SERGE CANNABIS
Inside the Mind of Cannabis Royalty : Gary Payton, Pomelo Anderson, Global Influence, Pursuit of the Perfect Strain & What’s Next
Serge is widely recognized as one of the most influential creators in modern cannabis, a cultivator whose work has shaped strain culture around the world. In this in-depth ZNN interview, he traces his story from growing his first plant at age 15 to becoming a co-founder at Cookies Maywood and Fiore, where he helped bring genre-defining genetics like Gary Payton, Cereal Milk, and Pomelo Anderson to life.
Serge breaks down the massive 14,000-seed pheno hunts that built Fiore’s early menu, the moment he realized Pomelo Anderson would dominate the 2021 Zalympix, and what it felt like to watch Gary Payton explode into a global staple. He also shares exclusive details on the next wave of strains he’s developing, including Pheromone, Pink Pineapple, and the long-awaited Blackberry Gary, each packed with complex terpenness built for serious connoisseurs.
The interview expands beyond cultivation, touching on global travel, Lebanon’s historic hash culture, landrace genetics, and the growing synergy between craft cultivators and large-scale operators. Serge also offers a clear vision for the future of cannabis: genetic IP, responsible innovation, and a world where elite terps are accessible everywhere.
This is one of the most personal, honest, and insightful conversations Serge has ever given, offering a rare look at the mindset, history, and precision behind one of the most important figures in contemporary cannabis culture.
0:00 – 0:29 | Intro – Who Is Serge?
0:30 – 1:10 | Early Life & First Connection to the Plant
1:11 – 2:18 | First Grow & Early Curiosity
2:19 – 3:41 | From Teen Grower to Award-Winning Cultivator
3:42 – 4:45 | The Feeling of Winning Big
4:46 – 5:32 | Pomelo Anderson – Origins & Impact
5:33 – 6:14 | Fiore Era Beginnings
6:15 – 7:22 | Fiore’s Massive 14,000-Seed Pheno Hunt
7:23 – 8:21 | Gary Payton & Cereal Milk. A Cultural Explosion
8:22 – 9:45 | How Gary Payton Went Viral
9:46 – 10:17 | Evolution of Iconic Genetics
10:18 – 11:41 | Cereal Milk, Gary, and Legendary Batches
11:42 – 12:23 | New Strain: Pheromone
12:24 – 13:16 | Another Contender: Pink Pineapple
13:17 – 14:09 | Blackberry Gary Breakdown
14:10 – 15:20 | The Pursuit of the Dank
15:21 – 16:52 | The Family Legacy – Three Brothers in the Game
16:53 – 18:45 | Traveling With Terps – The Lebanon Experience
18:46 – 20:16 | Flower vs Hash & Lebanon Landrace Insights
20:17 – 21:40 | How Different Cannabinoid Structures Hit
21:41 – 22:23 | Evolution of the Game – Knowledge, Access & Technique
22:24 – 23:49 | Craft vs Mass Production
23:50 – 25:20 | The Global Spread of Good Genetics
25:21 – 26:16 | Industry Issues – Taxation, Regulation, Packaging Waste
26:17 – 27:07 | Genetic IP – The Future of Cannabis Power
27:08 – 28:02 | Closing Thoughts – Respect, History, & Good Luck at Zalympix
28:03 – 28:16 | Wrap-Up
EPISODE TIMELINE
Serge Cannabis, Serge Cannabis Co, Serge interview, Serge Fiore, Serge Cookies Maywood, Gary Payton strain, Cereal Milk strain, Pomelo Anderson strain, Pheromone strain, Pink Pineapple strain, Blackberry Gary strain, Fiore genetics, Cookies genetics, Powers Up genetics, Maywood cultivator, California cannabis breeders, Zalympix winners, Zalympix 2021, Zalympix 2022, Zalympix Winners Flight, elite cannabis breeders, designer strain genetics, pheno hunts California, 14,000 seed pheno hunt, cannabis strain development, California craft cannabis, top LA cultivators, cannabis breeding history, hash culture Lebanon, landrace strains, global cannabis culture, Gary Payton creator, Cereal Milk creator, terpene innovation, craft cannabis California, California cannabis interview, ZNN interview, cannabis strain icons, cannabis genetics IP, cannabis industry future, California connoisseur weed, high-end indoor cannabis.