The story of Sensei Solventless is built around hands-on experience, real relationships and a commitment to clean, full-spectrum melt. From working behind a dispensary counter in Upland to leading Maven Extracts' solventless program and eventually establishing his own operation, Sensei developed his craft through years of cultivation, pressing and mentorship.
2014: Growing for CES
The original account traces Sensei's early cultivation experience to 2014, when he began growing for: CES. This was an important first step toward developing the practical knowledge that would later define his work. Rather than immediately focusing exclusively on extraction, he gained cultivation experience and began learning about plants and resin. The caption also identifies a period when he traveled to Oregon with two friends: Its_Twillhead; @1320_5slow. The original account describes this experience as an important period of learning about friendship, work and hash. After Oregon, Sensei returned to California hungry to change his circumstances through hash.
2015: Budtender by Day, Flower Rosin by Night
In 2015, Sensei was working behind the counter in Upland, California. Through @senseisolventless, he was learning about terpenes during the day. At night, he was pressing flower rosin at home. The original account describes this combination as the beginning of his deeper relationship with solventless production. He was learning about cannabis from the retail and consumer side while simultaneously experimenting with extraction at home.
2016: Squishing for $700 a Day
By 2016, Sensei had moved from home pressing into working directly at cannabis shops. According to the original account, he was squishing flower for: $700 per day. The work gave him additional hands-on experience and helped him develop his extraction knowledge. The caption presents this period as an important stage in building his technical ability. Rather than relying on one opportunity, Sensei accumulated experience through repeated work and exposure to different shops and material.
Maven Extracts: Leading the Solventless Program
Sensei eventually landed a position at: Maven Extracts (@mavenextractsofficial). There, he became responsible for leading the company's solventless program. The original account describes the work as involving long drives and long days. Despite the demanding schedule, he remained committed because he was doing what he loved. The Maven chapter also introduced him to someone who became an important part of his story.
Rafa MacDaddy: Mentorship and Friendship
At Maven, Sensei met: @rafa_macdaddy, Rafa MacDaddy. The original account identifies Rafa as a deaf washer. Sensei mentored him from day one. The caption preserves the reason behind that mentorship through Sensei's words: "i just wanted him to win at life." The relationship represented more than technical instruction. It reflected a desire to help another person develop their skills, build confidence and succeed. Their connection became an important part of the personal foundation behind Sensei's work.
Traffic, Fashion and the Major Wavezz Connection
Sensei eventually became tired of sitting in Los Angeles traffic. According to the original account, he did not want to spend his time stuck in LA gridlock. He began customizing: shoes; clothing. This creative direction led him to: @majorwavezz, Major Wavezz. The two connected while hanging out in Eagle Rock. The caption specifically describes them smoking hash together in Sensei's car. Their relationship developed into a professional collaboration. Major Wavezz brought Sensei on to work on pieces for: The Weeknd. This chapter connected cannabis culture with fashion and creative production, extending Sensei's influence beyond extraction alone.
Building Sensei Solventless in Downtown Los Angeles
After his time at Maven, Sensei focused fully on: @senseisolventless. The original account describes how he found a laboratory in: Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). The lab was looking for a solventless extractor. Sensei secured the opportunity and never looked back. The caption identifies the following period as one in which he focused on producing high-quality melt. It specifically states that for the past: three years he had been crafting some of the cleanest melt in the world. The development of Sensei Solventless represented the transition from working for other operations to building his own identity around extraction.
Hash Bash: Meeting Cuban Grower
Another important relationship began at: Hash Bash. There, Sensei met: @cubangrower, Cuban Grower. According to the original account, Sensei let him try his melt and took his class. The interaction developed into a genuine bond. Rather than remaining a one-time meeting, the relationship grew into a collaborative project.
Los Cubanos: Air-Dried, Full-Sun, Full-Melt
The collaboration between Sensei and Cuban Grower eventually produced: Los Cubanos. The original account identifies three defining characteristics: air-dried; full-sun; full-melt excellence. The caption presents Los Cubanos as the result of a relationship between two people who connected through hash, teaching and shared melt. The project brought together Sensei's extraction work and Cuban Grower's cultivation background.
Not Rosin. Never Was.
The original account closes by making a distinction about Sensei's identity. He is not chasing hype. His priorities are: clean melt; full spectrum; full-circle moments. The caption describes his development with the line: "from budtender to blueprint, sensei didn't follow a path; he melted his own." It also closes with: "hidden in the leaves. never pressed."
Legacy: From Budtender to Solventless Blueprint
Sensei's story began with cultivation work for CES in 2014, followed by a trip to Oregon with Its_Twillhead and @1320_5slow. In 2015, he worked behind the counter in Upland, California, learning terpenes by day and pressing flower rosin at home. By 2016, he was squishing at shops for $700 per day. His next major chapter came at Maven Extracts, where he led the solventless program and mentored deaf washer Rafa MacDaddy. Their relationship is captured in his statement: "i just wanted him to win at life." His frustration with Los Angeles traffic led him into customized shoes and clothing, connecting him with Major Wavezz in Eagle Rock — smoking hash in his car, brought on to work on pieces for The Weeknd. After Maven, Sensei found a DTLA laboratory looking for a solventless extractor and committed fully to Sensei Solventless. At Hash Bash, he met Cuban Grower, shared his melt and took his class. Their relationship eventually produced Los Cubanos, described as air-dried, full-sun, full-melt. The original account states that for the past three years, Sensei had been crafting some of the cleanest melt in the world. His closing identity remains: Hidden in the leaves. Never pressed.
Sources
nuggnotes (@nuggnotes). "Not Rosin, Just Real Ones: The Rise of Sensei Solventless." Instagram, June 19, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DLFr9IqRMDE/
The original Instagram post behind this article.
Maven Genetics. "Products | Discover Quality Cannabis." Maven Genetics (mavenmvn.com). https://mavenmvn.com/products
The brand in the post is real and California-based, now trading as Maven Genetics. Its own site documents exactly the kind of program the post describes — a solventless concentrates line built on ice water hash washed in chilled reverse-osmosis water, freeze-dried and pressed into fresh-press and cold-cured live rosin, plus rosin-infused "Halos" pre-rolls — but it names no extraction staff, and nothing on the page connects the company to Sensei or to any individual solventless lead.
Disrupt Magazine. "How Majorwavez Lab is Building a Community Through Its Custom Shoe Design Classes." Disrupt Magazine, March 18, 2022. http://disruptmagazine.com/how-majorwavez-lab-is-building-a-community-through-its-custom-shoe-design-classes/amp/
Confirms Major Wavezz is a real Los Angeles custom-sneaker designer: founder Ruben Barraza, working under the same @majorwavezz handle the post gives, whose customs went viral and drew celebrity work — the profile names collaborations and attention from A$AP Rocky, Kodak Black and Tyga, plus Puma and Nesquik sponsorships. It documents no work for The Weeknd and no connection to Sensei or cannabis.
Wikipedia. "Hash Bash." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_Bash
Documents the event where the post says Sensei met Cuban Grower: Hash Bash is the long-running cannabis gathering held each April on the University of Michigan Diag in Ann Arbor, first held April 1, 1972 after the John Sinclair ruling and still running (55th annual in 2026). The article is activism- and history-focused and mentions neither Cuban Grower, hash classes, nor Sensei.
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