Culture

Sam the Skunkman: The Evolution of Hybrids

Published

1 year ago

November 30, 2023

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More than likely, the strain in your stash jar will be a distant relative of Skunk #1. To learn about the groundbreaking developments of the first commercially successful hybrid, we sat down with Sam the Skunkman and talked to him about the old days. Speaking to him from his home in The Netherlands while smoking a joint, we loved listening to his experiences.

In the spring of 1985, Sam the Skunkman, arrived at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. His journey into cannabis hybridisation began in Santa Cruz when he started breeding cannabis on a large scale. He developed the world’s most influential hybrid and paved the way for extensive cannabis breeding in The Netherlands.

In the US, Sam the Skunkman played a pivotal role in the groundbreaking development of the first F1 hybrids and was friends with the illustrious Haze Brothers and started the esteemed Sacred Seeds to produce cannabis seeds and develop Skunk #1. Sacred Seeds carefully crafted this strain by crossing a robust Afghan indica known for its potency and resilience with the legendary Colombian Gold, renowned for its uplifting effects and dynamic characteristics.

This intricate breeding process was enhanced by outcrossing the resulting hybrid with the acclaimed Acapulco Gold, a weed strain famed for its exceptional stability and extraordinary flower production. This enhanced the strain’s stability while shortening its flowering time and significantly increased its yield potential, ensuring a bountiful cannabis experience for enthusiasts worldwide.

Skunk #1 has since earned recognition as one of the most influential hybrids globally and is prevalent in many cannabis hybrids worldwide. This strain is renowned for its distinctive and pungent skunky aroma, which has become popular among cannabis enthusiasts.

Sam the Skunkman comes to the Netherlands

In the early 1980s, many individuals in the Netherlands were engaged in cannabis cultivation. However, their efforts did not yield high-quality results. The cannabis they produced suffered from poor genetic development, and many faced difficulties growing outdoors due to adverse climate conditions.

During that period, a considerable amount of hashish and low-grade cannabis was being imported, which posed challenges regarding potency. In the past, when individuals cultivated cannabis, it was commonly referred to as “mean green”, and initially, they faced difficulties in selling it to the local coffeeshops because the quality was inferior.

During Sam the Skunkman’s visit to Holland in 1984, he visited several growers. During his stopover, he advised them that growing cannabis outdoors in Holland was futile and suggested they switch to greenhouse cultivation. “Forget it! You are wasting your time; you need greenhouses”, bellowed Sam the Skunkman. Following his advice, these Dutch growers transitioned to greenhouse cultivation, and everything changed.

At this time, there were only three leading seed suppliers: the Lowlands Weed Company, Neville Schoenmakers’ The Seed Bank of Holland, and Super Sativa Seed Club. Sam the Skunkman says that the Lowlands seed company never had the highest quality genetics but had the right spirit. In comparison, Neville and the Super Sativa Seed Club had excellent quality seeds because they acquired them from Sam and other cannabis enthusiasts.

Sam, you were talking about Skunk #1

Skunk #1 is a three-way hybrid, initially an Afghan and Colombian cross. It was a late-maturing plant, so Sam the Skunkman crossed it with an Acapulco Gold, shortening the flowering period. Although it was not the fastest flowering cannabis strain, it made it easy to grow indoors under lights, in greenhouses, or outdoors in the middle of southern California.

He remarks that a high-quality skunk, possessing superior genetics, can exhibit a THC content of 17% alongside a full-bodied terpene profile that creates an effect akin to 25% THC. The synergistic interaction between terpenes and cannabinoids, now commonly known as the entourage effect, results in an impressive and captivating experience.

Original Skunk #1 was 1 of 30 hybrids

According to Sam, the original Skunk #1 was among 30 hybrid strains tested during his time with Sacred Seeds. He explains that he grew and tended to all 30 plants in his greenhouse, using male plants of the same variety for each female. That produced an F2 population, resulting in 25% of the plants being similar to the mothers, 25% being similar to the fathers, and the remaining 50% falling somewhere in between.

This is not what Sam wanted, and he remarked that “hybrids tend to be almost always segregated”.He explains that Skunk #1 exhibited minimal segregation, making it an ideal choice for Sacred Seeds. The intention was to offer seeds exclusively for true breeding and keeping the Skunk #1 lineage alive. Now, growers would have the opportunity to cultivate high-quality cannabis genetics and produce seeds.

During this time, he thought more highly of the cannabis farmers because there were no other seed companies. However, Sam explains that ten years later, all the newer seed companies started buying these classic genetics and producing their own copies– it is the nature of business.

In the early 1990s, these companies started entering cannabis competitions with high-quality genetics, and pretty soon, the whole world was flooded with high-quality genetics. Sam laughs, “You have heard the joke; the Americans can do it bigger, the Germans can do it better, and the Dutch seed companies can do it cheaper!”.

Skunk #1 achieved mainstream success when it emerged victorious at the 1988 High Times Cup, defeating Super Sativa Seed Club, Sensi Seed Club, and the Seed Bank of Holland. Sam recalls winning first place with Skunk #1 and considered it the best weed because he had also tried the other two entries.

The impact of Skunk #1 can be observed throughout the cannabis industry. It served as a fundamental building block for many hybrid strains, and its genetic influence can still be seen in numerous popular strains available today. In the United Kingdom, “skunk” is now used to refer to any potent cannabis strain. However, it is essential to note that not all THC-heavy strains in the UK are genetically related to the original Skunk #1 variety.

The process of hybridisation

Besides Skunk, some other varieties were given to Sam the Skunkman, like Haze and California Orange. He states, “Haze was a variety given to me by the Haze Brothers, and they also gave me permission to reproduce and sell the seeds. Then there was Afghani #1, given to me by Mel Frank, Ed Rosenthal’s partner, who also permitted me to reproduce and sell that”.

There were also varieties like Durban Poison from South Africa. Ed Rosenthal first collected the seeds from the Transkei Coffeeshop here in Amsterdam, took them back to the USA, and gave them to his partner. Sam the Skunkman explained he grew it in California but believed what Mel Frank had given him was not the best.

“It was a second line, which was intersexed, so I had to grow it for four or five years in California to select the plants that were not intersexed”. He preferred Durban Poison because it was his earliest growing endeavour to flourished in the unfavourable climate. He cultivated over 20,000 plants outdoors in Holland!

Due to the process of hybridisation, whether through clones or seeds, it has become possible for anyone to cultivate high-quality cannabis. Sam the Skunkman believes the war on drugs was futile, as it was effectively lost when premium seeds and clones were distributed worldwide. The use of artificial lights in cultivation played a significant role in their defeat, despite taking several decades for this realisation to be acknowledged.

The legacy of Skunk #1 and Sam the Skunkman

Through innovation, dedication, and passion, Sam the Skunkman’s endeavours with Skunk #1 paved the way for advancements in cannabis breeding. The strain’s success and genetic stability were crucial in shaping the modern cannabis world. He demonstrated the potential for creating hybrid varieties with improved characteristics and inspired many breeders to develop their genetics and introduce new varieties with unique traits.

Sam the Skunkman helped lay the foundation for further exploration and innovation in cannabis botany, striving to constantly push the boundaries of potency, flavour, and cannabinoid content.

Thanks, Sam the Skunkman!

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Cannabis

Panama And Cannabis

Published

9 hours ago

January 21, 2025

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In the news today regarding the famous canal – but what about Panama and marijuana?

Panama is the only place in the world where the sun rises in the Pacific Ocean and sets in the Atlantic Ocean. It is slightly smaller than South Carolina but has more bird species than the continental United States. It’s also home to many natural attractions, including whitewater rafting, snorkeling, and birding. Long a friend, it was the first Latin American country to use the US dollar as its currency. Now it is the news with the new administration. Considering the talk here, what about Panama and cannabis?

The economy of Panama is based mainly on the tourism and services sector, which accounts for nearly 80% of its GDP and accounts for most of its foreign income. Services include banking, commerce, insurance, container ports, and flagship registry, medical and health. Enjoy a significant number of travelers who enjoy adventure, outdoor activities and chilling, the country’s stance on marijuana is evolving.

Panama has made significant strides in the realm of cannabis, particularly regarding its medical use. In 2021, Panama became the first Central American nation to legalize medical cannabis when President Laurentino Cortizo signed Law 242, allowing for the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives. This law was a response to growing demands from patients suffering from various medical conditions, including epilepsy and chronic pain, who had previously resorted to smuggling cannabis products due to a lack of legal options

In September 2022, the Panamanian government established regulations to support the implementation of Law 242. These regulations created a National Directorate for the Monitoring of Activities Related to Medical Cannabis, which operates under the Ministry of Public Security. This body is responsible for overseeing the cultivation, production, and distribution of medical cannabis products, ensuring patient data protection and product traceability from cultivation to sale. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is tasked with issuing licenses for manufacturing and commercializing cannabis products, with an initial cap on manufacturing licenses set at seven for the first five years. Regulations aim to ensure that all medical cannabis produced in Panama adheres to strict quality standards.

The government envisions creating a robust local industry that not only meets domestic needs but also positions Panama as a potential hub for international medical cannabis trade. While they are making advancements in medical cannabis regulation, recreational use remains illegal in Panama. The law against recreational cannabis is often unenforced, leading to a culture where its use is tolerated among the youth. Both the public and tourist find it an easy atmosphere.

Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and has as stable government. Like the United States, it is a republic and engages the public. They have evaluated cannabis as a benefits and have moved to integrating into their healthcare.

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Canada

Does Your Dog Really Care When You Are Sad

Published

12 hours ago

January 21, 2025

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They are more popular than dating apps and are consider a best friend – but are they really there when you need them emotionally?

They are man’s best friend with 38% of Canadians and roughly 50% of Americans having a dog. In the US more men have dogs and in Canada more woman have the furry companion. While they are fun, loving and play, does your dog really care when you are sad? Dogs have long been known as loyal companions, but recent research suggests that their emotional intelligence may run deeper than mere companionship; they can actually empathize with their owners’ feelings, particularly during times of distress.

A study published in the journal Learning & Behavior explored how dogs respond to their owners’ emotional states. Researchers found that dogs not only recognize when their owners are upset but also take action to provide comfort. In the experiment, 34 dog-owner pairs were observed in a controlled setting where owners either cried or hummed a cheerful tune. The results showed that while the dogs opened a door to reach their owners at similar rates, those who heard crying did so significantly faster—averaging just 23 seconds compared to 96 seconds for the humming group. This indicates that dogs are more inclined to respond quickly when they perceive their owner is in distress.

Interestingly, the study also noted physiological responses in dogs when their owners cried. Dogs that opened the door displayed lower stress levels than those who did not, suggesting that while they were affected by the owner’s crying, they were not overwhelmed by it. Conversely, dogs who showed high levels of stress likely cared deeply but were too anxious to act. This highlights a range of emotional responses among dogs, similar to human reactions.

The bond between dogs and their owners plays a crucial role in these empathetic behaviors. Dogs with stronger attachments to their owners exhibited quicker responses to distress signals. This bond is essential as it fosters a mutual understanding of emotions, allowing dogs to act on their instincts to comfort their human companions. As research continues to unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that our canine companions are not just pets; they are emotionally attuned partners capable of providing significant comfort during our most challenging moments.

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Culture

Fun Life Lessons Learned From Spaghetti Westerns

Published

16 hours ago

January 21, 2025

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There are beloved and fun – and some of the classic and Spaghetti western’s have some fun

From today’s hit like Yellowstone to the old school TV classics like Gunsmoke, Bonzana and High Chapperell. Riding the wave of popularity, in the 60s and 70s a subgenera appeared in Italy produced with low budgets. Sergio Leone is considered the pioneer of the spaghetti Western genre. Leone was an Italian filmmaker who directed several and help make them popular. They are know for their anti-her and supervision of traditional Western tropes. All of If you look past the plots, you can see there is value in what they share. Here are some fun life lessons learned from Spaghetti Westerns.

Love

If you pay attention, Westerns can teach you more about love and sex than a Prince song, and that’s saying something. Setting the stage – say you’re drinking at your favorite saloon and a local tough just called a barmaid a wench while grabbing her arm. You would get up, punch the guy square in the jaw and fighting would commence. After you win (of course you would win because you’re a good guy and good guys always win), the barmaid would take you upstairs, clean your wounds and then she would sleep with you. Ah, the good old days, where all it took to get laid was risking personal safety. Say what you want, it’s still better than Tinder.

5 Important Life Lessons Learned From Spaghetti Westerns — Photo courtesy of Everett Collection

Alcoholism is a career option

In the Old West, being a drunk was a totally viable career option. In fact, it was damn near necessary. Every respectable town needed a town drunk. Why? How would you know who the respectable people were if there were no unrespectable people to compare? It wasn’t a bad living. You’d stumble out of bed, clock in for work stinking of whiskey, wearing the same clothes you went to bed in.

Fashion

In the Old West, wearing black meant you were a crappy person with no scruples or morals to speak of. In today’s society, wearing black usually means you’re a New Yorker, which to the rest of the world, coincidentally, means you’re a crappy person with no scruples or morals to speak of. In the Old West, all the bad guys wore black. So unless you were on the wrong side of the law, black was out of the question. Which is really too bad because black is really slimming. It’s a shame clothing can be so stigmatized.

How to be a man

Being a “man” may be a subjective thing in our modern times — but in the old West, there was a litmus test of manhood. Men had to be tough, brave rugged and tall. If you weren’t tall — that’s OK, you just had to have a complex about it and punch every third man you saw in the jaw. Why? Because you’re a man that’s why! But you also deeply loved your horse, you dog, and, while you didn’t show it, the few friends you have. You also stood up for what you believe in – sometimes when the odds are against you.

The 1966 classic The Good, the Bad and The Ugly is said to be best spaghetti Westerns ever made. Take a little time and enjoy the blending of Westerns, culture, art and more.

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