After 30 years of existence, Sensi Seeds has become to the eyes of many the authority in several different aspects of the cannabis industry.
Not only has our team applied itself to setting standards in terms of cannabis genetics and ethics in cannabis trade, Sensi Seeds supported and still supports numerous causes that may well define the future of the plant in our modern societies, the world over.
After 30 years of existence, Sensi Seeds has become to the eyes of many the authority in several different aspects of the cannabis industry.
Not only has our team applied itself to setting standards in terms of cannabis genetics and ethics in cannabis trade, Sensi Seeds supported and still supports numerous causes that may well define the future of the plant in our modern societies, the world over.
30 years of friendships
Since 1985, Sensi Seeds has had a myriad of opportunities to associate with the most daring, spirited, and dedicated cannabis activists. It is no secret that Jack Herer, renowned all-round cannabis expert and friend of Ben Dronkers, was a long-time partner in the ever important task of democratizing cannabis and hemp, and in introducing the world to the importance of preserving cannabis genetics. This collaboration blossomed into the now legendary Jack Herer® strain, but has also contributed to the two men’s respective works, which while remaining on parallel pathways for decades, indubitably inspired each other.
Mikki Norris and Chris Conrad, both eminent human rights and cannabis activists, and responsible for designing the beloved Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam, also count among our most treasured collaborators, and our most regular visitors.
But many other celebrated minds have crossed Sensi Seeds’ path. Pr. Lester Grinspoon, Ed Rosenthal, Todd McCormick, Howard Marks aka Mr. Nice, Robert Connell Clarke, Mark and Jodie Emery, and many more have become over the years trusted and precious partners, that have inspired Sensi Seeds in many different ways, be it in creating cannabis strains, hosting the most enlightening conferences in the Cannabis College, or even partnering in some of our largest projects.
Through these friendships, Sensi Seeds has developed a desire to acknowledge heroes of cannabis activism as they should be. This is why one of the projects we take pride in the most is our yearly celebration of said activism: the Cannabis Culture Awards.
Since 2004, we have had the honour to praise and reward many eminences of the cannabis industry for their outstanding contributions. Our friend Todd McCormick, once a winner of this award, was present last year as co-host of the ceremony to present their respective prizes to Howard Marks, and to Jodie and Marc Emery. We are proud to finance these projects we believe in, we are proud to showcase our laureates’ works in our museums, and finally, we are proud to find our cannabis family reunited for every milestone that needs celebrating. Ben Dronkers has always had the wish to help and “be good to the people” – his own words. Sensi Seeds is dedicated to making this wish a motto, and we plan on continuing to host the Cannabis Culture Awards for years to come.
Bringing activists together
There are many other individuals out there that contribute to redefining the face of the cannabis plant, via groups, associations, or events that can influence public opinion as well as governments.
United Kingdom’s UPA (United Patients Alliance), as well as France’s UFCM (Union Française pour les Cannabinoïdes en Médecine) are shining examples of groups focused solely on the medicinal aspect of cannabis. These projects have been gaining momentum rapidly as well as an increasing number of members, followers and sympathizers, due to their factual, medical approach to legalization.
The UPA, co-founded by a handful of cannabis patients including young activist Clark French, has held conferences which have been many patients’ sole support in their struggle with the government and its policies. Their relentless activism has led many Members of Parliament to join their movement, and has earned them a few televised appearances, which no doubt have enlarged the scope of their audience among UK citizens.
On the other side of the pond, UFCM iCare is a Strasbourg-based organization co-founded by Bertrand Rambaud. Its main purposes are to raise awareness on the use of cannabinoids in medicine, and to connect French patients with the medical community. Its members have successfully hosted their yearly symposium since 2012, with increasing success.
These two groups of dedicated advocates have received Sensi Seeds’ full support and sponsorship, and we are delighted and honoured to see their respective members visit us regularly, and host conferences at the Cannabis College.
Other associations have sparked interest from Sensi Seeds for their steady commitment and the progress their outstanding work brings to the community as a whole. The DHV (Deutscher Hanfverband), a non-profit dedicated to the hemp industry and to the legalisation of medicinal and recreational cannabis, is one of the loudest voices for the plant in Germany and Europe. Their reach went as far as the Bundestag, and a growing number of political figures support their statements. Sensi Seeds is proud to be a sponsor of their work, as well as of the works of their fellow German-speaking activists and friends including the German and Austrian Hanfparade, their Austrian counterpart, the Österreichischer Hanf Verband, the Hanf-Initiative, the Hanf Wandertag, user-organised cannabis cups, and more. Sensi Seeds loves Germany!
That being said, the fact that Sensi Seeds is very much attached to its basecamp, the Netherlands, goes without saying. Naturally, our collaboration with the Cannabis Bevrijdingsdag (Cannabis Liberation Day), the most authentically Dutch cannabis protest, for which we always have time and spirit to spare, is one we are extremely proud of. The Dutch cannabis policy hasn’t changed for the better yet, it is therefore of the utmost importance to carry on, and show an unwavering front to the establishment, and to the rest of the cannabis community.
In Bilbao, located in the Basque area of Spain, we have supported fervently the oldest club of the country, Pannagh, during their long ordeal with the Spanish law, from which they have finally emerged victorious, and have been recognized innocent. Many other Spanish cannabis social clubs benefit from our sponsorship, and a few federations whose objective is to regulate cannabis associations of the country as well as their supply, use the Hash Marihuana Cáñamo & Hemp Museum in Barcelona for their meetings.
The hardest kinds of activisms are those that could easily rest on their laurels. But there is much work left to do in the Netherlands, Spain, and all the countries that have taken a few steps forward, but are not quite there yet.
For three decades, Sensi Seeds has relentlessly participated to and sponsored events located in many countries in Europe and beyond, and our dedicated shop staff has roamed the grounds of many a cannabis cup. Cannabis and hemp fairs such as Cultiva (Austria), Spannabis and Expogrow (Spain), Cannatrade (Switzerland), Expoweed (Chile), and many more receive our support yearly, and the Sensi Seeds booth is always there to welcome visitors.
The Sensi Seeds team always hopes to see all of you in any or all of these events; because cannabis activism is not only about taking action, and refusing the status quo, it is also about supporting others and their projects. See you soon!