DJ Short, the Willy Wonka of Pot

DJ does not come from disc jockey, they are the initials of his name (John Daniel) while Short is a pseudonym, quite ironic indeed, since the guy is very tall. Presently living in Oregon, he is divorced and has three pretty grown-up children, if not adults. Ordinary details that reflect an ordinary life if it wasn't because Short, after studying biology and cognitive psychology, fully immersed himself in the production and development of different varieties of cannabis.

As he began to grow Sativas indoors in the late 70s, he realized that they were very delicate plants with production cycles of about 4 months. Following the introduction of more powerful light bulbs as well as Indica varieties from Afghanistan, this cycle was reduced by half. However, the narcotic effect of the much more powerful Indicas would put him down too much. Therefore, he created an efficient-production hybrid with a more of an active buzz.

 

Blueberry gum. Picture from seedfinder

That's how the Blue family emerged, a unique blend of pure Sativa Purple Thai (a cross between Chocolate Thai and Highland Oaxaca Gold) blended with Afghani Indica. The main features of this family are soft, fruity (berries, berries, grapes ...), sweet and pleasant flavours. On the other hand, its flowers tend to a violet colour at the end of flowering with dense buds, filled with resin and a good yield.

The first child of this family was Blueberry (80% Indica, 20% Sativa) a classic. Then came the Flo (60% Sativa, 40% Indica), a very psychedelic herb, with a long buzz and a production cycle of only 7 weeks. Today, any variety containing blue or berry in its name is a clone or an ancestor of the variety developed by Short by that time.

Blueberry by DJ Short (Picture from Seattle Weekly)

One of the few books published in this regard was released in 2003 under the title "Cultivating Exceptional Cannabis: An Expert Breeder Shares His Secrets". In it, leaving aside the scientific and genetics part, his interest in sophisticated aspects such as the taste or smell of the variety is made evident. In fact, he dedicates an entire chapter to categorize the various scents and flavors and explain how to obtain them.

Another field in which Short has been recently interested in is the alteration of different varieties intended for therapeutic use with very low levels of THC but very high CBD, a psychoactive ingredient with anti-inflammatory effects due to the inhibition of the transmission of signals related to pain.

Despite his expertise, DJ Short has not become a rich man. Many others have done so with his creations. In the cannabis seed market it is very difficult to completely patent a variety. He has made a living by selling grass and later on by retailing seeds or collaborating with different seed banks, especially European. His grass is currently being grown in about 60 countries and, as he says, "It is a real trip to think that every breath I take, there's someone on the planet, right now, taking a hit of something that passed through my hands."