Hemp Culture Playing Cards

There is an underlying element of subtle humour in these cleverly designed playing cards, gently questioning the issue of legality.

1998 Costa Rica Latin America Laurence Cherniak Cannabis Add to Collection
Hemp Culture Playing Cards Box

These magnificent playing cards stem from at least 30 years of research… a lavish showcase of superb photography, artwork and personal revelations… both educational and entertaining.

"Freedom is a natural, basic, element that provides us with a foundation for motivating ourselves… to explore our souls and the beautiful relationships we can have with each other." [Laurence Cherniak, 1998]
Laurence Cherniak
Hemp Culture Playing Cards Hemp Culture Playing Cards Hemp Culture Playing Cards

Above: 52 cards + 3 Jokers + colour booklet in sturdy box, ultra high-air cushion finish, rounded corners, 62mm x 89mm, made in Canada. Artistic, almost 3-dimensional graphic designs, photography featuring views of diverse locations, well-balanced colours.

There is an underlying element of subtle humour in these playing cards… gently questioning the issue of legality. The cards are collages of various images, merged together with vibrant and colourful patterns. The suit signs and pips are gold-edged. Overall, a superb piece of work. The more you look the more you'll see, and in the "History & Memoirs" there's also some fun stuff…

Four of Clubs King of Clubs Indexes Back design showing resin calyxes Toker-Joker

Hemp Culture Playing Cards
avatar
1,438 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.


Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

1986 Peintres Latino Americains

Peintres Latino Americains

Original artwork by 18 different Latin American artists.

1974 Royal flash playing cards

Royal flash playing cards

Royal flash playing cards with non-standard suits, USA, 1974.

1880 B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia

B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia

Spanish-suited pack made in France for sale in Bolivia, c.1880.

1860 South American Costumes

South American Costumes

Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.

1802 Félix Solesio e Hijos

Félix Solesio e Hijos

Félix Solesio e Hijos - Real Fábrica de Madrid - Spanish National pattern for Venezuela

Stonerware playing cards

Stonerware playing cards

Stonerware playing cards featuring cannabis smoking paraphernalia, USA.

2002 Rasta playing cards

Rasta playing cards

Rasta playing cards celebrating the Rastafari religion.

1902 Parisian Spanish pattern by Fossorier, Amar et Cie

Parisian Spanish pattern by Fossorier, Amar et Cie

‘Parisian’ Spanish pattern published by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris), c.1902.

1801 Félix Solesio e Hijos

Félix Solesio e Hijos

Félix Solesio e Hijos, Fábrica de Macharaviaya, Spanish National pattern for West Indies, 1801.

1970 Naipe de Bridge

Naipe de Bridge

Standard English pattern pack made in Ecuador, c.1970.

1992 Quinto Centenario del Descubrimiento de América

Quinto Centenario del Descubrimiento de América

Fifth Centenary of the Discovery of America by Heraclio Fournier, 1992.

Parisian style Spanish deck by Grimaud

Parisian style Spanish deck by Grimaud

Parisian style Spanish deck by Grimaud for export to Uruguay.

1995 Naipes Criollos

Naipes Criollos

“Naipes Criollos” Gaucho playing cards, 1995.

1760 Anonymous Spanish Suited pack, c.1760

Anonymous Spanish Suited pack, c.1760

Anonymous archaic Spanish suited pack, c.1760.

1960 America

America

“America” playing cards designed by Teodoro N Miciano, 1960.

2000 Pedro Domecq

Pedro Domecq

Anglo-American pattern for Pedro Domecq Mexican brandy made by Productos Leo S.A., c.2000.

Naipe Cantaclaro

Naipe Cantaclaro

A colourful version of the Spanish Catalan pattern from Colombia, with a crowing cockerel on the 4 o...

1815 Naipes Artiguistas, 1816

Naipes Artiguistas, 1816

Naipes Artiguistas published in Concepción del Uruguay, Entre Rios province (Argentina) in 1816, by ...

Naipes Españoles “El Mexicano”

Naipes Españoles “El Mexicano”

Standard Catalan-type deck, titled "El Mexicano", by an anonymous Argentinean manufacturer, c.1980s....

2003 Baraja Hispanoamericana

Baraja Hispanoamericana

“Baraja Hispanoamericana” published by Asescoin, with artwork by Ortuño, illustrates memorable peopl...

1998 Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals

Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals

Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals, c.1998 & Bodegas Trapiche, 2003.

1904 Bicicleta num.810

Bicicleta num.810

The United States Playing Card Co. issued Spanish versions of their flagship brand.

9: Standard English Cards From Latin America: Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela

9: Standard English Cards From Latin America: Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela

A continuation of the survey of designs used in Central and South America.

8: Standard English Cards in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil and Chile

8: Standard English Cards in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil and Chile

A brief survey of the designs of English cards in South America.

Aparcero

Aparcero

Naipes Argentinos 'La Partida' y 'Aparcero' published by Obsequios Empresarios Argentinos, Santa Fe....

Ciudad de Quito

Ciudad de Quito

Pack of souvenir playing cards made in Quito, Ecuador, featuring black & white photographs depicting...

1940 Fournier No. 55

Fournier No. 55

Naipes Intransparentes de Una Hoja No.55 made by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier (Vitoria) for exportatio...

1980 Copa de Oro 1980

Copa de Oro 1980

Naipes “Copa de Oro 1980” manufactured by Compañía General de Fósforos Montevideana, 1980.

1979 Supermercados CHIP

Supermercados CHIP

Supermercados CHIP playing cards manufactured in Uruguay by Compañía General de Fósforos Montevidean...

Cía Gral de Fósforos

Cía Gral de Fósforos

Compañía General de Fósforos Montevideana, founded in 1893.

1975 Naipes Victoria Gaucho

Naipes Victoria Gaucho

Naipes Victoria Spanish-suited, gaucho-themed pack celebrating the culture and traditions of the gau...

Agostino Bergallo

Agostino Bergallo

Agostino Bergallo Spanish pattern made for South American countries

Giuseppe Cattino

Giuseppe Cattino

Playing cards manufactured in Italy by Giuseppe Cattino and Paolo Montanar for Spanish markets.

Pedro Bosio, 2

Pedro Bosio, 2

Cards of the Spanish National Pattern manufactured by Pedro Bosio, Genova (Italy) during the 18th ce...

Pedro Bosio

Pedro Bosio

Cards of the Spanish National Pattern 'Money Bag' type manufactured by Pedro Bosio, Genova (Italy) ...

1980 Naipes ‘Baccarat’

Naipes ‘Baccarat’

An example of the typical version of the Spanish Catalan pattern which is widely used in South Ameri...

1920 Vistas del Perú, c.1920s

Vistas del Perú, c.1920s

Vistas del Perú souvenir deck, made in USA and imported by Edw. E. Muecke, Lima, Peru, c.1920s.

1980 Lagos del Sur Souvenir

Lagos del Sur Souvenir

Lagos del Sur Souvenir playing cards published by Gráfica S.A., Buenos Aires, c.1980.

2004 Axe Deodorant

Axe Deodorant

Clearly promoting good personal hygiene, each card shows a young, pouting female model posing seduct...