Two paths, one vision. I
Rocco, 39, Co-Founder von DÆNK.
I smoked my first joints at fifteen, on a trip to Spain. What started as curiosity gradually turned into a real relationship. A relationship with good weed, with proper dank, with rich terpenes. Early on, it was never just about smoking for me - it was about quality, about flavor, about the perfect high.
During that time, countless trips took me to Amsterdam. I explored, studied, and fell in love with coffeeshops; Easytimes, Grey Area, Abraxas, 1e Hulp, Greenhouse, De Kade, Dampkring. These places were more than just shops. They were atmosphere, culture, spaces for connection.
The subcultures I moved in always had a connection to this plant: hip-hop, sneaker culture, streetwear. For me, it all belonged together.
Green House Coffeeshop Amsterdam
And even back then, I knew:
I want to build something.
Of course, everyone dreams of having their own shop. Those memories never fade, the first legal joints in a bar. That vibe. That freedom. I’ve been high for more than half my life. And it never stopped me from achieving things. Many people believe cannabis slows you down. For me, it’s been the opposite. The plant helps me find balance and maintain focus. My mind is constantly full - thoughts, ideas, impressions. Cannabis helps regulate that internal pressure.
For me, this plant was never a drug. It’s a plant-based medicine. An amplifier of what’s already within you. After all, we all carry an endocannabinoid system, the human body is literally built to interact with this plant.
Cannabis isn’t just any herb.
It’s the herb.
The Path There
The desire to build my own brand was always there. I started studying business psychology, but quickly realized that viewing people primarily as “optimizable resources” didn’t fulfill me. So I dropped out.
I spent two years working in various sneaker stores in Cologne. But at some point, I realized: there has to be more. You have a dream. So it’s time to act on it.
In 2018, a new opportunity came up. Lukas Podolski opened his streetwear store “Standart” in the legendary halls of the former MadeIn skate shop. For me, it was the perfect place. I applied as a supervisor/store assistant and got the job.
Standart Sneakerstore Cologne (2018)
I was beyond happy. Something special was being built there.
And that’s where I met Philipp.
He was responsible for photography and social media; a sneakerhead with an impressive collection. We knew each other loosely from the scene. But what caught my attention immediately: Philipp smoked too. And not just anything.
Cali.
At the time, everyone talked about it. But only a few actually had access. Back then, I was a big Kush fan: OG Kush, Master Kush, Platinum Kush, Bubba Kush. I could have been happy with that for the rest of my life. Until that moment.
After one of our first shifts, we were standing on a staircase on Lindenstraße. Philipp pulled out a bag, opened it, and said:
“Smell this.” Purple Punch.
Purple Punch (Ripper Seeds) Original Bild von 2018
The aroma instantly overpowered everything around me. Fruity, creamy, almost like a dessert. In that moment, I knew: my game had to level up.
The Next Level
What I didn’t know at the time:
Philipp wasn’t just a photographer. He was also a very talented grower. The weed that impressed me so much came from his own grow. From that point on, we became close friends. Every new batch felt like Christmas to me.
I made a promise to myself: never again bad weed.
As our friends and partner from Grow Cologne put it perfectly today: “Life’s too short to smoke bad weed.”
Our standards evolved. “Personals” became the norm, everyone rolling their own joint. Inside-out. RAW Black King Size. Wide filters. No compromises.
We developed our own style. Trips to Barcelona and Amsterdam followed. And at some point, we realized: our weed had become better than much of what you’d find in coffeeshops.
That changed everything.
We had become the ones people asked: “Where do you get that fire?”
Corona, Change, and New Perspectives
When the store had to close due to COVID, everything shifted. But two things remained: sneakers and good weed. During lockdown, cannabis became an anchor for me. In a time full of uncertainty, it helped me stay calm and inspired.
I started a distance-learning program in social media management and online marketing and completed it successfully. But one thing became increasingly clear:
I want to create something bigger than myself.
The Turning Point
Then something happened I honestly didn’t expect. Germany partially legalized cannabis. I still remember my first legal joint. April 2024. Domplatte, Cologne. 420 enthusiasts everywhere. Police cars driving by and we’re smoking.
The moment felt completely normal and entirely historic at the same time.
The only question was: what do we do with this new freedom?
01.04.2024 Teil- Legalisierung in Deutschland
A cannabis social club seemed like the obvious first step. But it quickly became clear that many people had the wrong expectations. An association isn’t a gold rush. But that wasn’t my focus anyway.
I didn’t just want to sell. I wanted to build.
The Idea Behind DÆNK
What I always felt was missing in Germany was a cultural framing of cannabis. There are grow shops. Head shops. Brands looking to the US. Cali marketing everywhere. More THC. More concentrates. More hype.
But where is the culture? Cannabis is more than just a plant.
Music, fashion, art, craftsmanship, enjoyment - these worlds are deeply connected. In sneaker culture, platforms exist that make exactly this visible.
So I asked myself a simple question: Why doesn’t this exist for cannabis in Germany? If something is missing and you wish it existed, you have to create it yourself.
The Birth of DÆNK
At the end of 2024, I started thinking more deeply about this idea. The first manifesto took shape: The future of German cannabis culture.
I realized: I don’t want to build a traditional brand.
I want to create a cultural platform. A brand that represents cannabis the way I always envisioned it: cool, aesthetic, reflective and naturally part of our society.
The name had to carry exactly that spirit.
And that’s how DÆNK was born.
Rocco Co-Founder DAENK