Green Eugene | Summer 2024

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

On April 30, 2024, The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency accepted Health and Human Services’ suggestion to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance — easily one of the biggest wins for the cannabis industry in over 50 years.

In this issue of Green Eugene, you will get to read about some things that will happen as a result of the rescheduling, such as the elimination of Tax Code 280E and ending some of the negative societal stigmas that still surround cannabis, especially when it comes to medicinal consumption. You will also read about some of the terminology surrounding cannabis in the article “Is It Za, Dope or Cannabis?” and get a glimpse of how some musicians viewed cannabis prior to the days of Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre in the article “We Don’t Smoke Marijuana In Muskogee.”

And of course, if you are looking to indulge in some cannabis consumption of your own, we’ve got you covered with our strain of the month, Lodi Dodi, or the edible recipe of the month, Green Mac and Cheese.

While the rescheduling of cannabis has yet to become official, this decision could completely change the cannabis industry as we know it today. With cannabis on the way to becoming a Schedule III substance, the U.S. is finally recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis on a national level, which will make cannabis both more accessible and hopefully more accepted in places where it is currently looked down upon.

Unfortunately, rescheduling cannabis does not make it federally legal, but it is a very positive step in the right direction. I’ve always asked myself, “Why can’t we treat weed the same way we treat wine?” and it seems like we are finally on the way there.

Armando Ramirez Editor

STAFF

Editor

Armando Ramirez

Copy Editor

Bart Brewer

Lead Designer

Abigail Raike

Cover Design

Julia Faria

Writers

Pierce Baugh V

Savannah Brown

Jess Coronado

Mattie Melson

Javay Frye-Nekrasova

Armando Ramirez

Sydney Seymour

Lizzy Solorzano

Designers and Illustrators

Eva Andrews

Liz Blodgett

Rennick Coates

Ryan Ehrhart

Emma Harris

Brooke Hatchman

Sydney Johnson

Photographers

Megan McEntee

Javay Frye-Nekrasova

Account Executives

Taylor Baumgardner

Cori Caplinger

Cooper Gast

Lola Tagwerker

ehenry@dailyemerald.com

Written by Pierce Baugh V | Designed by Ryan Ehrhart

As disconcerting, repeating-one-note music plays, a cartoon man holding what looks to be a joint and a dog are sitting in a living room. It looks as if it has been drawn by a seven-year-old. “Stop looking at me,” he says to the dog. The dog stares. “I can stop smoking pot anytime I want,” protests the man. “O.K., how about right now?” says the dog. The man, looking halfway between sad and shocked, says “Next week is better.”

The dog, still in the poorly drawn art style, walks away, saying “You disappoint me,” making its way outside, sticking a flag in the ground with a picture of the dog’s face on it. In the bottom right corner of the screen, abovetheinfluence.com appears, along with a circle with an upwardpointing arrow. It’s the late ‘90s and Above the Influence sent a clear message: if you smoke marijuana, your dog will be disappointed in you.

For those who are old enough to remember, this commercial was a common occurrence, confusing children who were too young to know what “pot” was and making teens feel as if they were being talked down to. It was the late ‘90s, a relatively placid decade, pre-9/11 but post- “Morning in America.” With a paucity of public panic, many turned their attention to the supposed breakdown of the American home.

Many were worried about the youth as culture began to refocus on the young -–Britney Spears was apparently corrupting the youth, and video games were causing mass shootings. The panic channeled into the children of the ‘90s fertilized the ground for messages like that of the disappointed dog from Above the Influence.

ABOVE

“I THOUGHT IT WAS HILARIOUS BECAUSE AT THE TIME, WITHIN THE COURSE OF A YEAR, I WAS CAST IN FOUR ANTI-DRUGS CAMPAIGNS – FOUR – WHEN I WAS 17-YEARS-OLD.”

Above the Influence was created as part of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, a program under the Office of National Drug Control Policy. While its anti-marijuana commercials are what’s most memorable about it, the organization had many initiatives — warning against hard drugs, standing up to peer pressure and dealing with the complexity of teen self-image.

It’s 2007, and a confused teenager looks around her kitchen. “Hey, Lindsay.” There’s no one else there, no one else besides the dog. Who else? “I wish you didn’t smoke weed. You’re not the same when you smoke, and I miss my friend.” Lindsay looks shaken. “I’ll be outside,” the judgmental canine says, leaving Lindsay in shock. The text then appears: “How would you tell a friend?”

Brittany Curran, who played Lindsay, was seventeen when she filmed the commercial. She never anticipated it to garner the attention it has. “I never would have thought that this one anti-weed PSA I did one afternoon would live in infamy forever.”

Upon rewatching it recently for the first time in years, she says it’s even more

Photo provided by Brittany Curran

ABOVE THE INFLUENCE

melodramatic than she remembered. “ The color grading, everything, it makes it look like I’ve been on the street shooting up. It’s like ‘She smoked a little fuckin’ reefer, settle down people.’”

It was a memorable time in Curran’s life, being cast in four PSAs. “I remember when I got the audition I thought it was hilarious because at the time, within the course of a year, I was cast in four anti-drugs campaigns — four — like when I was 17-years-old.”

Her canine co-star was nicer behind the scenes. “I remember getting to set and the dog was there, and he was lovely, and, unfortunately, didn’t talk in real life,” she laughs.

But though the dog was calm and non-judgmental in real life, those creating the commercial weren’t as nonchalant. “We did a rehearsal, and whoever was producing it gave the note that ‘She looks too healthy. She looks too healthy and happy,’’ says Curran, who was only privy to their disapproval because the hair and makeup department told her.

“They intentionally made me look worse, which is funny because that’s not what weed does. It’s like the messaging is incorrect and harmful, just shaming and actually not helpful at all.”

A lot has changed since 2007, including Curran. Though Curran

found making the commercial laughable, at the time, she fully believed its message.

“I was such a goody twoshoes. I didn’t drink a sip of alcohol until I was almost 23-yearsold.” But as she got further into her 20s, her views began to expand.

“I remember we went to downtown Boston, near Faneuil Hall, and I was at an Irish pub there, and I got a Guinness, and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m not a bad person because I’ve had alcohol. I’ve not gone up in flames. All this morality I’ve attached to things is not real.’”

“THE COLOR GRADING, EVERYTHING, IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE I’VE BEEN ON THE STREET SHOOTING UP. IT’S LIKE ‘SHE SMOKED A LITTLE F***** REEFER,’ SETTLE DOWN PEOPLE.”

Later that year, after her positive experience of not combusting on the spot, she was finally ready to try cannabis — judgmental talking dogs be damned. “I was with my friend, Josh Allen — he’s one of my best friends still — and I was having a really bad

day…I was like, ‘Josh, I’m ready to smoke weed.’. Like many people’s first time, her first thought was ‘When do I feel something?’ “I went from being like, ‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel’ to I just remember looking at the ground and all of a sudden remembering some joke about grapes. And then I started dying laughing, and it was the funniest goddamn thing I’ve ever thought of, and I couldn’t get the joke out.”

A lot has changed even since the ‘00s. Since then, nearly half of the states have legalized recreational marijuana use, and public acceptance has grown significantly. There’s far more nuance in the discussion of substances, perhaps making commercials like a dog talking to a teenager about marijuana are things of the past. Even though we don’t want to repeat certain elements of the past, we can take notes from the talking dogs and have a good laugh.

Unfortunately, Curran has yet to find a cannabis strain that’d allow her to talk to her pets. But if there ever were one, she’d definitely want to try it. “I want to try that strand, the strand that will make Emmy or Pocket [her pet dogs] or Templeton [her pet rat] talk back to me. Get me that shit, because that sounds phenomenal,” she says laughingly.

Sa h alie La-O’Fallon

Written and Photographed by Savannah Brown | Designed by Eva Andrews

Sahalie La-O’Fallon is a 26-year-old budtender who has worked at Eugene OG for three years. She is drawn to the medicinal properties of cannabis, and helping people with her job. Since Eugene OG is so close to the University of Oregon, she loves supporting her student-heavy clientele, whether it’s offering advice on how to consume safely, or suggesting the best post-finals “treat.”

What got you into the business?

I’ve always thought that marijuana was really cool. As soon as they started seeing different medicinal properties I thought that it was gonna be something that could help people. I would also say our social aspects. Everybody goes into drinking when they turn 21, so as soon as weed went legal, I thought “I want to be a part of this.”

What’s your favorite part of the job? Before this job I worked in the food service, so the clientele is very different. You know, stoners for the most part are very chill. I’m just around people that are happy most of the time, people come in to get a little treat to enjoy their weekend. Being here specifically by the university, it’s a fun vibe. Before I was dealing with people who were being hangry. It’s definitely something very different but it gives me joy.

When I was in college, this was not a thing. Everybody drank to forget about their classes. I had a lot of great times, but I had to do a lot of self work to not stick in those paths.

Why Eugene OG?

It’s not corporate. We only have one location so working here, it’s almost like a work family. That’s hard to find these days. So I love my coworkers and my customers too. Also, we accommodate to all, but we are kind of a higher end shop, so us providing really good quality cannabis is something that’s important to me.

There’s a different vibe when you’re driving down the road and you’re like

“oh is that a dispensary?” and you walk in and it’s all dark. We have skylights and a really open space. I feel really lucky to be here.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has recently moved to reassess Marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III, which will mean that if passed, it will be legally acknowledged as a less harmful drug with medicinal aspects. As a budtender, what does this mean for the Marijuana industry?

I do think that marijuana can be medicinal and it helps a lot of people. I also think Marijuana being dropped to Schedule III means the government having more control over it, and raising our prices. That’s just a negative take on where it could go, but it’s all still up in the air. Are pharmacists or other government officials going to be coming in with their little outfits and a badge telling people what to do and how much to take? I don’t know.

Marijuana is something that is very trialand-error, and everybody’s body is a little different. It’s hard to say if it will be super beneficial or if they’re just going to take the reins and up the prices. I just want to be able to get all of my people their things. I give sweet little old ladies their non-addictive CBD cream so they can sleep better, and all they have to do is just walk down to their local dispensary. Hopefully with Schedule III, the government can make it all more accessible, but I just have a weird feeling they’ll be making it harder.

Walk me through the first time you got high.

I didn’t really feel it. I was at a sleepover with a friend and she had some stuff, so it was like, “Hey! Let’s smoke a joint!” So I rolled a joint and I coughed my absolute lungs out. I waited a couple of years and the first time I actually got high, I took a bong hit and I felt really cool. And I was giggly.

Why did you start actively smoking?

I am someone who has a lot of anxiety and depression. But I told my therapist that I didn’t want to be medicated, I didn’t want to have anything that I couldn’t get from a doctor or that would switch up for me. Medicinally, marijuana helped me a lot. Also, I come from a family with a lot of alcoholics so I went a different route and did something that’s not as detrimental for me.

What advice would you give to younger people, or people who are new to smoking?

Do the weed, don’t let the weed do you. Everything is moderation. If you stop paying your bills and you’re only worried about getting that 8th, that is when the weed is doing you.

Eugene OG recommendations?

Edibles: Mega Pearl, a gummy that’s made with rosin. Rosin is solventless, which means that no chemicals are used to extract the oil. You are what you eat.

Joints: I love our in-house ones, or the little two pack joints from Capricorn which is also a local grow.

Cartridges: Evolvd Rosin, those are really tasty.

Favorite Strain Right Now?

Great Pie from Deep Creek. It’s a top shelf grow that I joke to my customers that the farmers tell their plants they love them. Also Firebird. It’s the most euphoric and happy strain I’ve ever smoked.

How tourists can enjoy the high times in Eugene

Written by Lizzy Solorzano

Designed and Illustrated by Liz Blodgett

Now that summertime is approaching in Eugene, we can finally get a good look at the sun. I almost forgot what it felt like to soak in its warm embrace. This also means we’ve reached the seasons for our beloved University of Oregon to host large events like the Prefontaine Classic or the Olympic Team Trials, drawing in people from around the world to witness history.

This also means that many people will be coming to Eugene, or cannabis central, as it’s one of the cities with the most dispensaries per capita nationwide. Considering that Oregon was one of the first states to legalize medical cannabis, it provides the opportunity for visitors to explore the cannabis culture for themselves.

According to an article from Oregon Public Broadcasting in 2023, Oregon’s recreational cannabis industry is grappling with some of the most challenging economic conditions since its legalization. The article also stated that 2022 saw nearly double the amount of cannabis supply compared to demand, forcing cannabis retailers to lower prices.

In April, Green State reported that Eugene ranks No. 10 in cities with the most 420-friendly lodgings, and No. 8 with cannabis-friendly vacation rentals across U.S. cities.

These dispensaries play an important role in serving the diverse needs of the community as they provide access to a wide range of cannabis products that cater to different preferences and lifestyles.

Green State also notes that although cannabis tourism hasn’t taken off yet, Eugene is one of the ideal cities for visitors and travelers looking to learn more about cannabis and its industry. The increase of tourists attending the campus events could further contribute to the understanding and growth within the industry.

With Eugene’s welcoming cannabis community and knowledgable budtenders, paired with the city embracing the freedom and medical benefits associated with cannabis, the surges of newcomers and returning visitors for these large events could increase sales. These dispensaries offer a glimpse into Eugene’s vibrant cannabis culture, showing its spirit of openness, innovation and community.

The renamed dispensary Animal House, formerly known as The Sorority House, sits very close to campus, so it sees a large portion of the influx of new customers. The store owner, CJ Rayson, stated that they usually see people from out of state and sometimes they want to try cannabis for the first time.

In a progressive place like Eugene, education is important, especially in this industry. He goes on to state, “We’re trying to give someone a great experience with this medicine so they can take that experience back to their state.”

With major events such as the World Athletics Championships taking place at Hayward Field in 2022, dispensaries have an opportunity to strategize and capitalize on these occasions, leveraging the city’s renowned cannabis reputation. Cannabis attracts a wide range of individuals and enthusiasts from different places, and it’s sometimes on the list of things they wish to try, especially when traveling to regions with different state regulations.

“We

have some of the best weed in our backyard, and people are aware of it,” Rayson states.

“It’s clean, it’s potent and safe. People are more accepting of cannabis when they are exposed to a safe and socially acceptable experience. People want to try that.”

Strain of the Month Lodi Dodi

As the end of the academic year approaches, all I want to do is turn off my brain and go to a different galaxy. Luckily enough, Space Buds was able to make that happen with a strain called Lodi Dodi. As a sativa-dominant hybrid, this strain returns the excitement and buzz that begins to fade as finals near without being too overwhelming. She also has some secrecy to her making the strain even more appealing.

At 30% THC, Lodi Dodi is a bit of a heavy hitter. Within minutes of enjoying Lodi Dodi, I was feeling good and forgetting the point of my conversations, which is what I wanted. Lodi Dodi has a tangy and tropical aroma that reminds me of a semi-sweet cocktail. She doesn’t disappoint with fat nugs of the perfect moss green and tan pistils that made choosing her in the dispensary a nobrainer. When you look this good how could I say no?

Written and Photographed by Javay Frye-Nekrasova

Designed by Rennick Coates

Lodi Dodi is definitely a more elusive strain as the origins are not publicly shared, so your guess is as good as anyone else’s in terms of the parents. The only roots that are known of Lodi Dodi are that she was originally bred in Washington state, so she hasn’t moved too far from home.

This strain matches the vibe of Snoop Dogg’s song “Lodi Dodi” with good party vibes, but still chill and not causing any problems. This strain makes for a great choice to share with friends. It will have y’all laughing and just enjoying your time together, which is perfect as summer inches closer and we have the space and time to hang around passing a joint while enjoying the nice weather.

If you like weed with a touch of mystery that lifts you up to a good high while also making you feel good and clearing your head you should consider giving Lodi Dodi a try. She won’t disappoint and even before smoking her, she is quite pretty to look at.

Written by Armando Ramirez | Designed by

On April 30, 2024, the DEA made the decision to reschedule cannabis as a Schedule III substance following a suggestion made by Health and Human Services in the summer of 2023. While cannabis has not been officially rescheduled yet, cannabis becoming a Schedule III substance is one of the biggest changes in cannabis regulation in over 50 years. While the decision has the ability to alter many aspects of the cannabis industry, one thing it could do is eliminate Tax Code 280E.

According to the IRS website, “Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code forbids businesses from deducting otherwise ordinary business expenses from gross income associated with the “trafficking” of Schedule I or II substances, as defined by the Controlled Substances Act.” As a result, all dispensaries in the U.S., recreational and medicinal, are not able to write off most of their business expenses, due to cannabis being classified as a Schedule I substance since the Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1970. For example, this would be like a restaurant being unable to receive tax write offs for things like napkins or silverware.

“Small things like our paper clips and stuff, we can’t even write those off as business expenses,” said CJ Rayson, manager of the Animal House dispensary.

Currently, the only thing that cannabis businesses can write off without running into the complications of Tax Code 280E are the cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold refers to the cost that it took to actually produce the products being sold. For the cannabis industry, this would be the cost of cultivating and harvesting cannabis, which benefits growers, but serves no benefit to other parts of the industry such as dispensaries.

“Moving everything to Schedule III lets us operate like a more legitimate business,”

“We can have a lot more tax write offs that we didn’t have before, and that was a big problem with starting a dispensary.”

Several dispensaries nationwide have been burdened by the effects of Tax Code 280E since cannabis could be purchased legally. “They’d open up and then like a couple of years later, you would see them shut down, just because they couldn’t keep up with all the taxes,” said Rayson.

When cannabis is officially rescheduled, dispensaries, and other businesses in the cannabis industry that have struggled with Tax Code 280E, will now be able to put the money they retain from being able to write off business expenses for other things like marketing and branding.

While cannabis still remains illegal federally, the shift to Schedule III will prove to be a monumental change for the cannabis industry, eliminating Tax Code 280E for cannabis businesses, and possibly changing the industry as we know it today.

“I think there’s probably going to be a lot less hands on and eyes staring at us. I think they realized that it’s not a super addictive, worthless drug,” said Rayson.

Written and Photographed by Lizzy

Solorzano

Designed by Emma Harris

Illustrated by Abigail Raike

Here’s a recipe for fellow pasta lovers.

Pasta is one of my favorite comfort foods. The carbs help, but we’ll ignore that and focus on the nostalgic aspect of macaroni and cheese. I decided it was time for a twist; making it green, figuratively and literally. This recipe will show you how to make the perfect pasta dish to bring to a smoke session with friends, satisfying your munchies as you elevate your experience.

To create this recipe, you’ll need several key ingredients, with cannabutter being the most important. Since preparing cannabutter can be time-consuming, I advise you to make it in advance, ideally several days before making the pasta. I’ll briefly cover the cannabutter process so we can focus on the pasta recipe.

What you’ll need to make it green:

• Two 5-ounce packages of baby spinach

• 1 cup of packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

• 1 cup of packed fresh basil leaves

Now, despite my lactose intolerance, I like to get cheesy. These ingredient quantities are just suggestions — follow your heart when it comes to how much cheese you want to add. The bowl is your limit.

• 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese

• 3 cups of grated white cheddar cheese

Now for the following ingredients that help make the magic happen:

• 1 garlic clove

• 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour

• 3 ½ cups of whole milk

• 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

• 2 tablespoons of cannabutter

• Salt and pepper

• 1 lb of elbow macaroni

To make the cannabutter, decarboxylation is important. Preheat your oven to 245 degrees F and bake the cannabis for 30 minutes, or until it’s golden brown. In a saucepan, melt a stick of butter in enough water to coat the bottom of the pan. Once melted, add the cannabis and heat on low for 2 hours — the longer it simmers, the stronger the butter will be. After infusing, strain the mixture to remove the plant remnants, and pour the butter into a container. Let it sit for an hour to solidify. Once the cannabutter is done, you’re ready to make some pasta.

Let’s get started!

Place the green ingredients in a food processor and pulse until they reach a chunky consistency. Add ½ cup of the milk and continue processing until smooth. A blender also works as an alternative, just be sure to add the milk with the greens and blend until smooth. Set this aside to prepare the cheesy sauce.

In a large saucepan, melt both butters over medium-high heat. Add the 1/3 cup of flour and stir for a few minutes until it’s thick and smooth. Next, add the rest of the milk and continue to stir constantly for about 10 minutes until the mixture is thick and creamy. Then, add half of the cheddar cheese and stir until it’s melted into the sauce. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper!

Once the sauce has thickened, it’s time to start cooking the pasta. Be sure to add some salt to the water, and when it comes to a boil, pour the macaroni and follow your package directions.

At this point, preheat the broiler.

Finally, it’s time to bring it together. When the macaroni is cooked, drain it and combine it with the cheese sauce and green mixture, ensuring every bit is coated with flavor. Spread the macaroni evenly in a broiler-safe baking dish and sprinkle it with the rest of the cheddar cheese. Place under the broiler until you see that beautiful golden brown and the macaroni and cheese is bubbling, which should take about 6 minutes. Once it’s ready, allow it to cool and get a whiff of that savory aroma.

This dish offers a delightful blend of creamy cheese and fresh flavors, making it a unique and satisfying culinary experience. Not only do the greens boast nutritional benefits, but this dish also provides an opportunity to showcase your culinary creativity and cannabis interests.

Vs. Lighters Hemp Wicks

Written by Pierce Baugh V

Designed by Rennick Coates

If someone is reading Green Eugene, chances are that they’ve smoked cannabis in the past, but have they smoked using a hemp wick? Better yet, how does it compare to the alternatives?

Resembling twine, the wicks are made from hemp fibers dipped in beeswax, and produce a cleaner burn compared to typical butane lighters.

Hemp wicks, though not as popular as lighters, have been around for much longer, dating back to ancient Egypt. In the times of ancient Egypt, animal fat was used to coat the fibers. Hemp wicks are lit by a lighter or candle and do not emit the chemicals that lighters put out, and also have a more controlled burn. Other benefits of using hemp wicks include being more eco-friendly since it produces no carbon.

In addition to the history behind hemp wicks, they’re also a cost-effective way to light things. A 200-ft ball of hemp wick typically costs around $7. Plus, hemp wick burns longer than lighters.

Many prefer hemp wick due to the flavor-enhancing burn. Beeswax is a smoother option compared to the butane and naphta of a lighter.

This isn’t to say that hemp wicks are perfect. Typical butane lighters are quicker to light and offer a bigger flame. Some people out there have also grown accustomed to butane consumption while smoking.

“The best thing about the hemp wick is you light it once and it’s already going. Obviously, each time you’re taking a hit you’re not inhaling any traces of the butane,” said Sahalie La-O’Fallon, Eugene OG budtender. “So that is one thing that a lot of people don’t consider, is that when you take a long hit there are little bits that you are inhaling. So I would say I’d pick the wick, but also I do have a lot of lighters as well.”

Lighters are far more popular than hemp wicks, making them easier to get. Not every dispensary carries hemp wicks, and good luck finding a gas station or 7-Eleven that has them.

While hemp wicks are easy enough to use in the home, lighters are the go-to option for smoking outside. On top of being quick to use, lighters are also more wind-resistant, giving them the edge when smoking on the go.

EMG

Hemp wicks can also be more challenging to use, especially for those not familiar with them. Not every strand of hemp will be the same; some will burn faster or slower than others due to every strand having a slightly different composition.

Not to mention, in order to use a hemp wick, you need to have something to light it in the first place.

While hemp wicks do have their drawbacks, many still prefer them over traditional lighters. Much like wine, beer, and spirits, cannabis has its own intricacies and subtle notes. Hemp wicks, with their more subtle burn and lack of butane, can preserve the aromatics of cannabis in ways lighters can’t.

Many choose to make hemp wick easy to access by wrapping it around a lighter or bong. Some also find using a hemp wick to be a more intentional way of smoking — trading in the brashness and quick fix of a lighter for the slower but more thoughtful way of lighting up.

Next time you decide to smoke cannabis, perhaps a hemp wick can be the perfect way to make it more special.

9AM - 7:45PM

Written by Savannah Brown | Designed by Sydney Johnson

With the Drug Enforcement Administration moving to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug - which will allow the plant’s medicinal properties to be recognized - history is being made in the marijuana world. With that in mind, let’s look back to the old days, at one of the most famous artistic statements against the matter: the song “Okie from Muskogee,” by Merle Haggard.

The late 1960s is marked by peace, love and revolution. With sexual liberation, drug experimentation and protests against the Vietnam war, Bob Dylan sang the “Times they are a changin’” in favor of the hippie era. But not everybody approved of this changin’.

While 1969 birthed Woodstock, The Beatles’ last album and Led Zeppelin’s first album — all musical moments with profound hippie/drug influences — it also saw country legend Merle Haggard opposing the counterculture on behalf of country music listeners preferring to maintain traditional American values. “Okie From Muskogee” begins with the famous lines:

“We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee/We don’t take our trips on LSD/ We don’t burn our draft cards down on main street/we like livin’ right and bein’ free.”

Haggard was a pioneer of the Bakersfield sound country music subgenre. Larry Wayte, a music history professor and musicology Ph.D at UO describes it as “a grittier, less polished country sound than what was being produced in Nashville.” Wayte said that “It represents this rural, less sophisticated side of country music.”

Campus protests, liberal hippies and marijuana smoke filled city streets, all while Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan held respective positions as the president and the governor of California. These political juxtapositions sparked a strong divide between urban and rural areas. Wayte said that the blue-collar, cowboy Bakersfield genre became the voice of the rural while hippies received the majority of media attention.

At the time, marijuana was widely perceived to be the culprit of hippie behavior. A 1966 article from the Saturday Evening Post classified those in the “cult of marijuana” as experiencing “emotional disturbance,” being liberal, having long hair, “dropping out of school,” and finding “an entire personality in this solipsistic world.”

Haggard told Music Hall Magazine in 2012 that Okie “became an anthem for people who were not being noticed or recognised in any way — the silent majority. It brought them pride.”

Haggard wasn’t always kind when talking about the song’s subject. He told The New Yorker in 1990 that he wrote it about “hippies…these barefooted bums walking around…I don’t like their views on life, their filth, their visible self-disrespect, y’know? They don’t give a shit what they look like, or what they smell like.”

Within months, the song sold 264,000 copies and spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard country charts. Nixon also commissioned Haggard to play it at the white house, and later asked Johnny Cash to sing it the next year, forgetting whose song it was. A review of another performance reads, “suddenly [the audience] are on their feet, berserk, waving flags and stomping and whistling and cheering…and for those brief moments the majority isn’t silent anymore.”

Wayte teaches this song in his “Music in the Woodstock Era” class to demonstrate the Nixon-era’s political polarization, and the importance of the song’s use of “We.” “There’s a perception — a mythology — of the 60s,” said Wayte. “There was a large group of people, perhaps a majority of people, who did not agree [with the counterculture] and there’s this song that’s emblematic of that.”

Flash forward years later, and Haggard, who died in 2016, went back on “Okie” almost completely. “I was just as dumb as a rock at about that time, and most of America was under the same assumptions I was…I’m different now. I still believed in America then. I don’t know that I do [believe] now,” he told American Songwriter.

And, most significantly, he became a stoner himself. In 2015, Haggard said, “I had been brainwashed like most of America about what marijuana would and wouldn’t do. I thought it was responsible for the flower children walking around with their mouths open.”

However, much has changed since the Okie days, as cannabis rescheduling is well underway. As the world moves forward, Okie is a looking glass into the past that serves as a reminder about the effects young people have on history, the glories of progress and how there’s no harm in admitting what you’ve learned.

One of the first lyrics Haggard sang in his career was “We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee,” but one of the last songs he ever released was a duet with Willie Nelson called “It’s All Going to Pot,” which addressed the excitement of legalization, and how there’s no stopping the growing world of marijuana.

IS IT ZA, DOPE OR CANNABIS?

Written by Mattie Melson and Sydney Seymour | Designed by Ryan Ehrhart

The journey of appropriate cannabis terminology in society is complex and controversial, reflecting changing social attitudes and cultural influences. Today, one particular term is burdened with a problematic history: marijuana.

A 2019 study on cannabis terminology and public opinion found no evidence of the public distinguishing between the terms “marijuana” and “cannabis.” But, regardless of similarities, the researchers said, “reformers fear that the word ‘marijuana’ has been indelibly marred by longstanding prohibitions that targeted the drug by that name.”

The term “marijuana” became widely used in the United States in the 1930s. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “the term being preferred as a more exotic alternative to the familiar words hemp and cannabis.”

Armando Ramirez, Editor-In-Chief of Green Eugene, mentioned one of the first U.S. cannabis laws was the “Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.” He claims the law was intentionally spelled with an “h” to emphasize the accents of Mexican immigrants who smoked weed, tying existing xenophobia with the demonization of cannabis.

Ramirez prefers Green Eugene writers use “cannabis” upon first mention, only switching to “marijuana” when quoting a source or to avoid redundancy. He believes the term has been reclaimed despite its controversial past.

“Marijuana never should’ve had the connotation it had in relation to s now about Mexican immigrants,” Ramirez said.

“Now, nobody thinks about the word ‘marijuana’ and wants to use it in that way anymore.”

Based on the publication’s style guide, writers and editors may use different words to describe cannabis. The AP Stylebook posted on X on Oct. 10, 2022, that the terms “marijuana” and “cannabis” can be used interchangeably. They said, “The term pot is acceptable in headlines and generally in stories, though it may not be appropriate in some stories. Some prefer the term cannabis because of arguments the term marijuana has antiMexican roots.”

Chris Pietsch, Director of Photography and Multimedia at the Register-Guard, uses “pot” in headlines because it’s shorter. In their four latest stories, writers used “marijuana” if the source used it first.

KLCC News Director Chris Lehman said the station doesn’t have specific style guidelines on terms around weed. To avoid confusion in agriculture-related coverage, reporters steer clear of using terms like “weed” and “pot” when interviewing farmers dealing with different types of weeds. Considering the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Lehman typically uses “marijuana” or “cannabis” as they are the most official terms.

While “marijuana” and “cannabis” are the most frequently used terms in journalism and the cannabis industry, people who smoke weed often use slang terms depending on their social circles and region.

Sameer Deogun, a third-year University of Oregon student and “regular stoner,” uses “gas” in his hometown, Montclair, New Jersey. He also uses “za” and “bud.” It’s not uncommon for slang words to emerge within communities and different areas. One example that is universal to Montclair is “mucking,” meaning “smoking weed,” which, according to Deogun and his girlfriend, everyone in Montclair knows.

Deogun said he avoids using “marijuana” because it’s long and he is somewhat familiar with its connotations.

“Even a regular stoner like me knows there’s some bad connotations tied to the term marijuana,” Deogun said.

“Even though I don’t know the full history behind it.”

Breaking Barriers: How DEA’s Cannabis Reclassification Can Change Minds and Medicine

Written by Lizzy Solorzano | Designed by Brooke Hatchman

Now that the DEA has taken a big step forward in reclassifying cannabis as a Schedule III substance, people could potentially have more opportunities to learn about its medicinal aspects.

Transdermal patches are nothing new; modern patch medicines can be traced back to 1979, according to an article from ScienceDirect. They’ve been used to deliver substances like vitamins, birth control and cannabidiol (CBD).

According to AP News, no changes for medical or legal recreational cannabis programs are expected, and it is unlikely that they will meet the federal rules for Schedule III drugs, but every step counts.

Although it wouldn’t be legalized for recreational use, the Justice Department’s proposal would recognize the medical aspects of cannabis, and I believe that is enough to change some minds, like it changed my father’s, Rafael Solorzano.

Though there have been studies that suggest CBD has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, Medical News Today states in an article that “there is limited evidence to human studies” in support of CBD products.

The article goes on to say that law restrictions have been holding back quality research studies but “as cannabis is becoming legalized in various regions, research is gaining momentum and shows some promising results.”

Due to the lack of research, the question remains: Do CBD transdermal patches actually work?

Though this is no professional study by any means, Solorzano decided to experiment with CBD topical reservoir transdermal patches with 100 mg of nano CBD from CBD Living. CBD nano refers to CBD broken down into nanoparticles, with its small size enhancing the absorption rate allowing CBD to enter the bloodstream efficiently.

Working hard labor jobs since his teenage years, he grew up experiencing body pain in different areas. His motivation to try something new stemmed from curiosity about cannabis and his allergies to common anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.

“Having done this experiment with CBD is a different experience, not knowing what the results would be,” Solorzano said. “I was nervous because with a patch, it depends on your skin, how your body reacts to it and how fast the skin will absorb it.”

A CBD patch sticks to the skin and “contains CBD and other ingredients to aid in localized pain relief.” The transdermal aspect allows CBD to be absorbed through the skin, entering the bloodstream directly.

After placing the patch on his lower back, Solorzano claimed he felt a heat sensation within the first hour. CBD Living stated on its packaging that it lasts up to 96 hours.

“I felt some warmth in the area where I felt pain, at first. Later, I felt more loose instead of it being tight. It’s like that area was able to expand with all my movements I chose to do.”

One of the selling points of CBD patches is that they don’t produce the psychoactive effects that flower or concentrates provide. This is because the body slowly absorbs the CBD over a number of hours compared to feeling it all at once.

This also makes them convenient to wear any time, whether it’s going to work, dining with friends and family or staying home.

Solorzano was accustomed to using other pain relief patches like Salonpas, but disliked their strong menthol-like scent. With these odorless CBD patches, he could wear them discreetly without anyone noticing.

In his experience, doctors had difficulty pinpointing Solorzano’s exact allergies, making him very cautious about trying new products with unfamiliar ingredients.

“I liked the idea that you could have some medications that are more organic, instead of the stuff that’s man-made

with all those chemicals.

It’s relieving to know these [ingredients] are made from the plant.”

After using two transdermal patches over two weeks, Solorzano reported that they delivered on their promise and provided muscle relief. Although he still experienced some lower back pain, the patches enabled him to continue his daily activities.

This reclassification can lead to more medical and scientific research, potentially challenging the stigma and stereotype of the lazy stoner. This negative association often discourages people from learning about cannabis, contributing to misinformation and misconceptions about the plant.

Solorzano plans to continue using these patches and conduct further research on CBD overall.

“I believe it’s a great product,” he said. “There should be more research to contribute to these products so people can be more knowledgeable about what they’re purchasing and using. My experience was wonderful, knowing that there are products like this that can be used for a great cause.”

1 Editor’s Note: Rafael Solorzano is the father of the writer of this article.

*Must be 21 years of age or older to consume marijuana.

*Do not operate heavy machinery under the influence of marijuana. Keep out of reach of children.