Backpackboyz is a Bay Area-born cannabis and streetwear brand founded by Juan Quesada. It grew from a 2016 California delivery service into a multi-market name built on limited "exotic" flower drops, loud packaging and Lemon Cherry Gelato, and now spans licensed retail stores, vapes, pre-rolls and merchandise.
Juan Quesada and the 2016 start
Quesada began the operation as a delivery service in 2016, carrying product in backpacks — the practical origin of the name. He competed in mixed martial arts for roughly twenty years and credits the sport with moving him out of the street economy and into cannabis full time. He describes the company's growth as organic rather than forced.
Lemon Cherry Gelato
Lemon Cherry Gelato is the strain most closely tied to the brand. Quesada has said it came from a bag seed out of a Gelato #33 Connected pack in 2016, and that he had scaled production by 2018. High Times included the Backpackboyz entry in its best strains of 2022.
Products and collaborations
Quesada has described breeding work with cultivator Preferred Gardens and Barney's Farm breeder Derry Brett on strains including Candy Paint, Acetone and LFG.
Licensed retail
California's Department of Cannabis Control lists Backpack Boyz San Bernardino, operated by Rznhead Inc. at 1090 S Arrowhead Ave, as an active retailer under licence C10-0001460-LIC. A Cathedral City store opened on April 20 in a space that previously housed a Dr. Greenthumb's shop.
2024 pesticide recall
On July 17, 2024, the Department of Cannabis Control issued a mandatory recall of a Backpackboyz Premium Vape integrated vaporizer manufactured by K.U.S.H. Collective, licence CDPH-10003907, for Category I pesticide contamination with chlorfenapyr.