Letter from the Editor
The power of marijuana is undeniable. It has the power to heal, the power to calm, the power to enlighten, and so much more. When you pair the power of marijuana with the power of words, beautiful things can happen. I have been excited about the unbridled potential of those powers combining in this issue for so long now.
Whether you are a long-time reader, new to marijuana, or just picking this up in a waiting room, I hope that it encourages your curiosity about marijuana. I hope that learning more about the people in the industry, the places that welcome marijuana lovers, and the challenges of those working in the industry encourages you to connect further. There is a beautiful community in marijuana, and this magazine serves as a small way to connect us. I am so happy to be in this community with you, to share stories and information about it, and to celebrate marijuana for all it does for us.
Enjoy the edition, and blaze it!
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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Green Eugene is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald; the new organization was founded in 1900.
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Emerald Media Group, Inc. 395 University St., #302 Eugene, OR, 97403
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541.346.5511 x327 dailyemerald.com
Editor-in-Chief
Javay Frye-Nekrasova
Lead Designer
Abigail Raike
Cover Illustration
Ava Klooster
Writers
Pierce Baugh V
Savannah Brown
Alex Hernandez
Nicole Kaminski
Daphne Patrick
Designers and Illustrators
Eva Andrews
Ryan Ehrhart
Ava Klooster
Bella Lyon
Peyton McQuain
Dewni Mirihana
Photographers
Javay Frye-Nekrasova
Alex Hernandez
Student Sales Manager
Lola Tagwerker
Account Executives
Elliot Byrne
Cooper Gast
Nate Ghilarducci
Ysai Hong
Budtender Spotlight: Tyler Lee Jones
Written by Savannah Brown | Designed by Dewni Mirihana
Photographed
by
Javay Frye-Nekrasova
Halloween is the time of year when it’s easiest to make contact with the spirit world. Here’s how to do that with a ganja twist.
Marijuana has a long-established connection with spirituality. There is a ritual within picking the strain that will suit your soul, grinding, rolling, burning, and smoking it. The herb heightens one’s senses, increases awareness, calms the body, and marries it with the mind.
It’s no surprise that shamans, priests, and many religious figures have been using the plant to open themselves up to the spiritual world and assist with meditation since ancient times. It’s used in many Eastern religious practices, such as praying, yoga, and meditation, to relax and elevate the mind. Some have even theorized that it was a major contribution to the birth of spirituality.
Similarly, Halloween is known as the “Season of the Witch,” where the “veil” between this world and the spirit world is most thin. Those who practice witchcraft say that this is the perfect time to make contact with it via seance. Because a seance is a very spiritual experience, the ritualistic nature and elevating properties of marijuana make an excellent pairing with a Halloween seance to open up the spirit world to believers (though, of course, it is not required). For nonbelievers, a reefer-induced seance is a fun and exciting way to get together with friends on Halloween and try something new, even if you end it having laughed like toddlers all the way through.
So, in the spirit of Halloweed, here are some tips on how to thin the veil and thicken the air with a seance enhanced by Mother Mary Jane:
1. Choose the right strain. Whether you’re looking to speak to a spirit or just have fun, choose a strain and method of consumption that will suit your intention. For those looking for a genuine experience, choose weed that you know will calm and relax you. You want your mind to be completely clear and open.
2. Choose a quiet room that can be dimmed.
In order to work, a seance requires complete focus from all parties involved, as the veil is very fragile. All phones must be put away, and the room needs to be dim and quiet. Pets have actually been found not to disrupt the connection, so a cat jumping on the table shouldn’t cause concern.
3. Choose the spot you will perform your seance.
Preferably, the seance will take place in a comfortable spot where you can all sit together and hold hands, such as in a circle on the floor or around a coffee table.
Slice Downtown
Written by Nicole Kaminski | Designed & Illustrated by Peyton McQuain
Photographed by Javay Frye-Nekrasova
I decided to go to Slice Downtown because, as a grad student, I’m typically up late reading, writing, and grading papers. Finding a place that was open downtown past 9 p.m. was a challenge. When I discovered Slice Downtown, the fact that it was open until midnight immediately won me over. I checked the reviews, which were mainly good, and decided I’d be having pizza tonight!
I went to the Willamette St. location but was told during my time there that they have another location in the Whitaker area. When I arrived there, it gave me a college bar vibe. For starters, there was no one in line for the pizza, but about a dozen people
Parmesan on garlic and olive oil. Another was a Tofu BBQ sauce pizza, which consisted of tofu marinated in BBQ, caramelized onions, and parmesan on garlic and olive oil. I decided to get one slice of pepperoni and one slice of cheese.
but these two slices filled me up, and I hadn’t eaten all day. These are big New York slices, and they definitely make the price point even more impressive for how much pizza you get.
So, if you live in town — or are just passing on through — give Slice Downtown on Willamette a try if you’re in the mood for a fresh take on some classics or want to try something new. From arcade games to beer and super deliciously sweet martinis, you’ll leave with a smile and a full belly!
PÛMPKIN BÖNG
terrifying toker
5
6
Carve Yourself A Treat This Fall
Written by Javay Frye-Nekrasova | Designed & Illustrated by Ryan Ehrhart
Halloweed season is in full swing, and if you are looking for fun cannativies to participate in, we have the perfect recommendation. Make your own Pumpkin Bong! There’s no better way to celebrate Halloweed than by enjoying the delicious offerings of Harvest season through a pumpkin. So here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to make your own Pumpkin Bong.
Choose a pumpkin
Whether you go to your local grocery store or make a day of it by going to the pumpkin patch, you have to choose the perfect pumpkin. Things to consider are the size and weight of your pumpkin. You will be holding the pumpkin similarly to how you hold a pipe, so you more than likely don’t want something super large or heavy.
Prep your pumpkin
Since you will be putting this to your mouth, you will want to make sure that you clean the outside and get all of the dirt off.
Get to carving
With your tools gathered, you will make three different holes in the pumpkin. The first will be the bowl where you will put your flower. This is not going to be a deep-carved bowl. You want it just deep enough to fit your flower. You will want only to make a small hole for airflow, not carve out a completely open circle for
both the bowl and the mouthpiece. The next hole will be for your mouth. In terms of size, you can do what feels most comfortable for you. The last hole will be the carb, which is how you control the airflow. This should be a hole that you can see through completely.
Now blaze it
With your three holes made, all that’s left is to pack the bowl and light it up. For added ambiance, consider turning on a Halloween playlist.
Watch Javay in a guided demo on our website!
Written by Javay Frye-Nekrasova Designed & Illustrated by Ava Klooster
It has been a decade of legal marijuana in the state of Oregon. With so many positive goals and aspirations attached to the legalization of marijuana, looking back over the past ten years, the question of how positive legalization has been lingers. Looking at the big picture of cannabis legalization, the green market, it can be easy to miss the shadows where the dark market still exists, and it has to be because legalization is not focused on everyone within the cannabis industry. The legalization of marijuana opened the door for capitalism and corporate greed to take hold, which is a big part of how the legalization has cast a dark shadow.
Though legalization does bring with it a great many benefits, such as the tax revenue going to the State School Fund and Health Authority, it also leaves so many people out. Though we have had ten years of legalization, the black market of cannabis has persisted for many reasons. There are numerous barriers to legalization that so many people cannot break through: the built-in systems of oppression, the red tape of government oversight, and the economic difficulties of becoming a part of the legal cannabis industry.
Before legalization, marijuana possession, intent to sell, and selling led to criminal charges that depended on the amount and severity of the situation. This means that many people have been categorized as felons. Under legalization, felons are not allowed to have licensure for any part of the cannabis industry—this bars them from being budtenders and growers or opening their own dispensaries. In 2022, Governor Kate Brown pardoned 45,000 people who had marijuana convictions, but even with a pardon, all of those people are still categorized as felons, meaning they cannot become a part of the green market.
Lots of former black market growers went bankrupt due to all of the regulations being written from the standpoint of bankers and large investors with little to no help navigating the endless red tape involved in legalization."
-Anonymous, member of the Marijuana Industry
Marijuana legalization paints a picture of economic prosperity, and depending on where you sit in the industry, that may be the case. Still, the reality is that the bulk of people who work in the cannabis industry are not profiting at the same level. The ability to break into the cannabis industry is limited by the financial requirements for many people. These high price tags mean that the people getting into the industry are more likely to have financial
wealth or access to it or are entering as corporations with a large amount of economic capital. This corporatization of the green market means that smaller businesses are less likely to be able to compete and thrive in the market. The cost of a marijuana producer license can be as expensive as up to $6,000. The license is just the beginning in terms of exorbitant costs because there are legal parameters around the sites where production happens that have to meet specific requirements that take money to meet. The most accessible way into the cannabis industry is as a budtender, which has an average salary between $27,000 and $35,000.
“We have to count on tips because dispensary owners don’t pay a liveable wage,” said a long-time budtender.
The economic struggle that comes from the legalization is one of the top reasons why the black market still exists. Being unable to afford licenses while not making
a liveable wage from the legal side, the dark market offers opportunities to survive. Though some people solely choose to be a part of the black market, many people straddle both sides of the industry.
“The green market did not leave room for small owner-operators to legally transition from the black market and still maintain margins. Lots of former black market growers went bankrupt due to all of the regulations being written from the standpoint of bankers and large investors with little to no help navigating the endless red tape involved in legalization. Many have ended up moving into the green side as employees at cut-rate wages now instead of as owners. Some straddle the line” shared an anonymous member of the marijuana industry who straddles both markets. They have been a part of the marijuana industry in Oregon since legalization happened in 2014. Due to the regulation, they have personally experienced and struggled with the lack of success within the green market.
We have to count on tips because dispensary owners don’t pay a liveable wage."
-Anonymous, long-time budtender
The black market allows for independent members of the marijuana industry to make decisions that would enable them to make enough money to survive and thrive and not have to jump through the hoops of bureaucracy that are a part of the green market. When you dive a little deeper into the legal marijuana industry, a light is shined on the disparities that have been exacerbated over the past ten years and, with the current economic climate, are only continuing to be aggravated.
Written by Javay Frye-Nekrasova | Designed & Illustrated by Abigail Raike
On the perfect fall day, I decided to take a stroll. I had no destination in mind, just the goal of hearing the leaves crunch beneath my feet and taking in Mother Nature's beautiful autumnal colors. My aimless walk seemed to lead me to the doors of Holy Grail Pharms. Since I had no plan, I didn’t know what I was in the mood for, so I opted to take the budtender’s recommendation, which is how I ended up with the delectable Melted Strawberries.
Hearing the name, I knew it would fit the vibes of fall. Just picture it: the strawberries are melting because summer has ended, and fall is stepping into the limelight. And the strain name was very fitting because I indeed did melt from them. It melted me to a place of perfect relaxation, but still enough energy to enjoy chatting with friends and laughing.
Strawberries, you get a subtle fruit aroma that isn’t too overwhelming but appealing enough to make you want to grab some fruit from the fridge. In terms of smoking Melted Strawberries, she is a smooth hit and not too harsh or overwhelming. There is a gentle descent into the melting.
Melted Strawberries is a 50/50 hybrid, the perfect balance of Indica and Sativa, in my personal opinion, which you definitely experience from smoking it. The balance of this hybrid makes it a great choice if you are looking for something chill but not so chill that it will have you asleep at the drop of a hat. This strain did
Melted Strawberries does well at melting the mind, not in a way that everything feels trippy and unreal, but in a way that melts off the rigidity of having to be in thinking mode, letting your ideas flow freely from your mind to your mouth. Whether they are new creative ideas or just philosophical ponderings, the ease of sharing them with others will have you prepping to write a book of poetry or dig deeper into the meanings of the 1993 classic “Hocus Pocus.”
Melted Strawberries might be the perfect addition to the fun if you’ve been looking for a strain to share with friends during some fall festivities.
Strain of the Month
Budtender Spotlight: Tyler Lee Jones
Tyler Jones has been bringing his long hair and chill demeanor to Happy Haze since its opening. Widely considered one of the best budtenders in Eugene, Jones is sure to bring you happiness in a jar.
What Have You Learned About Marijuana Since Becoming a Budtender?
“All the different benefits. How it can help people not just recreationally, but, you know, medically. Different topicals and how they can benefit people. Different tinctures and how they can benefit people. I’ve gotten a wealth of knowledge from our manager, Max, and from Kelly, the assistant manager.”
What do you like about budtending?
“I love budtending! I get to sell people happiness in a jar.”
What do you like about working at Happy Haze?
“It’s got a fun little hippie dippy kinda vibe. We treat everybody like a brand new friend that comes through the door and keep it all fun and light.”
Tell me about the first time you got high?
“I actually got high with my brother and my dad. We smoked out of my brother’s bamboo bong, and I didn’t realize what I was feeling when I was feeling it. It took me a couple of times smoking to actually recognize the high feeling, but I’ve been a pot smoker ever since.”
What’s your favorite way to consume marijuana?
“Through a bong or a joint.”
Written by Savannah Brown
What is your favorite thing to do while you’re high?
“I like kicking back, relaxing. Watching movies, playing video games. Chilling. Going for a walk.”
Favorite movies and video games while high?
“I’ve been playing a lot of God of War on Playstation. Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto, and any third-person. I’m no good with first person.”
What advice would you give to someone smoking for the first time?
“Start small and tread lightly.”
Designed by Eva Andrews
Photographed by Javay Frye-Nekrasova
What has been your favorite elevated experience?
“There’s so many. Most recently, the Oregon Country Fair. Walking around high all day was a great, great experience.”
Best Happy Haze Deals/Discounts to know about?
“We’re known for our $23 ounces, cheap dabs, cheap carts, and some of the best flower in town. We offer 10% discounts to students, seniors, veterans, and people who work around locally within a couple blocks of the shop. We have daily deals Monday-Sunday. There’s always a deal at Happy Haze. It’s a great place to shop. Also, our budget stuff is still top-notch.”
I love budtending! I get to sell people happiness in a jar.”
-Tyler Lee Jones, Budtender
Best Happy Haze Products:
Budtender Spotlight
Tasty Twosomes: A Date Night Series
Melted Strawberries x Chocolate Chili
Written by Daphne Patrick
Designed & Illustrated by Bella Lyon
Picture this: crisp autumn air, a soothing and euphoric high, and the irresistible aroma of chili simmering on the stove. For many folks, including myself, chili is a cold-weather cooking staple, and today, I’m taking this fall favorite to new heights, perfectly paired with our Strain of the Month: Melted Strawberries. Let’s spruce up our autumn nights with this delicious pairing that will warm your heart and your taste buds.
Melted Strawberries pack a sweet and spicy punch that perfectly complements a rich, warm bowl of Chocolate Chili. Chocolate has long been regarded as a secret ingredient in chili recipes all around the world, originating centuries ago from ancient Aztec civilization.
Melted Strawberries smooth, sweet flavor enhances the complex chocolate notes in the chili, creating a delightful balance. The addition of chocolate also improves the dish's texture, making it luxurious and velvety. Melted Strawberries bring hints of garlic and pungent herbs that harmonize beautifully with the aromatics found in this recipe. Plus, chocolate can elevate your experience by boosting serotonin levels in the body, adding an extra layer of enjoyment. Melted Strawberries and Chocolate Chili pairing is ideal for those seeking a little excitement and serenity. Indulge in this uplifting combination while nourishing your body with seasonal veggies, fiber, and protein!
The best part is this recipe comes together in one pot in about 40 minutes, making it great for weeknights. So get cozy, and grab your largest soup pot!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped ~ approximately 1 cup
2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
(A medium-sized bell pepper would also work)
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 lbs ground turkey
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
1 large or 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 15 oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz. can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes, with their juices
3 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped –(Optional) plus more as garnish
Instructions:
1. Heat oil in a large pot over mediumhigh heat. Add onion, jalapenos, chili powder, ground cumin, and ground coriander. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-6 minutes or until onions are softened.
2. Add the ground turkey (can be substituted for ground beef) and cook. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for another minute or so.
3. Add the cocoa powder, unsweetened chocolate, sweet potatoes, black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, chicken stock, salt, and black pepper. Give it a big stir. Bring it to a boil, turn the heat down to medium-low, and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are fully cooked. If using, stir in the chopped cilantro.
4. Ladle into bowls. Top your serving with anything you like! Some options are sour cream, lime juice, shredded cheese, fresh onion and jalapeno, or a drizzle of maple syrup! Enjoy!
Budtender Photo Series
Forward by Pierce Baugh | Written and Photographed by Alex Hernandez
One might be donning heart-shaped glitter glasses, red locks, and a confident, knowing smile; one might smile at you with the utmost warmth; another could look at you with a distant gaze, the middle man between you and the journey you’re about to embark on. No matter their appearance, they all have the same goal: to get you high.
These marijuana sages known as budtenders know that for some, consuming marijuana is a fun why-not activity; for others, finding the right strain is dealt with in the same seriousness that some sift through a vinyl records store, looking for just the right album. However serious one seeks out THC, budtenders are here to help.
Here’s a photo series of budtenders who are as different as the strains they carry in their dispensaries.
Levi
DAVIS
Levi Davis, a Eugene budtender who has been in the marijuana industry for around seven months, poses for a portrait inside TJ’s on Willamette, the dispensary he works at, on Feb. 13, 2024. Davis, a long-time smoker, joined the marijuana industry for the opportunity to mix customer service, sales, and, of course, marijuana and has since seen a side to it that he hadn’t noticed before. “It was totally different than I imagined, but in a very cool way. I always liked science and such going to school, and there's a lot of that when it comes down to this,” he said. “I kind of just thought I was going to go in and sell weed, but no, it’s been rad.” Davis has had opportunities to learn about different strains, growing practices, and more. He even tried his hand at growing his own plants but was unable to keep up with the amount of work that goes into it. “Growing is so cool, it’s such an art,” he said. “That’s something I didn’t appreciate before, for sure.”
Before working in the industry, Davis said he would buy according to his budget and smoke frequently. “It’s actually funny; I’ve started smoking less. I’ve started thinking more about [it],” he said. “Before, it would just be like, I’d get a bunch of really cheap weed and just smoke all the time, but now I want to enjoy it more.” Despite ”very vigorous” work training — some of which included training sheets and vocabulary study — Davis still recognizes that there are many opportunities to learn more. “There’s still so much I don’t know,” he said. “I know a certain amount, but there’s so much more.”
NEWTON Ashe
Ashe Newton, a Eugene budtender who has been in the marijuana industry since 2019, poses for a portrait inside of Verde, the dispensary he works at, on Feb. 13, 2024. Newton, who also runs Hysterical Light Eugene, an online-only radio station meant to “celebrate the art and music and culture of Eugene,” was introduced to parts of the marijuana industry while he was in school through his dad, who bought a farm in Salem. Shortly after graduating, he became a budtender. “I was so overwhelmed with everything in school that I started smoking my senior year, and it really helped, and it really got me through,” he said. “I literally got my degree, and a month later, I got a job at a dispensary.”
Newton poses with his cat, Indica, who “basically goes everywhere I go,” he said. Since joining the marijuana industry, Newton has seen the impacts on customers who use marijuana to relieve their pain, anxiety, and other ailments — enough to the point that he trudged through the snow and ice of the recent winter storms in Eugene to keep Verde open. “I started smoking originally because I was treating my anxiety. And so for me, it's never been like, super-fun, get super blasted with your friends kind of thing,” he said. “I have a much easier time selling marijuana to an older person who is coming in here with ailments than a college student who is going to a party that night. Like that's just kind of why I started doing this — why I continue doing this.”
I literally got my degree, and a month later, I got a job at a dispensary."
-Ashe Newton, Budtender
YOUMANS Hannah
Hannah Youmans, a budtender who has been in the marijuana industry for about two and a half years, poses for a portrait inside TJ’s on Willamette, the dispensary she works at, on Feb. 12, 2024. Originally from New York, Youmans came to Oregon with her younger sister, whom she had custody of, in search of a better situation. “I did not have the best childhood, and I wanted her to have a better childhood,” she said. “She was 14 when we moved here, and that was the end of 2020. Right in the middle of COVID.”
Marijuana was not legal at the time Youmans was living in New York, but when she arrived in Oregon, she went to dispensaries looking for a job. She has now found a passion in her work with marijuana — both making marijuana-related content on Instagram and as a budtender. “I just really like helping people, like the cancer patients who come in or the people who have just all kinds of different illnesses,” she said. “Seeing them go from really bad to feeling dramatically better the next time I see them is just incredible.”
I
just really like helping people, like the cancer patients who come in or the people who have just all kinds of different illnesses"
-Hannah Youmans, Budtender
QUARLES Terrence
Terrence Quarles, a Eugene budtender who has been in the marijuana industry for around two years, poses for a portrait inside Peach Marijuana on Feb. 13, 2024; he is now the manager at Phresh Start Marijuana. Originally from Los Angeles, Quarles said the industry there was difficult to break into, so after living in Hawaii — where there is no recreational marijuana industry — he moved to Oregon, primarily to get involved in marijuana. “It’s cliche, but I found my calling,” he said. After injuries from high school football and experiences with insomnia, depression, and anxiety from a young age, Quarles turned to marijuana as a solution. “Once that started, I just fell in love with marijuana and just started smoking it more and more and learning about it,” he said. “Honestly, like I said, I can sleep. That’s a huge lifestyle change for me — It made my whole world just much different. It made managing my mental health easier. It still does.”
Quarles comes from a service industry background, having worked as a bartender and server, and said he wanted to be a part of the growing marijuana industry as it becomes more widely legalized and accepted. However, the industry is not without its faults, and the every day, customer-facing employees can be the ones who feel the impact. “I’ve definitely seen people leave their locations before — I see that a lot, unfortunately. You know how it goes when business people make promises they don’t fulfill, and people start to feel disrespected, they move on,” Quarles said. “I would love to see redistribution of the wealth in this industry; we need some money down at the bottom. Also, tip your budtenders.”
It’s cliche, but I found my calling,"
-Terrence Quarles, Budtender
