A historic collaboration hit the streets of Holland this month when Backpack Boyz teamed up with well known and highly decorated Dutch brand Barney’s Farm to release seeds of Black Cherry Gushers and Lemon Cherry Gelato. This first run of feminized seed packs, both of which sold out in record time, practically crashed Barney’s website from the influx of traffic. I traveled out to Amsterdam along with fellow journalist Jimi Devine to witness the product launch as well as the start of the newest bromance in Cannabis.
Open since 1986, Barney’s operates a legendary Amsterdam coffee shop as well as a bar across the street where you can have a beverage while you smoke. Owner/operator Derry Brett says over the years Barney’s has added over forty cannabis cups to their collection but he wants the brand to keep their eyes on the future. For that mission, Barney’s decided to partner with Backpack Boyz to create an unprecedented new drop for their seed brand.
Created as a delivery service back in 2017 by former MMA fighter Juan Quesada, Backpack Boyz has now grown to include a full range of products, retail stores in both California and Michigan, as well as a reputation as one the biggest street brands on the recreational market. Their work with Lemon Cherry Gelato helped make the strain a nationwide phenomenon.
To celebrate the occasion, Barney’s threw Quesada a birthday party in their Uptown Lounge. A local grower onhand for the event commented how, for the European market, this signifies a moment where home breeders now have easy access to some of these coveted US genetics and Barney’s can begin to offer their customers California bred, Dutch-grown strains instead of simply having a Cali section on their menu like many other coffee shops offer.
The room was a din of smoke as players from the Dutch and American markets came together to witness this release between two major players in the game. Along with discovering how their companies can benefit each other, Derry and Juan have also discovered a fast friendship that’s apparent to see. Derry gave a toast to the crowd saying, “this celebration is about cannabis for the future and this collaboration between Backpack Boyz and Barney’s Farm is something that is going to go on and on.” Instead of raising a glass, Barney’s then presented Juan with one of the first Cannabis Cups the coffee shop ever won.
A hand-crafted original made by famous goldsmith Robin the Hammer, the cup had been lost for years before being rediscovered right before the party. I asked Quesada what it felt like being handed this piece of history, “I’m super honored” he told me. “They don’t just do this kind of a collaboration with anybody, and getting this gift on top of it, there’s no word for it other than an honor.” He went on to say how this process has been such an amazing experience and that, like Barney’s, Backpack Boyz sees this as just the start of where they can go next.
Once upon a time we had a thriving relationship between us and the Dutch world of cannabis. However, over the last decade many of the bricks that lined that road have shown the need for repaving. Watching Juan and Derry, in their matching t-shirts and ear-to-ear grins, talking excitedly about the future not only shows how far we’ve come but represents an emerging new path for the trans-atlantic foundation for cannabis.
barneysamsterdam.com | @barneysfarmog | @quesada925 | @thejimidevine
