Khodr “Cutter” Merhi didn’t idly watch the Danish cannabis scene evolve around him: he played a crucial role in protesting for cannabis laws, breeding local strains, and participating in the iconic scene around Christiania. As a pillar of the Sensi Seeds Breeding Grounds programme, Cutter loves bringing Danish genetics to growers around the world.
In the centre of Copenhagen’s bustling Indre By district, only minutes from the Rådhus (City Hall) and Tivoli Gardens theme park, stands Smokenhagen: Denmark’s first-ever cannabis social club.
Behind the counter, smiling out through thick-rimmed round glasses, you’ll find Cutter Merhi, a central figure of Denmark’s evolving cannabis scene. “We’ve been working on it [the idea of this club] for years,” says Cutter in an interview with Sensi Seeds’ Tim Hoebee, as he grinds some of his iconic flower.
Cutter embodies so many aspects of cannabis culture: he is a friendly smoker; a veteran grower; an emblematic activist; an ex-coffeeshop owner; a dedicated breeder, and now the owner of Denmark’s first legal cannabis social club. To many Danes, he is the face of the vibrant local culture that’s been brewing since the late 1960s.
Denmark: A not-so quiet cannabis hub
In Denmark, roughly 9.7% of young adults consume cannabis annually. And that might not be surprising: the picturesque Danish capital has, after all, long been home to the world-famous alternative commune, Christiania.
Founded in 1971, Christiania was the result of squatters occupying an abandoned army barracks. In 1973, Denmark’s Social Democratic government granted the community temporary status as a “social experiment.” Then, in 1989, Christiania was officially recognised as a semi-autonomous free town.
Still one of the largest attractions in Copenhagen, Christiania attracts an estimated 500,000 tourists every year with its lively cafes, art galleries, alternative culture and, of course, Pusher Street: a cobblestone street that, until 2024, was home to a highly illegal but extremely overt cannabis/hash market.
In the past, you would cross Christiania’s iconic wooden entrance arch and, within minutes, find yourself in the middle of a bustling market. Each stall would be packed with cannabis flower and hash and tended to by pushers who’d firmly remind you not to take pictures of them or their wares.
Though a beacon to alternative and liberal culture, Christiania was also the stage for numerous violent conflicts between locals, police, and organised crime gangs. In 2023, following a shooting, Christiania’s residents finally voted to close the emblematic Pusher Street for good.
For some, the closure marked the end of an era, while others might argue (probably rightly so) that it failed to curb illegal cannabis sales within the commune. Regardless, many would agree that, with or without Pusher Street, Danish cannabis culture is probably more alive than ever before. And that has a lot to do with the work of individuals like Cutter.
Related post
A lifetime at the heart of the Danish weed scene
Cutter developed an interest in cannabis from a young age:
“I vividly remember the Sensi Seeds logo from my childhood trips to Amsterdam with my family. I also saw the logo at my uncle’s house in Kuwait, my cousin’s farm in Lebanon, and my father’s drawers in Copenhagen,” he recalls in another interview with Sensi Seeds. “I didn’t understand its significance at the time, but it looked impressive and seemed important.”
As he got older, Cutter learned of Sensi Seeds’ decade long history from his uncle, Ziad. “He had met Ben Dronkers in the late 90s and was a big fan. I was too, instantly!” Cutter says. In his teens and early twenties, inspired by Ben Dronkers, the late Nol van Schaik, and a growing frustration with cannabis prohibition, Cutter channelled his passion for the plant into activism.
Some of the highlights from his time as an activist include lighting a joint while sitting in on a Danish parliamentary hearing; founding the activist group Propaganja, and being nicknamed “Denmark’s cannabis crusader” by the European broadcaster, The Local.
In 2012, Cutter’s years of activism manifested into a new opportunity: to open, operate, and own Denmark’s first-ever coffeeshop. And not tucked away somewhere in one of the city’s quiet, outer suburbs, but along the bustling shopping street, Strøget. Just like a Dutch coffeeshop, Cutter’s store sold cannabis to anyone over 18.
“That wasn’t so legal,” he says, smiling and looking over the rim of his glasses. “So, after a couple of years of stress and headaches, we had to shut it down.” But the dream of creating a vibrant space for like-minded cannabis consumers never left Cutter’s mind.
In 2018, Cutter also organised North Grow; the first cannabis fair in Denmark and the Nordic region. After years of actively demonstrating against prohibition on the street, Cutter saw the fair as a means to spark a more serious debate about cannabis in Denmark; one that would hopefully go beyond the images of Christiania, biker gangs, shootings, and the controversial Pusher Street.
“We had a few years where we were out demonstrating a lot and drawing attention to the cannabis issue. That debate was created, and now we’ve moved on, and the Danes are ready for some more serious initiatives,” he told Kosmopol at the time of the fair.
A natural-born breeder
In 2020, Cutter forged a new fork in the metaphorical road of his life. Following the closure of his coffeeshop, he turned to cannabis breeding and founded Fat Beans.
“[Operating] as a retail shop, I was getting tired of selling other companies’ seeds. So, after doing that for 15 years, one day I woke up, sprouted some genetics and started breeding,” he says.
That seemingly split-second decision proved massively important: Fat Beans has grown to become Denmark’s leading cannabis genetics brand. The company is fully licensed to legally sell cannabis seeds and provides provenance and traceability on all its genetics.
As if that weren’t enough, Fat Beans has won numerous cannabis awards and accolades, including the Uncle Stoner Squash Off, the Homegrown Cup, Clouds In The City, White Ash Weekend, the North Grow Cup, and the famous Dutch High Life Cup. Attracting so much well-deserved hype, it wasn’t long before Cutter flew on the Sensi Seeds radar.
“I had yet to learn where it [breeding] would take me. [At first], it was just a necessary step for my small shop in Copenhagen to have our own seeds. But a couple of years later, Sensi Seeds showed interest in Fat Beans and decided to team up with me,” he said.
“As a consultant to various Danish licensed producers, I had a lot of communication with Sensi Seeds while they were visiting Denmark and met me on Pusher Street. One thing led to the other, and suddenly they asked if I was interested in working with them… For me, that’s some bucket-list-type s*** happening!”
Related post
A match made in heaven: Sensi Seeds x Fat Beans collaboration
In 2024, Sensi Seeds launched Breeding Grounds: a programme designed to unite the world’s best breeders and genetics. And Fat Beans has been a loyal part of Breeding Grounds since the beginning.
“For Sensi Seeds, this new partnership is simply a continuation of its legacy as a trailblazer in the cannabis world,” Cutter says. “However, for Fat Beans, it represents a remarkable chance to grow and learn from the best in the business.”
To date, the Fat Beans x Sensi Seeds Breeding Ground collaboration has produced numerous delicious strains, including Mandarine Jam, Candy Apples, Bahama Mama, and more. Check out the full collection here and order your seeds today!
Related post
Back at it: A never-ending service to the community
In February 2026, Cutter got to tick another item from his bucket list: namely, to build that cannabis haven he’s always dreamed of, right in the heart of his hometown. And when he is asked to reflect on that achievement, he makes no effort to hide his joy:
“It’s amazing,” Cutter says as his eyes light up. “We’ve had the keys to this place for like a year now. We’ve been building, scraping money together, going along as we could… Finding a location that would allow you to open a coffeeshop, dispensary, social club, anything cannabis-related, can be very difficult.”
Inside the cozy location, you’ll find what Cutter himself describes as a “man cave:” there’s a bar, a gaming room, a massive TV, a massage chair and, of course, a fully-stocked weed menu packed with the best Fat Beans x Sensi Seeds collaboration strains. Above all, however, Smokenhagen is a local venue designed to unite Danish cannabis lovers.
“My club, per se, is not so different from other clubs. I am not better than any other club,” Cutter says, smiling with the confidence of someone completely convinced by their mission. “But we are unique because we’re in Copenhagen. We are trying to build and be part of a community. There’s a bigger aspect to it.”
To avoid legal issues, Smokenhagen operates by tending THC-rich cannabis only to members with a medical prescription. Individuals without a prescription can, of course, still visit the club, use its facilities, attend one of its shows, and even buy CBD-rich cannabis products to consume on-site.
“CBD is legal in Denmark, and it’s a big thing. Many heavy THC smokers that I know grew up, became older, and now smoke CBD to keep the habit or for medical reasons,” Cutter explains.
In fact, for anyone looking for a medical cannabis prescription in Copenhagen, Smokenhagen can also help:
“We created the club for patients, and we created a clinic. It’s been going for a few months now, and we’ve had a few hundred patients already. Word is spreading, and people are calling every day to book an appointment with the doctor,” he says. Like most of Cutter’s endeavours, setting up the clinic also proved challenging.
“It wasn’t so difficult. It only took me 12 years to convince a doctor,” he laughs. But Cutter doesn’t spend much time thinking about the past: he is one of those people who is far more interested in looking to the future.
“We’ve got a variety of new strains coming out. I am focusing on terps and cup winning genetics,” he says. Moreover, he is also securing a license to grow on-site at Smokenhagen and bring cannabis into the store from the Fat Beans production facility.
Most importantly, Cutter hopes that Danish cannabis users will one day have the legal right to grow their own medicine. “Doctors in Denmark don’t want to have anything to do with cannabis. So, if patients could, just like in Germany, grow their own medication at a facility like our club, doctors wouldn’t have to have that hassle,” he says.
At heart, he is convinced that that day will come sooner rather than later. “I believe, optimistic as I am, that we will be granted permission to grow our own cannabis in a not-so-distant future.”
If you’re looking to support Cutter and his mission, make sure to visit Smokenhagen at Studiestræde 31 in Copenhagen. Finally, don’t miss your chance to grow your own award-winning Fat Beans x Sensi Seeds collaboration strains. Browse the full collection here and, if you’ve already grown some of the strains, let us know your favourites in the comments below!
- Disclaimer:Laws and regulations regarding cannabis use differ from country to country. Sensi Seeds therefore strongly advises you to check your local laws and regulations. Do not act in conflict with the law.
