About Us — What is The Ganja?
The Ganja is a field-tested signal—watchful eyes, radiant lines, a reminder to show up fully. Before it had a name, it had a place: the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. That landscape stamped the ethic on us—adventure in nature, spiritual curiosity, and circles of friends who look out for one another. Hike the canyon, share your water. Chase a sunrise, walk by moonlight. Wear the seal—widen the circle.
Origins: Desert → Studio
Fall ’78, CalArts. A design challenge asked us to imagine a future where cannabis might be legal. Out of desert nights and studio chaos came a mark that felt mythic and alive: two hawk-bright eyes and a fan of radiant lines—the inhale/exhale turned into a symbol. We ran it on posters, tees, stickers—even walls. The image moved like a rumor, a beacon for the curious.
The Road Years
From campus, the mark slipped into subculture—onto blotter-style art, Dead tour caravans, and taper culture—hand-to-hand trades that stitched strangers into family. Stories from the road even recall the seal making the stage itself—Phil Lesh in a Ganja tee, a gold-foil sticker on the back of his bass—a quiet nod to the creative spirit and the community that carried it.
Today: theganja.life
This relaunch is a bridge—old road to new horizon—and an open invitation to everyone who has crossed paths with the seal. Phil Lesh’s passing in 2024 nudged us to relight the signal: to honor what the emblem has meant and to invite new stories from every corner so the lineage keeps traveling.
How we make things
We chase quality the way you chase dawn:
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Fabrics that feel lived-in from day one
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Inks that hold color like memory
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Craft meant for stage, trail, and everyday rites
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Small-batch runs with care for people and place
What you’ll find here
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Vintage-rooted graphics and new collaborations
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Tees, hats, stickers, and active pieces for travel, trails, and shows
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Artifacts of the journey—and space for your Ganja stories
Giving Back
We donate 10% of profits to organizations aligned with wild places, mindful living, and community: Leave No Trace, Superstition Area Land Trust, and The Mind & Life Institute.
Add Your Story
This has always been a shared project. If the seal found you—on a ridge, at a rail, or somewhere in between—send your story (a photo and a few lines is perfect).
👉 Share your Ganja story
I’m Neal Berg, the original designer of The Ganja. This is a celebration of each breath, each experience, and each connection we make—on the path, in the crowd, and in the quiet in-between.