Enrique "Doja EK" developed his reputation through personal relationships, persistence and direct involvement in California cannabis culture.
San Jose: Bay Area Beginnings
The original account says Enrique "Doja EK" (@doja.ek.916) was born in San Jose, in California's Bay Area. According to the original account, he developed an interest in cannabis early in life. After losing his father, EK experienced a difficult period that the caption describes as hitting rock bottom. He eventually redirected that experience toward building something lasting. The original story describes his objective as turning hustle into legacy.
Sacramento: Meeting Ryan at the Gym
EK later lived in Sacramento, where he worked different jobs to support himself. One of those jobs was at a local gym. There, he met Ryan, the founder of Doja Pak (@doja.pak). According to the caption, Ryan recognized EK's potential and brought him into the operation. The meeting helped form the team that would drive Doja's growth.
2016–2018: From Medical Delivery to Los Angeles
Doja Pak began as a medical cannabis delivery team in 2016. By 2018, the operation had relocated to Los Angeles, positioning itself within California's expanding legal market. EK became closely involved in the brand's growth. His work included:
Organizing pop-ups.
Supporting product releases.
Conducting street-level marketing.
Building relationships around the brand.
The original account credits this persistent approach with helping Doja gain momentum.
RS-11: Rainbow Sherbert #11
One of the brand's defining cultivars was RS-11, also known as Rainbow Sherbert #11. The original account describes RS-11 as a collaboration involving Wizard Trees (@wizardtreez) and Deep East. EK played a major role in promoting the strain. The caption characterizes RS-11 as a cultivar that changed expectations around exotic cannabis. Other prominent names associated with Doja's rise included:
Biscotti.
Zoap.
Z54.
The original story emphasizes the brand's focus on premium flower and distinctive genetics.
The Origin of Giraffe Puzzy
The name Giraffe Puzzy emerged during a smoking session involving EK and @johndoeshyne. According to the caption, the two were joking about unusual cannabis strain names, including Cheetah Piss. They began suggesting different animals until Giraffe Puzzy became the name that stuck. The original account identifies the first genetics used under that name as:
Zkittlez × Chem 91.
The name was later revived for another genetic combination:
Z × Animal Cookies BX2, associated with Seed Junky's J Beezy (@seedjunky_jbeezy).
The caption describes the revived release as an immediate success.
Zalympix and Flower Judging
EK expanded his role beyond product promotion through cannabis events. The original account says he co-hosted Zalympix (@Zalympix) with @gettinghighwithshow — his documented connection to that show is a February 2025 guest appearance. The original account also identifies his involvement in:
Judging elite flower.
Supporting legacy breeders.
Connecting cultivators with cannabis consumers.
These activities established EK as an event organizer and participant in cannabis culture, not simply a marketer.
The Third Annual Hash Hole Island
The caption identifies EK as the host of the third annual Hash Hole Island. The event reflected his involvement in hash-hole culture and cannabis gatherings. According to the original account, his role in events helped connect products, breeders and consumers. In the documented record, Hash Hole Island is CGO Lyfestyle's event, hosted by its founder Marcos — EK's host role rests on the original post.
Global Demand: Barcelona, New York and Miami
Doja's reach expanded beyond California. The original account identifies:
A Barcelona location.
Product drops in New York.
Product drops in Miami.
International collaborations.
EK became a recognizable face of the brand and a connection between its California origins and audiences elsewhere. The caption describes him as a bridge carrying California cannabis culture worldwide.
Guava Marker and Angel City Farmers
The original account identifies an upcoming release called:
Guava Marker.
The cultivar was a collaboration with Angel City Farmers (@angelcityfarmers). The caption describes a planned late-May release in select cities. Because the original post was published in May 2025, the timing refers to that original announcement.
Caliman Z and the $100,000 Challenge
The original story also describes EK's confidence in Doja's Caliman Z. According to the caption, @dojaEK claimed the cultivar was so well developed that the team was willing to put up $100,000 against anyone else's Z. The challenge is presented as EK's claim in the original account.
Fail Forward: EK's Philosophy
The caption preserves a statement reflecting EK's approach to setbacks:
"You gotta fall a few times to hit."
The original account connects this philosophy with his personal experiences, the loss of his father, and his development from a Sacramento gym employee into a major figure in cannabis marketing.
From Gym Floors to Global Stages
Doja EK's career connects San Jose, Sacramento and Los Angeles with the international growth of Doja Pak. His story includes Doja's 2016 medical delivery beginnings, the 2018 move to Los Angeles, the promotion of RS-11, the origin of Giraffe Puzzy, Zalympix, the third annual Hash Hole Island, Doja's Barcelona presence, New York and Miami drops, Guava Marker with Angel City Farmers, and the $100,000 Caliman Z challenge. Together, these developments establish EK as a figure who helped combine cannabis branding, street marketing and event culture.
Sources
Nugg Notes. "Neck Deep in the Game: The Doja EK Blueprint." Instagram, May 8, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJZua0APsJk/
The original Instagram post behind this article.
Good PizzZa Podcast (JP). "Episode 68: Doja Pak." Podbay, March 12, 2024. https://podbay.fm/p/thats-good-pizzza/e/1710248400
Verifies Ryan is the founder and face of Doja Pak; Sacramento became his stomping grounds and is where Doja Pak was born; Doja EK was among the original crew; they started with a Prop 215 delivery service in Sacramento and moved to LA once the industry shifted into Prop 64; and the brand has a location over in Barcelona.
SeedFinder.eu. "Rainbow Sherbert #11 (Blim Burn Seeds) — Cannabis Strain Info." SeedFinder.eu, n.d. https://seedfinder.eu/en/strain-info/rainbow-sherbert-nr11/blim-burn-seeds
Verifies RS11 was originally released by Doja Pak, a brand started by Ryan Bartholomew; the strain was a partnership launched via the Doja Pak brand, bred by Deep East and grown by Wizard Trees; its parents are Pink Guava and OZK; and in 2016 Ryan took the brand to the next level, working with breeders and licensing supply chains to release his own strains.
NuggMD. "RS11." NuggMD, n.d. https://www.nuggmd.com/strains/rs11
Verifies RS11 (Rainbow Sherbert #11, Pink Guava × OZK) was launched in partnership with Doja Pak, Deep East and Wizard Trees.
JointCommerce (ed. James Troja). "Giraffe Pussy Strain: Bakery Genetics vs the Doja Giraffe Puzzy." JointCommerce, October 9, 2025. https://www.jointcommerce.com/blog/giraffe-pussy-strain-a-comprehensive-strain-guide
Verifies two unrelated strains share the name, and that Doja's Giraffe Puzzy is a Seed Junky Genetics cross, Zkittlez × Animal Cookies BX2 (per The Highest Critic's reviews of Doja batches, February 2023 and July 2025); the other, a Bakery Genetics version, is MILF × Astronaut Pussy.
Europe Says. "Doja Pak Takes on Europe: The Cali Brand Known for Elite Genetics Enters Regulated Medical Markets." Europe Says, n.d. https://www.europesays.com/2934251/
Verifies the brand was founded by Ryan Bartholomew; that Doja contributed to the rise of Zoap and RS11; that Doja has served as custodian of the original breeder cut of Z for over seven years; and that Permanent Marker was originally commercialized by Doja Exclusives and named Leafly's 2023 Strain of the Year.
Getting High With Show (Adam Ill). "Doja EK on the Getting High With Show." Listen Notes, February 10, 2025. https://www.listennotes.com/pt/podcasts/getting-high-with/doja-ek-on-the-getting-high-H6DxG8IhWmE/
Verifies EK appeared as a guest on the Getting High With Show, billed as one of the hardest working marketers in the game — a guest appearance, not a co-hosting role.
Honeysuckle Magazine. "CGO Lyfestyle's Marcos: Top-Notch Cannabis & Summer Hash Bashes." Honeysuckle Magazine, July 3, 2023. https://honeysucklemag.com/cgo-lyfestyle-marcos-cannabis-hash-hole-how-to-roll-a-perfect-joint/
Verifies Hash Hole Island is CGO Lyfestyle's event — a prize spot on the CGO Lyfestyle calendar — hosted by founder Marcos, the context for the hosting correction applied at build.
0 comments