How it all began
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Timeline
DNA Genetics is a company who strives to push the boundaries, bridging the gap to advance genetics, and to now what has been become a catalogue of some of the most sought-after strains in the world today.
DNA Genetics has won more than over 200 awards worldwide at some of the most prestigious events and trade shows for their contributions towards the cannabis industry and this Timeline is a basic summary on how we came to be.
Bye California, hello Amsterdam
Born and raised in California, we knew that if we wanted to start a legitimate company, we had to go to the the only legal country in the world, The Netherlands. With only $200 in our pocket, we both made the huge decision to leave our friends and family behind and to move over to the mecca of cannabis, Amsterdam!
We had both felt that after numerous years judging for the annual High Times Cannabis Cup that one day we would enter it for ourselves and fully demonstrate what we had been doing in California already. Often, we felt our own personal selections were far superior than what was being offered to the public in the coffeeshops. We then made it our mission to change that perspective, first within Europe and then, to the world. Firstly we needed an official base to operate from . . . we needed a shop.
DNA shop in the heart of Amsterdam.
It was always our intention of creating a safe haven for friends, family and customers to access and purchase seeds. Back then, it was often considered too taboo to even mention or locate any credible sources about marijuana. So when it was time for us to register our name, we felt it was only right calling it by what others often referred to us as, “The DNA” or “D and A”, (derived from using our first initials, Don and Aaron) we eventually decided upon “DNA Genetics” and looked upon securing our first shop in the heart of Amsterdam. Our shop still stands today, located only a few paces away from Amsterdam square and still proves today to be a valuable information centre for growers and fans of DNA Genetics.
We won our first Cannabis Cup award!
Each year over the thanksgiving weekend only meant one thing in the Cannabis calendar, the legendary High Times Cannabis Cup. First time entering as DNA Genetics, we were fortunate to secure 3rd place in the Indica category with one of our staple strains L.A. Confidential. It was confirmation and validation for us, one of our lifetime goals of winning a cannabis cup was something that was often considered a childhood dream, since reading the magazines for many, many years. We were hungrier and more highly motivated from this moment moving forward, nothing could stop us now, time to make some seeds from our winning variety!
1st & 2nd place win at 18th High Times Cannabis Cup
We were motivated from our first cannabis cup win from the previous year and wanted to keep up the momentum. The cup came around and fortunately we managed to come 1st place in the Sativa category for Martian Mean Green. This was a huge win for us and allowed DNA Genetics to be cemented in the industry as credible growers. Also, we managed to secure a huge 2nd place with L.A Confidential in the Indica category. The sacrifices we made from the start of this journey were starting to pay off.
Double win for “Strain of the year” award
High Times magazine awarded DNA Genetics L.A Confidential & Martian Mean Green top accolades in their annual “High Times Top Strain of the Year” feature for 2006’s special edition magazine. Another year meant another Hightimes Cannabis cup in November and fortunately again our Martian Mean Green came in at 3rd place at the cup.
The awards keep coming!
We brought out one of our favourite personal strains to the High Times Cup and entered the legendary Chocolope. We won 2nd place overall in connection with The Grey Area coffeeshop. Our celebrations continued with a 3rd place for OG#18 and 2nd place for “Best Booth”. The DNA roller coaster was moving up fast and we couldn’t stop the momentum of this incredible ride.
Slovakia cup and Hightimes wins!
First time entering and we win with Connie Chung, 1st place at the Slovakia cup. To top it off we also managed to win 1st place with Lemon Skunk at one of Europe largest trade show, Spannabis in Barcelona. Hightimes magazine continued to award “Strain of the Year” this time for our Hashplant Haze. Carrying on from the momentum we won 1st place with L.A Confidential in November for the Hightimes Cannabis Cup awards that year! We were super happy and excited for next year, it was time to make more award winning seeds. . . . .
L.A Confidential takes 1st Place plus multiple wins
We won 1st Place at the “Battle of the Bridge” with L.A Confidential. We were also featured for “Strain of the year” once again from Hightimes magazine with our multiple award-winning Lemon Skunk. Carrying on the year with multiple wins from Spannabis and The Highlife Cannabis cup placing 2nd f0r OG#18, Sharksbreath, Sour Kush and Chocolope. The awards cabinet was quickly increasing in size. . . .
New Year, new awards won
Each year that passed and every accolade acquired sure helped solidify DNA Genetics within the industry as a force to be reckoned with. We managed to secure “Strain of year” again with “Lemon Skunk” from Hightimes magazine and a 2nd place win at Spannabis in Barcelona. The icing on the cake was being awarded 1st Place at the Caba Cup, Buenos Aires with Cannalope Haze.
1st Place win at Spannabis
Starting off the year with a bang, Spannabis kicked off the trade show season again and we were awarded 1st place for OG#18. Towards the end of the year we won 1st place at the Legends of Hash Dinner and also a huge 1st place win in the Indica category with Kosher Kush at the Hightimes Cannabis Cup in November. We were also fortunate to be featured again in, Hightimes Magazine for their annual “Strain of the year” with our infamous Kosher Kush strain! Kosher Kush was quickly taking over the cannabis industry! The force was strong!
Don’t worry, it’s all Kosher!
Kosher Kush continued to dominate the cannabis trade shows with a huge 1st place win at Hightimes Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam and a 3rd place win at Spannabis for best hydro. We also managed to win with Sleestack which received 1st place honours at the Legends of Hash dinner in Amsterdam. The Legends of Hash Cup was by invitation only, and judged by growers only. This was a big deal for us being placed 1st, peers that we once used to look up to, were now considered close friends and fans of our work.
Tangie sweeps the awards
We released the famous Tangie which took over the U.S.A Cannabis cups that year, three 1st place wins across multiple Hightimes Cannabis Cups that were slowly starting up across multiple states around America. Lemon Skunk got another 1st place win at the Emerald Cup. Holy Grail Kush took 1st place in the customer voted awards at multiple online third-party awards. Our terps don’t lie and it was clearly showing!
More awards than the cabinet can hold
Twenty awards were won in total for 2014 with Super Lemon OG, Tangie, Sour Tangie, Kosher Kush and Chocolope all placing 1st place across multiple events including Hightimes, Spannabis, Santa Cruz, Expo Grow and more. We were running out of space in our awards cabinet and needed an upgrade quick! DNA Genetics were becoming the goto breeders in the game and slowly becoming trendsetters within the industry.
DNA Genetics partners up with Canopy Growth Corporation
DNA Genetics signed an exclusive licensing and partnership agreement with Canopy Growth in Canada, consulting with subsidiary company Tweed. We would consult for Tweed/Canopy to help their growing practices, genetic library, allowing DNA branded products to be sold to the Canadian medical patients. At the end of the year we were awarded “Hightimes Trailblazers of the year” for our commitment and influence towards the cannabis industry. One of our favourites from our personal head stash, Strawberry Banana won “1st place for best hash” at the Hightimes World Cup in Jamaica. Plus, we also won multiple 2nd and 3rd place wins for our Tora Bora, Lemon Skunk and Tangie.
Canopy Growth Partnership
Canopy Growth extends our successful partnership till 2024 with expansion plans into the Jamaican market. DNA Genetics were also awarded “Best seed company” by online voters at The Happy Place festival and at the 30th Hightimes Cannabis Cup held in Amsterdam. Strawberry Banana, 24k Gold, Kosher Kush and Tangie continues to dominate the American shows with 1st place wins across multiple cups. DNA Genetics decided to stop entering cups as a company yet still our genetics are still being entered into competitions with numerous wins from partnered brands.
DNA Genetics was the first purchased legal Canadian flower
The first official legal purchase in Canada was DNA Genetics flower. Both Don and Aaron were also present to become the first Americans to legally purchase cannabis in Canada. DNA were also selected as one of the “Top most influential brands and Cannabis leaders” from Hightimes magazine for this year too.
DNA starts licensing across U.S.A states
DNA Genetics partnered up with 1933 Industries Good Meds, Copperstate Farms, Revolutionary clinics, Halo Labs, Green peaks and Bophelo Partners. This allows DNA and our genetics to officially be sold in the selected markets agreed upon. The demand for well trusted brands in today’s market is evident allowing DNA the natural progression over others due to our award-winning genetics and careful selections. This allows DNA to surpass new/other brands organically without being forced or bought into.
New Year new launch for DNA
The long-awaited launch means that DNA Genetics products will officially be sold to the American public in the chosen selected states. We hope that with changes in legislation this will eventually allow the full release of all DNA products including cannabis seeds. This year focuses on partnering up with carefully selected different companies/brands helping to release DNA Genetics products and accessories to every state across America.
PRODUCTS HITTING THE MARKET
DNA Genetics products and accessories are hitting various dispensaries with more locations added every month. DNA Genetics has partnered with various producers and extractions for example, Errl Hill for the launch of the DNA Genetics ZtrawberrieZ liquid live vape pen and Fidels for the DNA Genetics Hash Hole pre rolls with Natura.
