Today, we are very proud to introduce you to Mikael Rykes, Assistant Grower at United Greeneries.

What inspired you to become a cannabis grower, and how has your approach to growing evolved over the years?

My initial interest in cannabis started recreationally in my late teens but around the same time I got involved with cannabis activism and culture in Vancouver in the early 2000s. I really enjoyed learning about growing different genetics early on so I signed up for cannabis forums like IC Mag and Overgrow at a pretty young age. I met some pretty good mentors and growers on the forums who were very generous with their genetics and knowledge. Seeing those old-school growers quality of product and different cultivars really inspired me to get growing myself and experience the vast amount of variety that cannabis has to offer. I learned a lot about the medical efficacy of cannabis during this time also, which inspired me to get into the medical licensing regime at the time. My approach has not changed much over the years. It doesn’t matter what style of grow I’m working with, I’ve always strived to grow the best quality cannabis as I can and try to learn constantly on how to keep improving regardless of regulations.

How has the cannabis industry changed since you first started, and what impact have those changes had on your growing practices?

The biggest change I would say other than regulations being a lot different since when I first started is the current THC-driven market issues. Back in the day you used to get a bag of a named cultivar like Purple Kush or Pink and knew what to expect effect-wise without relying on a COA, you would evaluate quality by trying it. I think this has had an impact on every grower to strive to stay relevant by growing cultivars that hit numbers that are saleable, but that aren’t necessarily the highest quality cannabis they can grow or select. I’m hoping that some of these labs and producers putting out completely inflated numbers that are physically and chemically impossible for cannabis to produce awakens people to how flawed this is and opens up channels for some really great cultivars to hit the market again that people are afraid to touch right now because they are 18-20% THC.

Can you share a favorite memory or experience from your time as a cannabis grower, and how it has shaped your perspective on the industry?

Pheno hunts and growing new genetics are always my favorite thing that keeps things interesting. Learning how a new cultivar grows and what it has to offer is always exciting. Quality weed is what drives the cannabis space so new cultivars and breeding have always been the backbone of what drives this industry forward.

How have you seen the public perception of cannabis change over time, and what role do you see legacy growers playing in shaping the future of the industry?

For most of my growing career, only certain family members knew what I did for a living. That’s not really a thing anymore thankfully, we used to hide smoking weed now it's pretty normal to walk by people smoking it on the streets everywhere. It’s nice to have the burden of hiding it lifted for sure. Since the Micro growers have been allowed I’ve seen a lot more Legacy type growers transition over and it definitely improved the overall product quality on the rec market. You can already see a shift in acceptable quality happening and some of the big first-to-market LPs have either had to adapt or are fading from the market.

What advice would you give to the next generation of cannabis growers, and how do you hope to see the industry evolve in the years to come?

My advice to new growers is to get your hands dirty and do it. Experience is the most important asset a grower can have. No matter how nice a grow you work at, there is inevitably always equipment failures, pest or disease issues, nutrient problems, etc. The best growers I know have experienced every problem you can deal with and either know how to deal with them or prevent them. My hope for the industry is to see the definition of quality not defined by THC, numbers, and how pretty it is. When I started growing what mattered was effect and flavor. Some of the ugliest weed I’ve tried has also been the most potent and numbers didn’t do these cultivars justice.