Alan Amsterdam is DC’s First Ganjier
My name is Alan Amsterdam and I’m a native Washingtonian. I was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and the Maryland Suburbs.
Working with the Cannabis plant has been a large part of my adult life. Engaging in the symbiotic relationship the human species has with this magical plant has changed my perspective and gives me hope for the future. In a technology-driven world, working hands-on with the plant gives me so much daily satisfaction, and spreading the knowledge to my fellow citizens is something I take very seriously. It seems like science is finally catching up to what “The Hippies” have been screaming since the 60’s!
“In 2011, my shop Capitol Hemp was raided by the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly selling paraphernalia. We were forced to shut down the store, and that experience inspired myself and my business partner … to start DCMj.ORG to try and change the laws.”
I have been cultivating Cannabis since the 1980’s and I owned the first All-American coffeeshop in The Netherlands since quasi-legalization in 1996. In 2011, my shop Capitol Hemp was raided by the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly selling paraphernalia. We were forced to shut down the store, and that experience inspired myself and my business partner at the time, Adam Eidinger, to start DCMj.ORG to try and change the laws. As you may know, in November 2014, D.C. residents voted in favor of Initiative 71, the legislation I helped co-author along with my fellow advocates at DCMJ. Initiative 71 allows adults 21 and older in Washington, D.C., to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and gift up to one ounce of pot to other adults 21 and older.
I am always looking for ways yo expand my cannabis knowledge. Recently, I completed the Cannabis Ganjier Certification program, becoming DC’s first certified Ganjier®. The Cannabis Ganjier Certification program aims to create highly trained, certified experts that raise the standards of excellence within the cannabis industry. All students of the program learn to examine and explore all aspects of cannabis, including the history, science, botany, genetics, cultivation, processing, sale, and consumption.
“After months of studying and learning from some of the biggest names in cannabis, I scored a 100% on the written examination.”
The practical examination included the application of two new industry standards: "Systematic Assessment Protocol," to assess and grade cannabis product as well as the "Customer Interaction Protocol". After months of studying and learning from some of the biggest names in cannabis, I scored a 100% on the written examination.
I’m really looking forward to the 2022 National Cannabis Festival and I’m excited to be representing the DMV as one of the Finals judges in the inaugural National Cannabis Championship taking place the day after the festival. The DMV has a lot of hidden growers and I’m looking forward to judging their homegrown cannabis and highlighting the talents of local cultivators. Giving these home growers a place to show their finished product and be part of the coming Green Rush is exciting! Finding the top growers in the DMV is going to be so much fun.
More about Alan:
Alan Amsterdam is D.C.'s first Certified Ganjier. He is the owner of Capitol Hemp and co-writer for the proposal of Initiative 71. Alan was the first and only American citizen to solely own a coffee shop in Amsterdam in The Netherlands back in the late '90s. Visit www.capitolhemp.com for a comprehensive history. Alan is currently setting up criteria for judging NCF’s National Cannabis Championship in the Spring of 2022, where he'll be applying the Ganjier's Systematic Assessment ProtocolTM to judge entries.