Article
Who was Jenny Kush?
Discover the high-spirited woman behind the beloved weed.
September 2022
Zesty. Earthy. Uplifting.
Words to describe the late Jenny “Kush” Monson-Frieda and the strain that carries her name. Jenny Kush is one of the most recognizable strains today, having taken its place alongside the likes of Jack Herer, Marley’s Collie, and others dedicated to commemorating weed warriors. Every year, growers throughout the States send their JK samples to cannabis competitions, hoping to hype their hybrid and pack joints far and wide.
Before Jenny Kush was a go-to choice for cannabis connoisseurs and novices alike, she was a passionate young woman in Denver, Colorado. She was a mother, a cannabis activist, a multi-faceted artist, and a friend to many.
“She was a mother, a cannabis activist, a multi-faceted artist, and a friend to many.”
In 2010, Jenny packed up her four children and left her Montana home for the Mile High City. Whether it was her rainbow hair, gregarious nature, outspoken politics, or a combination of it all, she quickly conjured a community of like-minded individuals that became more like family. She worked as a glassblower at Street Glass, dabbled in tattoos, and hung out with the iCannabisRadio crowd, eventually co-hosting a show before starting her own, SexPot Radio. While bold in title, the show garnered a following of thousands for its ability to educate as well as entertain, and connect with people in a raw, authentic way – a distinctive knack of the cannabis icon.
Her impact extended well beyond the microphone. Jenny frequented rallies at the capitol, helped organize Mile High NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) branch, and co-founded Moms for Marijuana in Colorado. It seems there were not enough hours in the day for all her political, creative, and social endeavors, but she was known as a reliable force for whatever task was at hand. Tragically, we’ll never know all she was capable of, as her life was cut short Labor Day weekend of 2013. She was only 34 years old.
“Jenny frequented rallies at the capitol, helped organize Mile High NORML branch, and co-founded Moms for Marijuana in Colorado.”
After leaving a Summit Music Hall concert with her partner, Jeremy DePinto, the two were struck head-on by a drunk driver going the wrong way in the HOV lane. DePinto tried to pull her from the wreckage, having miraculously survived himself, but the damage was done. Jenny “Kush” Monson-Freida died of her injuries.
As word of her untimely death trickled into the cannabis community, friends thought how to best memorialize such a colorful woman. Rare Dankness Seeds founder, Scott Reach, and his wife, Pamela, went right to work. Pairing Rare Dankness #2 with Amnesia Haze resulted in the sativa-dominant Jenny Kush strain you know and love. Proceeds benefited the Jenny Kush Foundation, set up to ease a bit of the burden for the four children she left behind.
Nearly a decade after her death, Jenny “Kush” Monson-Frieda’s inspiration lives on. While the strain that celebrates her resides within the canon of cannabis greats, her commitment to community is just as highly revered. At the center of her being was the desire for everyone to feel included, to feel welcome, to seek a life well-lived.
“While the strain that celebrates her has been crowned in the canon of cannabis greats, her commitment to community is just as highly revered.”
At Marigold, we aim to extend that sentiment to anyone who walks through our doors. So, stop in, say high, and join us in gratitude for the Phoenix cannabis community that – we like to believe – would make Jenny smile.
