David Paul Watson passed away on Jan. 27, 2025, and will be missed by all who knew him well. We met 50 years ago when I knocked to deliver a copy of "Botany and Ecology of Cannabis." His partner Diana opened their door, and our story unfolds.
As many did when Bonzo became president, David and Diana fled to Amsterdam where cannabis had friendly logic, and they never regretted voting with their feet. The Amsterdam experience presented a turning point in their lives. By then David and Diana had traveled the “Hippie Trail” from Morocco to Thailand, and David returned many times to India and Southeast Asia in pursuit of landrace seeds.
His ready supply revolutionized homegrown gardening globally, built the foundations of today’s most popular sinsemilla varieties, and spawned the steadily advancing international cannabis industry. Known by many as “Sam the Skunkman,” David’s quest for understanding “all things cannabis” possessed his soul. His “they can’t stop science” approach with a “we can do it” attitude culminated in HortaPharm BV, a major milestone in his mission to normalize the Cannabis plant.
David believed in sharing information freely for the benefit of all who shared common interests. The Journal of the International Hemp Association “Dedicated to the advancement of Cannabis through the dissemination of information” attracted articles from hemp researchers worldwide.
As a keen follower of Cannabis’ progression through science, David attended many international conferences and regularly brought researchers up to speed with their chosen subject. There was no one he was hesitant to reach out to for the sake of science, and he never feared asking authorities for permission to pursue his quest for knowledge.
David wore his empirically grounded opinions on his sleeves. His “only seeing is believing” and “I call ‘em as I see ‘em” honesty offended some, but those who knew him well appreciated his honesty. Rant and rave as he might at times, he accepted truths as they unfolded, and within his prickly exterior pumped a kind heart.
David’s innate curiosity coupled with wide travels and unswerving dedication to science pushed Cannabis botany forward by leaps and bounds. He would only hope that others follow in his footsteps. Please honor him with a moment of highness.
Robert C. Clarke is a freelance writer, photographer, ethnobotanist, plant breeder, textile collector and co-founder of BioAgronomics Group, specializing in smoothing the transition to a wholly legal and normalized cannabis market.
