By Barry Bard
The original “King of Cannabis,” 62-year-old Nevil Schoenmakers, recently joined StemCell United as the company’s “strategic advisor to the board.”
StemCell United is a Singapore-based biotech firm that “specializes in plant extracts for Traditional Chinese Medicine.” Currently, StemCell United does not operate in any medical marijuana markets. However, by adding Shoenmakers to the board, the company will reportedly “assess opportunities in the medical cannabis sector.”
In Schoenmakers, the company adds the first person to export cannabis seeds from the Netherlands throughout the world, and immediately gains notice in the cannabis community. Schoenmakers was named the “King of Cannabis” in a 1985 issue of High Times and created many renowned cannabis genetics while breeding seeds in the Netherlands.
Traded on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), StemCell United (SCU) saw its stock soar over 40 cents last week and has now settled at 22 cents per share:
Just two weeks ago, that same SCU stock was trading at 1/10 of a cent. While stock jumps like this raise eyebrows, Schoenmaker’s reputation and history alone are certainly enough to boost a company’s appearance.
Jamie Khoo, chairman of Stemcell United’s parent company SCU, explained the move to News Corp Australia, stating that “SCU’s ability to attract experts the stature of Mr Schoenmakers demonstrates tremendous confidence in our prospects in this market.”
Khoo did not elaborate as to what Schoenmakers’ exact role would be nor the company’s interests in medical cannabis.
Originally a “championship bird breeder,” Schoenmakers started growing cannabis for personal consumption. Realizing his breeding skill translated to the cannabis industry, the breeder pivoted in the 1980s and became the first man to create high-potency marijuana seeds.
Throughout the 80s and 90s, Schoenmakers helmed three of the most successful seed banks in the history of modern cannabis: The Seed Bank, Sensi Seeds and Greenhouse Seeds. During that time, he created legendary strains that include Nevil’s Haze, Northern Lights, Super Silver Haze and Super Skunk — all while living in a “Cannabis Castle” equipped with grow rooms.
In 1990, Schoenmakers spent almost a year in an Australian jail cell waiting extradition to the United States for selling seeds in New Orleans. Before his hearing, he made his bail of $100,000 and escaped to the Netherlands where he continued his work.
Now retired from the seed-selling industry, Schoenmakers has returned to his home country where he’s lending his expertise to the medical marijuana industry. While unclear what that “expertise” will be, this former King appears to be rebuilding his cannabis castle.
