Sweetgrass Botanicals is excited to be hosting the international cannabis pioneer, Mila Jansen, in-store this Thursday May 16th 3pm to 6pm for a meet-and-greet session and book signing event.
Recognized by High Times in their inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in Cannabis, Mila is widely considered one of greatest contributors to the modern hash scene – particularly the solventless concentration techniques used in-house at Sweetgrass – via her groundbreaking inventions like the Pollinator and the Bubbleator.
Below is a quick overview of her extraordinary life and contributions to the world of cannabis. For a more detailed account of Mila’s incredible life story, click here for a High Times article written by Sweetgrass Founder Cassandra Purdy. You can also purchase a copy of Mila’s biography, How I Became the Hash Queen, from the book section of our Mercantile.
Mila Jansen’s life is a testament to how passion and resilience can shape an extraordinary career. Born in Liverpool during World War II, Mila’s childhood was marked by frequent moves across England, Indonesia, and the Netherlands due to her father’s job with Shell Oil. These early experiences not only instilled in her a love for travel but also a resilience that would later define her professional and personal life.
Settling in Amsterdam in 1955, Mila’s connection with plants deepened as she worked in greenhouses during her teens. However, life took an unexpected turn when she became pregnant at 18 and left school to raise her daughter, Miloes. During this time, Mila’s first encounter with hashish—then a rare commodity in Amsterdam—occurred, sparking a lifelong interest in cannabis.
In 1966, leveraging her sewing skills, Mila and a friend opened Kink 22, a boutique that quickly became a hub for Amsterdam’s hippest residents, including celebrities like Tina Turner. The shop was known for its bold fashion statements, such as miniskirts, which were a novelty in Holland at the time. However, the demanding pace of retail led her to transform the boutique into a teahouse in 1967. Named Cleo de Merode, it became a precursor to the city’s famous cannabis coffeeshops. This transition marked Mila’s deeper foray into the cannabis world, as the teahouse became a popular spot for sharing and enjoying hashish among locals and international visitors alike.
The popularity of the teahouse, however, also brought scrutiny. Threats from authorities to take away her daughter due to the illicit activities led Mila to leave Amsterdam for India in 1968, seeking freedom and peace. Crucially, her travels in India exposed her to traditional hash-making techniques, which would later inspire her innovations in cannabis processing.
Returning to Amsterdam in the late 1980s, Mila found the city transformed by a booming demand for cannabis. Seeing an opportunity, she ventured into cannabis cultivation, which was successful until legal troubles prompted her to seek alternative avenues within the industry. This led to the birth of the Pollinator in 1994, a device that revolutionized hash production by mechanically separating trichomes from dried cannabis. The invention of the Pollinator, followed by the development of the Ice-O-Lator bags and the Bubbleator, established Mila as a leading figure in cannabis innovation, earning her the moniker “Hash Queen.”
Her impact on the cannabis industry continued to grow with the opening of the Pollinator shop in 1997, which became a central hub for cannabis enthusiasts and a showcase for her inventions. Despite facing regulatory challenges in 2015 that forced her to move her business, Mila’s legacy in the industry was solidified. She also ventured into hospitality with the Hemp Hotel in 1998, further demonstrating her commitment to promoting cannabis culture.
Mila’s journey came full circle with the creation of Dab-a-Doo in 2013, a competition celebrating cannabis concentrates. This initiative reflected her adaptability and willingness to embrace new trends in the industry. Even as she continues to receive accolades for her contributions to the cannabis world, Mila remains a dynamic and influential figure, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the industry.
Mila Jansen’s story is not just about cannabis; it’s about innovation, resilience, and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities. Her journey from a teenage mother in Amsterdam to a celebrated icon in the global cannabis industry is a powerful reminder of how one person’s passion can ignite change and inspire others across generations.
Our Massage Oil is the result of input from massage therapists and body workers of several modalities, based on an infused organic jojobo oil with a slight deep forest scent.
As for our Organic Lube…no mystery what this is for! Specially-crafted with a non-allergenic organic infused oil designed to increase your pleasure and open your heart.
Another intentional recipe from our herbalists bringing you the restful impact of chamomile, hops, california poppy, valerian and skullcap.
If that sounds like a snooze already, it's even more calming with our curated selection of solventless hash in the mix.
Sweet dreams!
The result of a collaboration with our herbalists to create a powerful balm that was effective before we added our solventless hash.
For deep relief and relaxation this product includes organic wildcrafted arnica, St. John’s wort, comfrey and essential oils of ginger and wintergreen.
Our versatile and delicious pre-prepared smoothies are highly-customizable and ready-to-blend. Just pop in the blender, add your liquid of choice and you’re good to go! All ingredients are 100% vegan, so enjoy with soy, oat, or nut milk for a dairy-free treat!
Hash-infused candied ginger and lemon cream cheese frosting. Good enough to eat (with a carefully gauged measuring spoon!) from the tub, but even better on a baked good like carrot cake.
Organic Fairtrade bittersweet chocolate is melted with organic VT cream and our in-house solventless hash to make the stuff of dreams. If you don't know about the myriad things you can make from ganache, get ready to find out!
What was your first experience making or consuming a cannabis food? Most of you will answer cannabutter, often in a brownie. Butter is a fundamental ingredient, versatile, beloved and familiar. We have a million ideas of what you can do with this, in case you need inspiration!
Olive Oil is another easy to integrate ingredient from our everyday lives, and it's vegan. Our organic extra virgin olive oil is infused with organic chilis and rosemary.
For over a century, 635 Laurel Street has stood as a beloved gathering place for the town of Lee and the wider Berkshires community.
We are keeping this tradition of hospitality alive by hosting a roster of cannabis experts, hash-makers, herbalists - as well as our own in-house experts - to share their knowledge open a dialogue and answer questions about the ever-changing landscape of cannabis science, plant medicine and regenerative practices.
Join our mailing list or check our calendar for our slate of talks, educational seminars, book signings and other events starting in late winter 2024.
Our vast lakeside “mercantile” is stocked with necessities, curiosities and luxuries for the cannabis lifestyle.
We share our passion for functional glass art with a wide range of smokeways, from stock unique pieces created by renowned local artisan, Hickory Glass, to high-tech vaporizers, to simple glass pipes and chillums
We also carry a wide range of cannabis-related books, homewares, apparel, and small items perfect as gifts. Come browse a while to uncover a treasure that you can't live without.
Our network of herbalists, holistic practitioners and cannabis experts have all conferred on the development of our line of topicals and tinctures.
As with all our in-house products, the therapeutic line is exclusively powered by pure and potent solventless hash produced in our own on-site lab. Our hope is to treat your body to a full-spectrum, chemical-free experience
Sweetgrass crafts unique infused, handmade edibles using our in-house solventless hash oil, plus all-natural and organic ingredients.
Operated by our Founder, Cassandra Purdy, a chef and writer/translator with 30+ years’ experience in both the culinary and cannabis communities, her unique, chef-driven approach brings a new expression of quality cannabis comestibles to the Berkshires.
Sweetgrass’ in-house lines of concentrates, cartridges, edibles and topicals are powered by our state-of-the-art solventless extraction workshop, designed and operated by award-winning hashmaker Ben McCabe.
Using using only water, ice, pressure and heat, we produce pure and potent solventless hash varieties representing the natural, unadulterated terpene and cannabinoid profile cultivated by the growers.
Only top-shelf product can be used for solventless - and we work closely with our grow partners across the state to identify and process distinctive cultivars where its plant-forward characteristics will bring you a unique, rewarding experience.
Our dispensary offers a curated line-up of distinctive, quality cannabis for every budget, selling only products we consume and personally enjoy, from cultivators we know and trust.
For our in-house lines, we craft limited drops that are unique and intentional - each handmade with care to identify and savor the highest expression of the trichomes.