October 2018
FROM SEED TO SMOKE
FIREHORSE TRADING
WHAT’S LEGAL NOW?
SKYE KIRK SUGARTOP’S CLONE MASTER G R E E N EU G E N E .C O M
staff EDITOR Piper McDaniel Writers Destiny Alvarez Julio Jaquez Skyla Patton Bryan Dorn Photographers Julio Jaquez Destiny Alvarez Designers Brandon Bullas Blake Mindemann Caroline Young Freddy Gonzalez Jessica Yoon Marin Stuart Publisher Bill Kunerth VP of Operations Kathy Carbone Creative Director Cole Petroccione Director of Sales and Marketing Lindsey Smith Account Executives Dani Torrey Stella Kalomiris Madison Cascio Mariel Cathcart 2 | GREENEUGENE.COM
hello
Green Eugene is a new magazine focusing on local cannabis culture. The magazine celebrates Eugene’s thriving cannabis industry and connects the Eugene community to the many cannabusinesses in the area. Green Eugene is your guide to exploring Eugene’s culture and community of cannabis. For all those who smoke, grow or medicate — this is for you.
Looking to Advertise? To advertise your cannabusiness or reach those actively engaging in Eugene’s cannabis culture, contact our Advertising Department at ads@dailyemerald.com or 541.346.5511 ext. 303.
Chugga Chugga,
Let's Get
TrainWrecked Written by Skyla Patton
School has arrived with a bang, and suddenly we’re waist deep in the craziness of fall term. Deadlines, new classes and the scramble for time has everyone feeling overwhelmed. Week two and already we want to retreat to bed waving a white flag. Don’t worry, it’s not time to burn your syllabi and throw in the towel yet. Relaxing with a half gram of hybrid is a great way to ease your mind and take a well-deserved break: Trainwreck is here to take you away. Famous in the marijuana world, Trainwreck is a tasty, sativa-heavy hybrid that lives up to its name. Almost instantaneously, a euphoria of motivation and uplifted energy hits you (you guessed it, like a train). This insta-high is a unique quality that is not typically found in most hybrids. Trainwreck is the bubbly love child of Afghani indicas and Thai or Mexican sativas.Their happy marriage creates a powerful high that can sustain you through those deadlines while steamrolling any extra stress or tension. This strain is ideal for a cool autumn walk, spicing up date night or adding inspiration to a creativity sesh. Trainwreck is pretty much a big snuggly hug — are you sold yet?
A Northern California native, this hybrid has an earthy, almost minty aroma with a slight hint of lemon. At first glance it may just look like your average bud, but a microscope will reveal fiery orange stigmas (the little fuzzy hairs) and deep specks of purple hidden close to the stem. Trainwreck is highly renowned for its incredible uplifting qualities and is often used to treat PTSD, common anxiety or chronic pain. The high will allow you to relax and forget your worries without totally incapacitating you to your netflix— unless that’s where you want to be. It also is known to help with a lack of appetite or stomach nausea. Be prepared for the after effects, though: this strain burns quickly and effectively for a long-lasting high. Reports say that once the euphoria trickles away, you will be ready for pajamas and the best nap of your life.
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What’s Legal Now
Words by Bryan Dorn
The web of ever-changing laws around marijuana possession is complex, and can leave consumers who are unsure of local laws stuck finding out for themselves— in either a dispensary or a courtroom. Following legalization in Oregon in 2014, cities and counties throughout the state could opt out of marijuana production and distribution according to Measure 91. Currently, 95 cities and counties across the state are currently on the Oregon Liquor Control Commission prohibition record, meaning they have banned some aspect of the industry, if not an outright ban. This means the biggest factor to be aware of as a consumer is where you are, and what the marijuana rules and regulations are. Consumers in Lane County have access to dozens of dispensaries, but just 30 minutes south retail shops in Douglas County will be non-existent.
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Dispensaries weren’t allowed to sell marijuana in retail stores until 2015. Since 2016, the number of medical and recreational dispensaries in Oregon has grown to over 500, according to the OLCC active marijuana retail license list from October 2018. Marijuana legalization has been a long journey, and laws are still changing at regional, state and national levels. This has caused rapid change in local regulations such as purchasing amounts, smoking restrictions and possession limits. Consumers can expect more change as marijuana legalization, regulation and taxation begins to spread across the country.
TEXTING AND DRIVING MAKES GOOD PEOPLE LOOK BAD. As marijuana tip toes towards full legality, knowing local laws and regulations can help equip consumers with the right tools to make good decisions when leaving the house with marijuana or sparking up a joint.
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BASICS OF WHAT’S LEGAL ACCORDING TO THE OLCC: CONSUMPTION
POSSESSION AT HOME:
Operating a bicycle or motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana is against the law.
You must be 21 or older to legally, possess or consume marijuana
Consumption is restricted to private spaces.
Landlords can restrict possession, consumption and cultivation of marijuana on their properties.
It is illegal to consume marijuana in public places such as parks, streets, schools, front yards etc.
Eight ounces of usable marijuana such as dried leaves or flowers. One ounce of cannabinoid extracts or concentrates. 16 ounces of cannabinoid product in solid form.
POSSESSION IN PUBLIC:
According to the OLCC, a public place is any space where the public has open access—this includes places like highways, streets, schools, parks, front yards, and bar patios. One ounce of usable marijuana
One ounce of cannabinoid extracts or concentrates. 16 ounces of cannabinoid product in solid form. 72 ounces of cannabinoid product in liquid form. These limits mean that while consumers can possess up to eight ounces in their home, they can only leave their home with one ounce at a time.
CULTIVATION RULES:
Adults 21 and older are allowed 10 marijuana seeds. 4 mature plants per household—NOT per person. 4 immature plants in a public space for the sake of transportation. Note: While eight ounces may sound like a lot of marijuana, households with four mature plants may easily produce more than that amount come harvest season.
72 ounces of cannabinoid product in liquid form.
POSSESSION ON CAMPUS, ACCORDING TO THE DEAN OF STUDENTS:
Marijuana in any form is strictly prohibited on campus.
Riding a bike or driving any motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana is prohibited. You may possess and use marijuana off campus if you are 21 and older. If students are planning on going to or through campus they are not allowed to possess marijuana.
TRANSPORTATION:
Consumers must follow all public space possession amounts when transporting marijuana. It is legal to possess on flights within within the state under public possession limits. It is not legal to transport marijuana across state lines. It is only legal to transport one ounce of marijuana at a time. You can only transport 4 immature marijuana plants at a time.
PLACES WHERE POSSESSION LAW MAY VARY: Federal lands | Tribal lands | Leased properties; tenants should ask their landlord.
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A Words by Destiny Alvarez
For Every Occasion
Whatever your mood swing, stress peak or strike of inspiration, fear not: there’s a strain for that. We’ve talked with industry professionals and compiled a list of recommendations to help find the perfect fit for you.
Here is an expert-curated list of the best strains for ...
Studying
Creativity
Sex
Super Silver Cough
Pineapple Fields
JillyBean
A sativa cross between Strawberry Cough and Super Silver Haze, this strain provides the user with a longlasting body high and the focus to work through study sessions that need a little kick.
Pineapple Fields gives you the perfect punchy high you need to amp yourself up. It also comes with long lasting creative vibes. Get your inner Picasso ready!
JillyBean is widely known as a great weed for sex. Bred by MzJill Genetics, it has an uplifting and euphoric high perfect to put you in the moment and in the sheets.
Recommended by: Eugene OG Management Team
Honeymoon tested. Honeymoon approved.
Recommended by: Sarah Williams Budtender at Flowr of Lyfe
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Recommended by: Billy Scholten Senior Retail Manager and Head of Retail Strategy for Firehorse Trading Co.
Partying NYE Dream NYE Dream is a Blue Dream hybrid with an active and euphoric high. This strain will see you through your Friday night and help you shake off the stress of the school week. Recommended by: Billy Scholten Senior Retail Manager and Head of Retail Strategy for Firehorse Trading Co.
Daytime
Early Morning Vortex Need some caffeine without the calories? This strain is the offspring of the famous Apollo 13. It’s an 80/20 sativa hybrid that gives you the extra-focused high you need to push through. Recommended by: Billy Scholten Senior Retail Manager and Head of Retail Strategy for Firehorse Trading Co.
Exercising Jack the Ripper This sativa gives you the perfect amount of focus and determination to get you through your work out, while still providing a fun and relaxing body high. Recommended by: Tom Yuhas - Intake Manager for Brightside Dispensary
Productivity Power Workouts
Green Cookies
Narnia
Super Durban
A cross between Girl Scout Cookies and Green Crack, Green Cookies is a sativa-leaning hybrid with a sweet flower and a creamy smoke finish. The perfect fun high to help you get the best out of your day.
Ever need to get some stuff done and want to pair it nicely with a focused high? Try Narnia. It will keep you motivated without the hazy distractions.
This strain is perfect for the Durban lovers who enjoy an intense start to their high. This can help you get through those extra tough workout sessions.
Recommended by: Eugene OG Management Team
Recommended by: Eugene OG Management Team
Recommended by: Tom Yuhas - Intake Manager for Brightside Dispensary
GREENEUGENE.COM | 7
FROM SEED TO SMOKE
Behind the Scenes at Firehorse Trading Co.
Words By Skyla Patton Photos By Destiny Alvarez
What is it that can make an occupation become a family? Is it the legal contract, the cubicle neighbors, maybe the conversations at the water cooler? At Firehorse Trading Co., it’s a dedication to organic medicine, collective pride in their work, and a couple of good farm dogs. SPONSORED CONTENT 8 | GREENEUGENE.COM
Committed to organic, natural practices, Firehorse sticks to their roots with traditional farm-to-pipe service to deliver some of the best flower on the market. A community of farmers and cannabis aficionados, this unique company offers a life boat in the rising sea of mass-produced marijuana and mechanized production. Firehorse emphasizes a dedication to community and a business model that crafts the end product from seed, to harvest, and finally to retail at their new downtown shop on West 7th Avenue. For Firehorse, it’s not just about the sale, it’s about access to medicine and providing an unmatched level of quality over quantity — a standard they maintain for a roster of nearly 70 different strains. “The trend towards mega farms with automated processes is chilling. We grow real products the traditional, healthy way,” says David Coy, an owner of Firehorse Trading. Coy brings a fellowship mentality to her approach that extends to all aspects of the business. The vision for Firehorse was sketched out on a cocktail napkin during a good time at the bar. The business sets itself apart with artisan production methods, locallysourced products, and organic farming techniques.
“We all take a lot of pride in keeping our farm clean,” says Rob Fiels, Master Grower at Firehorse. “The moment you get comfortable on a farm issues will start to occur. Our team takes a lot of pride in growing healthy, bug and disease free plants. My wife always jokes with me about how I spend more time with the plants than I do with her, but I joke and tell her the plants don’t talk back.” Firehorse Trading also believes in community, and they go above and beyond when it comes to giving back. Firehorse staff organized a community trash clean-up where participants will pick up recyclables and garbage downtown near their new shop. This is an event they hope to develop into a bi-monthly occurance. The air of camaraderie is obvious at Firehorse, and they claim it only adds to the growth and wellbeing of the company. A point of joy at this farm is the ability to have a “bring your dog to work day” every day of the week. “Honestly I wouldn’t be able to work a job where I wasn’t able to see my dogs a majority of the day. Having the dogs on the farm with me makes time fly by and keeps everyone in a better mood,” says Rob lovingly. The farm pooches, Monkey, Dinero, Kolby and Gypsy (plus a cat named Blue) are featured more than once on their website. Firehorse Trading’s dedication to quality reflects in their flower, which includes both genetically unique varieties and some of the red carpet classics. One of their best strains is the sensational Chernobyl, a hybrid with heritage from the well-known strains Trainwreck, Trinity and Jack The Ripper. This masterpiece of a plant is a beautiful light green with classic orange tendrils that are a hallmark of it’s Trainwreck genetics. “Chernobyl is by far the best flower to come out of the farm,” says Billy Scholten, Senior Retail Manager of Firehorse. Scholten feels Chernobyl is something for the team to be proud of. It’s a shopwide success to produce a plant of such distinct caliber with tremendous healing qualities. GREENEUGENE.COM | 9
The strain is lauded for it’s ability to ease the symptoms of depression, everyday stress or that 5pm fatigue. It is also known as a rare strain that has no ‘ceiling’ to the level of high you can reach — the more you smoke, the higher you’ll get, which is a unique quality for flower. The high from this hybrid is often described as uplifting and focused, but doesn’t induce any anxiety. Chernobyl has quickly become a favorite at Firehorse. “When a customer opens the jar and smells it, they want it. There is nothing else like that in the store right now,” says Scholten. Firehorse Trading’s new downtown location offers a wide assortment of flower and locally-sourced edibles and oils. They also offer daily specials, available on their website, like Edible Mondays where customers score 10% off all edibles.
Chernobyl is one of many top-quality, local and organic strains available at Firehorse Trading Co., 233B W 7th Ave. www.firehorsetrading.com (541)653.9534
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GREENEUGENE.COM | 11
sugar topTRIM
Words by Bryan Dorn | Photos by Destiny Alvarez
Sift, jiggle, massage, tap, and twist— that’s the mantra ingrained into Skye Kirk when she’s rolling joints at SugarTop Buddery.
While they may be similar in size to a young marijuana plant, clones are often taken from cuttings of mature plants, not seeds.
This technique is what allows Kirk to produce SugarTop’s signature 0.6 and 1.2 gram joints by the hundreds.
SugarTop fertilizes, grows and harvests on a strict schedule. At SugarTop’s indoor grow operation, baby clones cycle through rooms with different light intensities and schedules to facilitate growth. First they are placed in the vegetation room to grow in size, and then they are moved to the flower room where the light encourages flower growth, or “budding,” in order to produce the smokable buds found on the market.
“I have rolled about half a million joints in a span of three years,” Kirk said. Recently, Kirk graduated from the American College of Healthcare Sciences with a degree in complementary alternative medicines with a focus in herbalism. ”I’m very passionate about medical marijuana and I understand the difference between recreating with it and using it medicinally.” Her passion for medical marijuana and other herbs has earned her the title of Clone Master at SugarTop. Clones are immature marijuana plants that are a genetic replica of their parent plant. Strains that grow and sell well often get cloned by growers in order to get consistent results every harvest. As Clone Master, Kirk’s work involves checking on plants and root systems, saving plant genetics and transplanting clones.
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When the flower room is harvested, the plants in the vegetation room are cycled into the now-empty flower room. This rotation keeps SugarTop in a consistent cycle of growth and harvest. To earn extra cash on the side, Kirk also trims for SugarTop come harvest season. Trimming is one of the final steps to prepare marijuana for consumption. When marijuana is harvested there are larger leaves-- the iconic marijuana leaf-- that surround the bud and hide
the frosty flower from sight. Trimmers go through pounds of harvested marijuana with a small pair of scissors and a large amount of patience to shape and manicure the buds that are eventually consumed. At 28, Kirk is the youngest trimmer in a room of 10 to 15 tight knit friends and seasoned trimmers at SugarTop, but that doesn’t bother her one bit. The atmosphere of trim days at SugarTop can turn a long work day into an opportunity to talk and socialize. “It’s always my favorite because we get lots of snacks —lots of cookies and chips and vegetables,” laughed, Kirk. “We’ve decided not to call [them] trim days; we call it snack day just to keep in good moods.” Trimmers usually work eight hour days and are often hunched over carefully analyzing marijuana nug by nug. These long days can be physically and mentally exhausting. Before recreational marijuana, trimmers would often get paid per pound. This means that small, sticky nugs that are hard to trim can cut into profit. After recreational marijuana created a new market, many companies began paying
employees hourly. The demands of the new, competitive industry make experience with trimming the number one priority for many employers. Kirk began trimming when she was 22. She learned the techniques of a good trim from friends and family working as a trimmer for a small medical grow operation; those techniques helped her get a job at a medical dispensary. She made $150 a pound at the dispensary, which was average at the time, but harvests were only every two months, so the job was inconsistent. Now in the recreational marketplace, trimmers are required to have a marijuana handlers permit from the OLCC. The permit costs $100 and those seeking to work in the marijuana industry review education materials, take an online test and submit an application. The state of Oregon allows trimmers to be paid hourly and taxes each paycheck; businesses are also allowed to offer an I-9 form to contract trimmers. The I-9 form means trimmers are paid per pound and have to pay taxes at the end of the year, when they claim
their revenue. An I-9 is typically more appetizing to experienced trimmers who work quickly. “Some people can make $400 to $500 a day if they trim 3 to 4 pounds,” Kirk said. “You can still trim that 3 to 4 pounds in a day in recreational, but you may only get paid 12 dollars an hour.” After recreational marijuana changed the industry in Oregon, Kirk began working for a local contract company that connects trimmers with dispensaries and grow operations that need help during harvest season. Through the contracting company Kirk would get connected with growers to trim for large dispensaries. Sometimes contracts would take weeks and other times just a day. In this new age of legalization, smelling like marijuana may be more indicative of a hard days work than a relaxing day at home. “I remember getting done trimming one day and I got pulled over for having one headlight out, and I told the officer immediately, ‘I’m gonna smell like cannabis,’” Kirk laughed. “But he was very sweet because I had my permit and everything.”
Today, Kirk gets the best of both worlds at SugarTop Buddery with hourly wages and consistent work, but also the bonus of trimming SugarTop’s buds come harvest season. “I think that recreational has made trimming not what it used to be,” Kirk says. “It allows [trimmers] to get into a different industry and have a stable income and I think it’s important to have stability.” Kirk doesn’t plan on trimming for the rest of her life. In the future, she wants to be a medical consultant for marijuana and other herbs in order to bridge the gap between herbs and medicine. Her passion for other herbs has brought her to volunteer as an Herbalist at Occupy Medical on Sundays. According to Kirk, trimming was her way to support herself during school, learn more about the plant and enter the industry. A plan that may resonate with many people interested in entering the budding and competitive marijuana industry in Oregon today. For now, Kirk will keep sifting, jiggling, massaging, tapping and twisting her joints at SugarTop Buddery.
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BUDTENDER PROFILE
OVER THE COUNTER Words and Photo by Julio Jaquez
Malik Patterson, a 21-year-old San Bernardino native who came to Eugene to study at the University of Oregon, is a student and a budtender at Cannabliss and Co. It wasn’t until after high school that Patterson was first introduced to marijuana. As an athlete of the San Bernardino track and football team, using marijuana as a recreational substance never crossed his mind. Knowing that both of the sports he played required healthy lungs, Patterson wasn’t interested in slowing himself down. “I didn’t really know I was that good.” explained Patterson, describing the skill on the field that came so easily to him. Patterson stopped playing sports after high school, and figured that since he wasn’t playing, he would give recreational marijuana a chance. “It was great, that’s when I was like ok, I see what everyone is talking about,” Patterson said. Patterson says that after he smoked for the first time, he understood why everyone was raving about marijuana. His first high was pleasant. “It’s a stress reliever,” Patterson said, “and this high is something that I can control.” Three weeks after this first high, Patterson experienced another first: a seizure on the mall escalator that ignited his interest in the medical benefits of marijuana. With no previous history of having seizures, Patterson was caught off guard. Still to this day, Patterson is grateful for the help of bystanders and a medic who stabilized him and transported him to the hospital. After waking up from a seizure-induced blackout, Patterson woke up in a hospital bed. While he was being diagnosed, Patterson realized that his urine was going to be tested. He knew THC would show up in his system and his mother would find out he had gotten high. So he confessed. To his surprise, his mother simply replied, “You started smoking later than I did, so I can’t be mad at you.” Patterson was diagnosed with epilepsy that day, and after that he and his mother began to research and inform themselves about his condition. Patterson’s diagnosis inspired a new interest in medical marijuana. Patterson learned that marijuana contains cannabidiol (CBD), a substance in cannabis that can help control seizures in some people with epilepsy, and also reduce anxiety. In addition to using marijuana to
help with his seizures and anxiety, Patterson also smokes marijuana to get high and to take time to reflect on his life and the his expectations he has for himself. Patterson’s s interest in the cannabis industry continued to blossom after moving to Eugene, OR. “It’s a whole different thing when it comes to the sale of marijuana here,” says Malik when comparing the difference of prices of marijuana in Eugene to his hometown, San Bernardino. “This is probably the cheapest place you’ll ever find weed in all of America,” Patterson said. With various dispensaries around Eugene offering relatively affordable $60 ounces, Patterson couldn’t really believe the cheap prices. Not only did Patterson’s arrival to Eugene mean an introduction to cheaper marijuana, it also brought a change in priority. Coming to the University of Oregon meant the acceptance of brand new responsibilities and a different way of life. As the pressures rose in college, Malik began to experience seizures more often than before. He realized that his seizures were connected to the increase of stress that came with school. After working in the corporate world as secretary for roughly two years and feeling less than himself, Patterson decided to step in a different direction and join the ranks of the cannabis industry. Now working for Cannabliss and Co., Patterson enjoys his new position. He works at the front desk, and he continues to develop his budtending skills. For Patterson, budtending is more than just taking flower, weighing it, and handing it to the customer. Patterson says the distribution and weighing process of budtending is one of the most precise things he’s done.With more and more experience, Patterson gradually continues to work more shifts behind the counter. As a consistent smoker and connoisseur of both CBD and THC heavy strains, Patterson is happy with where he is, and says that marijuana has helped him to take full control of his life. Patterson now feels he is in a better place than when he first arrived to Eugene. His ability to handle the daily stressors that are thrown at him is stronger, and he continues to feel more like himself.
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@leapfarms
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Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the inuence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.