The Ganjier Program

THE FUTURE OF DNAGENETICS

Since bursting onto the bud breeding scene with Cannabis Cup wins in 2004 and 2005 for their LA Confidential and Martian Mean Green, Don Morris and Aaron Yarkoni (The “D” and “A” in DNA) have been at the forefront of new, potent and stable genetics. At the time, they relocated from Los Angeles to Amsterdam in order to build their company and expand their genetic library under the relative freedom of Dutch pot policies.

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Their infusion of California’s finest varieties into the stagnant gene pool changed the game, and countless international victories over the ensuing few years led to me inducting them into the High Times Seed Bank Hall of Fame in 2009. Hundreds of award wins later, DNA Genetics is now established as one of the biggest seed brands in the world, looking into the future with strategic partnerships, new breeding technologies and legislative reform.

D & A

DNA Genetics is utilizing cutting-edge tissue culture techniques to bypass the old ways of cloning and propagation.

24k Gold

DNA Genetics Founders Don Morris and Aaron Yarkoni

Behind it all is their abiding love for the Cannabis plant and commitment to finding new flavors and sharing them with the entire planet. They’ve now moved back to their beloved Southern California and, working with friends and colleagues, the expansion of DNA Genetics is taking shape with their eyes on a legal landscape in which protecting intellectual property, genetic material and even their own likenesses, will be paramount to success.

While many brands were hampered by prohibitionist laws, operating as a Dutch seed company allowed them to ship genetics internationally with the proper paperwork and certificates of authenticity. They also work with the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce to push sensible legislative and banking changes at the federal and international level, as government activities behind the scenes everywhere prepare for a legal worldwide marketplace.

Speaking of the strategic partnerships, Aaron tells Leaf Magazines, “We’ve always looked at working with our friends as a plus. Even way back, we created Reserva Privada as a line of seeds from breeders we admired back home, and that’s how we teamed up with Crockett Family Farms. These new deals are an extension of that process.”

President of DNA Genetics, Rezwan Khan, echoed that philosophy when I asked about how the international expansions began. “It started in Canada with Canopy, which at the time was Tweed. At the time, the deal we made was unprecedented and allowed us to test out a new model for the industry in which we trade exclusive regional use of our genetic library in exchange for royalty payments or long-term partnership. This type of licensing model was unheard of for Cannabis brands and bringing professionalism to the table allowed us to prioritize IP protections of strain names, standard operating procedures for cultivation of our varieties, as well as analysis of sales, data and marketing.”

With the Canopy deal as their “beta,” DNA was able to expand their operations into newly legal state markets as well. Their 2019 strategic partnership with Copperstate Farms gave them a foothold in Arizona’s quickly emerging market. As Rezwan explains, “When we first met them, they were going through literal growing pains in their massive 40 acres of greenhouses, having inherited legacy tomato farmers who didn’t get Cannabis. We came in and identified that they needed new genetics and new techniques. We brought in our team and revamped the operation, increased yields at lower production costs with higher-quality products. We also helped train the frontline budtenders so that the end user receives a consistent and accurate experience.”

In Oregon, Don and Aaron partnered with Halo Labs to bring their strains and concentrates to the legal marketplace, in a deal that makes Halo the only grower and manufacturer of DNA Genetics brand flowers and extractions in the state. Halo also features cutting-edge product forms such as their unique “Dab Tabs.” The DNA deal with Halo also positions them as the exclusive provider of genetics to Bophelo Bioscience & Wellness in the Kingdom of Lesotho, a country within the borders of South Africa.

DNA Genetics expansion into Michigan runs through SKYMINT Brands, a vertically integrated company and the largest medical and recreational license holder in the state. The collab features DNA strains sourced and pheno-hunted in the medical market in Michigan, so they could hit the ground running with the right flavors launched in multiple recreational SKYMINT locations, plus select retail partners.

Don and Aaron are excited to be “going back to Cali” by collaborating with Dr. Greenthumb – their longtime friend B-Real of Cypress Hill – to launch DNA Genetics x Insane premium Cannabis flowers at select Dr. Greenthumb, Cookies and URBN Leaf dispensaries. Southern California is their backyard and having their strains available there has been a lifelong dream. As B-Real says, “We are excited to finally have flower from the DNA Genetics family at Dr. Greenthumb’s. They are one of the most revered genetics companies in the Cannabis industry and we can’t wait for people to experience the flavors.”

Another flag was planted back home with their newest deal with Natura Life + Science, based in Sacramento. Their amazing brand-new facility boasts 290,000-square-feet of space for cultivation, propagation, concentrate production, edible manufacturing, a showroom, an education center and much more. It’s a massive curated Cannabis campus – the first of its kind to feature state-of-theart laboratories for the research and development of new strains. Sid Gupta, VP of Strategy at Natura says, “Especially exciting to us will be our ability to offer state-of-the-art technology for the cultivation of DNA genetics and the breeding of the next hottest flavors.”

Speaking of new technologies, DNA is utilizing cutting-edge tissue culture techniques to bypass the old ways of cloning and propagation. Using tissue culture – cloning on a molecular level under sterile conditions – allows them to streamline the breeding process and reinvigorate old strains that have suffered over time. “It’s not just about cleaning up the strains and relieving them of endemic stresses,” said Rezwan. “Gene mapping allows us to better understand our cultivars and their medicinal properties. And we can dispel the misinformation and expand knowledge on the terpenes, cannabinoids and flavinoids – that’s yet another goal for us.”

Rezwan continued, “If Bayer and Monsanto are doing it, we figure we need to do it based on what smokers want to smoke, for the right reasons with all the benefits of the science. Genetic marker identification can find PM resistance and higher yields, but not necessarily a better flavor. We’re still allowing Don and Aaron to guide the process by doing it the same way they’ve always done, but with more information. We’re about the flavors and telling the story better beyond just piney, gassy or fruity.”

With the future of Cannabis in the hands of larger and larger corporations, it’s important to maintain credibility at the top.

Having lifelong stoners like Don and Aaron and the rest of their team on board, companies like DNA and their partners can help to keep the industry honest to a set of ideals that favors the consumer.

As they develop markets throughout Europe, Africa, and North and South America, it’s reassuring to know that there are true believers at the helm. As Rezwan said, “We’re all about getting Don and Aaron’s genetics into grow rooms around the world. We want to continue to create amazing flavors and share them with the entire planet!”

GANJIER & THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS

No culture or community can thrive without a common language. Tribes, countries, industries – they all agree upon a shared vocabulary and a baseline for communication.

Long before the dawn of the modern Cannabis industry, the vernacular of weed started to take shape. But now, as we progress toward a future with pot shops in every neighborhood, the culture awaits a leader for defining and formalizing the way we talk about Cannabis.

Ganjier intends to become that definitive source.

“The world has never developed a Cannabis palate before,” said Max Simon, CEO of The Ganjier Council, which this month will launch the Ganjier Certification Program, a robust curriculum geared toward training the next generation of Cannabis experts. “In wine, they’ve developed a palate repertoire that’s been used for 100 years. Nobody has ever done that in Cannabis.”

1. MAX SIMON CEO, Ganjier 2. JUSTIN CALVINO Co-Founder Emerald Exchange and The Mendocino Appelations Project 3. FRENCHY CANNOLI Master Hashishin 4. DR. AMANDA REIMAN VP, Community Development, Flow Kana 5. DEREK GILMAN Managing Director, Ganjier 6. OMAR FIGUEROA Founding Member, National Cannabis Bar Association 7. NIKKI LASTRETO Co-Founder, Swami Select 8. JEFFREY RABER Organic Chemist | Founder, The Werc Shop 9. SWAMI CHAITANYA Co-Founder, Swami Select 10. WILLIAM PEDRO Friend of Kevin Jodrey, not on Council 11. PATRICK KING THE SOIL KING Founder, Soil King Garden 12. WENDY KORNBERG CEO, Sunnabis Farms 13. KEVIN JODREY Founder, Port Royal | Wonderland Nursery 14. NICK TANEM AKA NIKKA T Owner, Essential Extracts

FACULTY NOT PICTURED: 2 1

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While many organizations and educators over the decades have toiled to define the dialogue, the industry hasn’t accepted a broad certification program similar to the Master Sommelier designation for wine and the Master Cicerone program for Beer, whose graduates are considered to be certified experts in the field. The Ganjier program seeks to become that ballast.

We spoke with Simon over a video call in November to learn more about The Ganjier Council and its plan to revolutionize the future of Cannabis via standardization. Simon’s energy and excitement about the program was palpable, as he shared soaring stories about the process of collaborating with the rest of The Ganjier Council to build the program.

Assembling the Council

If you’re going to create a program to identify and train the future experts of an industry, you’re going to have to bring in some seriously heavy hitters. Simon, along with renowned cultivator, program co-founder and Ganjier Managing Director, Derek Gilman, did just that.

“What we decided from the very beginning was that we didn’t want to take any shortcuts,” Simon said. “We got Frenchy Cannoli to join, who is probably the most experienced hash maker on the planet right now. … He joined the council because he was really dedicated to the fact that The Ganjier Council would be something that would last for 1,000 years.”

After Frenchy joined on, the pieces started to fall into place. They sought out the most experienced in each Cannabis field – cultivation, botany, law, chemistry, sales, education – and started gathering the minds. “We really understood that one of the most important criteria levels here was experience,” said Simon.

“We were going to be doing things that require a level of experience to understand, and more importantly, to be able to define. We pulled the most experienced people we could find in each category.”

In the end, Ganjier ended up comprising 18 renowned names in the industry. Names like Swami Chaitanya, Kevin Jodrey and Mel Frank. “They (see sidebar for full list) collectively span about 600 years of Cannabis experience among those 18 people,” said Simon.

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6 7 THE ONLINE PORTION WILL BE THE FIRST TO LAUNCH AND WILL CONSIST OF 10 COURSES FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 30 HOURS OF ONLINE CURRICULUM. THE LEAF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVIEW THESE COURSES, WHICH COME ACROSS LIKE INTIMATE, ONE-ON-ONE CLASSROOM LECTURES FROM PROFESSORS OF POT.

Building a Common Language

With the team built, the Council could begin the real work. Logging more than 8,000 hours over a span of two-and-a-half years, the Council’s Cannabis cognoscenti debated, deliberated and delivered the first level of the program: The Certified Ganjier.

The way Simon describes it, the process must have been an experience.

“You see Swami and Frenchy, face-to-face, debating vigorously with a piece of hash in Frenchy’s hand,” he said. “It’s the fucking best.”

Like the Sommelier and Cicerone programs that inspired it, the Ganjier program will consist of three levels: Certified Ganjier, Advanced Ganjier and Executive Ganjier. The first level, Certified Ganjier, seeks to establish the green standard for knowledge for those operating on the Cannabis front lines – the budtenders, sales reps, consumption lounge sherpas.

The online portion will be the first to launch and will consist of 10 courses for a total of more than 30 hours of online curriculum. The Leaf had the opportunity to preview these courses, which come across like intimate, one-on-one classroom lectures from professors of pot.

Ganjier defined what they refer to as the “Systematic Assessment Protocol,” which sets a baseline against which all Cannabis products should be judged and discussed. It considers four different factors which will be familiar to anyone who has spent time judging Cannabis competitions: Appearance, Aroma, Flavor and Effects.

The classes and coursework cover everything a budding Cannabis expert needs to know, from history, hash, cultivation, chemistry and science, to sales, law and everything in between. As the program materials state, the goal isn’t to teach people how to cultivate Cannabis, rather, it’s to teach them everything they need to know about cultivation. “It’s putting all the Cannabis knowledge on the table that exists, and then defining what a Cannabis sommelier needs to know,” Simon said. Kevin Jodrey|Wonderland Nursery The program culminates in an assessment that students must pass to earn their certification. If it’s anything like the programs in the wine and beer industries, this process will no doubt be rigorous. It has to be.

As Simon is quick to point out, if the industry is to grow, it must establish a baseline of trust and clear communication. “Everything in Cannabis comes down to customer service,” he said. “This is about serving consumers in the most effective way.

Frenchy Cannoli, Swami Chaitanya & Dr. Amanda Reiman.

Ganjier defined what they refer to as the “Systematic Assessment Protocol,” which sets a baseline against which all Cannabis products should be judged and discussed. It considers four different factors which will be familiar to anyone who has spent time judging Cannabis competitions: Appearance, Aroma, Flavor and Effects.

Millions and millions of people are looking for trusted guidance about what to buy. … They haven’t been exposed to the diversity of what’s possible with Cannabis, and that’s because no one has broken it down.”

Get with the Program

As of now, Ganjier expects to launch with a suite of online courses this month, with the in-person portion rolling out in June, COVID-willing. They plan to accept 156 hopefuls out of the first round of applicants. According to Simon, they’ll likely have to increase that number fairly swiftly. Additionally, you will be able to take just the online portion of the curriculum as a standalone option.

“The demand is really high,” he said. “I’ve got some of the largest organizations in the country right now asking if they can bring 50 people in to be a Ganjier, and my answer is that I can’t service them that quickly.”

With the amount of experience and expertise on staff, Simon believes that demand will only increase as people realize the weight of the opportunity. “I can’t tell you the hundreds of times I would turn to Derek, and we would just look at each other, and think, we’re the luckiest people on planet Earth — to be in this room with these people, who are arguably the most knowledgeable people about Cannabis on planet Earth.”