( Excerpt from interviews with David Merino as Spanish Breeder in Soft Secrets)
“Although David, founder of Genehtik and Ortue, does not like to draw attention to himself, nor personal interviews, this time it was his turn. Since the first issue and without interruption, he has bet on introducing his advertising in this magazine, he is the oldest client of Soft Secrets Spain. When I interviewed him I saw that this support is not casual, he knows Soft Secrets perfectly and summarizes better than anyone our trajectory and philosophy. Thank you David for these ten years of trust and for understanding so well what we do”.
Hugo Madera / Soft Secrets nº6 2012
“We have created a very important culture that can no longer be removed from society, we laid the foundations and spread the do-it-yourself culture.”( David Merino)
What were your first marijuana crops like?
First we cultivated varieties of hemp that were nothing of the other world, marijuana brought by travelers or seafarers. Then we discovered the Dutch banks and bought the first indoor lamps. In Euskadi there were already older people who had started before me, pioneers in the Basque Country.
Before opening your store, Kalamundua, you were part of the Kalamudia association.
The Kalamudia association is part of the Bizitzeko platform that was for the legalization of all drugs, then, when it is seen that cannabis is a drug with a different situation and more social support, Kalamudia itself is formed. There we were working in many all kinds of activities such as drinks or talks. It was then when we started with the collective cultivation and self-inculpation, which is the basis of the current clubs. In fact, the president of Kalamudia, Martin Barriuso, is one of those who has worked hardest over the years for the club model.
Tells about the beginnings of the store
We started with the first 400 watt lamps and fluorescents. Before every fair was a revolution, in each one you saw new articles and everything improved, the light, the extractors, the silent boxes, the substrates and the fertilizers. At that time when I opened the store, there were already people who began to grow with lamps in the Dutch way, following the advice of John who had learned in Amsterdam and was the one who introduced in the north the indoor cultivation well done. He is the one who gives the cultivation guidelines and introduces the culture of cuttings, which is a breakthrough.
Besides cultivation, there was the hemp, paraphernalia and smoker culture. As the store is on a busy street, it was immediately known. People liked it, it was something new and alternative, transgressor, they came to buy things with the marijuana leaf.
Did you think it was going to be this successful?
Not so much, you think you are going to live like the typical hippie store that is selling curiosities, then when you realize you are already growing and you don’t even think about it. Ten years ago who would have thought what has been created, all the jobs we provide, all the people who grow and do not need mafias, the progress has been important.
Why did you start the Ortue distribution company?
I needed to make large purchases to get good prices and serve people well, the warehouse was in the center, so that every time a truck arrived it was a mess. Besides, new grow shops were opening, so I thought of setting up a small distribution company to make things easier for those who were opening and so that they wouldn’t make the same mistakes as you..
Are Bilbo genetics selected at that time?
The Widow Bilbo is selected already before opening the store, from the pioneer growers, there was also another phenotype called Goxua, in honor of this one we baptized in Genehtik a genetic as Goxuak. The Super Silver Bilbo comes from an acquaintance who brings some packages of Super Silver Haze from Holland, selects a male and makes seeds, from which the Super Silver Bilbo is selected. The Critical also appears at this time, selected from a single package of Mr Nice in an exchange, I receive half an envelope of a variety and I give half an envelope of Critical Mass, from which the Kritikal Bilbo is selected. The so-called Bilbo genetics would be complemented with an Ak and a Somango. To this is added a Jack Herer extended by John and some variety that we bring in the form of cuttings from Holland, as the NLX.
Which genetics have impressed you the most apart from those mentioned above?
Well, the Amnesia without a doubt, here run the Bilbo and many genetics of all kinds, the Amnesia Haze surprised me by its very intense effect.
Have you ever regretted spreading these genetics?
I have never even considered it, on the contrary, I would do it again. The current scene would never have been formed if the genetics had not been shared, the people who obtain good results in their crops are the ones who spread the culture. It is a goal that is made to the system. The important thing is how widespread the information is, they won’t take that away from us.
Why did you decide to create Genehtik Seeds?
You are always doing experiments and little things, just to entertain yourself, then, when you see that other banks appear, you think a little bit the same as I was saying: “if others do it, why shouldn’t I do it?”, besides I thought that making a bank was a way of extending these genetics to everybody, without having to resort to cuttings. I also started because I had the opportunity, through Alberto Dmeter, to buy an interesting genetic base, from Breeder Steve who was retiring, and join them to the varieties we kept here, which encouraged me.
What advice would you give to those who are starting out as cannabis entrepreneurs?
People should not think that it is an easy business, like all businesses it needs a base of previous knowledge, to attend people well and to know how to manage it, to try a little bit of everything, to be informed everywhere, not to take anything for granted, because in all places there are things to learn. It is very important to have good advice.
We have started at the beginning of your life, let’s suppose we can see the end and we arrive at your funeral many years from now. What would you like to be said about you?
That I have always been a stand-up guy with people and that I bucked the system when I could. That I was well received everywhere and that I also had the doors open to others. That I went little by little, but with my trajectory, trying to do things right.
“In 2012 he gave an interview to Soft Secrets we were celebrating our 10th anniversary. David is living history of our sector, first he was unsubmissive to the military service, then unsubmissive to the prohibition of Cannabis. He was in the first cups and collective crops, when the weed was almost given away. He opened the first growshop, Kalamundua, and the distributor Ortue, in whose environment the mythical Bilbo genetics were selected, such as Kritikal Bilbo, Super Silver Bilbo, Widow Bilbo and others. In all these years, David has seen the Cannabis sector from amateur innocence to the most entrepreneurial practices. In all this time, he has made his way as a punk entrepreneur, keeping his own pace and philosophy of self-management”
Thank you David for dedicating so many decades of your life to building this industry!
Hugo Madera / Soft Secrets / July 2024
