Boston Roots Seed Co’s John: The East Coast Breeder Behind Sherbanger and a New Cannabis Legacy

For years, John of Boston Roots Seed Co has operated mostly out of the spotlight. His reputation as a breeder precedes him, but he rarely does interviews. “I really haven’t,” he says. “I’ve been to plenty of events, but as far as interviews, podcasts, I really haven’t done any. I think I just did the one High Times.”

East Coast Roots

John grew up immersed in cannabis culture on the East Coast. “My aunt, uncles, everybody smoked,” he recalls. He first started smoking around twelve or thirteen, eventually gravitating toward cultivation in the early 2000s after smoking sour diesel led him to online forums for information.

Unlike California’s more open environment, John remembers hiding small home setups and borrowing cars just to visit the few hydro shops in Massachusetts. What truly transformed his path were the online cannabis forums.

“Early on there was Overgrow, until that got shut down and everyone went over to IC Mag, THC Farmer, and places like that. And there was one that I was mainly a part of, the Canna Collective. That’s when I really got introduced to, oh, there’s a lot more to this.”

Those digital communities became breeding grounds for today’s legends. “That’s where people like Archive, CSI Humboldt, Karma Genetics, Top Dawg were—we were all on there. I kind of caught it towards the tail end before we got to Instagram and everybody made the jump over.”

The Sherbanger Breakthrough

John’s name is tied to one strain above all: Sherbanger. Its rise, though, wasn’t linear. “Seeds were made here in Mass, sent out to Northern California. [NorCal Gardens] grew them. He found it, and then it got out,” John explains.

NorCal’s selection, known as “#22,” started to make a name for itself with a standout terpene profile the game was missing. Its timing was pivotal. “At the time Sherbanger came out, it was 2019. 2020 genetics seemed to be hitting a wall, and Sherbanger with its undeniable blueberry muffin smell mixed with its nose-singeing fuel—you can see why it quickly became a standout and a must-have profile for any garden.”

By mixing California’s fan favorite Sunset Sherbert with the gassy variety Headbanger, bred by Karma Genetics, Sherbanger became the perfect cross. It spread rapidly through elite grow rooms across California, the U.S., and eventually the world. Today, brands like Wizard Trees, Preferred Gardens, Jungle Boys, and more still use Sherbanger in their breeding programs—a testament to its impact and its cemented place in cannabis history.

Sherbanger wasn’t John’s only breakthrough. Candy Fumez and Black Maple—both created in collaboration with Bloom Seed Company using pollen from John’s Sherbanger male—became two extremely popular, high-demand varieties. In both flower and concentrate form, they’ve won numerous awards globally and reached menus curated for only the finest connoisseurs.

A Breeder’s Process

For John, testing has always been grassroots. Without the freedom and space needed for large trials, he relied on wide distribution of testers:

“You’d hand out and send a bunch to people—anything good or bad is helpful, useful data. You get to see how things perform under many different conditions and setups across a wide range. Cannabis has such a wide genetic plasticity, it really helps you get a feel for a line.”

Ultimately, the final decision comes down to his own palette. “I smoke a lot. So usually if I like it, most times other people like it as well. But I keep an open mind to other’s palettes as well and have an understanding of the market.”

Still, his preference remains classic. “I’m in my early forties, so I’m old school. I like joints still. I’m a joint guy.”

And above all, one lesson remains constant:

“Nothing beats time with the plant.”

Industry Shifts and Future Visions

Looking ahead, John is both cautious and hopeful. “Cannabis legalization is still at its infancy. This is still very, very new. Country by country it will unlock, it’ll open up. And that’s what’s happening right now.”

He acknowledges legalization has given breeders more freedom and access to resources for larger-scale breeding projects and pheno hunts. But when asked where the next unicorn strain will come from, he shrugs:

“I wish I did [know]. Honestly, a lot of it comes down to luck… and hard work.”

That humility doesn’t mask his ambition. “I’m excited moving forward and staying open to everything new as the industry grows fast. I’m constantly learning, evolving, and getting better at my craft. At the moment, I’m looking to expand and fill a void for my global fan base. Finding the right partnerships is what it’s about right now—to bring fresh new innovative ideas and flavors to the market.”

East Coast Identity

As New York rises into one of the world’s largest cannabis markets, John sees the East carving its own lane. “California, you think of palm trees, lowriders, the waves. On the East Coast, you think of skyscrapers, the trains, the grit, the graffiti, hip hop. We got our own identity.”

Still, he worries West Coast operators—arriving with money and name recognition—will overshadow smaller East Coast growers. “It’s just unfortunate because they’ve had it illegal for more or less 30 years [out West]. They could do what they wanted out there, and it’s just getting going here. A lot of the small guys don’t have the resources.”

Staying the Course

Through it all, John keeps his focus steady. “I just want to still be able to do this. If I’m just still here in ten years, that’d be cool.”

Even in tough years, he finds motivation when his genetics show up abroad. “When I see my stuff all over the world, when somebody sends me something from say Ireland or Germany or wherever… it’s cool and fulfilling to have this connection with people across the world.”

At the end of the day, his philosophy is simple:

“Just keep doing what I’m doing. Keep trying to stay relevant, keep making good quality stuff, and hope the people like it.”

check out John of Boston Roots Seed Co in our current Sneaker edition and upcoming full size print launching at MJBiz Con. See you there!