The Cannabis world lost a genuine pioneer at the end of January. David Watson, more well-known as Sam the Skunkman, left behind a legacy that shaped modern cannabis cultivation and research in ways few others have. His contributions extended far beyond breeding new strains, such as Skunk #1, he also played a critical role in cannabis science, particularly in cannabinoid research, laying the groundwork for the medical cannabis industry.
We feel deeply grateful that David could participate at the United Nations. The excerpt below is from his talk at the 67th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND67) in Vienna in 2024, and the audio of that talk.
[Potentially read by moderator for Introduction?]: I am not sure if you know of the UN Biodiversity act first signed by 150 nations in 1992. It would be something that many would like, to repay the grower folks that we got Acapulco Gold and Panama Red from in the 60’s? But that is impossible and in fact they were just temporary custodians, the varieties were developed by thousands of growers over hundreds of years in the local landrace areas of the world. How can they all ever be repaid? They can not.
Mister Skunkperson: [How do you wish to be introduced?] “AS DAVID WATSON”.
An important part of the biodiversity debate involves access to and sharing of the benefits arising out of the commercial and other utilization of genetic material, such as pharmaceutical products. Most of the world’s biodiversity is found in developing countries. The UN Biodiversity Convention first signed by 150 nations in 1992 recognizes national sovereignty over all genetic resources, and provides that access to valuable biological resources be carried out on “mutually agreed terms” and subject to the “prior informed consent” of the country of origin. When a microorganism, plant, or animal is used for a commercial application, the country from which it came has the right to benefit. Such benefits can include cash, samples of what is collected, the participation or training of national researchers, the transfer of biotechnology equipment and know-how, and shares of any profits from the use of the resources.
Work has begun to translate this concept into reality and there are already examples of benefit-sharing arrangements. At least a dozen countries have established controls over access to their genetic resources, and an equal number of nations are developing such controls. Amongst the examples:, the Philippines,
Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela have adopted laws and measures to regulate access to their genetic resources. The bio-prospector is required to meet certain conditions. This treaty grew out of the earlier work by The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. It entered into force on 12 October 2014.
What this all means is if you go to India today and collect seeds and do it under the UN Biodiversity Convention you must share the profits and information about the genetics collected with the local governments as well as the local farmers. As far as I know, no Cannabis seed company has done this, myself included, but I did collect my Cannabis seeds collections before the UN Biodiversity Act was signed and put into force.
I did collect in most traditional Cannabis production areas such as Mexico, Morocco, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Thailand, etc. So my seeds are legal being grandfathered into legality. I have often thought about how to share with the farmers, I have no interest in sharing profits with the governments that for decades kept Cannabis illegal and jailed the users and growers and sellers, to me that is absurd.
I always tried to be fair with growers, I was honest about why I wanted the seeds and what I planned to do with them. They never cared at all.
I often bought many kilos of Cannabis from the local farmers of Sinsemilla to find the few hundred of seeds of that variety. With hashish farmers collecting seeds was very easy because they grow seeded plants by the thousands.
Or perhaps put this as a closing remark instead of being read as an introduction? It would be something that many would like, to repay the grower folks that we got Acapulco Gold and Panama Red from in the 60’s? But that is impossible and in fact they were just temporary custodians, the varieties were developed by thousands of growers over hundreds of years in the local landrace areas of the world. How can they all ever be repaid? They can not.
If you’d like to read up a little more on the life of Sam the Skunkman, we’ve found these three really well-written and researched articles for you:
https://www.worldofcannabis.museum/post/rip-skunkman
https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-story-of-skunk-the-drug-your-mum-warned-you-about/
Myrtle had the rare opportunity to spend some time with Sam whilst visiting friend and avid Fields of Green for ALL supporter, Jair Velleman, in Amsterdam.
Rest Peacefully David. Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Diana, his daughters, grandchildren, family and friends.
Thank you, Myrtle. It was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for sharing. I love that you included his “son”, Jingles with the Sam doll and even a can of coke in the background. One Love.