Faces in the Field: King Bishop

FACES IN THE FIELD: King Bishop

BY IAN STUART PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW BOURGEOIS

King Bishop was born in South Portland, and moved up to Mid-Coast, Maine at 17, as he had family in Belfast. His first experience with cannabis was in the summer of ‘76. When asked about his first experience with mariuana, King said, “It was enjoyable. It’s always been enjoyable. I’ve never had a bad experience...well maybe last week when I had too many edibles from Mojo,” he laughs.

King became a caregiver in 2010 after seeing Paul McCarrier at the Common Ground Fair with a jar of weed and a joint behind his ear. From there, King learned how to grow cannabis from his friend, the late Jake McClure. Jake always kept the patients’ needs first, noting that they wouldn’t have an industry without them. “He was always willing to help. Always helping,” King said of his friend.

King’s first harvest was with Jake’s help, running some of his original Dice, Royal, and Church strains. “Jake was swingin’ by the house every week,” King said “He joked that there was ‘no learning curve there.’” King prefers sun-grown cannabis, which he feels is a better-tasting product with highs that are deeper and longer lasting. “Strains are important,” King says, “With how short our season is, it can be a hard time growing sativas in Maine.” King reflects on past grows, “We grow a lot of indica strains, indica-dominant strains.” When asked if he had advice for people thinking of growing their own cannabis, King said, “Get your hands in the dirt, grow your own. I haven’t seen a garden full of cannabis that didn’t change somebody’s life.”

Not only does King Bishop farm cannabis, he also farms livestock—beef, to be specific. King got into raising beef six years ago. He had the space and desire to grow and nurture more than just cannabis. “The two go hand in hand,” he said. “Beef has to be cared for everyday. Doesn’t matter the weather, you have to feed and water the cows. It teaches you not to procrastinate. It’s the same with your garden.” King always made his own beef jerky and beef sticks on a small scale as a hobby. One year, King wanted to enter an edibles contest in the famed Hoe Down on Harry’s Hill. He wanted to enter something unique and came up with medicated slim jims and beef jerky. He won first place at the Hoe Down, as well as receiving the “Best of Fest” award at the end of the season. Unfortunately, because beef is regulated by the USDA and cannabis is not listed as one of the approved grasses, King had to halt production on his delectably popular medicated beef sticks and jerky. King also ran a medical marijuana university on his farm, teaching people how to grow and cultivate their own medicine. Due to backlash from the state, King started a fundraiser featuring four different coins. Each coin featured the Portland Head Light, with four different federal eagles adorning the backs of the different coins in the set. They were a limited run, with only 800 coins printed, and they were very popular among growers and caregivers in the state, trading at a much higher resale value after they sold out.

King sees the landscape of the cannabis industry changing here in Maine. “It’s important to be active in Augusta. We used to be able to fill halls with caregivers and patients, but people are getting comfortable. Now we see only 20 or 30 people at a rally. Once the folks stopped showing up, we started losing ground, and the lobbyists took over. When we’re not in the fight, the lobbyists are able to destroy years of hard work.” King talks about over-regulation and misconceptions on the lawmakers’ parts. “It’s still farming. They think we’re out here growing ATM machines,” he laughs, before getting serious. “But when you lose your crop, everything is gone. The legislators forget about that. It’s the small guys trying to make a living with one or two employees. I know people who are worried about paying their electric bill every single month.”

King Bishop at his shop in Belfast, ME

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Matthew Bourgeois

King started to see the market change among his patients who were beginning to favor pot shops over deliveries and wanted to continue to be relevant in the cannabis industry. So he decided to open a brick and mortar location on the historic dock of Belfast. King opened Your Coastal Connection on New Year’s Eve last year. “We have over 50 strains, 20 of which are only $25 a quarter ounce. One of the best selections of edibles you’ll find anywhere.” Dank Commander, Star Dawg, and Strawberry Cough are all popular strains in his shop, where he also has his own King’s Kush, a kush cross he’s been working on for three seasons. King said he has a very strong relationship with his returning patients and gets new patients everyday as well. “I’m usually in the store by myself, which I prefer. I get to know the patients, what they like and want.”

It was a privilege to talk with King Bishop, a contender for the real life title of “the most-interesting-man-in-theworld” and a true living legend in the Maine cannabis industry. Do yourself a favor and go visit King Bishop in Belfast. He will most likely have what you’re looking for.