Doja Pak Takes on Europe: The Cali Brand Known for Elite Genetics Enters Regulated Medical Markets

Doja Pak helped popularize Permanent Marker, contributed to the rise of Zoap and RS11, and spent years building one of the most respected names in California cannabis culture. Now it is moving into the regulated European medical market — and it has a specific complaint about what it is finding there.

The brand, founded by Ryan Bartholomew and rooted in Northern California’s cannabis heritage, has announced a partnership with CP Medical to enter Germany and the United Kingdom through exclusive arrangements with Bloomwell and Mamedica respectively. The first products to reach German patients are Doja Z and Doja Permanent Marker. The UK launch follows closely, adding CP Z and CP Super Lemon Haze to the lineup.

Doja Z marks the first introduction of the multi-award-winning Z genetic into Germany’s medical sector. Doja has served as custodian of the original breeder cut for over seven years. Permanent Marker — named Leafly’s 2023 Strain of the Year and originally commercialized by Doja Exclusives — brings one of the most recognizable cultivars in recent cannabis history into a fully regulated pharmaceutical framework for the first time.

The quality problem they’re trying to solve

The partnership is built around a pointed critique of the European medical cannabis market as it currently operates. According to CP Medical, compliance has become the endpoint rather than the starting point — and the gap between regulatory approval and actual product quality is significant.

The specific issues they identify: genetics selected for ease of cultivation rather than consumer experience, seed selections passed off under commercial strain names with no meaningful connection to original genetics, and a near-total absence of legacy cultivation expertise in production decisions. The result, they argue, is compliant cannabis that lacks the terpene depth, genetic authenticity and experiential quality that long-term consumers recognize.

One of their more direct critiques targets irradiation, which much of the industry uses to meet microbial limits. CP Medical argues this reflects upstream failures in cultivation hygiene rather than a genuine solution — and that irradiation can degrade terpene profiles, including the sulphur-containing compounds responsible for the “gas” or “dank” character of premium flower. Their alternative is to control sterility from the beginning: hospital-grade SOPs, tissue culture germplasm, DNA sequencing for genetic verification, and clean cultivation environments that make irradiation unnecessary.

“We only sell what we smoke, and we only smoke what we sell.”

Ryan Bartholomew, Founder, Doja Pak

How the supply chain works

All genetics enter the supply chain as original breeder cuts imported in tissue culture under phytosanitary controls. Cultivation takes place in Thailand under GACP standards, with GMP processing handled through Blossom Pharma in Portugal before qualified-person batch release in Germany and the UK. Temperature-controlled pharma-grade logistics are used throughout.

Doja’s involvement is not limited to genetics and brand licensing. The team maintains active input across cultivation strategy, post-harvest handling and finished-product review — including the burn characteristics, ash profile and smoke quality that the brand considers non-negotiable markers of quality.

What comes next

Following the Germany and UK launches, CP Medical and Doja plan to expand into additional regulated medical markets globally. A collaboration with Burning Rope Pharms is already part of the initial launch and further details are expected to follow.

The partnership between CP Medical and Doja is eight years in the making, rooted in a working relationship that predates CP Medical’s current form — the company evolved from CP Exotics, which was active in California during the early rollouts of RS11 and Zoap.

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