Introduction to Oregon’s Blossoming Love Affair
Oregon, known for its abundant greenery and majestic Pacific coastline, has been garnering interest in recent years for something else that is just as green – cannabis. A trip through the Beaver State would be incomplete without an introduction to this budding industry. And, for those with a curious disposition, the Cumberland Blue Tour – a guided jaunt in a refurbished 1981 school bus, offering a unique gaze into the heart of Southern Oregon’s cannabis empire.
A sense of adventure lies at the core of every Oregonian. Adventures into the lesser-known, the strange, and the exciting. Even amid an expanse of wild berries, coffee, and craft brews, cannabis tourism has found an exotic stamp in our state’s ideographic passport.
When the Green Rush Swept Oregon
Oregon, being the progressive force and trailblazer always, legalized the recreational use of marijuana back in 2014. Suddenly, the green rush swept across our area like a meteor shower over Mount Hood’s stunning views. The region’s damp temperate climate and rainforest-like growing conditions became the perfect playground for a visionary crop.
“Pioneers, get out the way!” – that’s what we said. The thick scent of ganja now wafted from urban Portland to rural Williams. This new wave inspired entrepreneurs and created opportunities straight off till the ends of Lookout Point Lake. It was like spotting the elusive Coastal Marten in the Siuslaw National Forest – rare, unique, but incredibly rewarding.
More Than Just Rolling Up a Joint
In Oregon, cannabis isn’t just about rolling up a joint and passing it around while sitting by Coos Bay. It expands beyond that, venturing into realms of cannabis-infused edibles, artisanal treats, beverages, aromatic oils, and therapeutic salves. For those seeking some CBD-infused escapades, Laurie + MaryJane offer a range of delectable edibles. Or head to Portland’s Grön Chocolate shop for some mouthwatering cannabis-infused, fair-trade chocolates. These ‘high’ points of interest are changing the face of a traditional ‘wine and dine’ experience into a unique ‘weed and dine’.
The Wacky Weed Tours
Oregon, with its enchanting summers and rains that taste like poetry, boasts several unique weed tours. These outings offer patrons an opportunity to explore behind-the-scenes of a bustling dispensary or the closely guarded secrets of a well-tended cannabis farm.
The Loopr Puff Bus in Portland, for instance, takes you for a spin around the city, letting you explore the best locally run pot shops and breweries. Makes for quite an interesting evening, maybe even a story for your grandkids, don’t you think?
Or imagine visiting Smith Rock State Park, taking in the breathtaking views, and in the same trip, visiting a cannabis farm, like Alfalfa’s Highgrade Organics, sitting right there, snug as a ladybug in a Douglas Fir tree.
Cannabis and the Local Community
Back in the day, weed was the sly fox. Around here, it used to be lumber and fishing – industries that fed families and built homes. Today, the cannabis industry in Oregon is playing the role of the new-age hero. The fox has turned friendly, creating jobs, boosting local economies, and even subsidizing education.
This doesn’t mean our beloved Beaver State has turned into some kind of cannabis-fueled Utopia. Oh no. If anything, it has just recognized the potential of an industry so diverse and expansive that it just couldn’t be ignored.
Conclusion: Welcome to the Green Future
In a state where the rains act like an empowering symphony and the sun shines as if it’s in love with the coastline, the cannabis industry has found its home – Oregon. There are still those who scratch their heads at our new “maid of honor.” But most have embraced it just as lovingly as they embrace a cup of Stumptown Coffee on a drizzly morning.
So, for those contemplating a trip to our magnificent slice of the Pacific Northwest, we invite you to partake in this unique journey. Not just a journey through Oregon’s rich landscape and culture, but also a journey of self-discovery via a fragrant and playful haze of green. Discover the other side of our state, one puff at a time.