NUWU Sessions: Jezus the Jeweler, reveals how he went from a budtender to Chief of Operations at Mammoth Labs

"Welcome to NuWu Sessions, where we invite guests to enjoy one of our top-shelf table packages in Las Vegas' first and only cannabis consumption lounge: The Vegas Tasting Room. On today's episode, we have the extractor from Mammoth Labs: Ryan Jordan, a.k.a. Jezus The Jeweler. Watch as we learn about his history in the Nevada cannabis scene and how he came to work for Mammoth Labs, all while trying some delicious Mammoth Labs products. It's only here on NuWu Sessions, so let's get into it!"

Origin of Jezus the Jeweler

Ryan Jordan knew he wanted to be a central figure of the Cannabis community long before his home state of Ohio medically legalized it in 2016. During his interview with NuWu Sessions in the Vegas Tasting Room, Ryan shared how he came to work for the cannabis extracts giant Mammoth Labs. As well as how he went from Ryan the budtender to Jezus the Jeweler and cultivated a reputation that earned him the High Times Cup Award for Best Infused Pre-Roll in 2019.  

What was your first experience with cannabis? How did you become so passionate about this plant?

Ryan Jordan, who goes by Jezus the Jeweler in the cannabis space, has been a cannabis enthusiast since he was a teenager. While drinking one of the Vegas Tasting Room's energetic Cannacocktails, the Mocha Haze, Jezus shared with us one of his earliest memories of finding a small bag of weed and how that shaped his relationship with cannabis.

Jezus shares, "I started smoking when I was about 13. My friends and I were riding our bikes around town, just looking for trouble, and we found a broken weed pipe in a baggie on the side of the road. We knew someone must have ditched it immediately, but we took what we found and took it to my friend's house. Later that night, when my friend's mom was asleep, we scraped the resin in the pipe, tried to smoke it, and started looking up information online. After that, I was trying to find a way to get weed, and I just loved the high and how it made me feel. I felt so creative and like I do more when I smoke." 

How did the name Jezus the Jeweler come about?

Jezus the Jeweler's moniker grew as his reputation in cannabis solidified from beginner to master of extracts. Ryan began to go by Jezus about 10 years ago when he first started dreadlocking his hair and growing out his beard. He would be approached by people commenting, "Hey man, you look like Jesus!" and finding it as a compliment, Ryan took on the name Jezus on social media. Once he joined the cannabis industry as an entry-level budtender, he changed his name to TerpJezus on social media.

The latest iteration of his name came to Ryan when he started extracting and gaining a reputation for being one of the first to make large diamonds as concentrates. Blending his ability to make diamonds with his love of old mafia movies, he wanted a name that had the cadence of an old mobster's name. So he came up with the name Jezus the Jeweler, which his fans happily tagged whenever he launches a new savory product from Mammoth Labs.

Were there any strains you were fond of before legalization?

Having lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for over 10 years, Jezus the Jeweler jokes that back in those days, every strain you would buy was "Blue Dream." He says, "If you ever asked the dealer what strain it was, he would always say, "It's Blue Dream, bro." So I don't know if I ever actually smoked it, but I always say it's one of my favorite strains."

Jezus the Jeweler's growth in the cannabis field is a testament to his efforts of constantly searching for the next creative and euphoric high that may come out of his lab. Post-legalization and having a wider variety of choices, Jezus now prefers strains like Sour Diesel or Ghost Train Haze by Nature's Chemistry. These creative and energetic Sativa strains are classic go-to's for people looking to stay focused while helping you get all the inspiration you need.

To check out our complete Nature’s Chemistry inventory, click on the button below!

How did you get started in the Cannabis Industry?

Although Jezus the Jeweler's passion for cannabis has been evident since he was a teenager, there was never a clear path for him to pursue cannabis professionally. Growing up in Ohio, he and his friends used to be involved in the sale of cannabis pre-legalization, which was a dangerous yet rewarding task for the budding cannasseur. He and his friends would get flower from California and were always on the hunt for top-quality products. 

Yet, Jezus the Jeweler's first opportunity into a legal cannabis market came in 2015 when his girlfriend (now wife) told him that her father was moving to Nevada to retire and that she wanted to move to Nevada as well. Jezus' options were simple: move to Nevada with his girlfriend or stay in Ohio working in an illegal market. 

Of course, Jezus the Jeweler moved to Pahrump, Nevada, and immediately looked for opportunities in the medical cannabis market. One of the first medical dispensaries in Pahrump was The Grove, where Jezus walked in one day, and the staff asked him, "You have a great look. Do you want a job with us?" Jezus accepted started off as a proud budtender, learning about cannabis and all of the benefits that it brings to people. 

Once cannabis became recreational in 2017 in Nevada, Kristen, the owner of Even Cannabis, who went to high school with Jezus the Jeweler, reached out with a lucrative job opportunity. Kristen saw his passion for cannabis and knew he had been involved in the market back in Ohio. Hence, she offered Jezus the chance to work in the Even Cannabis lab and mentor with her husband. Jezus attributes everything he knows about cannabis, extract, and the industry in particular, to his 2-year mentorship in Even Cannabis. 

After those 2 years of growth, Jezus the Jeweler took off and joined White Lvbel, creating the THCA Infused Guava Jelly Pre-Roll that won the High Times Cannabis Cup in 2019. Soon after that success, Jezus was scouted by Mammoth Labs, and that's where the industry cannasseur is now. 

About Mammoth Labs

Washington has been a pioneer in cannabis reform since the beginning of decriminalization. First, Washington was one of 4 states to legalize medical cannabis by 1998. Then Washington became one of 2 states to become recreational in 2012. So it is no surprise that in 2016, Ellensburg, Washington, also became the home of the concentrate giant Mammoth Labs.

 The company initially intended to focus on growing flower of all varieties in Washington. Yet, the weather in Ellensburg made them pivot towards growing outdoors. Instead, they would freeze their flower once it matured and then focus on creating the highest quality live resin concentrates in the market. Once the extracts giant chose to migrate to Nevada, they reached out to Jezus the Jeweler after his success with the High Times Cup Award. 

In his own words, "They reached out to me on Instagram, they said they've been looking at what I've been doing, and they said they really liked my style…They wanted to meet up, so I flew out to Washington, where their headquarters are." 

What is your role in Mammoth Labs?

Hired initially as a Cannabis Extraction Technician for Mammoth Labs, Jezus the Jeweler quickly moved through the ranks and became the Chief of Operations of Mammoth Labs. Jezus is closely involved with the entire process from conception to the final shelf product, from extracting to packaging to strain label design. Having to wear multiple hats is the nature of his job as Chief of Operations. 

The Nevada Mammoth Labs extraction team is small, considering the scale of their operations. "We're five people. I have one guy who helps me run the extraction machine. Then I have one guy who helps wash, and I do all the post-processing. So everything's got that final Jezus the Jeweler stamp of approval on it."

Relationships with cultivators & collaborations

Jezus's role as C.O.O. expands beyond what happens in the lab. He explained that he also goes to all the cannabis farms in Nevada to procure new flower for Mammoth Labs. He explains, "I always want different strains, so as soon as a farmer has a nice fresh grow of flower, I hit them up!" 

This collaborative process between the cannabis farmers of Nevada and Mammoth Labs is part of what makes Mammoth Labs' products so unique. Jezus describes it as pheno-hunting, or the process of picking the most exceptional seeds from two cannabis plants. This process can take months or longer as the seeds must be entirely harvested and cured to determine whether they are high-quality.  

Jezus the Jeweler's dedication to Pheno-hunting has earned the company popular strains like their Cosa Nostra Live Resin Sauce or the Lion's Mane Live Resin Badder. 

To check out our complete Mammoth Labs inventory, click on the button below!

What is a Cannabis Extraction Technician?

Some of you may be looking to enter the cannabis space. You may be wondering what a Cannabis Extraction Technician is? This is a career path for cannabis enthusiasts who also have a passion for science and constant innovation.

According to the experts at Oaksterdam University, cannabis extraction is the scientific process of separating cannabis into its various components to create a wide range of products. This process allows every part of the plant to be used in the cultivation and extraction process, which enables farmers to profit from crops that otherwise would get discarded.

 Those who want to become cannabis extraction technicians must have excellent attention to detail and be able to work in a lab environment with strict guidelines and regulations. 

Suppose this is a field you're interested in pursuing. In that case, we recommend looking at the Oakstterdam University requirements to see if this is a career path for you! 

The story behind the name 'Mammoth Labs'

So, it's time to answer, what does a Mammoth have to do with a cannabis lab? And how did the name 'Mammoth Labs' come to be? Well, as Jezus mentions in the interview, long before the brand was created in 2016, the co-founder, Connor Jackson, was a student at Central Washington University, which is in Ellensburg, Washington.

During Connor's years as a student, the science department discovered and studied a fossilized mammoth skeleton in a farmer's backyard. In prehistoric times, the Washington valley area was home to herds of Mammoths. Central Washington University is known for its curated Mammoth exhibit. 

When it came time for the team at Mammoth Labs to choose a name that conveyed its rich history with the soil that helps them grow cannabis plants, the woolly mammoth stood out as the clear winner. 

Jezus the Jeweler also noted that, ironically, a few months after Mammoth Labs launched in Nevada, another woolly mammoth was excavated outside Pahrump in Nevada. He joked that the company may keep expanding to states where wooly mammoths are uncovered!

Winning the High Times Cannabis Cup 2019

In 2019, White Lvbel entered the High Times Cannabis Cup, where Jezus the Jeweler's THCA Infused Guava Jelly Pre-Roll won the Best Pre-Roll category. Taking home the first-place spot was a cathartic moment for the cannasseur who had spent years longing to be a part of the cannabis space. For Jezus the Jeweler, the experience was surreal. He mentions, "Growing up when I was a teenager, I remember going into Barnes and Nobles and sneaking the High Times Magazines, and putting another magazine in front of it."

Of course, the product that won first place is one of Jezus' pride projects. As he mentioned, the process of figuring out how to make a THCA-infused pre-roll came after many disappointments. "I was the first to launch the THCA-infused pre-rolls because I would try so many infused pre-rolls, and they would run and never smoke right. Then when I figured out how to correctly isolate the THCA into a powder, I homogenized the flower, and that's how you get it to burn right." It's safe to say that this was the first of many new discoveries for Jezus the Jeweler as he continued to grow his knowledge of concentrates and extractions.

Conclusion & Words of Wisdom

Jezus the Jeweler has repeatedly proven that passion and perseverance create opportunities anywhere in life, particularly in the cannabis space. That passion for his craft is shown with every social media post and each new product that hits the shelves. While interviewing with us in the Vegas Tasting Room, he demonstrated the same calm and open demeanor that made him an excellent budtender. 

When asked for any words of wisdom for those who also want to join the cannabis field, his message is one that he embodies, "Have an open mind and be open to learning everything you can. Observe, and learn from those around you. Having knowledge is how you move up, and as long as you're open to change and to learning, I think anybody can move up quickly."

Thank you for joining us for another NuWu Sessions blog update. Don't forget to check out our collection of Mammoth Labs products below. Don't forget to follow Jezus the Jeweler on Instagram to see the latest products. For more information on Mammoth Labs, please visit their website Mammothlabs.com.