20) Scott Blakey aka Shantibaba: The idol of our idols

Start of life and journey

Scott Blakey, better known as Shantibaba, is an iconic and respected figure in the cannabis industry. With a Masters in Biology, Shantibaba has used her scientific knowledge to revolutionize cannabis cultivation and genetics. His journey began in Australia, where he grew up, but it was in Europe that he truly made his mark.

Arrival in Europe

Shantibaba arrived in Europe with a passion for cannabis and a desire to understand and develop its potential. It was in the Netherlands that he met Nevil Schoenmakers, the famous cannabis breeder. Together they formed a legendary partnership, combining Nevil's talents for seed acquisition and Shantibaba's scientific skills for selection and breeding.

The Green House Seed Company period

In 1994, Shantibaba co-founded the Green House Seed Company with Nevil Schoenmakers and Arjan Roskam. During this time, Shantibaba played a crucial role in the development of some of the most famous and award-winning cannabis strains. His skills in selection and breeding have been essential in obtaining numerous Cannabis Cups, thus elevating Green House's catalog to the ranks of the best in the world.

However, despite his significant contributions, Shantibaba was unfairly denigrated by Arjan Roskam, who sometimes referred to him as a "water boy". This reductive attitude completely ignored the profound impact Shantibaba had on the success of the company. Despite this, Shantibaba and Nevil Schoenmakers had to leave Green House Seed Company due to internal differences and controversial strategic choices.

After their departure, Green House Seed Company took a notable shift toward a more commercial approach and less focused on the core values of cannabis. Arjan Roskam has undertaken questionable actions, such as spreading rumors about the origin of genetics and attempting to denigrate Shantibaba, thereby attempting to strengthen his own position in the market. These decisions dented Green House's reputation as a bastion of purist cannabis and marked a shift toward a more capitalist business less aligned with the original ideals of the cannabis movement.

To this day, the impact of those choices remains tangible, and the industry still recognizes Shantibaba as a pioneer whose contributions defined a golden era of cannabis, before commercial interests took precedence over authenticity and authenticity. corporate integrity.

Legal issues and moving to Switzerland

Shantibaba faced several legal challenges. In Switzerland, he was arrested and faced a prison sentence of 12 years. During his imprisonment, Marco from Jungle Booste, a trusted friend, played a crucial role in recovering and preserving the Shantibaba plants scattered outside. Marco made two trips to find the fields of Shantibaba, thus ensuring the conservation of the precious genetics.

Creation of Mr. Nice Seed Bank and CBD Crew

After leaving Green House Seed Company due to internal conflicts and legislative changes in the Netherlands, Shantibaba teamed up with Howard Marks (aka Mr. Nice) and Nevil Schoenmakers to found Mr. Nice Seed Bank. Together they continued to develop high quality cannabis strains.

Shantibaba later co-founded CBD Crew with Mr. Nice, focusing on the breeding and development of CBD-rich strains for the medicinal market. This initiative has opened new perspectives for the therapeutic use of cannabis.

Achievements and genetics created

Shantibaba is responsible for the creation of many legendary cannabis strains, used and loved around the world. Here is a list of some of his most iconic creations :

• La Niña
• Mango Haze
• Ortega
• Critical Skunk
• Neville’s Haze
• Widow AC (WACO)
• Super Silver Haze
• G13 x Afghan Skunk
• Afghan Haze
• Angel Heart (Mango Haze X Afghan Skunk)
• Angel's Breathe (Mango Haze x Afghan Haze)
• ASH (Afghan Skunk x Afghan Haze)
• Black Widow
• CBD Gandhi
• Critical Haze (Critical Mass x Afghan Haze)
• Critical Mass
• Critical Skunk
• Devil
• Dreamtime
• Early Pearl x Skunk
• Early Queen
• G13Haze
• Holy Grail
• Holy Smoke
• Mango X Widow
• Master Kaze (Master Kush Skunk x Afghan Haze)
• Master Kush X Skunk
• Medicine Man
• Neville's Haze Mango (Neville's Haze x Mango)
• Neville's Skunk (Neville Haze x Afghan Skunk)
• NHS-National Health Service (NL5/Hz x Skunk)
• NL5 X Afghan
• NL5 X Haze
• NL5 X Skunk
• Nordle
• Pink Floyd (CM x HzAC)
• Shark Shock
• Shit
• Skunk Haze
• Spice
• Super Silver Haze
• The Cure (Af/Sk x HzAC)
• The Doors (NL5Hz x HzAC)
• The Stones (MKSK x HzAC)
• U2 (EQ x HzAC)
• Walkabout
• Widow Grail (GROWL)

Entourage and close friends

Shantibaba has built strong ties with several influential figures in the cannabis industry. Among his close friends and notable collaborators are :

• Nevil Schoenmakers - His founding partner of Green House Seed Company and Mr. Nice Seed Bank.
• Howard Marks (Mr. Nice) - Co-founder of Mr. Nice Seed Bank with Shantibaba and Nevil Schoenmakers.
• Sam the Skunkman (David Watson) - Known for her contributions to cannabis genetics.
• Der Holländer - Known for his work in the cannabis field.
• Marco from Jungle Boost - Close friend of Shantibaba who helped him in difficult times, especially in Switzerland.
• Other coffee shop owners in the Netherlands - Professional relations in the cannabis industry in the Netherlands.
• The Swiss scene - Contacts and relationships developed during his stay in Switzerland.
• The Spanish scene - Contacts and relationships developed during his stay in Spain.
• The American scene especially Oregon + Colorado - Contacts and relationships developed during his stay in the United States.

Beliefs and influences

Shantibaba is considered a purist in the cannabis industry for several reasons

• Commitment to quality : He has always strived to create the highest quality cannabis strains, with an emphasis on potency, yield and unique terpene profiles.
• Preservation of landraces : Like Nevil, Shantibaba values genetic diversity and has worked to preserve rare and indigenous cannabis varieties.
• Innovation and influence : His strains laid the foundation for many modern cannabis lineages and continue to influence contemporary breeders..
• Activism for legalization : Shantibaba has always been a strong advocate for cannabis legalization, using his notoriety to promote legislative changes.

Conclusion

Scott Blakey, aka Shantibaba, has left an indelible mark on the cannabis industry. His contributions to selection and breeding have revolutionized the world of cannabis, and his strains continue to be benchmarks in the field. Despite legal challenges and internal conflicts, Shantibaba maintained his commitment to quality and genetic preservation, making him a legend and respected purist in the cannabis industry.