Mila "The hashqueen" Jansen

Mila has been a larger-than-life personality within the cannabis community for many years. She’s one of those people you quickly learn about when you first step into this world — and for all the right reasons. A strong female figure in a male-dominated industry, Mila is an exceptionally authentic human being who carved out her space entirely on her own merit and terms.

She revolutionized hash-making with her Pollinator machine and an array of groundbreaking inventions — including her world-famous Ice-O-Lator bags and the The Bubbleator washing machine  - these inventions by Mila made the creation of hash, for centuries a painstakingly slow and laborious process, a breeze and allowed hash-makers to really push the boundaries with their extractions. She started the revolution with an idea and the heart to execute. Many growers and hash makers hold Mila in high regards because of what she has contributed to the landscape of cannabis.

She gained valuable insight during her long travels along the Hippie Trail — a journey that took her from Amsterdam to the Far East and everywhere in between. Along the way, she raised four children amid both the solitude of mountain life and the chaos of constant travel. As a father myself, I know how rewarding yet challenging raising children can be — and I do it from the comfort of a home in Holland. Mila did it on the road, in the wilderness of the Middle and Far East. Her story is one of grit, determination, and endurance — a true testament to the strength of her spirit.

For many years, I traveled to cannabis expos all across Europe — from Spain to England, Vienna to Rome — and even as far as South America and San Bernardino, California. My Spanish friends from Madrid, Exotic Seed, always brought me along to help set up the booth, sell seeds, and have a grand time. It was during these events that I first witnessed how Mila’s presence could light up people’s lives.

Lines of people would gather around her booth — fans from all walks of life waiting to take a photo, share a piece of hash with her, or simply bask in her presence. It wasn’t uncommon to see tears in people’s eyes when they met her. Women in particular were drawn to her warmth, wisdom, and strength. She has been, and continues to be, an inspiration to countless people in the cannabis world — myself included.

I often wondered how she managed to give so much of herself to everyone she met. When I asked her about it, her answer was simple: “How can I not give my kindness to them?” Still, she’s human — and sharing so much of her energy naturally takes a toll. That’s why, during our exhibition, we were grateful to offer her a comfortable space at Social Club La Crème Gràcia, where she could be surrounded by people but also retreat and rest after long days at Spannabis.

When Mila walked into the club, it was an unforgettable moment for all of us — the Hash Queen herself had arrived, ready to hang out and share stories. We felt on top of the world. But I’m getting ahead of myself — how did we get to that moment, with her portrait hanging on the walls and the Queen of Hash standing beside it?

When we started working on The Grand History of Cannabis project, we knew Mila would be a central figure in this grand tale. Having her represented in the artwork was essential. She appears in the first two pieces, The Big Bang and The Dutch, and given her immense influence on cannabis culture, it was an obvious choice for us to honor her with art that tells her story and celebrates her legacy.

Over the years, I’ve learned that within this community, relationships come before opportunities. That’s true in most of life, but especially in the cannabis world, where many have spent years working in the shadows and naturally keep their guard up. With Mila, things were different. From the moment we finished the first artwork featuring her, she welcomed me and the team with open arms.

It’s been a real privilege to build a relationship with her and her daughter Milus over the past few years — one grounded in mutual respect, friendship, and plenty of tobacco and hashish.

During the creation of our second book, The Grand History of Cannabis: The Dutch, we dove even deeper into Mila’s story — through her personal tales, her book, and the many accounts shared online and in print about our Hash Queen. We visited the Pollinator office in Amsterdam North to share smoke rituals, hear her stories, and admire her “Wall of Fame” — a collection of roughly 500 pieces of hash from around the world. Each piece was gifted to her by someone inspired by her work and legacy.

For The Dutch, we decided Mila deserved to be immortalized — to capture her adventurous, bold, and trailblazing spirit in a single portrait. Together with Baba-Ku i Mastan, the Sufi saint of hashish, and The Dutch, we exhibited her portrait in Barcelona during Spannabis weekend at Social Club La Crème Gràcia. It was a night to remember — filled with smoke, stories, laughter, and the presence of true cannabis royalty.

In 2025, we took it a step further and released a very special limited-edition screen print of the Mila portrait. Printed on premium hemp paper by the talented screen printers at Krijger Vormgave, the artwork came out beautifully — four colors finished with a golden ink layer, a fitting tribute to the Queen of Hash.

It might sound strange to say, but we felt a real sense of pressure to create a portrait and a piece of art that truly honors Mila while she’s still alive. She recently turned 80, and yet she’s more active than most people half her age. A true traveler and citizen of the world, Mila continues to move through life with an energy that’s nothing short of remarkable. We’re grateful that we were able to give her her flowers while she’s still here to receive them.

The harsh truth we all face as humans is that one day, this short and strange trip we call life will come to an end. For the first modern pioneers of cannabis culture — people like Mila, Soma, and many others — their stories are reaching the final chapters of their thick, beautiful novels. And for some, the book has already closed — as we recently lost Skunkman Sam (David Watson), a pioneer with a story we will work on soon...

As an artist, I feel a deep responsibility — and as a community, we share the duty — to make sure their grand tales are told and remembered. Without these brave freedom fighters, global cannabis culture and craft would not be where it is today.

We like having you around, Mila — and I’m endlessly inspired by your adventures, your life, and the lives of your fellow pioneers.