Behind the Bud: Cultivator John Degan of SAINTS Dispensary

Welcome to Behind the Bud. Ever wonder who’s behind your favorite flower? In our brand-new column, we’re digging into the personalities, quirks, and stories of Tucson’s top cannabis cultivators — one fun question at a time! Every so often, we’ll sit down with a local grower and get their take on everything from dream strains and “aha!” moments in the garden, to their go-to munchies and wildest plant mishaps.

It’s all about celebrating the people who make Tucson’s cannabis scene unique, shining a light on their creativity, and giving you a peek behind the leaves. 

Ready to meet the folks who grow the good stuff? Let’s get growing!

Meet John Degan from SAINTS Dispensary

We’re kicking off our new column with John Degan, the passionate cultivator at Saints Dispensary. Known for his commitment to quality and innovation, John brings a unique blend of expertise and personality to the local cannabis scene.

In this edition, we dive into John’s world with a series of fun, offbeat questions—covering everything from his favorite strains to the way he’d ward off an impending zombie apocalypse.

Tell me about your first experience with cannabis.

I was 17 and I took some weed from my uncle without him knowing. I didn’t even break it up or clean it. I just tossed it in a paper and rolled the most rookie joint you have ever seen. Actually, I didn’t really roll it. I just kind of folded the paper around the nugs and twisted the tip to make it look like a joint. Then I ran off to the desert with my buddy and we tried to smoke it; but I don’t think it made me high. We returned home and started laughing at something and my uncle looks over and says “Are you high?” I think I got busted, laughing at something really stupid.

Have you ever had a plant surprise you—either with its resilience or a wild mutation? 

Yeah I have seen some weird mutations, plants growing funny. Stuff that doesn’t look like weed. Stuff that looks like tomato plants!

If you had to grow one strain forever, what would it be and why?

Probably Girl Scout Cookie. It’s got a unique flavor and a nice high.

If you could invent a brand new cannabis strain, what would you name it and what would it taste like?

I’d name it Space Cake. And I’d make it taste like those Little Debbie Zebra Cakes [laughing], those are so good!

If you could share a joint with any historical figure (living or not), who would it be and why? 

Cheech and Chong? Can I name two? I respect them for what they’ve done for the whole marijuana culture. I’ve been watching them since I was 5 or 6. I had no idea what was going on [in the shows], but I still remember thinking it was funny.

If you had to survive a zombie apocalypse using only items from your grow room, what’s your game plan?

First, I’m taking the plant stakes out and stabbing the zombies. Then I’ll grab the hose and whip it at ‘em like a lasso.

If your grow rooms had a theme song, what would it be?

“Medicated” by Wiz Khalifa. Definitely.

Do your plants jam out to any other music?

Oh yeah, they like The Beatles, The Doors, some Bob Dylan songs.

Tell me your favorite slang word for cannabis.

Ah, it would probably be Rainy Day Woman, off the song from Bob Dylan.

What’s your favorite thing about the cannabis community in Tucson?

Everyone is super chill, and the vibe is usually really good. Nobody is trying to drunk-fight each other, everyone just wants to chill and smoke.

Notes on the Cultivation

John manages an indoor grow with 12 flower rooms, 1 mother plant room, 1 clone room, 2 vegetation rooms. Each room contains between 90-225 plants.

Type of nutrients used: General Hydro and Simply Professional Formula

Type of lights used: HPS (High Pressure Sodium) Lights

Type of grow media: Coco Coir in 2.5 gallon pots

SAINTS (Southern Arizona Integrated Therapies) Dispensary is locally-owned and has the distinguished reputation of Arizona’s first medical marijuana dispensary. As the state’s first licensed dispensary, all of their cannabis flower is grown locally, tested and processed here in Tucson. For more information on SAINTS Dispensary, click here.