From Island Roots to Industry Glue
Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Barney—known online as @ismokemota—embodies aloha in both spirit and practice. After attending college in California, a brief return home, and settling back in California in 2016, he’s spent over two decades cultivating one of the most respected networks in cannabis.
Christmas Origins
His first experience with cannabis came at age 12—on Christmas, with cousins, using a Coke can. He passed out under the dinner table and has been smoking ever since, with the exception of a 40-day break during Lent to honor his mother.
Weed Over Ritalin
Diagnosed with ADHD, Barney found focus not in pharmaceuticals, but in flower. Cannabis helped him concentrate, improved his GPA, and made school tolerable. Professors noticed the difference when he stopped—and so did he. He never looked back.
Fan First, Face First
Barney’s early ventures into the trap didn’t last, but his transition into the legal market became his real story. He slept in his car, attended every event he could, and built his network face-to-face—one handshake at a time.
Call-Blocked Calendar
Now a full-time relationship architect, Barney works behind the scenes managing strategy, shop visits, and growth planning—quietly scaling missions for multiple respected cannabis brands.
Greendawg Forever
A core player in expanding the reach of Greendawg across California, Barney works alongside breeder Keegan and veteran cultivator GreenDawg Drew. His personal go-to strain? D1—especially after a six-month cure.
Rolodex Over Résumé
His resumé spans some of the industry's top brands: Sales Manager at Enjoy Moxie, Wonderbrett during its diamond chain era, and Shelf Life (managing over 30 brands). He later became Sales Director for Ember Valley, a rep for Blueprint, and now serves as VP of Sales for Greendawg and Turtle Pie.
No Brand. No Dispensary. No Ego.
Barney isn’t interested in launching his own brand. His focus is on empowering those already building. He prefers to elevate real visionaries rather than chase logo recognition or storefronts for himself.
The Mouthcoat Matters
A purist’s purist, Barney smokes to connect—not to flex. He’s a bong enthusiast, hash collector, and daily consumer who still values the feel, the function, and the flavor of every hit.
Connector-in-Chief
Whether it’s Turtle Pie, Feelgood, Trilly Sinatra, or Sacred Fruits, Barney is often the DM behind the drop and the co-sign behind the collaboration. He’s the unseen thread linking brands to culture.
Barney doesn’t need a brand—he is the brand.
Youtube Video
— Nugg Notes 🪴
sources:
Green Rush Nation Podcast. “Barney Our Friend!” Green Rush Nation, hosted by B Guns, episode 22, 2024. Spotify, spotify.com/episode/barney. Accessed 20 June 2025. @barneyhasagreendawg. Instagram Bio & Public Posts. Instagram, instagram.com/barneyhasagree. Accessed 20 June 2025. Leaf Magazines. “Green Dawg Cultivates Craft in a Growing Industry.” California Leaf, Leaf Nation Media, 2023. leafmagazines.com/magazine-artic. Accessed 20 June 2025. @greendawgca. Instagram Bio & Public Posts. Instagram, instagram.com/greendawgca. Accessed 20 June 2025. Beard Bros Pharms. “Turtle Pie x Green Dawg: Legacy Quality, Modern Motion.” ALTRD.tv by Beard Bros Media, 2024. altrd.tv/turtlepie-gree. Accessed 20 June 2025.
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