Our Story
We’re Johnny and Pablo — two friends from the Bay Area who’ve known each other since middle school and grew up surrounded by cannabis culture.
We went to San Rafael High School — the birthplace of 420 — where the plant wasn’t just a pastime; it was part of the history and identity of our community.
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From a young age, we dreamed about starting something of our own.
At first, we imagined launching a cannabis farm, but once we dug into the costs and realities, we saw how tough it was for small creators to compete against corporate giants.
That opened our eyes to the influences shaping the cannabis world — the politics, the barriers, and the stories not being told.
During senior year of high school, the idea for a magazine started to form.
We wanted a platform to promote cannabis culture in a way that honored its roots, elevated its future, and gave voice to real stories.
Only one thing was missing: a name.
While driving to visit Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Johnny’s mom suggested an old-school term for great weed — “The Kiind.”
It was short, powerful, and a bridge between generations. It was perfect.
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From there, the journey really began.
Johnny moved to San Luis Obispo to study Agricultural Business at Cal Poly.
Pablo moved to the Netherlands to study Human Geography and Planning at the University of Amsterdam.
Separated by time zones and oceans, we still called every week, kept pushing forward, and built The Kiind piece by piece — learning clothing production, connecting with creatives, following cannabis history and law, and staying true to our original vision.
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Today, as Johnny prepares to graduate and Pablo continues his studies abroad, The Kiind is more than an idea.
It’s a living, evolving community.
It’s our way of fighting for truth, celebrating creativity, building a brand that’s real — and sharing every step of the journey with you.
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We're not pretending to be experts.
We’re just passionate, committed, and proud to stand for something bigger than ourselves.
Thanks for being part of it.
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Welcome to The Kiind.
Meet The Team
Johnny Vantress.
Co-Founder
Pablo Bartone Garcia.
Co-Founder
Charlie Weber.
CFO