Ideas for a green Valentines

It’s that time of the year again. Love is in the air. Romances, old and new, are beginning to blossom like flowers in the coming spring.

Valentine’s day is all too often associated with doing something romantic with your partner. The holiday often evokes images of surprising your significant other with bouquet of roses or a giant teddy bear with an accompanying heart-shaped box filled with chocolates. Perhaps it’s when one finally summons the courage to ask their crush out to a date. We want to help you add something new and green to your valentine’s day.

Cannabis can be applied in many different ways to have a more romantic effect. It all comes down to what you and your partner want to do, or how you choose to surprise them with something special. This can be as simple or complex as you choose to make it. Here are a few ideas that we recommend to make this the most exciting Valentine’s day yet!

Take a hike with a joint

Lets say you just asked your crush out to a date. Fantastic! Firstly, well done for asking. Now, what do you do? Just get to know each other. A great way to do this is to go out and enjoy one of the many tails, paths, and hikes the Columbia River Gorge has to offer. You can enhance the adventure, and the date, if you bring along a mellow sativa or hybrid pre-roll for the two of you to share. It won’t put you to sleep and you will both have the opportunity to experience the space, giggle and bond. It’s all about enjoying each other’s company, however you decide to do it.

The perfect gift

If you and your partner are familiar with cannabis use, then you are both probably familiar with the munchies. It’s a common side effect that we’ve all heard of. Marijuana is known to increase the appetite of most of its users, so why not make a munchie basket for your special someone? Flowers and chocolates are overrated. Putting together a spread of gourmet cannabis treats is a very thoughtful and romantic gesture. You could include marshmallow bonbons, a mint hibiscus or peanut butter and jelly chocolate bar or even infused cheese crisps for the savory partner out there. Specializing this selection to both your tastes will be treating yourselves and your munchie urge on this special day.

Dinner for three: you, your love, and Mary Jane

Then there is, of course, the classic dinner date. The dinner date applies to both blossoming romances and long term loves, but cannabis can make this meal just a little bit more special. Now, if you’re going to pair cannabis with dinner, chances are you’ll have to cook at home. You could try infusing the meal itself (see our thanksgiving blog on meal infusion here).

The Grand Finale

Ending the evening at its finest. Everyone has their own rituals of love, but if there’s one constant among humans, it’s that we enjoy a good back rub. Try using cannabis topicals as a lotion while you massage your partner. Cannabis infused topicals are popular for localized pain relief and can help with muscle tension. Cannabis infused sensual oils and lubes are also a great add in for your special holiday. Apothecanna’s Sexy Time lube is formulated specifically to enhance sexual pleasure for both partners.

Treat yourself anyway (on your own)

If you are on your own this Valentines Day, then today is for you. Never forget to love yourself, and Valentines is all about love. Treat yourself to your favorite meal. Spend time participating in your favorite activity, whatever it may be: hiking, biking, kiting, boarding, rafting, kayaking, watching movies, writing, drawing, or just enjoying “me” time. Draw yourself a hot bath and relax with a fine indica pre-roll at the end of the day. There are even bath bombs that are cannabis infused, so you won’t miss out on the benefits of a topical treatment!

We hope some of our ideas of how to incorporate cannabis into your Valentine’s day helps bring a little more love into your life. Marijuana has been known as a plant associated with peace and love, something we all could use a little bit more of in this world. May your Valentines Day be filled with just that. 

Happy Danksgiving! How to make your Thanksgiving green.

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays. There is an impressive amount of food cooked. Several courses for several people are prepped. Friends come together, laugh, eat, drink, and think about all the things that they are thankful for. This breeds a wonderful environment of friendliness, compassion, and culinary delight. This makes Thanksgiving ideal for pairing with cannabis.

For those who are curious about turning their Thanksgiving into a Danksgiving, we have some tips that can help make the experience one of your favorite cannabis-infused events.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Easily the biggest draw about a cannabis friendly Thanksgiving is infusing the meal itself. This is a great idea and there are bounties of edible recipes to find online, but we will make a very strong recommendation on this topic: Don’t infuse everything! Don’t make the mistake of assuming that every one of your guests would be ok with your “special” mashed potatoes.  Provide a normal dish for everyone to enjoy and keep the infused dishes separate. But make them organic and delicious.

First step to edibles is to make your cannabis butter or oil. You can use either, but we suggest butter as it can be used for a more diverse selection of meals versus using oil. Important note: make your canna-butter before Thanksgiving day. The process will take 24 hours and require the use of the oven.

First and foremost: decarboxylate (decarb) your cannabis. Decarbing involves baking your cannabis at low temperatures. In layman’s terms, this activates the psychoactive properties of THC found in cannabis, thus making it ready for infusion. If you or a friend have leftover trimmings from a home grow, this plant matter can be decarbed as well for the same effect.

To decarboxylate cannabis:

• Heat your oven to 220-235 degrees Fahrenheit
• Spread parchment paper over a baking pan, then spread your cannabis across the paper
• Bake for 30-45 minutes.

 For Thanksgiving, you’ll want a half-ounce to an ounce of high-quality, organic cannabis. Learn more about cannabis decarboxylation.

After you decarboxylate your cannabis, it’s time to infuse it into canna-butter. It’s remarkably easy to make your own canna-butter, but here’s a basic breakdown.

You will need:

• 1lb unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• Cheese cloth or a fine mesh strainer

Directions

1.     Add one cup of water and 1 lb of butter into a stock pot or sauce pan; let the butter melt and begin to simmer on low. Adding water helps to regulate the temperature and prevents the butter from scorching.

2.    As butter begins to melt, add in your ground, decarboxylated cannabis.

3.    Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. Keep the heat low. Do not allow the mixture to boil. The longer the mix simmers, the more potent it will become.

4.    After simmering, pour the hot mixture into a glass, refrigerator-safe container, using the cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer to strain out all plant matter from the mix. Try to get as much liquid off the plant material as possible. Discard leftover plant material after straining.

5.    Cover and refrigerate the liquid canna-butter overnight or until the butter is fully hardened. Once hardened, the butter will separate from the water. Lift the now infused canna-butter from the water and discard the remaining water.

6.    Let the canna-butter sit at room temperature to soften for use. Do not use a microwave to soften the butter.

You can learn more about canna-butter and oil infusions from Leafly here.

Now that you have your homemade canna-butter, the sky is virtually the limit on what you choose to infuse with it. Canna-butter can be applied to multiple recipes, and many traditional Thanksgiving dishes already use butter as an ingredient.

Here’s some suggestions on what to use your canna-butter with:

• Mashed potatoes
• Green bean casserole
• Creamed spinach
• Cornbread
• Pie crust (for any pie you intend to make)

All the sides listed above have butter for an ingredient that can be easily be substituted with your canna-butter. However, our top suggestion on food infusion is gravy. Gravy is very easy to make, it’s tasty, and it can be added to nearly anything you put on your plate. This versatility makes gravy a great candidate for infusion, and it also puts you in control of how much cannabis you are eating. Overconsumption is a common concern when it comes to homemade edibles. Only going for a gentle THC effect? Just put on a small splash of canna-gravy and always consume responsibly.

As for the more classic form of cannabis use, smoking or vaping, strain choice is key. For daytime use, choose a high-quality strain that is known to have uplifting, energizing, or creativity-sparking qualities (Electric Lemon, Blue Dream, or Betty Hayes would be a good choice.) Looking for a pleasant after-meal toke? Maybe chose a strain that would pair well with sitting on the couch and digesting. Indica or CBD strains such as the Clean Green Certified Obama Kush or Blue Dragon Desert Frost could make for a fine evening delight. You could even put a scoop of Drip Ice Cream on to your pie for desert.

Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what you have in life. Thankful for good friends. Thankful for where you live. Thankful for the food on your plate. And now, in Oregon, Thankful for the cannabis that is legally available to you. Be sure to enjoy all of the good things this holiday. You know we will.

From all of us here at Gorge Greenery,

Happy Thanksgiving

Women in Weed

The Cannabis industry is thriving. Thousands of small businesses, from farms to storefronts, have popped up all over the states of Colorado, Washington, and our very own Oregon.

But there is one thing that is standing out in this budding industry setting it apart from the rest of the corporate world: Women hold 36% of executive-level positions. Breaking down that average, 63% of executive women are found in testing labs whereas 28% of women hold executive positions in investment firms.

Now why are these figures important? When compared to all U.S. businesses, the cannabis industry stands above the national average of executive-level positions held by women, which sits at 22%. This is big news for women who have long since faced the struggle of competing in a business world that is almost entirely dominated by men. Legal marijuana could be the first billion-dollar industry not dominated by men.

With the cannabis industry in full growth, a unique opportunity is presented to women who find themselves in a state with legalized cannabis. This industry is new and it changes every month. Who knows what the future may hold, but there is an immense amount of opportunity in this new sector that has yet to be conquered by men. Finally, we may see an authentic emergence of equal opportunity in the workplace through the cannabis industry. The glass ceiling is cracking.

Listen to our very own Kirsten Cook talk with Justin McDonald about women in weed here:

https://soundcloud.com/cannacast420/cannacast420-episode-9-kirsten-cook-gorge-greenery

Also be sure to check out the Weediquette episode “Mary Janes” as Krishna Andavolu explores the world of women in weed.

Source articles:

http://mjbizdaily.com/chart-of-the-week-women-holding-more-seats-in-the-executive-suite-at-cannabis-companies/

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/women-turn-to-the-marijuana-industry-to-escape-stubborn-glass-ceilings/489008/

Cannabis Strains: Choosing the right strain for you.

Which one is for you?

Ok, its time we talk strains. Anyone who is somewhat familiar with our lady cannabis knows that she comes in some different varieties; no one plant is exactly like the other, but fortunately they tend to stay in a general family of strains.

There are three major strains: Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid. Each strain has typically different effects on the user upon consumption, whether it be smoked, vaped, eaten, or otherwise. 

Sativa strains are a generally more uplifting, energizing and active experience. Those who seek an energy boost, or perhaps a strain that doesn’t cloud the brain, tend to go for a sativa. Sativas, due to their typical clear-headed nature, are popular with those who seek an active and uplifting experience without the “stoney” feeling associated with many indica strains. Cleaning the house? Going for a hike? Maybe a sativa strain is for you.

Sativa’s are also a good choice for those who seek to treat depression, due to the uplifting nature of sativa strains. Sativas are also a good choice to help treat chronic fatigue, or ADD, due to the energizing and focusing effects of the strain. Sativas, as with most all strains of cannabis, can be an excellent appetite stimulant.

Indicas are on the opposite end of the spectrum, compared to sativas. Indica strains typically have a much more sedating effect when consumed and tend to cause a profound sense of relaxation to flow through the body, with a cerebral psychoactive effect as well. Indicas are also paraphrased as “Indica, In-da-couch”.

When it comes to killing pain, most people tend to go for indicas, as the sedating effect of the strain does wonders for those who seek to treat chronic pain. Indicas are also a great choice for those who are suffering from insomnia, since the sedating effects of the strain can calm and relax the user into a state of sleepiness, a welcome feeling for those who have had trouble getting rest. Indicas, too, are an excellent appetite stimulant.
 

Hybrids are a mix of both sativa and indica strains, bred with each other with the intent of making a strain that encompasses the best of both worlds. Hybrids can vary dramatically between users and the effects they feel. Some will have the cerebral effects of indica paired with the body energy of sativas, others will have the opposite; sedated body of the indica with a clear mind of the sativa. There are many variety of Hybrids in the cannabis world, be sure to talk to your budtender about which strain may be right for you.

Then there are the High CBD strains. What is CBD? Short for Cannabidiol, CBD is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis and is one of the major phytocannabinoids present in cannabis, second only to THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol).

So what does CBD do? Typically, CBD users experience little to no psychoactivity after consuming strains high in CBD. However, CBD has proven to be very beneficial as a pain reliever, anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic (suppresses muscle spasms), anti-psychotic (tranquilizing/manage psychosis), and anxiolytic (relieves anxiety). With the wide range of medical benefits that CBD has been seen to provide, and with the lack of psychoactivity that is seen in THC, CBD has become very popular with those who seek just the medical benefits without getting “high”.

Now that we have a little more knowledge to help guide our decision on what strain is best for us, go and try some out! Every user reacts to cannabis differently, and the only way to truly know which strain is best for you is to experience the effects for yourself. Just remember, when trying a new strain for the first time, despite your tolerance level, take it slow and steady. Manage your dosing, don’t overdo it, and most of all, enjoy yourself.

Cheers!

Stinky Pete

Stinky Pete has been released! Stinky Pete is 1/2 Snowtracks, 1/4 Vortex, 1/8 Dynamite, and 1/8 OG Kush causing an intense body high. Testing up at 25% this strain has and Earthy, manly smell, with an herbal nutty flavor with notes of cheese.

This strain is named after Pete Bergeman, who was well known throughout the Hood River Marijuana industry and passed away doing what he loved. Pete did a lot from Otis Gardens and he left his mark by building many custom work areas in the garden. He ran a tight crew and was well liked.

When Otis popped some seeds from their private breeding stock they discovered a large, powerful, and smelly 9 bladed plant. Pete died around the same time this strain was born so it is named in memory of him.

Come down and try this potent strain!

Recreational Marijuana on Thursday!

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