Preserving the Past, Breeding the Future of Cannabis with Kevin Jodrey

In July 2025, Jess and Zack of High Moon Magazine, alongside Alex of Guilded Genetics, had the pleasure of sitting down with Kevin Jodrey for a wide-ranging conversation that spanned preservation, breeding philosophy, terroir, and the future of cannabis. What unfolded was not just an interview, but a deep reflection on responsibility and how genetics, culture, and community must be stewarded with intention if cannabis is to retain its soul.

“Preservation isn’t about looking backward. It’s about deciding what deserves to exist in the future.” - Kevin Jodrey

In an industry obsessed with speed, scale, and the next hype cultivar, true preservation has become a radical act. For Kevin Jodrey, preservation is not nostalgia,it is responsibility. While modern cannabis races toward automation and homogenization, a quieter, more deliberate movement is unfolding one rooted in history, place, and responsibility. At its center is Kevin Jodrey, a philosophy in motion that treats cannabis not as a commodity, but as a living cultural artifact.

Saving What Was Never Meant to Be Lost

Some genetics only survive because someone cared enough to open an old box of seeds. - Kevin Jodrey

Recent preservation work has focused on rare Cambodian cannabis lines passed down through Gold Hat Ron and Mel Frank,genetics originally cultivated by monk growers whose work predated modern breeding altogether. Of 85 preservation seeds recovered from these deceased cultivators, 78 were successfully germinated, offering a rare second life to plants that might otherwise have vanished forever.

Alongside this work are projects spanning the globe: Afghan Sari Paul collections, Sri Lankan forest plants with weeping, willow-like growth patterns, Red Lebanese lines bred to stabilize disappearing traits, and outdoor, full-term expressions of historic cultivars like UK Cheese, 25-year-old Durban, and Big Sur Holy Weed. These are not nostalgia runs,they are acts of genetic stewardship.

“If we lose these genetics, we don’t just lose plants, we lose stories, places, and people.” - Kevin Jodrey

From Hydro to the Sun: A Shift in Cultivation Philosophy

Early commercial cannabis leaned heavily on hydroponic systems, optimized for speed and uniformity. But over time, a deeper truth emerged: some qualities cannot be rushed. The transition to biological, sun-grown cultivation marked a philosophical turning point. Soil, microbes, climate stress, and seasonal variation became collaborators rather than variables to eliminate. This approach mirrors the wine world, where appellations protect regional identity and vintage years are celebrated rather than feared.Cannabis deserves the same respect.

“Terroir tells the truth. You can’t fake what the land is doing.” - Kevin Jodrey

In Humboldt County, environmental stressors, cool nights, coastal influence, living soil have been shown to elevate terpene expression, particularly myrcene. These subtle pressures create nuance, depth, and character that cannot be replicated indoors. Terroir matters, and acknowledging it means accepting risk in exchange for excellence.

Building, Breaking, and Rebuilding the Industry

Before genetics and education took center stage, there was retail.

A struggling dispensary was transformed into an award-winning operation through attention to quality, culture, and community. That experience led to the founding of Wonderland Nursery, the first licensed cannabis nursery in the United States setting a precedent for how genetics could be responsibly produced and distributed at scale.

From there came more than 80 open-source CBD cultivars released freely to the public. At a time when intellectual property fences were rising fast, this was a deliberate choice: genetics should circulate, evolve, and live in many hands.

“Hoarded genetics get weaker. Shared genetics get stronger.” - Kevin Jodrey

Yet the legal cannabis system has not always rewarded this ethos. As regulations hardened, oligarchies formed, often squeezing out small operators, regional diversity, and legacy knowledge. The solution, however, isn’t retreat it’s education.

Education Over Influence: The Ganjier Movement

Cannabis needed sommeliers before it needed influencers.

The creation of the Ganjier program established a formal vocabulary and certification pathway for cannabis professionals, elevating sensory literacy, ethics, and cultural context. Partnering with Green Flower Media, the program helped define cannabis expertise beyond marketing metrics.

That same community-first mindset inspired the Golden Tarp Awards an intentionally grassroots competition designed to celebrate real cultivation excellence, not social media clout. The message was clear: relationships matter more than reach.

How Breeding Really Happens

Great breeding is neither purely technological nor purely intuitive, it’s cyclical.

Advanced tools, data modeling, and AI-assisted breeding are increasingly valuable for identifying performance traits, predicting outcomes, and accelerating selection. Collaborative work with PhD research teams has expanded what’s possible in yield, resilience, and cannabinoid expression.

But no algorithm replaces walking a field.

Experiential selection, observing structure, response to stress, aroma evolution, and human interaction remains irreplaceable. The goal isn’t hyper-specialization in a single metric, but balanced excellence across many traits.

“Great cannabis should work hard across the board-structure, flavor, effect, and resilience.” -Kevin Jodrey "Cannabis should perform well, taste honest, and feel right."

The Future: Designer Weed or Living Libraries?

AI will absolutely shape the next era of cannabis breeding. Designer varieties tailored for specific effects, climates, and consumers are inevitable. But speed comes with risk. Without intention, genetic drift will narrow the gene pool until diversity becomes cosmetic. The answer lies in regional gene banks, locally run and culturally informed, with dedicated genetic librarians who understand both science and history. A four-pronged preservation strategy,field work, seed storage, regional reproduction, and open sharing offers a path forward. Cannabis must remain a living network, not a locked archive.

A Philosophy Rooted in Decency

At the heart of all this work is a simple belief: share what you can, take care of people, and think long-term.Genetics grow stronger when they move. Communities grow stronger when knowledge is not hoarded. And industries mature when decency outweighs ego.

“If you’re not decent to people, none of this really matters.” - Kevin Jodrey

In a rapidly consolidating cannabis landscape, preservation is resistance. Terroir is truth. And the future belongs to those willing to protect the past while planting seeds they may never personally harvest. That, perhaps, is the highest form of cultivation.

This feature was produced by Jess and Zack of High Moon Magazine in collaboration with Alex of Guilded Genetics.