Michael “Big Mike” Parker was steeped in the legacy and tradition of Oaksterdam University and the American cannabis cultivation movement during the 1960s and 1970s. Mike cultivated cannabis for over 50 years and brought a holistic and unique perspective to his role as the Lead Horticulture Technician at Oaksterdam. Truly a “grassroots” grower, Big Mike instructed new generations of cannabis cultivators at OU from 2008 through his passing in 2018.
Big Mike was the CEO of both the Oaksterdam Nursery and Oaksterdam “Cones.” Big Mike’s contributions to cannabis cultivation and education are rooted in one simple fact: “When I was 16 years old I could no longer afford the cannabis I was using, so I figured…I have to start growing it!”
Big Mike lived in Oakland and was an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast, a proud father of eight children and enjoyed riding his “hog” and hanging with his Chihuahua, Midnight. Rest in Peace, Big Mike!