Letter from the Editor
The minute the clock strikes 12 am on October 1st, I transform from my regular stressed grad student stoner self to my seasonal spooky stoner self, and I think I’m not alone in that transformation. If you happen to be a lover of all things cannabis and spooky season, then you are going to love this edition of Green Eugene. Whether you want to use the green good to heighten your senses and perceptions of the spooky season, are looking for Halloween movie recs that go well with lighting up, or are just looking to fill the time while waiting to shop at your local dispo, this edition is right for you.
As with every edition, I am so proud and impressed by the work of my team and the different ways we all approach our relationships with cannabis. I hope that through the stories and activities in this edition, you find something that you can connect to. Please enjoy the spirit of the season a bit more with this edition, and just take some time to slow down and appreciate the changing leaves and drop in the temperature.
Be blazed!
Javay Frye-Nekrasova Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for reading Green Eugene. Please note that our publication and site spotlights content about substances that are illegal under federal and state laws in certain places. We do not promote, advocate, or condone illicit drug use. All content produced by Green Eugene is for educational and entertainment purposes only for readers 21+.
BUSINESS
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Editor-in-Chief
Javay Frye-Nekrasova
Lead Designer
Abigail Raike
Cover Illustration
Abigail Raike
Writers
Savannah Brown
Jimy Kuhn
Madisyn MacKay
Designers and Illustrators
Eva Andrews
Amanda Bell
Ryan Ehrhart
Ava Klooster
Dew Mirihana
Gabe Vannelli
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Adaleah Carman
Javay Frye-Nekrasova
Account Executives
Elliot Byrne
Torin Chevalier
Camcole Pereira
Ava Stephanian
Written by Jimmy Kuhn
Photographed by Javay Frye-Nekrasova
Designed by Ryan Ehrhart
Mendo Breath, what is a Mendo? A little bit of research will find that it is a type of common dab flatfish from Northern Europe. Are you perhaps wondering if Mendo Breath will get you fried like a fish? Well, read on and find out, fisherman.
For this month’s Strain of the Month, we have Mendo Breath at 24.1% THC from Cannabis on Time. Now, I don’t know how you guys do it here on the West Coast, but as an East Coast native, we have a system for rating our cannabis. This system is foolproof and based on these three criteria:
Adventure: Does this cannabis make me want to avoid people, or does it make me want to explore the grand city of Eugene? How adventurous does it make me?
Beauty: Does this cannabis make any landscape, even the most dreary and disgusting alleyway, look like a beautiful watercolor masterpiece? How much does this cannabis enhance my appreciation for beauty?
Relaxation: How firmly does this cannabis plant my ass on the couch when I sit down? How hard is it to get up, and how good does it feel to stay down?
So where does Mendo Breath fall on these three scales? Well, tonight, I was determined to find out. I rolled up, wrote my grocery list, and got my nerves ready for a trip to Safeway. Let us see what this Mendo Breath can do to my very important task of going to get groceries.
I have not found a nice smoking spot in Eugene yet. I used to smoke in trees and on stumps, but I'm not seeing a whole lot of them around me. So I just smoked at my apartment, watching the sunset. It was beautiful watching the trees sway and listening to Vince Gerauldi; it really felt like fall. Smoking this freshly ground Mendo Breath, it had a real flowery-sweet, almost sticky taste that was quite enjoyable, not too harsh on the lungs either.
I eventually pried myself up and began the walk to Safeway. The only notable thing on my walk, aside from the beautiful setting sun, was a landscaper. I don’t know what a landscaper with a leafblower was doing at sundown, but he was very loud, and I did not enjoy him.
Once I got to Safeway, I realized I had forgotten my grocery list; however, I didn’t panic. I entered a sort of grocery-induced flow state and shopped for what I could remember. This strain did not fry my mind enough to make me forget what I needed to buy, but it was just enough for me to forget my acute social anxiety.
The walk home was enjoyable; it was dark and getting chilly. Before I got back to my apartment, I smoked the last little bit of the joint to see if it would help me to sleep. Once I got back home, I watched an episode of Twin Peaks and fell asleep just as the episode was ending.
Ok, let's tally the scores:
On Adventure, I’d give it a 3 / 5. The trip to the grocery store was basic, but the high I got from Mendo Breath made it just a little more special. It could have been more adventurous, but it was an enjoyable trek nonetheless.
On Beauty, I’d give it a 3.5 / 5. The sunset was truly beautiful that night, and while I appreciated it, they were painted upon drab streets that didn't jump out to me at all. If I were walking through a big open park while on this high at sunset, it would have been supreme.
On Relaxation, I’d give it a 4 / 5. It was a slight struggle to begin my walk; I felt quite heavy in a good way, the kind of heavy you get from being under a weighted blanket. Upon returning home, the high was just right for me to enjoy a good TV show and a full night's rest. A bit of Mendo Breath can make a dull and stressful chore like grocery shopping an enjoyable and surmountable adventure.
Strain of the Month
A BREW FOR BUD LOVERS
Written & Photographed by Javay Frye-Nekrasova | Designed by Amanda Bell
Did you know that most cannabis users also consume alcohol concurrently? Yep, over the past few decades, the number of people who use cannabis and drink alcohol has been steadily increasing
A Beer with Terpenes?
You're probably wondering how a beer can have terpenes if that’s a component of plants, and that’s a fair question. Terpenes are components that can be extracted from plants in their essential oils, and they provide the aroma and scents to strains of cannabis. By extracting the aromas, smells, and flavors, they can be infused in things like cannabis and beer. Jordan Hunt, the head brewer for Silvermoon, sat down to chat with me and explained the science and work that went into creating this beer. Cannabis and hops are very
across demographics. Now, there is little data on what exactly is the go-to alcoholic beverage for cannabis users, but I think there may be a new contender on the market. Silvermoon Brewing, in Bend,
Oregon, recently released a terpeneinfused beer that I think many stoners will enjoy—the Cross Joint: West Coast IPA with Terpenes.
similar, and so using terpenes in the beer works well. For the Cross Joint, the terpenes of Pineapple Express were used. Hunt first brewed this beer last year for the Oregrown HomeGrown Music Festival, held on 420 at Silvermoon.
The beer is made by infusing the terpenes during the brewing process. For this, Jordan used
terpenes from Abstrax Tech. Abstrax Tech is a company that is focused on “unlocking the mysteries of cannabis.” They are focused on researching cannabis and developing good products, like their terpene extract blends and even terpeneinfused rolling papers. During the brewing process, Jordan adds the terpenes when he is moving the beer from the fermenter to the bright tank. “It’s just like brewing a delicious IPA, but you’re adding more and more flavor”, Hunt shared.
It’s just like brewing a delicious IPA, but you’re adding more and more flavor,”
- Jordan Hunt, Head Brewer for Silvermoon
This beer certainly doesn’t miss in terms of flavor. I typically would not have even looked at the beer because it is an IPA and I find them to be too bitter and heavy, but I figured I would at least give it a try. I was thoroughly surprised by how flavorful the beer was because it completely overtook the bitterness, making it a
delicious and enjoyable beer to drink. Forewarning, though, IPAs are heavier beers, which can make people feel full relatively easily, so if you plan on enjoying this brew while also enjoying cannabis, know that you might get fuller faster than you thought and not eat as much due to munchies as you typically do.
Why Cannabis Lovers Should Try It
If you aren’t a beer drinker or aren’t an IPA lover, you might be wondering why I think you should try this beer. There are three reasons. Firstly, did you know that smelling cannabis before consuming can help enhance the effects and make them more potent? And remember how terpenes are the scents and aromas of cannabis? Think about it. If you enjoy a Cross Joint before enjoying your cannabis, you can help heighten the experience because you are activating your cannabinoid receptors. Second, by adding the beer to your experience, you are now bringing another sense into the mix. Rather than just the more physical effects from cannabis that most people traditionally experience, you are letting your sense of smell and taste join the fun. Paired with the right visual and/or aural stimulation, you can involve all five senses in your session. And lastly, the ability to play connoisseur. Suppose you are someone with decent knowledge
of terpenes and cannabis strains. In that case, you can flex on your friends by preparing a tasting experience where you match the beer with strains that have similar or complementary terpenes for a more detailed and specialized experience. If you enjoy being adventurous with your strains or in the kitchen, testing your hand at recognizing and pairing terpenes and flavors can be a fun opportunity for breaking up your typical smoking routine.
Now, Silvermoon isn’t the first brewery to infuse terpenes; a California brewery, as well as 10 Barrel Brewing in Bend, both had terpene-infused beers, but Silvermoon is the first to actually can the beer and make it available for athome consumption while also making it a mainstay, year-round beer. You can purchase the Cross Joint at Fred Meyer locations and at the Silvermoon Pub.
Designed by Amanda Bell
MOVIE MARATHON
Written by Javay Frye-Nekrasova | Designed by Dewni Mirihana
I’ve always been a lover of Halloween and spooky season, but I think that since I became a stoner, it has only been heightened. That’s to be expected since cannabis is known to heighten the senses, but I think that’s one of the most underappreciated things about stoners during spooky season. Cannabis can connect you with nature, with people, and with your body, so
it’s no surprise that spooky season feels even more elevated for me. If you are looking to tap into the heightened aspects of spooky season by way of cannabis, but are unsure where to start, I’ve got some ideas. You could use cannabis to tap into your psychic abilities, take advantage of the thinned veil, or just give you new perspectives and openness to spooky things. If you are new to cannabis or spooky season, I highly recommend starting with a movie marathon for a
few reasons. Firstly, you can do a movie marathon by yourself or with friends, allowing you to start where you are most comfortable. Secondly, movies are a great way to get into the Halloween spirit and tap into the spooky vibes without having to spend too much money (as long as you have the streaming platforms or physical media that is). And third, no matter how many times you watch a movie, you will always discover something new, develop a different interpretation, or walk away with new wisdom because you are at a different point in your life. And the beautiful thing is that cannabis adds to all three things. So here are some spooky season movie marathon recommendations based on the type of spooky stoner you are.
Good Vibes Spooky Movies
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
Scooby-Doo and the Witches’ Ghost (1999)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Halloweentown (1998)
Goosebumps (2015)
can be some scary aspects to it, but that doesn’t mean you have to be afraid. Goosebumps is great, especially if you read the books as a child. You’ll have a few moments of anticipation and a couple of jumps, but nothing super scary. Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus are true classics. After a few puffs of the green good, you will catch jokes you probably missed in previous watches (pay attention to the bus driver scene in Hocus Pocus) and also find more relatability with the characters. Now, there is nothing more perfect for good vibes during spooky season than an animated Scooby-Doo movie. I personally think that Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island and Scooby-Doo and the Witches’ Ghost are absolute masterpieces. The Witches’ Ghost has the musical stylings of the Hex Girls, which I promise slap hard, before and after a bowl, while Zombie Island still has some curve balls, especially if you haven’t watched in years. These movies will have you feeling the spirit of the season without having to sleep with a night light or having you paranoid that there are monsters lurking around your place.
For the Horror-Loving Stoner
Scream (1996)
The Conjuring (2013)
The Babadook (2014)
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
Nope (2022)
Now, if you are someone who scares easily (totally fair), I highly suggest starting with the more feel-good spooky movies. (Some may say kids’ spooky movies, but I would argue that they are just as much for adults as they are for children). This movie marathon really leans into the classics that make you appreciate the season, while also acknowledging that there
If you are someone who already loves horror, be it for the gore and grime or the jump scares, then these movie recs are right up your alley. This movie marathon has jumps and nailbiting anticipation in a multitude of ways. Scream is a classic slasher film, and while it won’t have you jumping out of your seat, it will have you getting a little tense, especially if you haven’t seen it in a while. It’s also a gentle slide into the real scares. Now, The Conjuring and The Babadook are going to hit the nail on the head with horror. The Conjuring has the jumps and scares, with the added scare factor of the movie being based on a true story. And The Babadook is an actual horror film. It is continuously praised for how well it does horror without doing too much. I don’t want to spoil too much if you haven’t seen it, but you’re in for a good scare. To round out the scare factor, we move away from ghosts and dark entities with the last two films. Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a particularly terrifying horror movie if you don’t like clowns, so keep that in mind, but it is great because of how it takes this image of innocence (clowns) and turns it into nightmare fuel. Nope is the last movie of this marathon for a few reasons. First, it is a more abstract horror, which I think is good to end on because it kind of cleanses the palette after a slasher movie and jump scare horrors. It is also a great closer because you won’t have a visual of a monster as the last thing in your mind.
Scary Movies to Laugh At
Scary Movie (2000)
Evil Bong (2006)
Halloweed (2016)
The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)
The Blackening (2022)
High Recommendation
If you are a stoner who always seems to find something to laugh at, this grouping of movies will be the perfect spooky movie marathon for you, and I highly recommend pairing it with your favorite strain for the laughs. You’re going to start with Scary Movie, because it is an absolute classic and will have you cracking up the minute you press play. After that, you move into the more obscure stoner horror movies with Evil Bong, a movie about a sentient, malevolent bong, and Halloweed, a stacked comedic cast in a movie with plenty of murder and even more cannabis. After that, you’re going to watch The Blackening, which will absolutely have you laughing uncontrollably between tokes, and when you think back on the movie the next day, you will realize that those jokes were deep and have you thinking. And to end the marathon, you are going to chill out with The Curse of Bridge Hollow. You might be wondering why this family-friendly movie is on the list, but trust me — smoking and then watching Marlon Wayans and Priah Ferguson will bring you to the perfect place of mellowness before climbing into bed for the night. Do beware with this marathon recommendation, you will find yourself enjoying the greenery more throughout because of the heavy cannabis mentions in the first three movies.
Classic Horror Movies
Candyman (1992)
Halloween (1978)
Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Psycho (1960)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
There are plenty of things during spooky season that cannabis can heighten, but if you aren’t ready to step outside under the influence during this season, enjoying a movie marathon from the comfort of your home is a great place to start. Do be sure to have plenty of snacks for your movie marathon, especially if you plan to enjoy the green good before or during, because the munchies will hit. I hope that you have a great spooky season and that the heightened senses by way of cannabis allow you to enjoy the spirit of the season even more.
The last movie marathon recs are for the lovers of classic horror movies. I mean, the ones that are recognized as being staples of the genre and season. You’re going to start with Candyman because the chances that you know it well are slim, so it starts you off with some horror novelty. Do be careful not to let the cannabis convince you that you could do better and attempt to summon Candyman yourself. Then you move into Halloween because what’s more classic?
Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Myers, and the classic running from the murderer. After that is Nightmare on Elm Street, and it being in the middle is intentional to give you time to come down from the scare of Freddy Krueger, so you can get a good night’s sleep. After Freddy, you’re going to turn on Psycho for a classic psychological thriller. Bringing the horror into your mind rather than external can help you come down from the frights of the earlier films. You are going to round out the marathon with Rosemary’s Baby, because unless you are currently pregnant, you have nothing to fear, and it will make it easier to peacefully go to sleep with minimal nightmares.
HALLOWEED
CROSSWORD
4. Another name for Halloween
6. One of the first dispensaries to open in Eugene in 2014
9. The ingredient responsible for the smell and taste of strains
10. When you simultaneously use cannabis and alcohol
Down
1. A tool used to communicate with the dead
2. Iconic stoners who make great Halloween costumes
3. This describes a method of consumption and types of impact people can experience
5. This is an older slang term for cannabis
7. This town in Oregon is where Halloweentown was filmed
8. The first person who was murdered in Scream
Uriah Harding
Written by Savannah Brown | Designed by Gabe Vannelli
Uriah Harding is a retired Air Force veteran who has been budtending at NoDak Green Prairie since 2020. He suffers from PTSD and other nervous system issues as a result of his time in the Air Force, so he joined the cannabis industry to bring relief to other people who struggle.
What was it like working in the cannabis industry during the pandemic?
It was definitely interesting. A lot more masks. Not being able to see people's faces or their smiles was definitely an adjustment, because I'm a very smiley person. I was definitely an advocate for the use of masks, but it definitely had its downfalls, like that, it made it hard to humanize an interaction because there were no facial expressions.
Why did you become a budtender?
I was in the Air Force for almost 10 years. I wanted to go career, but unfortunately, I became disabled through my service with nervous system issues, and then I had to get out. And so they ended my enlistment about halfway to my 20 years.
I've been working in the industry here since I returned back from the military. Cannabis was something I wanted to get into, because I wanted to help other veterans. As a veteran myself who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other disorders that have come from serving, [cannabis] helped me.
Because that's very much the mindset I come from is, you know, cannabis is supposed to be not just fun, but it's also supposed to help.
How
did you find NoDak?
When I got back to Eugene, which is where I enlisted from — I was born down in Sacred Heart on campus — I had a friend, and when cannabis became legal, he ended up opening a dispensary, and he went legitimate. So he allowed me to get my foot in the door, and he gave me my first job in the cannabis industry as a budtender in 2019.
Then the pandemic hit, and the dispensary I was working in at the time in Springfield shut down. The owner of Nodak just so happens to be a military veteran himself, and is actually kind of in a similar position as me, where he got out after serving and became injured himself and everything.
On a lighter note, tell me about the first time you got high.
At NoDak, customers are referred to as “patients.” What does it mean to care for your patients there?
Caring about patients is about understanding them and about providing a different kind of service, one where they feel more at home, rather than like they're walking into a stranger's basement.
We look at cannabis as medicine and so everybody that comes through, we make sure that they get the things that will help with whatever they're needing assistance with, whether that be anxiety, social awkwardness, an upset stomach, or pain. We get a lot of people who are in pain. These claims can't be backed by science, so I have to have to phrase that first, but it definitely does have a very healing effect for a lot of people, myself included. I am a veteran and it definitely helps me with a lot of the symptoms that I have. So I can testify to it from my point of view.
Oh god. The first time I ever smoked cannabis was probably with my friend, when I was living in Kaiser, okay? One of the more memorable times was with my brother when he didn't live with my parents, he had his own place in the quads over near campus. He got me so stoned one day and we went out. He was playing the banjo at the time, and one of his other friends had an instrument that was with us. And we went out to one of the grassy knolls on campus and we just sat there and just played some music together while we were all stoned.
So that one, and then definitely the time in my friend's Astro van. He had an Astro van at the time, and we would hotbox it in the driveway. I remember MF Doom’s Mm Food album had just come out recently, and I had just gotten it, and so we put it in a CD player and in the Astro Van, and we, I guess you could say, got to Astro traveling.
REEFER MADNESS: A True Scary Story on the Origins of Cannabis Regulation and Propaganda
Written by Savannah Brown | Designed & Illustrated by Ava Klooster
On top of the colorful leaves, the awesome sweaters, and the hot drinks, autumn is not complete without the spooky season celebrations. In honor of Halloween and to commemorate this marvelous time of year, let’s light up and reflect upon the history of one of the scariest monsters out there: cannabis. That’s right. Lock your doors. Bolt your windows. To quote Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011), “Head for the basement. And if you don’t have a basement — build one.”
Anyone who smokes cannabis, or rather the “burning weed with its roots in hell,” is immediately prone to “debauchery, violence, murder, suicide,” and “The
ultimate end of the marijuana addict: hopeless insanity.” At least, according to the trailer for the 1936 public service announcement, Reefer Madness. Reefer Madness is a full-length movie filmed and funded by a small church group. It follows the fictional lives of teenagers as they get introduced to cannabis, before either wildly making out with each other, killing people, laughing and twitching maniacally, or hurling themselves out of windows.
After the film was shot, it was purchased by an exploitation filmmaker who changed its original churchyard name of Tell Your Children to its more gripping title, and also cut in shots of beautiful women running around in their underwear.
Cannabis sounds terrifying, and boy, is it.
Before our hellish Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan were using falsified dangers of cannabis and other drugs to blame minority groups for society’s problems as a way to cover up their own missteps, a man named Harry J. Anslinger was doing it before it was cool.
So, remember the Great Depression? Yeah, that was a tough time, but it would have been even tougher without someone to blame. Because unemployment rates were so high, a cultural and political disdain grew for Mexican immigrants who came to the US to find work, to the point where fault was being put on them for the economic crisis. As a result, there was a large push to find any means necessary to send them back to Mexico. According to the Library of Congress, hundreds of thousands of Mexican workers returned
to Mexico in the 1930s, either voluntarily with free train tickets or forcefully on suspicion of being Mexican.
During this time, Anslinger was appointed as the founding leader of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (a major precursor to the DEA) under President Herbert Hoover. According to journalist Johann Hari’s book, Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, “From the moment he took charge of the bureau, Harry was aware of the weakness of his new position. A war on narcotics alone — cocaine and heroin, outlawed in 1914 — wasn’t enough…They were used only by a tiny minority, and you couldn’t keep an entire department alive on such small crumbs. He needed more.”
At the time, cannabis laws were only barely present and rarely enforced in 16 states, and it wasn’t actually seen as an issue or a danger outside of places with higher usage, such as New Orleans, according to the 1972 paper “American Concern Over Marihuana” by William D. Armstrong and John Parascandola.
So, by 1936, he decided to stamp his foot down on all drugs, including cannabis, which has long been rumored to have originally entered the US via Mexican farmworkers. Even still, as a result, he was able to kill two — even three — birds with one stone: He could make some progress in his new job (after the dwindling prohibition era, a movement he also had a significant role in); villainize as many Mexican immigrants as possible; and as a bonus, eventually find other ways to racialize the drug (though cannabis had been banned in Mexico since 1920
and many Mexican people viewed it as a dangerous drug — in fact, there is little evidence to support that Mexican people were even using the drug as much as Americans were. Yet, he still heavily associated cannabis use with Native Americans and Black people).
The way he fearmongered cannabis into the public eye was by latching on to sensationalist journalism from 1920s New Orleans and earlier in what he called “The Gore Files.” These pieces typically linked cannabis to violence, insanity, and in the worst cases, fornication. A 1905 article from the LA Times has the headline Delirium or Death: Terrible Effects Produced by Certain Plants and Weeds Grown in Mexico reads: “Not long ago a man who had smoken [sic] a marihuana cigarette attacked and killed a policeman and badly wounded three others…Such occurrences are frequent…People who smoke marihuana finally lose their mind and never recover it, but their brains dry up and they die, most of times suddenly.” Another from NYT in 1925 was titled “KILLS SIX IN A HOSPITAL.; Mexican, Crazed by Marihuana, Runs Amuck With Butcher Knife.”
In 1933, Anslinger had found his golden goose. Victor Lacata from Tampa was a supposedly mild-mannered 21-yearold who murdered his entire family with an axe, all while under the influence of cannabis according to newspaper reports (his toxicology reports actually included zero traces of cannabis, but they did include a diagnosis for “acute and chronic insanity” but of course that was irrelevant to him). Now the cannabis killer is white, meaning that the evil Mexican plant is now affecting your kids. From 1933 to 1937, Anslinger wrote about this instance six times.
By 1936, with the help of congress and the FBN, Anslinger had created widespread fear of our precious plant, thus resulting in tons of newspaper propaganda reports, falsified data and the
famed Reefer Madness. In 1937, Anslinger published his most famous piece ever to American Magazine, “Marijuana: The Assassin of Youth.” It opens with the line: “Not long ago the body of a young girl lay crushed on the sidewalk after a plunge from a Chicago apartment window. Everyone called it suicide, but actually it was murder. The killer was a narcotic known to America as marijuana.”
One month later, the Marihuana Tax Act passed in congress, which controlled and regulated the importation, possession, cultivation and sale of the plant through taxation. This was the first instance of marijuana being regulated in the US, being the first step in a long string of prejudice, Nancy Reagan, economical and political struggles, and racism all associated with marijuana. But, to recall the words of the narrator for Winnie the Pooh, that is an entirely different story for an entirely different day.
So, do any of the “soul destroying reefer” (also a quote from the Reefer Madness trailer) claims have any merit? As long as cannabis is still federally illegal, any definitive research will remain scarce, but here’s what we know. In early 2025, a study out of Canada titled “Convergence of Cannabis and Psychosis on the Dopamine System” found a link between those who suffer Cannabis Use Disorder (which is essentially experiencing symptoms of addiction when using cannabis) and a biological connection to psychosis from the brain’s dopamine system. A frequently cited study from 2008 titled “Cannabis use and the risk of developing a psychotic disorder,” found a large correlation in users with schizophrenia, finding that cannabis use can worsen and exacerbate symptoms.
If there’s anything to take away from this story, it should be three things. The first being that drug enforcement laws, especially those relating to cannabis, are and always have been racially charged. The second is to be freaking careful when you’re ingesting cannabis, knowing that though cannabis has many medicinal properties, it absolutely can worsen negative mental health symptoms. The third is that the scariest Halloween monster of them all is Harry Anslinger (and also, go watch Reefer Madness. It’s public domain so you can access it for free).
Fat Shack
Written by Madisyn MacKay | Designed by Eva Andrews | Photos by Adaleah Carman
If you’re looking for lunch after classes before you head back to light up another bowl or need something to satisfy those late-night munchies, Fat Shack has it all. Conveniently located by campus, right on the corner of Patterson and 13th, and they deliver, making them a prime choice for when the munchies hit! They have a dedicated Munchies section of the menu, with a starting lineup of french fries (with or without cheese), onion rings, mac n’ cheese bites, jalapeno poppers, fried pickles, chicken fingers (with or without fries), and their Munchie Madness Platter featuring chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, mac n’ cheese bites, and onion rings. Fat Shack also offers burgers, chicken wings, deep-fried desserts, milkshakes, and my go-to: Fat Sandwiches. A delicious sandwich packed with anywhere between three to five sides and sauce.
I first discovered Fat Sandwiches late one night when a friend was in town. We were trying to decide on dinner, scrolling through the endless list of restaurants on DoorDash, when my friend got this gleam in her eye.
She turned to me, so excited that there was a Fat Shack in Eugene that she offered to pay for my partner and me's meal if we ordered from them. So I ordered the Fat Maverick loaded with mac n’ cheese, chicken fingers, and French fries (hold the BBQ sauce) for $13.99. It was the single best sandwich I have ever had — a perfect combination of cheese, chicken, and potatoes that conquered my munchies. And to top it all off, my friend ordered us a deep-fried Oreo, the perfect end to the meal.
Although I ordered takeout that night, I’ve since visited the one and only Fat Shack in Eugene. It’s a small building packed with good vibes, and they make good use of the space with an added loft-style seating area above the counter. Large windows line the walls, letting in plenty of light or offering a
front-row seat for people watching. I love to stop by and grab one of the Half Fat Mavericks for a lighter lunch, especially if I have a long stretch between classes. However, I most often find myself stopping at Fat Shack on my way home from a long day of classes and work, when I want something nice and easy for dinner. Then I get home, light up, and dig in.
CANNABIS ON TIME PROTECTS CONSUMERS’ WALLETS FROM CANNABIS TAXES
Written by Madisyn MacKay | Designed by Abigail Raike
Taxes are a problem regardless of the industry, putting pressure on retailers and consumers alike. The cannabis industry is no exception, constantly facing changes in regulations and increases in taxes. State and local governments aren’t limited to using only one type of cannabis tax and will stack sales tax on top of that. This is a tactic to discourage the use of cannabis. These taxes can be based on the price, weight, or potency of the product, depending on the government responsible.
A percentage-of-price tax is the most commonly used, where a percentage of the retail price, typically higher than the standard sales tax, is paid by the consumer, and then the retailer returns this amount to the government. Weightbased taxes are most commonly based on the ounce and calculated by the processor before being distributed, then built into the purchase price. And a potency-based tax, the least common, uses the amount of THC found in the cannabis product to determine the cost. These taxes are used to fund various
programs, including public schools, healthcare, and infrastructure, depending on the local and state governments. More and more states are starting to allocate this money towards cannabis-related programs, including Oregon.
The revenue from cannabis taxes in Oregon is put towards substance abuse prevention, including mental health support and grants for local organizations to implement them, grants to support small cannabis businesses starting, support for the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, research to further develop the hemp industry, and research on how cannabis affects mental and physical health.
The higher prices caused by the taxes impact small businesses, making it more difficult to open a new store and compete with larger chains. At the same time, the strict rules and regulations imposed are confusing and difficult to navigate. All of this ultimately raises the price for the consumer, driving them towards the illegal cannabis market. The biggest concern about this is the danger of unregulated cannabis, which has the potential to be laced with drugs, chemicals, or other dangerous substances. Local dispensary, Cannabis On Time, has found one way to fight back against rising prices. The owners choose to take on the cost of the taxes so they can offer medical prices to all of their customers, promoting wider access to the mental and physical benefits of cannabis.
Cannabis On Time, right off the intersection of 7th and Garfield, has been offering organic flower from their own farms since 2023, with plans to expand to a second location in Salem. The knowledgeable budtenders are just one aspect of the friendly atmosphere, which features music, seasonal decorations, a large and inviting space, and fun product displays. They even host events partnering with other local dispensaries and businesses to offer raffles with big prizes and huge sales for holidays like 4/20 or Black Friday.
They boast the best prices in town, not just by paying taxes on behalf of customers, but also by offering in-house options among their wide selection of products. Their in-house 100mg edibles come in six flavors and two different types: Slam Dunk, a generic blend of strains, and Stoner’s Choice, which has an indica, sativa, and hybrid option. They also have a large selection of pipes and bongs with some silicone options, but mostly glass, ranging from small bongs and rigs around six inches to massive pieces, and for pipes, they have smaller pocket pipes and larger ones around six inches. There are simple, clear glass bongs and rigs, fun colors or patterns (glow-in-the-dark cannabis leaves), pipes with swirling colors, multicolor abstract pipes, and bongs with strange shapes,
bongs that look like fish, bongs shaped like cats, or really tall bongs with multiple chambers; lots to choose from alongside fun accessories like a skateboard-shaped battery with working wheels. Of course, they have more standard batteries, different kinds of rolling papers, grinders, lighters, dab tools, screens, and more. Next time you need to stock up on supplies, swing by Cannabis On Time to support a local dispensary that goes the extra mile to offer lower costs at their own expense. In the meantime, check out their website or socials.
