While gathering footage for Amsterdam’s Inaugural Jack Herer Cup, Audio Kush had the pleasure of meeting Uncle Stoner. Easily the most experienced connoisseur on the panel of skilled cannabis judges, Uncle Stoner has been active in the community for almost two decades, working closely with the activists who have greatly influenced cannabis culture as we know it today, including Mila the Hash Queen, Ben Dronkers of Sensi Seeds, Soma of Soma’s Sacred Seeds, and Jack Herer himself.
Uncle Stoner organizes events internationally and is perhaps most well known for his USA Squash Off Event, a live cannabis judging competition, with the additional element of rosin pressing (and subsequent rejudging)!
He (Jack Herer) is more than just a strain! Look him up. Realize who paved the way for us to be here and do what we do. All the new people out there need to learn their history. A lot of important people did a lot of important things to make sure that we are able to cultivate this wonderful cannabis plant. So, just please learn your history and who the people are. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Uncle Stoner for Audio Kush 17 May, 2019
When we spoke with Uncle Stoner, shortly before the winning entries of The Jack Herer Cup were to be announced, he spoke ardently of those who influenced his passion for cannabis:
“I have been in this industry for over 18 years. I actually got a lot of my knowledge from Amsterdam back in the day, from Ben Dronkers, Steve Haze, Soma, God rest his soul, Franco. Ego Bill, another person, rest his soul. A lot of people took me under their wings and taught me. Mila also, still alive, downstairs right now, and Ben Dronkers! Even me being hyper, running around, and being a go-getter, they still took me under their wings and took the time to teach me about this cannabis plant and life. I don’t think I would be here today if they didn’t show me the love and respect that they showed me back then. So, it means a lot for me to be back here at the Jack Herer Cup and doing this.
Back in the day, I met Jack over here in Amsterdam and Eddy Lepp. Him and Eddy were great friends. I got invited to Eddy Lepp’s farm for Jack’s birthday party and at Jack’s birthday party, he handed me a tray of Jack Herer. So, I got an original tray of Jack Herer from Jack back in the day. It means a lot being able to be back here and seeing all his friends that have come to celebrate his life, and his movement, and what he brought to this industry, and what he’s done for this world with his book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes.
He is more than just a strain! Look him up. Realize who paved the way for us to be here and do what we do. All the new people out there need to learn their history. A lot of important people did a lot of important things to make sure that we are able to cultivate this wonderful cannabis plant. So, just please learn your history and who the people are. That’s all I’ve got to say.” – Uncle Stoner, Audio Kush 2019
Audio Kush Interviews Uncle Stoner:
The Jack Herer Cup weekend concluded with Uncle Stoner’s USA Squash Off Event which brought together a historic team of judges, squashing some of Amsterdam’s finest.More about Uncle Stoner’s USA Squash Off.
