The Leaf Doctor: The Rise of Michigan’s King of Cannabis

Hello everyone, my name is Marcel, akaThe Leaf Doctor or Leafdoctor1_ on IG, Michigan’s King of Cannabis, and winner of 108 Cannabis Cups.

This is my story. It all started when I was a kid hanging out at my grandma’s house. She had a garden we weren’t allowed in. One day, she got a phone call, and my uncle had me go get her from the garden. When I opened the gate to let her know she had a phone call, I saw it for the first time. It was like time stopped. It was the prettiest thing I had ever laid eyes on at that age. It was short, bushy, purple, and covered in crystals. Marijuana. I instantly became obsessed with it. She told me to keep quiet about it and not let my mom know I had seen her plants. I did whatever I could to go to her house and help in the garden just to see those plants. At that time, I didn’t know I was actually learning a skill. I helped with the compost, using eggshells, fish scraps, blood and bone meal, cow manure, and other goodies. It smelled horrible, but I didn’t care.

A couple of years later, I was living with my oldest sister, starting high school at 14 in 1991. I would take the marijuana seeds out of the ashtray after her boyfriend rolled up a joint and pop them, looking for that same purple plant. But I didn’t realize that after popping the seeds, they would only grow so big in the windowsill before they would fall over and die. So, what I did next was where the magic started. My sister’s boyfriend would read High Times magazine, and I would take them and read about growing with Metal Halide lights. I saved my money from doing yard work and delivering newspapers to get one. Once I had enough money, I talked to my sister about getting the light for me. She laughed in my face and told me I was crazy. So, I asked her boyfriend if he would buy it for me, and he did.

There was a closet in the basement, and her boyfriend and I cleaned it out. He helped me hang the light. At that time, I thought the hood was like an umbrella with the bulb hanging in the center. I didn’t know what a parabolic hood was. I popped some seeds that I had stashed away, sprouted them, and started growing. My first run was trash because I didn’t know about the male plant throwing pollen and seeding everything up. As time went on, I got better and better. By my senior year in high school, I had it all figured out and continued to improve.

Fast forward to 2008, when medical marijuana became legal in Michigan. I was the first to get in line to become a caregiver. In 2012, I was working part-time at a hydro store, teaching people how to grow. We had magazines at the front door of the store, and one day I decided to pick one up and read it. It mentioned the Cannabis Cup, and a friend of mine convinced me to enter. I called the magazine and asked what I needed to enter the competition. They explained that I had to be a caregiver, how much flower I needed to have, the different categories, the cost for entries, and the deadline.

I realized the deadline was 10 days away, so I got home and got to it. They only wanted 7 grams of flower per category. I was in week seven of flower, so I chopped a branch off of two plants with zero flush, one being a Sour Diesel and the other being Grape Stomper by Gage Green. I dried them in the flower room, got them ready in time, and dropped them off. They gave me details about the cup and dates. On the day of the cup, I was super nervous and scared because there were a lot of people there who looked like pros. I felt I didn’t have a chance in hell of winning since I pulled the plants earlier without flushing them.

When award time came, they started with the edibles. I watched the winners walk on stage and get those trophies. I thought that was awesome. Then, they began announcing the flower cups. My heart was on the ground. They started with third place, and the guy received his award. Then second place, and the next guy walked on stage. I thought, well, I didn’t win this category. Finally, they announced the winner for first place Sativa, and when they said my name, I damn near passed out. My body went numb. The feeling was so great to have won a cup, and it was first place. I also walked away with a third place for the Grape Stomper. After that, I went around showing everyone my awards. I was hooked. I would wait for the magazine every month to check for the next competition.

I said to myself, this time I’ll be ready and do things right. I changed a few things in the garden, going back to old school methods like what my grandma did. I started adding blood and bone meal to my soil and making teas from a mixture of guano. I took techniques that I read about, like flushing my plants with ice water, leaving them in darkness for 48 hours before harvest, and dropping the room temperature to around 70°. When I harvested, I would drop my room temperature to 64° and 55% humidity and dry for two weeks. Once dry, I would trim and set the flower aside for the next competition. I crushed cup after cup until one day the magazine reached out and asked if I would like to be on the cover. I was like, you guys can use my logo. One of them said, “Leaf Doctor is fine, but hell, you’re the Michigan King of Cannabis,” and the title stuck like glue.

I did the cover, and it was amazing seeing my logo all over the state. In 2014, High Times came back to Michigan, and I wanted to see what I could do. At that time, I had 39 local cup wins. When I inquired about it, they wanted more money than I could afford. So, I asked a good friend/dispensary owner if he would sponsor me, and he did. I entered four entries and walked away with:

• 1st Hybrid Gorilla Glue #4
• 2nd Sativa Ghost Train Haze
• 2nd Indica Aliendawg
• And I also placed in the top 10.

I was in shock to win a High Times Cup. I always said I would love to be on the cover one day. A few months later, I found out High Times had a cover page for the strongest strains on earth. To my surprise, I took the cover with Ghost Train Haze testing at 27.46% THC in 2014. Those numbers were unheard of back then. I also found out the Aliendawg was the second strongest strain on earth that year, both being grown by me. It was a dream come true. After that, I just kept on smashing the cups. Twelve years later, I now have a total of 108 cups, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

The reason I don’t plan on stopping is that I’m trying to build a legacy. I want to set a record of wins so high that anyone who wants to challenge my title will have to put in the work. This isn’t just about the awards and accolades; it’s about showing what’s possible when you dedicate yourself to a craft. My motivation comes from my daughters. I want to show them that you can excel in anything if you put your mind to it. I want them to see that passion and perseverance can lead to success in any field they choose.

For all the future growers who come after me, I want you to know that you can be the best. It’s not an easy road, but it’s one worth traveling. The path is filled with challenges, but every obstacle is an opportunity to learn and grow. I hope that one day, someone will come along and break my record. To all you growers and newbies out there, remember that it’s about the journey and the love for this incredible plant.

I’ve done all of this because I truly love cannabis and the joy, power, and healing it provides to those who use it. It’s a plant that connects people and heals them in many ways. It has been a constant in my life, bringing me joy and purpose. I hope that my journey inspires others to find their passion and pursue it relentlessly. The world of cannabis is vast and full of potential. There’s always more to learn, more to explore, and more to achieve.

So here’s to the future, to the growers who will take the torch and carry it forward. May you continue to innovate, push boundaries, and make your mark on this incredible industry. Happy growing, and remember to always follow your passion and never stop striving for greatness.

Happy Growing,

The Leaf Doctor