The Air is Greener in Oregon
Oregon, a place where towering Douglas firs meet the sky and foggy beaches bid adieu to surging waves of the Pacific Ocean, might be adored for its remarkable and varied natural beauty. However, residents and visitors alike relish in another type of green that the Beaver State has to offer – marijuana. Having legalized recreational use in 2014, this ‘evergreen state’ is surely a front runner in the cannabis culture with its lush landscapes dually matched by quality marijuana.
From Soil to Soul – The Cannabis Scene
For locals who know, the luscious Rogue Valley, with its rich alluvial soil, sun-soaked summers, and cool autumn nights, is a paradise not just for famous Rogue Creamery cheese but also for cannabis cultivation. Farms like East Fork Cultivars in Southern Oregon rake in the benefits of the local terroir, crafting cannabis products with a uniquely Oregon flavor.
Travelers traversing Highway 26 from Portland to the coast might notice the distinct scent of cannabis wafting gently from the greenhouses sprinkled along the rural landscape. This fragrant journey is symbolic of the state’s embrace of marijuana, representing both its economic importance and the liberality of Oregonian views.
Speaking of Portland, you haven’t truly experienced Oregon until you saunter the city’s bustling cannabis market. Strikingly friendly dispensaries like Bridge City Collective, Jayne, and Farma, that echo the city’s ethos – “Keep Portland Weird”, extends warmth to patrons seeking various forms of the verdant herb. From vape cartridges to local chocolate edibles, cannabis thrives in all eras of Portland life.
Pot Comes in Hot at Oregon’s Events and Festivals
Now, have you popped over to the Annual Oregon Cannabis Growers’ Fair, in our capital city of Salem? It encapsulates Oregon’s farm-to-table and soil-to-soul spirit in one grassroots event. No regular craft fair, this gathering showcases first-rate cannabis plants alongside the state’s hardworking growers and their disciples.
The Hemp & Cannabis Fair in Medford and the Cultivation Classic in Portland celebrate cannabis artisans who elevate pot from a mere pastime to a connoisseur’s delight. These events are an ode to marijuana, one of Oregon’s finest natural resources, making the love for the plant pretty high in Oregonians’ list of delights.
Navigating The State of High Spirits
Remember to take a moment, though. As grand as it all sounds, Oregon’s relationship with marijuana isn’t all roses or, shall we say, perfectly rolled joints. The state has some comprehensive regulations – you must be at least 21 years old to consume or purchase marijuana, and while up to an ounce is legal to carry, public consumption remains off-limits. So safer to enjoy your ‘green goddess’ indoors or in private spaces with the rainy weather outside giving you the coziest of company.
When it comes to driving, leave your stash at home. As proud Oregonians, we move with mindfulness, just like the way we live, trekking our favorite trails like Powell Butte Nature Park or indulging in some craft brews at Deschutes Brewery in Bend. So, remember that the aura of the enlightened state of Oregon includes responsible marijuana use.
Here’s to Oregon’s Pot Love
Oregon’s deep-rooted love and respect for marijuana are threads woven into our state’s cultural fabric. Whether it’s the grin on a Bend brewer’s face when he reveals his cannabis-infused ale, the bustling Saturday Market green with cannabis-inspired art, or the relaxing toke after a surfing adventure at Cannon Beach, marijuana and the culture around it enhances the Oregon experience phenomenally.
Whether you’re an Oregon local, a visitor, or a budding cannabis connoisseur, there’s much to love about our state’s unique marriage of nature, culture, and ‘kush’. So come, relish in Oregon’s green – in our forests, in our valleys, and in our ever-evolving cannabis culture.
Remember to bask in the beauty of our great state, which naturally includes our passion for pot. And as we Oregonians believe, a day without a sighting of Mt. Hood, a sip from Willamette Valley’s vineyards, or a whiff of our finest marijuana, is just not a day well spent.