PATIENT OF THE MONTH
CANNABIS FOR MENTAL PEACE
BRENDONWILDER @ THEPUFFPASTOR Before Cannabis and making his new life in Bend, Brendon Wilder was a minister at a Christian megachurch in Texas. But a change of heart brought him to the Pacific Northwest – where he’s now spreading ‘the good news of weed” with his wife Anna and their creation, Wilder Culture – a company dedicated to bringing “authentic Cannabis culture to other areas of our country and the world.”
How do you incorporate Cannabis in your daily/regular life? I began smoking
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at a time in my life when I was healing from past religious trauma and literally relearning how to think about life itself. Cannabis helped me look at things in a way I hadn’t before, with ‘love yourself’ as its main commandment. It’s helped me to be more mindful and gentle with myself. It’s given me a perspective that inspires empathy.
What are some of your favorite products to consume? Most days, you can find me smoking four to five blunts, filled with two-and-a-half grams each of something indica-dominant from Tao Gardens, Eugreen, Evan’s Creek, Focus North and more. I also smoke solventless hash like Bo’s Nose Knows, Tao Bubble or Happy Cabbage, and when I do smoke BHO products, it’s always Echo Electuary. They’re excellent at what they do!
“I can say that psilocybin has allowed me to work on parts of myself that I couldn’t really get past with traditional therapy.”
What brought you from Texas? It was the Cannabis industry and culture that
drew my wife and me to the PNW. Upon moving to Oregon, I took a position as the Director of Brand Development with a patent-holding wellness company that had been gaining success in the California medical market. From there, my wife and I moved on to creating, distributing and marketing brands in the Washington recreational market.
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What made you decide to call Oregon home? Three months after visiting
Bend for the first time, we found ourselves living here. We were looking for a change and immediately fell in love with the area, the people and the weed. Until recently, we didn’t see ourselves leaving. But we are excited to be making a move to Oklahoma City soon, so we can dive head-first into a younger, developing medical Cannabis market.
What are your thoughts on the future of psilocybin use in Oregon and beyond? I think that a lot of people are hesitant to try psilocybin because of
their lack of knowledge. But I believe Oregon will continue to lead the way. Decriminalizing psilocybin means that those who want to try it can, without fear of losing their freedom. It won’t be long until we are comparing potency tests on our favorite strains of psilocybin products, just like Cannabis!
What role has psilocybin played in your life? There’s something positive
taken from every experience, even if it’s as simple as increased empathy and understanding. I can say that psilocybin has allowed me to work on parts of myself that I couldn’t really get past with traditional therapy. It’s such a unique tool that allows me to increase self-awareness and self-love while focusing on the shit that actually matters each day.
mar. 2021
“I believe Oregon will continue to lead the way. Decriminalizing psilocybin means that those who want to try it can, without fear of losing their freedom.”
STORY & PHOTOS by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA for OREGON LEAF