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Anyone familiar with the history of cannabis has probably come across the name “Shantibaba.” Behind this pseudonym stands Scott Blakey, an Australian-born breeder who helped shape modern cannabis culture early on with groundbreaking strains such as White Widow and Super Silver Haze.

A Traveler with a Soft Spot for Seeds

In the 1980s, Scott Blakey toured through India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and South America on an old Royal Enfield Bullet. His main goal was to search for interesting landraces and seed lines. This drive for adventure and pursuit of genetic treasures laid the foundation for his later reputation: he always wanted to find cannabis plants with a “distinct character” - landraces with special aromas and effects.

Sadhus & the Origin of the Name

During those years of travel, he spent some time living in Pune, India, with a group of Sadhus (holy men). It was there that he received the nickname “Shantibaba” - which roughly means “peaceful man.” By his own account, it suited both his character and his life philosophy, which has always been oriented toward balance. His time with those spiritual companions also reinforced his view of cannabis as a source of inspiration and medicine.

Amsterdam and the Famous Strains

In the late 1980s, he found his way to Amsterdam. There he met two influential figures: Neville Schoenmakers and Howard Marks, aka Mr. Nice. Working together with Neville throughout the 1990s, Scott developed many strains that still appear on coffeeshop menus to this day:

• White Widow - A cornerstone strain of the 1990s
• Super Silver Haze - Haze at its finest
• White Rhino, later Medicine Man - A robust Afghan/White Widow cross
• El Niño - A mix of Haze, White Widow, and other gene pools

Greenhouse Seeds, Mr. Nice & Co.

For a time, Scott was part of Greenhouse Seed Co. alongside Arjan Roskam. But after a series of disagreements, their paths diverged. Shantibaba took his mother plants and, together with Howard Marks, founded the Mr. Nice Seedbank. From 1998 onward, he offered many of his older strains under new names - such as Medicine Man (formerly White Rhino), Shark Shock (formerly Great White Shark), and of course Black Widow (formerly White Widow). His aim was to clearly distinguish his own original lines from newer crosses made by other breeders.

With that move, Scott established a clear credo: strains need time and fine-tuning, not an endless flood of inflated new names. He consciously chose to reject fast market output in favor of thorough stability testing. His message was simple: breeding is a lifelong, passionate search for the best qualities a plant can offer - not just a marketing stunt.

The Medical Mission: CBD Crew

Since the early 2000s, Shanti has been deeply engaged with the plant’s medical potential. In Switzerland, he led various large-scale projects with a strong CBD focus. In 2009, he founded the “CBD Crew” together with Jaime from Resin Seeds. The goal was to develop cannabis genetics with meaningful CBD levels. Strains such as CBD Therapy, CBD Shark Shock, and CBD Skunk Haze quickly became flagships for serious medical cannabis breeding within the community.

There is a clear purpose behind this: many patients need strains that are less psychoactive while offering greater relief for issues such as pain, cramps, and inflammation. Shantibaba worked early on to lower THC levels and push CBD upward - long before “CBD hype” became a mainstream topic.

Anecdotes and Spirit

Over the years, Scott Blakey experienced his share of highs and lows. At one point, for example, he was briefly imprisoned in Switzerland after being linked in 2003 to larger sums of money and cannabis at the Italian border. In the end, the accusations were dropped, and Shanti returned to his everyday breeding work.

Even during the “forum era,” he remained approachable and generous with his knowledge. On the Mr. Nice Forum, he wrote columns, helped beginners understand questions around landraces vs. hybrids, and shared tips on environmentally conscious cultivation methods. Sustainability and as natural a breeding process as possible are especially important to him - one reason why people often hear him speak enthusiastically about “naturally selected plants.”

What We Love About Shantibaba

At a time when many seedbanks push out dozens of new strains every year without ever testing them properly, his approach stands out through care, identity, and real passion. Strains created by him had - and still have - character, recognizability, and in some cases spectacular effects. Whether you prefer tried-and-true indicas like Medicine Man or lean toward high-CBD hybrids, Shantibaba is guaranteed to have something in the lineup that is deeply rooted in authentic genetics.

That is exactly what makes him special: he stays true to his path, always in search of genuine leaps in quality. Even now, well into his 60s, he shows undiminished curiosity, explores collaborations with newcomers, and continues researching medical applications tirelessly. His strains represent a mix of decades of know-how, pioneering spirit, and medical purpose.

Secret of Eden - because we love stories, passion, and genuine quality products.

If you want to bring a piece of cannabis history into your own grow room, you should absolutely reach for classics by Shantibaba and Mr. Nice. Whether it is White Widow (Black Widow), Super Silver Haze, or the CBD lines, these genetics are living proof of what becomes possible when someone devotes decades of care to selection and crossing. That is exactly why Shantibaba is more than just “a name” - he is one of the bedrock figures of modern cannabis breeding.