Soma
Many years ago, when I was a tiny Mossy Giant — not in stature, but in my work — I was on my way to meet an old legend: Soma.
Soma has been in Amsterdam since ’94 and is a cannabis refugee in every sense of the word. Born in the USA and growing up in the sixties, Soma was once an IBM working man in New York. He started smoking cannabis in 1967 and never looked back at a “square’s life.” He followed the Grateful Dead around for a while, where he became known as Mushroom Marc, and soon rubbed shoulders with another plant legend, Jack Herer.
Growing cannabis and running a vegan bakery in Vermont was a great life, but Soma also experienced the darkness of the American prison system. Faced with the choice between freedom or becoming a number in an American prison, he chose the former — and ended up in Amsterdam. The move did him well. He solidified himself in the Dutch and global cannabis scene, contributing legendary strains that brought home countless prizes: New York City Diesel, Amnesia Haze, Lavender, Somari, and many more.
It was a few days before Christmas when my good friend Albert introduced me to the old grower. We took the tram to Vijzelgracht and got off right across from the place where the world’s first coffeeshop, Mellow Yellow, used to be. This is where Soma lives.
It was a cold, wet winter evening. After ringing the intercom, an old crackly voice said, “Come on up.” We opened the door to a dark hallway, and a long, steep staircase awaited us. We conquered the squeaky old steps before stepping into a wall of warmth — and cats. We had just entered the Church of the Universe, or as one could say, Soma’s house.
Ornate art pieces, drawings, and floral patterns covered the walls. Albert immediately told me to take off my shoes and put them in the designated shoe rack — not to keep the floor clean, but to protect my boots from being attacked by one of Soma’s (at that time) thirteen cats. My curiosity about this man kept rising. We had to climb one more flight of stairs before I would finally shake his hand — and be baptized in the Church of the Universe by a heavy dose of cannabis flower from the man himself.
Walking into the main living room is a sight to behold. I can speak for the many people who’ve visited Soma over the years — it’s quite the experience, a true feast for the eyes and mind. The room is shaped like an old Indiana barnhouse, with brown wooden support beams exposed across the ceiling. Stones, minerals, and crystals of all shapes and sizes are scattered around the house — some neatly arranged, others untouched for years. Large and small cacti stand proudly, and a snake named Shiva lives among the household — sometimes in its cage, sometimes in the rafters.
Soma greeted me warmly, shaking my hand and commenting on my height — which most people do, since I stand 6 foot 11, or 210 centimeters. Soma always loved that I’m a true giant, and still does.
That evening quickly became very cloudy — not only from the flower, but also from Soma’s homemade pistachio butter–infused chocolate. He once owned a bakery in Oregon, so the man knows how to make a seriously good edible. I had never smoked so much cannabis before and found myself higher than I had ever been. I could tell Soma enjoyed putting my novice lungs to the test. I eventually found comfort on one of the many mattresses that served as couches and spent the rest of the night gazing around the house and playing with the endless parade of cats visiting my super-stoned Mossy self.
When I met him that winter evening, I had nothing to offer but a curious mind and an open heart. I was inspired by his story and by the way he lived his life — not because I wanted to live the same way, but because I saw someone living exactly as he wanted to. Not perfect, but entirely authentic. There is no one in the world like Soma, and being truly yourself in this world is rare — yet he manages it effortlessly.
Over the past ten years or so, I’ve had the opportunity to really get to know Soma. Over time, he accepted me into his circle — alongside his right-hand man, Albert, who I consider one of my best friends in life. Albert and I have shared a studio for over seven years now. He helps me slow down in a positive way, and I lift him up when needed. Together, we’ve built a long-lasting relationship in both work and life — with Soma always on our side.
Through Albert, I also had the opportunity to work on the creative side of the Soma's Sacred Seeds brand — a true bucket-list job for me, since Soma is just so much fun to draw. It was one of those collaborations that required patience. It took years for Soma to really see what I was doing. He has a lot of people around him, and often folks want something — sometimes good, sometimes not. I quickly learned that with Soma, respect isn’t given, it’s earned.
So I kept showing up. Stayed kind. Kept creating. And over time, Soma began to see what I was doing — not just for him, but for others in the industry close to him. He started appreciating it deeply.
Nowadays, when he comes to the studio, he greets me with a big smile and an even bigger hug. “Man, I always enjoy hugging Mossy,” he says, “it’s like hugging a giant tree.” Then he passes me his infamous pipe, and the circle is complete.
