Step into the garden, and you’ll feel it. The hum of connection, the rhythm of hip hop and reggae, the laughter of old friends linking with new ones—this is the pulse of VYBZ. At Mary Jane Berlin, Europe’s largest cannabis expo, Marco, founder of VYBZ Agency, has redefined what brand culture can look like in Germany’s evolving plant scene. With an activation that feels more like a family reunion than a business venture, VYBZ is where culture meets intentional strategy, where storytelling matters as much as sponsorship.

“Everything just clicked this year,” Marco tells Honeysuckle. “Berlin finally feels international. And the garden is the place where it all comes together.”

It’s not just a metaphor. The VYBZ garden, a sprawling 1000m2 at Mary Jane is a curated space with major impact. Over 250 square meters of chillout & graffiti area, sponsored by Mills Nutrients, offer shade, music, and a place to reset. There’s a massage corner, a glass artist stage by Fullmoon Sesh, and anchor booths from standout names like RTZ, Calipo, Stoned Island, Samurai Pharmacy, Sluggers, and the Mallorca Social Club. GreenBoyz sponsors the Bong Bar, while Barney’s Farm holds it down with a VIP backstage area and a four-tent welcome zone that will feature Backpackboyz, Doja, Insane OG and Fjaak.

But beyond the roster of activations, what makes VYBZ feel different is Marco’s story. A media manager by training, born in a tiny German village and shaped by his Austrian roots, Marco’s journey took him from hip hop obsession to event production, from caring for his mother through cancer with homegrown plant medicine to becoming the first-ever speaker at Mary Jane Berlin in 2016. That early talk? It was about Rick Simpson Oil. Not a how-to—but a why. A moral imperative to fight for access.

“Even the worst thing in your life can become your fuel,” he says. “When my mom was sick, I had to grow. I had to learn. I had to help.”

Since then, Marco’s made VYBZ a brand agency focused not on manipulation, but truth. His vision is about more than marketing—it’s about identity. “Branding is like being a person. Who do you surround yourself with? That’s your message,” he explains.

And his message is clear: Support the underdogs, welcome legacy voices, build something that lasts beyond the hype. From his years managing over 450 promoters in the tobacco industry to launching professional cannabis expos during the pandemic, Marco has always been five steps ahead—often learning the hard way. A short stint at a now-defunct cannabis media company showed him what not to do. And a heartbreak in Berlin made him rethink what success really means.

“I founded VYBZ in 2019 because I needed to create something where I could be home, be true, and still be global,” he shares. “Mary Jane was the first to believe in me. And the garden… it’s not VIP. It’s better. It’s real.”

With Germany’s legalization process still unfolding—homegrow and social clubs are a start, but commercial access is far off—VYBZ is positioned as both a haven and a hub. Marco sees the market as a long game: “The cake is big. We have time. If your brand doesn’t have roots, it won’t survive the flood.”

His hope for the future? To grow VYBZ into a full-scale media company that empowers businesses, brands, and communities to create vibes with heart. And to keep building spaces—like this garden—where everyone has a place at the table.

At the end of the day, it’s about the vibes…VYBZ