Green Eugene | Fall 2022

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Happy harvest season!

Excitement floods my veins to present this collection of stories as Green Eugene’s newest editor. I would be lying if I didn’t touch on how this publication has changed my life and uplifted my journalistic education. I never expected to be taking over for our previous editor when I joined as a staff writer and photographer in the middle of the COVID-19 digital dependency era.

Although I offer a new, rainbow-tinted lens, my entirely unique perspective is one equally valuable to this magazine and the community it serves.

As any chef loves concocting new recipes, I am introducing an unexplored flavor to Green Eugene to continue accurately reflecting the vibrancy of our local cannabis community. It also came to my attention late into the process of planning this edition that very few openly queer and non-binary cannabis journalists exist. Though this feels daunting at times, I am honored to lead with a lit joint in hand and years of trailblazing experience.

I want to directly thank those who have worked with us on this issue, including but definitely not limited to: UO alumni Dave Sullivan for giving us an educational tour of The Plant, Subtle Winds for their work in Psilocybin therapy, and Alan and Marisa at Black Market BBQ for their saucy, foody love. May this year’s harvest be fruitful, meaningful and inviting to all.

With infinite love and gratitude, Kayl Wohl

STAFF

MEASURE 109

Subtle Winds leads the future of psychedelic therapy

Written By Sydney Johnson

For those who believe in the untapped potential of psychedelic therapy, Measure 109 is a small but significant victory. Starting in January 2023, psilocybin will be legalized for supervised, therapeutic use in Oregon. This comes decades after scientific evidence was found for its possible health benefits. The measure is the first of its kind, setting a precedent for states to consider in the future.

Of course, nothing involving the War on Drugs is ever so straightforward. Possession and consumption of psilocybe cubensis will remain illegal outside of authorized facilities. All patients must be over 21. Further setbacks, such as ease of access and lack of insurance coverage, continue to stand guard against those who seek real change. Upcoming therapeutic centers like the Subtle Winds Transformative Retreat Center in Eugene will have to tackle these barriers head-on as they work their way toward licensure.

The Subtle Winds team is a mix of education experts, psychologists, traditional plant experts and medical practitioners. They are working on gathering future facilitators and hope to eventually welcome patients for some of the first psychedelic therapy available in Oregon. While they haven’t established a physical location yet, they are looking for a rural property in Lane County to support the atmosphere of natural healing.

Benjamin Brubaker is one of the group’s key organizers. He is also known in Eugene for his work with White Bird Clinic as well as the homeless community. After over 15 years of psychedelic harm reduction experience, his dream of opening a therapy center is finally becoming a reality – but there’s a long road ahead. Facilitators will begin licensure training courses in January, but it’s still unknown when the first healing centers will open their doors to treat patients.

“What we’re planning on doing now is our 12- week long course starting in January. But as far as I can tell, there will be no trained facilitators at that point. A lot of other programs are a lot longer; we’re trying to do a condensed training. Our folks will be wrapping up their practicum hours sometime in April or May of 2023.”

By Miles Imai

One major barrier for centers like Subtle Winds is countydesignated opt-out votes. Twenty-four out of 36 Oregon counties have voted to delay approval for at least two more years. Counties that have approved the measure include Lane, Multnomah, Jackson and Lincoln. This division will have consequences, especially for those individuals who may need the treatment most.

“Those folks who are low income or coming from historically marginalized, underresourced populations will be forced to add travel costs to get into the counties that are still allowing it. The opt-out votes are really just targeting people who are low-income,” Brubaker said.

Despite the low cost of growing the mushrooms, the treatment costs will remain restrictively high, between $700 and $1500. This will be another out-of-pocket cost for patients not yet covered by insurance. Subtle Winds is hoping to mitigate this barrier by developing methods like sliding-scale and even scholarship funds for those in need.

“Meanwhile, somebody who’s wealthy in one of those counties, they’ll jump in the car, get a hotel room for a few nights and go wherever they want to get the treatment,” Brubaker continued. “Then all of the available treatment centers are going to deal with those extra people coming in from those other counties.”

For an equitable billing service model to emerge, psilocybin would need to be decriminalized at a national level. It is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” according to the DEA.

“At the time when these psychedelic substances were made schedule one, there were already hundreds of therapists having success with the people that they were working with. And they were ignored by the politicians at that time,” Brubaker said, ”We have to get back to a science-based approach — and the science is demonstrating that there are therapeutic applications for these substances.”

According to numerous studies, including the Annual Global Drug Survey, psilocybin is non-lethal and non-addictive. Even in large quantities, it is considered one of the lowest-risk drugs in terms of safety. Furthermore, research centers like John Hopkins have shown major improvements for patients suffering from mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction and PTSD.

Despite the setbacks, these upcoming developments could inspire big changes for psychedelic accessibility going forward.

“I hope to see a robust new ecosystem designed to help support our folks here locally that are struggling with different kinds of behavioral health issues, as well as helping people out on a larger scale,” Brubaker said. “I really think there is the potential for Eugene and other areas to become a mecca for this kind of treatment. We think that all of that is pointing towards more changes to come, even at a national level.”

With the War on Drugs aimed to stigmatize psychedelic research and target marginalized communities, Subtle Winds hopes to redirect the focus away from the “war on people.”

“The issues that we’re encountering are mainly coming from that. The main mission is to allow for a safe and effective container for people who choose to use these therapeutic medicines to be able to allow them to legally do so. That’s really at the heart of what we’re trying to do.”

Pot Take: Too Little Too Late

Written By Dominic Adams Biden falls short to deliver justice

On Oct. 6, 2022, the Biden administration granted a pardon for the offense of simple possession of cannabis. This pardon expunged records for roughly 6,500 people who had been charged with that crime, according to Reuters. At face value, this seems to be a positive step towards repairing the damage caused by the federal War on Drugs.

The first crack in this facade is the fact that zero people were in federal prison for simple possession of cannabis at the time of Biden’s pardon as reported by The New York Times. The most anyone benefiting from the pardon can look forward to is a clean record. The unfortunate truth is this proclamation is a halfmeasure that’s all talk and no walk. The White House only has the power to grant pardons for those charged with federal crimes. Therefore, people charged at the state level for simple possession of cannabis in any of the 30 states where cannabis is still illegal, do not benefit. Biden’s statement does include a plea to state officials to perform a similar pardon, but nothing has come of it yet. So, disappointingly, no one will actually be released from prison, state or federal, as a result of this pardon.

The most critical proof that this pardon is a hollow pittance is the fact that 99% of people in federal prison for drug-related crimes are charged with drug trafficking, and not simple possession, according to the DOJ. As a general rule, federal prosecutors do not prosecute simple possession of cannabis because in most cases it is out of their jurisdiction. In other cases, the crime is simply not severe enough to warrant federal action when it could be handled at the state level. This is why only 1% of all victims of the federal War on Drugs benefit, while the vast majority continue to languish within the prison industrial complex.

The president’s clemency in this case does very little to solve the systemic issues which continue to plague our justice system. Even the proclamation itself, somewhat ironically, showed how little the needle has moved. The federal government still refers to cannabis as marijuana in the official title of the pardon. Marijuana, a term with a storied and frankly racist past, is an antiquity that should be collecting dust – not standing proudly on White House letterhead. But what did we expect from a government that has routinely ignored scientific findings on the relative safety of cannabis? The same government has vilified cannabis and used it as an excuse to over-police underserved communities. I hate to be a stick in the mud, but despite how much I would like for this pardon to represent progress, we’ve really only been given an inch.

Since its inception, the War on Drugs has unfairly targeted people of color and other minority groups. If the intent of this war was indeed to save us all from the evils of drugs, it doesn’t seem to be working. In fact, drug use under these policies has significantly risen, and overdose deaths are higher than they have ever been, according to the NIDA. The Feds have handily lost this war, but the public did not win. These policies have, on the other hand, been wildly successful in accelerating mass incarceration and creating the prison industrial hellscape we know today.

Another massive problem within the War on Drugs is the current scheduling of cannabis. And on a somewhat more positive note, the Biden White House addressed the issue in its proclamation and has requested a review of the Schedule I classification of cannabis. However, no progress can be made until that review yields any actual change. Until that day cannabis remains a Schedule I drug, despite the fact that the “Schedule” system is designed to classify drugs in order of how dangerous they are to one’s health. It’s hard to take a government seriously when the drug that makes me want to listen to disco and pig out on hummus has been assessed to be on par with heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl (Schedule II), which claimed the lives of 71,238 people in 2021, according to the CDC. When or if cannabis is rescheduled, I might feel hopeful, but it is much too early to jump for joy.

In addition to rescheduling cannabis and other drugs, the government needs to take a very hard look at the complete failure of punitive justice when applied to drug use. There simply isn’t a demonstrable value to imprisoning drug users according to the NIDA. And yet, there are still people in state prison for simple possession charges who have lost civil rights and years of their life. We must ask ourselves: How is this helping them? I am absolutely certain prison is far more damaging to an individual than smoking cannabis ever could be.

Here’s the hard truth: The War on Drugs isn’t over, and the vast majority of casualties will never get justice for the wrongs done to them. I’m happy for the few that received clemency, but I can’t help but be immensely disappointed for the 30,000 or so people across America who are still in prison for something that is legal in 20 states. This country doesn’t have a drug problem, it has a drug enforcement problem. Until we fundamentally change how we view punitive measures for nonviolent offenders, justice can never truly be served.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

CAN YOU SPOT THE 8 DIFFERENCES ?

Find the Answers on GreenEugene.com

By Palmer Krais

EUGENE OGSponsored Content

“We were born in this community.”

Written By Kayl Wohl

Upon entry, a melodic doorbell notifies budtenders of a new arrival. Filtered by sunlit spider plants in the lobby, fresh air encircles the guests, followed by the scent of sweet, sticky floral herbs. The friendly faces behind the counter ease the experience that can be overwhelming when entering a new space.

For many University of Oregon students, 21 and over, purchasing cannabis is a new, exciting and even daunting experience when first moving to a recreationally legal state. Eugene OG sets the positive precedent by the initial bright and inviting environment, opposite of what first-timers may expect to be a dark and dingy stoner closet.

A South Eugene High School friendship sparked what would turn into a local dispensary, opening in September 2014. Building community relationships and authentic connections that are symbiotically empowering serve as the foundation of Eugene OG and are core

values that are vividly alive today. These ideals are demonstrated through vendor collaborations, such as those with Deep Creek Gardens and Drops Cannabis Jellies.

Every product available is intentionally showcased to display the dispensary’s standards and mission to “provide the highest quality for the lowest price possible.” Rather than offering unknown products to test market popularity, Eugene OG’s selective stamp of approval only reaches items that employees genuinely believe in and are excited about. This results in authentic sales recommendations for elevated customer experiences.

“I care a lot about strong flavor profiles and bud quality, like whether it’s soft or fluffy,” said Mikayla Brennan, who has been happily budtending for Eugene OG for over a year. “Our sister farm, Pud’s Buds, is one of the best farms we carry.

They’re consistent with their flavors which is important when you want guests to keep coming back.”

Some favorites include Northern Lights OG and Hidden Pastry. Each and every day topshelf flower is packed tightly with love in pre-rolls to-go.

At Eugene OG, local management provides a positive work experience by offering hands-on transparency and in-house mediation, which is uplifted by the bonus of having local ownership prioritize genuine personal connections. Employees are frequently reminded that they are loved and cared for.

“Dispensaries have high turnover rates with their employees, and I feel like having people who already have a strong personal relationship makes it a lot easier to resolve conflicts,” said Brennan. “When I first started, they worked with my student schedule and even gave me health insurance as a part time employee.”

Company paid health insurance isn’t the

“They’re consistent with their flavors which is important when you want guests to keep coming back.”

only contribution to Brennan’s positive work experience, though it’s certainly a surprising benefit that many dispensaries don’t offer.

“COVID-19 presented unique challenges: We experienced higher levels of fear and uncertainty,” Kristian Wilson, General Manager, said. “We didn’t have health insurance before that. We should all feel safe and supported by our employers. We believe in healthy people because it’s the right thing to do.”

Health of employees translates into the health of the community through the residents it serves.

“Customers who experience a lot of pain looking for relief come back and get to

tell me ‘oh yeah that did work,’ or even if it didn’t work how they hoped, we can help them find the next best thing. My favorite is when they tell me they can stop taking painkillers because they started taking edibles, and it works for them.”

Eugene OG is able to serve the wide community, from students to veterans to seniors or your mom and her dog, by offering extensive deals. Daily specials offer discounts to consumers with specific interests from edibles and concentrates, top shelf flowers and cartridges to extracts and topicals. Seniors also have access to the “wisdom discount” for a

10% off.

“No matter who you are or what you like: we got you,” Wilson said. “Eugene OG is the best place for student specials.”

Last month, a new deal hit the receipts for students with valid ID: you can now stack an additional 5% off on top of daily deals. This is the only stackable deal offered. Call Mikayla and ask about the loyalty program to get 10-20% off your entire order!

So what are you waiting for? You can even cut the errand with Eugene OG delivery.

“Health of employees translates into the health of the community through the residents it serves.”

Strawberry 2.1

uplifting and aromatic, strawberry 2.1 brings the smoke

Written By Hannarose McGuinness

With eyes closed, it smelled just like fresh, sweet strawberries and cream.

That smell came from a plant, not a bowl of fruit.

This particular bud was grown by Kings Cannabis and is a crossbreed between Strawberry Guava and OG Kush Breath 2.1. From the two came this sensational Sativa-dominant hybrid — Strawberry 2.1. The luscious berries-and-cream aroma is enough to draw anyone in, and the stellar taste and peaceful high lead to lots of recommendations.

Off Highway 99 in West Eugene is a building so vividly green it’s most likely visible on the moon. Green Health is a locallyowned dispensary with a wide array of high-quality products and a staff of educated budtenders all housed in a cozy, vibrantly decorated space; complete with a stylized waiting room and two separate rooms for perusing and purchasing goods.

Inside this viridescent space, cultivated plants reign supreme, and this particular strain is attentiongrabbing for a couple of reasons: the smell is positively mouth-watering, and the flavor profile matches with a slightly earthy undertone accompanied by a bowl of berries.

Budtender Eli Harrison didn’t hesitate for a second when asked for a recommendation of his current favorite strain. It took no time for him to pull a glass mason jar from a mahogany wood shelf behind the counter and pop it open.

“Strawberry 2.1 — it smells just like strawberries and cream,” Harrison said, using a laminated paper to fan the scent across the counter.

The flower’s aroma is so potent that simply taking the lid off the jar filled the room with its distinct perfume-like sweetness. The OGKB 2.1 and Strawberry Guava hybrid is dense and frosty — truly a beautiful specimen.

“It’s one of the nicest strains we’ve had in the building,” Harrison said. “The strawberry in particular, and pretty much everything that Kings Cannabis brings us, looks of this quality– with the only difference being between phenotypes and strain types, but it is an incredibly consistent flower from them.”

Kings Cannabis is a “strictly organic” farm certified through OLCC, which Harrison said is no small feat.

“There is a pretty rigorous standard when it comes to meeting organic standards for cannabis just because there are a lot of techniques used in the field that a lot of growers would consider organic but the OLCC wouldn’t consider,” Harrison said. “To meet that organic standard is not exactly a rarity, but it is a stand-out when the bud itself looks as good as Kings’ does.”

Strawberry 2.1 feels like a timeless classic, and when grown by Kings Cannabis, the positive reviews pour in. This bud is admittedly a bit spendy, but that doesn’t take away from the grandeur of this strain that makes it great to treat yourself with. This particular batch tests just over 31% THC, so a little goes a long way with this sugary sweet strain.

We’re adding this herb to our Hall of Fame — or rather the Hall of Flame.

R A I N O F T H E M O N T H

Photos By Gustavo Del Real

Harvest Season at the OG Plant

Written By Armando Ramirez

Photos By Armando Ramirez Gustavo Del Real Megan McEntee

As many green thumbs know, fall is the season when various fruits and vegetables are finally ready to be harvested. However, fall is also the perfect season to harvest cannabis.

Located in Junction City, The OG Plant is operating an all-organic cannabis farm that is reaching the thick of harvest season. Their sister farm, Sweet Leaf Organic Farm, has been equally fruitful in bringing fresh produce to the Eugene Saturday Market.

Dave Sullivan, lead grower, is a University of Oregon alum who reflects fondly on his time at the Urban Farm, where this education helped uplift his passion for growing healthy food and high-quality cannabis.

Most years, the cannabis harvest tends to be over at the beginning of October, as weather conditions become too harsh for cannabis plants to survive. However, weather conditions this year allowed for almost another month of harvest with nearly 4,000 pounds of product.

Unlike many other crops, cannabis requires a certain environment for plants to grow healthily. Cannabis reacts differently to various factors presented in its environment, ranging from the sunlight to the amount of moisture in the air.

To provide the proper environment for the crop to thrive, various strains are organized in several different greenhouses. These greenhouses are ventilated using industrial fans, which reduces the amount of moisture that the plants receive. If the plants do not receive the proper ventilation, it can lead to a moldy and unusable crop. Although proper ventilation makes a significant difference in combatting unwanted levels of moisture, there is still the occasional growth of mold, which must be handpicked off the plant so the cannabis may continue to grow to maturity.

Cannabis is a photoperiodic crop, meaning that flowering starts as the days get shorter, which is why harvest tends

to be around fall. Farmers at The Plant, however, learned how to induce flowering starting in June to stretch out the available window to harvest. After “the girls,” as Sullivan calls them, are grown to their desired size, the greenhouses are covered with large sheets of white-onblack plastic. This “tricks” the plants into receiving less sunlight.

Sullivan also found success in harvesting some strains in timed-out sections. He first lets the crown colas reach maturity, which is the upper portion of the actual flower. Once matured, he cuts the top, using a technique often called “topping.” When the middle section reaches the same level of maturity as the top, that section is then harvested, followed by the remaining bottom colas. The whole process, from germination to harvest, takes roughly 60 to 75 days.

Once resin glands within the flower reach the peak, growers are quick to start harvesting. If the flower continues to grow past its peak potency, it will begin to mold or decay, resulting in

an inconsumable crop. They are then brought into a well-ventilated room where the limbs are hung to dry and be cured.

“I think the key to premium herb is not only the genetics and fertility, but harvesting at the peak time and the steps within the curing process are also crucial,” Sullivan said. “The art of the cure is to slowly get as much moisture out of the center as possible.”

According to Sullivan, the herb is best when it’s dried to the point where it only has about eight percent moisture. It takes roughly a week for the herb to dry, then another week to 10 days before the limbs are “snapping.” From there, it takes roughly two to three weeks before the herb begins to reach a point safe for consumption.

Once the herb is completely dried and cured, it is then hand-trimmed. Some of the smaller leaves and pieces of herb cut during the trimming process, better known as trim, are then sold

as a byproduct, which will later be used to develop concentrates such as shatter or oil.

“I’d say each farm has the potential to produce about a ton, but only about 30 to 40 percent is actually flower, the other 60 percent of that is called biomass– like the trim, the little buds and everything that goes to processors,” Sullivan said.

Unlike many other growers in the valley, all cannabis grown at The Plant is a local leader in cannabis organics. According to Sullivan, about 95 percent of Oregon indoor or greenhouse operations use chemicals, whereas the estimated five percent prioritize cultivating chemical free.

The Plant recently collaborated with beekeeping enthusiasts, Echo Electuary, to bring a new “live budder” to the market. The positive reviews are already flooding in with The Soap, a strain crossbred between Animal Mints and Kush Mints. This hybrid has a terpene profile of 6.8%, leaving consumers curious to try more.

The Plant will continue to grow “super high-quality cannabis grown in Willamette Valley soil” in the many bountiful harvests to come. Sullivan and his team of cannabis connoisseurs are excited to see where The Plant grows next.

Harvest Hacks

How to have a bountiful harvest season

Written By Megan McEntee

Germination

Cannabis plants start their journey just like any other: with a seed. In order for those seeds to be planted, they need to go through a process called germination. Germination is when the seed sprouts into a seedling, or a baby plant, and therefore is ready to be planted in the soil. Cannabis seeds love warm, dark and damp places. If you store them in between two wet paper towels, the first root should start to appear within 3-10 days.

Seedling

After placing the germinated seed in the soil, your cannabis plant will sprout two small, round leaves called cotyledons. These will be the only round leaves that the plant will produce. Every leaf that sprouts afterward will be serrated, but won’t yet look like those cannabis leaves you know and love. After 2-3 weeks, the leaves will start forming digits and may look a little more familiar. This marks the point when the cannabis plant exits the seedling stage. The ideal conditions for a cannabis seedling would be a relatively warm and humid environment, low-intensity blue spectrum light for 18 hours, and then darkness for 6 hours.

Vegetative

Once your cannabis leaves start forming those digits, the plant enters the vegetative stage. This is the stage directly before buds start to appear, and is also the longest stage in the growth of a cannabis plant, ranging between 4-8 weeks. Your little cannabis plant will grow as much as it can in height and size, depending on the size of the roots, and also continue to produce leaves with a wider reach. The vegetative state requires relative humidity and warmth and increased blue spectrum light intensity. Usually, the plant should start showing its sex by week 6, and this is when you should take measures to eliminate anyplant that isn’t female! Because only female plants will produce the smokable flower, any presence of male or hermaphroditic plants could hinder that growth, due to pollination.

4. Flowering

Congratulations, your cannabis plant has started to flower! Usually lasting 8-11 weeks, the flowering stage is a delicate process that needs to be handled with care. When growing outdoors, the nat ural shortening of the days causes buds to start forming. In the first 1-3 weeks of this stage, called flowering initiation, the plant will start forming little white hairs called pistils. By the third week, buds will form where the stems and the branches meet. Weeks 4-5 mark the mid-flowering stage when buds slowly grow in size. Then the plant moves to the ripening stage or late-flowering stage. The buds start to take up most of the weight of the plant, and also start to smell more potent. This is when the trichomes appear, giving the buds a frosty look.

By Dani DeGraw

5. Harvest

So, how do you know your cannabis plant is ready to harvest? The secret to a successful harvest can be found in the color of the pistils and the trichomes. The pistils should turn amber while the trichomes should appear translucent, but not transparent. You can use a magnifying lens, such as a jeweler’s loupe, to view the trichomes to assure that they’re ready for harvest. Chop the plant at the root, and then slowly remove the leaves until all the buds are left.

6. Drying and Curing

The next step is to dry the cannabis, monitoring for any possible mold growth to be discarded. Hang each branch upside-down in a dark, open space, and make sure there is enough airflow. The humidity should be around 50%. It takes about 7-15 days for cannabis to dry, so make sure you don’t rush the process. Once the small stems start to snap instead of bending, it’s time to cure the cannabis. Curing the cannabis involves snipping each bud off the branch, leaving a small portion of the stem intact. Place individual buds into glass jars for 2-3 weeks. Make sure you’re opening the jar periodically during this process, in order to release any excess moisture.

7. Trim and Finish

Once the curing process is complete, you’re almost ready to package or consume your cannabis. Take small scissors and trim away dried leaves and debris from the cured flow er. Now you’re all done with the harvest process, and your freshly-grown flower is ready for the consumption style of your choice!

Charlie and the Peach Cannabis Factory

Written By Keaton Roberts

Tell me about yourself

I am 22 years old. I have been budtending for a little more than a year now. I love to make art, play with my pets and read books.

I plan to go to cosmetology school because I have always loved doing hair. At some point I would love to look into doing tattoos as well, but for now I just sell weed.

Can you tell me about a time that felt like the most rewarding part about being a budtender?

The most rewarding part is how much I get to help people. It has helped me learn more about myself and how marijuana is not just a drug to get high with, but how certain chemicals within weed can help other people. Obviously, there are a bunch of people who buy weed recreationally, however, there’s a lot more people who use it to treat health conditions. Many people associate the different types of weed as CBD and THC. However, during my time in the industry I have learned it’s much more than that. I’ve learned how specific chemicals and strains help certain types of illnesses. For example, when someone comes in saying they’re struggling with insomnia, I could say “let’s try some CBN with an indica,” or if you are having muscle pain, then I could recommend some CBG – it’s just certain scenarios like that where I have the knowledge that can help these people in need. That is what feels the most rewarding.

How has working in the industry changed your relationship with cannabis?

It’s made me realize there is a lot more to the industry. Before I got this job, I didn’t know much about weed. I knew that THC gets you high and CBD makes your body

Photo By Riley Valle

Charlie Hawthorne

feel better physically. Boom, that’s it, great! Overall, I went into the industry as a stoner in their early 20s knowing very basic level information. Quickly, I realized that there is so much more that goes into the growing process, genetics and the business of it all. There is so much more to it than just getting stoned.

How do you feel you have grown in your life by being a budtender?

It definitely helped me a lot mentally to be in a work environment and industry that I actually want to be in. I love all the people I work with, and I am very lucky to have this opportunity. Once I started working, I knew that this was the right industry for me. I get the opportunity to not only help people have a good time, but I get to assist and provide a solution for people’s health and illnesses while educating them on what is beneficial for their bodies.

What is a problem or conflict in the cannabis/ budtending industry that you hope to solve or see improvement in?

A big misconception is that you just hand people pot and they go have a fun time with it. Customers often think it is an easy job, but it is much more complicated. You have to educate yourself and work together as a team to provide the most efficient and healthiest care for our customers. People in general don’t see that side of the job, and it’s a big responsibility to pick out what you’re going to recommend. It’s almost like I’m a hippie pharmacist, where I hear the problem the person is experiencing and need to have the knowledge of what type of strain and dosage to give to them.

D T E N D E R S P O T L I G H T

PEACH CANNABIS

HARVEST HOROSCOPES

Written By Megan McEntee

Aries Taurus

Gemini

This is the time to reconnect with the physical world around you and remember the impor tance of taking breaks. If you choose to consume cannabis, try going outside while you’re at it. Jump in a pile of leaves, and let the crisp, autumn air fill your lungs. Just breathe, and reflect on the wondrous stability of your environment.

Are you getting too caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life? As the winds get chillier and the days get shorter, try to reflect on the less tangible parts of yourself. You may want to spend an evening alone, with a hand-rolled joint and relax ing playlist, and let your brain wander into the unknown for a while.

CancerLeo

This month may be a good time to foster communication and build healthy relationships. Part of this process involves being open to receive any wisdom or opportunity that comes your way. If you choose to consume cannabis, try to grab a buddy while you’re at it. You might be surprised at how much you can discover about yourself through a new friend.

By Dani DeGraw

Sometimes we find community in the most unexpected places. Wheth er you’re feeling lonely or feeling content with the circle of people around you, this cozy season might be the perfect opportunity to branch out and strengthen your sense of belonging. Maybe start a new team activity, or nourish existing friend ships with some canna-cooking! Let laughter light your day as the sky grows darker.

Have you been feeling a little overwhelmed recently? A crucial step of the cannabis harvest involves trimming away any debris. You’re in the prime spot to take stock of what’s not working, and take the necessary steps to change that. If you find yourself a productive consumer, take a dab of some energizing Sativa and trim that excess! You might be surprised at how good you feel afterward.

Virgo

Oftentimes the autumnal season is characterized by falling leaves, heavy rain and brittle branches. These all symbolize some sort of re birth or regeneration. Allow yourself to shed the muck and debris from the warmer months, and prioritize a clean slate for the snowfall. Much like cannabis, autumn is the time for you to reap what you’ve sown, and prepare for brand new growth.

ScorpioLibra Sagittarius

As much as life may feel hurried and frantic, know that you don’t always have to abide by the rules of a ticking clock. Time only holds as much power as we give it, so try diverting from your busy schedule, leaving the watch at home and comforting yourself with the vastness of an unregimented schedule. Maybe try a slow-burn ing blunt – you might be surprised at how fluid the world moves when you’re just observing.

Are you being completely honest with yourself right now? The equalizing nature of Libra often lends itself to a mediator role, but now is the time to consider what you really want in your situation. While nearing harvest sea son, cannabis needs 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Be honest with yourself, how much light are you shedding on your true desires?

The witch-hazel flower only blooms in the colder months of the year. Life may be dealing you a tricky hand right now, but much like the witch-hazel, you are destined to brighten up a bleak landscape. Stay strong during this time of uncer tainty, and you will bloom when the world needs it most. In the mean time, know that you are empowered in any stage of growth.

Aquarius PiscesCapricorn

In the true spirit of the harvest season, you are now reaping the benefits after months of careful cultivation. It must feel so good to see hard work pay off! An abundance of new opportunity follows success, so be wary about how many paths you try to follow. Every direction has the potential to bring ful fillment – now is the time to be proud, and follow your deepest instincts.

Fear has its place in contemplation, as it’s there to protect you, but there comes a time when you need to push it aside. Consume something that gives you courage – or don’t – but know that a leap of faith is necessary when other opportuni ties are coming up short.

Your stem has already grown tall, so chopping at the root might allow your branches to fall into place.

The ideas that you’re hold ing onto might just be the ideas that are holding you back. In order for cannabis plants to change and flower, the conditions must change as well. Stubbornness only leads to restricted growth, so make sure to open your mind to new ways of think ing. Fresh possibilities will follow soon after.

Fired up on Black Market BBQ

Written By Kayl WohL

In 1999, the magic of rare Sonoran Desert rain poured onto the crowd of metalheads at a Metallica show in Phoenix, Arizona. Two concert buddies, still unsure of each other, started the rest of their lives together as if the “Master of Puppets” was pulling their heartstrings with a plan.

Since concert first kisses, Alan and Marisa McLaughlin have traveled across the West coast and Hawaii while sharing workplaces, with food at the center of their relationship. The years spent dreaming of the day they could finally quit their jobs to stop working for someone else finally paid off when they fired up the smoker for their new food truck, Black Market BBQ.

The couple frequented the Whiteaker neighborhood’s Thinking Tree Spirits for date nights. Before too long, Alan noticed a spot opened up and jumped on the opportunity to secure the dream.

At Thinking Tree Spirits, guests are encouraged to experience both businesses with a relaxed outdoor dining area. The kidfriendly space allows room to play while the adults clink glasses of house-made rum and vodkas while enjoying some of the best ribs in town.

Starting at 6 a.m., Alan eases into the day with smoking. He sources meats like chicken, ribs, beef brisket and pork butt from local legacy Long’s Meat Market. With simplicity and a less-is-best mindset, he makes a dry rub with salt and pepper to “bring out the natural flavors and let the meat

shine through.” Like any true Texas barbecue, the quality of the dish is uplifted not just by the seasonings in a rub, but more by the quality of the cut. With occasional paprika added to the rub, Alan consistently cooks moist, juicy and savory barbecue. The slow smoking time can often take up to 8 hours to produce the best brisket and pork butt in the Pacific Northwest. What the chef is looking for is the perfect mahogany color on the meats.

The chef’s favorite highlights the Pulled Pork Sandwich as a top-tier craving, and the accompanying cilantro lime coleslaw adds a zesty finish. For the incoming cold weather, the Brisket Chili may be the best way to warm up. If indecisive, guests can try the 4 Meat Plate Sampler or upgrade to the Black Market BBQ Feast with loads of personalized variations to feed the whole family.

“What the stoners love to eat from here is the loaded baked potato with pulled pork,” Alan said. “You can really see it in people’s eyes.”

In every plate they serve, love is evident with only the highest quality, locally-sourced ingredients, including nearly all the fresh produce that’s offered is grown in Marisa’s garden, Marz Attacks Farm. The family dog Teva is proudly enlisted in an adorable bee costume as the garden’s “guard-en bee.”

Continued on Next Page...

U N C H I E R E C O M M E N D A T I O N

Photos By Gustavo Del Real Kayl Wohl

M U N C H I E R E C O M M E N D A T

“It just felt right to grow our own food. It gives us both purpose to connect to the customer that I started this food from seed,” Marisa said. “You can really taste the difference in the Marz Attacks Salad.”

A small section of her garden doubled in size within the first year of operation. Since then, it’s quadrupled in size to cultivate the best seasonal produce with the occasional help and determination of their 5-year-old granddaughter.

Alan’s chilies are grown in his greenhouse and later fermented into his fan-favorite hot sauces. These, as well as his barbecue sauce, are available for purchase for any other home chefs. The pickling game is another mastered realm at Black Market BBQ.

There aren’t many barbecue joints that are cozy to vegetarian or vegan palettes, but Black Market BBQ has

the mission to make sure everyone can eat, and modifications are kindly welcomed. The Tofu Burnt Ends, espeically added to the Smoked and Loaded Baked Potato, satisfies all the carby cravings. For a handheld experience, the Sonoran Grilled Vegetable Burrito is packed with seasonal veggies, refried pinto beans, cheese and sour cream. Guests can also modify this item to add any meat of their choice.

With guilt-free compostable packaging, picking up dinner for family or friends is made easy by Black Market BBQ. Skipping

the travel journey is a new bonus with delivery available through DoorDash. However, the owners thrive on connecting with their customers– especially those who share foody values, Hawaiian or Southwestern roots, and preferences to support new and rising local businesses. No place else does it the way these two do.

“Our vision is to get involved in our community, meet new friends, and feed the souls of Eugene,” they said. “We want to bring smiles and happy thoughts through our good food.”

M U N C H I E R E C O M M E N D A T I O N

• $40oz through Oct!

• $40oz through Oct!

• 10% off Oz prices with a student ID

• 10% off Oz prices with a student ID

• Located on 12th and Alder next door to Sy’s

• Located on 12th and Alder next door to Sy’s

DAILY DEALS!

WANA

YOU KNOW YOU WANA

Written By Lauren Leone

As someone who doesn’t smoke but still participates in the act of getting high, I’ve explored and tried out a plethora of different edible brands. Edible highs can often feel heavy and give you a “weed hangover” the next day, unlike the light high that you can get while smoking. I’ve been searching for an edible brand that closely replicates the smoking high, and I finally feel like I’ve found it.

Wana supplies delicious sour gummy edibles that are vegan, gluten-free and melt-proof, ranging from indicas to sativas and everything in between. Whether you’re looking for something to help you fall asleep, or a way to wind down from a busy day, Wana has a product for it all.

I particularly like Wana’s sour gummy watermelon edibles, which are a hybrid between sativa and indica. The gummies themselves are delicious, and don’t have an earthy aftertaste like other edibles can have. The high itself feels light and airy rather than heavy and consuming, and I don’t feel sluggish or groggy the following morning like I’ve felt with previous edibles.

The edible containers come with 100mgs in total, with 10 pieces at 10mg. The gummies themselves have creases down their middle, so consumers can split them apart for a lower dosage and double their gummy supply.

One of the unique things about Wana is that they pride themselves on using only the highest quality ingredients in their edibles, tarts, live rosins and tinctures to give consumers a premium cannabis experience. The combination of their policies to not cut corners, utilize the highest ingredients and drive for innovation within cannabis science has led to Wana’s current success. From my personal experience as a Wana consumer, I can certainly agree that high quality ingredients make for a high quality high.

This Boulder, CO-based startup also works on issues such as housing, food security, LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice within the cannabis community. Wana has worked with Planned Parenthood, Last Prisoner Project, Project V.E.T.S., Cannabis Doing Good, and has links to multiple other charities on its website.

I G H R E C O M M E N D A T I O N

Palmer Krais

Help Our Emerald Journalists Succeed

Please consider making a donation to help us purchase new computers by going to dailyemerald.com/donate. Even a small gift can make a huge difference.

“It’s been so rewarding to have the opportunity to tell the stories that I’m passionate about. Local, student journalism is essential both as an educational opportunity and as a way to connect all sides of the community.”

- Megan McEntee, Managing Copy Editor