Strain Highlight: Durban Poison

A sofresh farms favorite
Durban Poison has long been a favorite in the Pacific Northwest and not surprisingly, is sofresh farms' most popular strain. Durban Poison suits itself well with the active NW crowd yet also appeals to those with a creative side. With its unique terpene profile, nothing smells or tastes quite like it. Open a jar of Durban Poison and the room fills with the scent of spicy anise mixed with pine trees and citrus. Everyone immediately knows when Durban’s in the house.

Land race genetics
Durban Poison is a land-race strain with pure African genetics. It comes from an area in South Africa near the port of Durban. The area has a humid, subtropical climate with hot summers and warm, dry winters. Since Durban, Africa, is physically far from many other well-known cannabis growing areas the plant has evolved into a unique strain all its own. Durban Poison is unlike the hash plants of Afghanistan, Sativas of South American or the Asian strains we all know so well. This exclusive breeding has led to an increase in rare beneficial cannabinoids such as THCV.

What is THCV?
Most cannabis consumers are familiar with the effects of THC and CBD cannabinoids. Durban Poison has been known to test high in THC but it also contains a unique cannabinoid called THCV. As the name suggests, it’s much like THC but with other pronounced effects. What are the benefits of THCV?

• THCV is known to be an appetite suppressant – That’s right, instead of giving you the “munchies” Durban Poison has been shown to reduce your appetite. This is great if you’re on a diet.
• THCV may help reduce anxiety attacks – People experiencing panic attacks or PTSD may find relief in the effects of THCV without reducing normal emotions.
• THCV has been shown to help diabetes – THCV may help the bodies ability to reduce insulin resistance and regulate blood sugar levels.
• THCV may help with Alzheimer’s disease -  Brain lesions, motor control and tremors appear to improve.
• THCV may increase bone growth – THCV has been shown to promote growth of new bone cells.

Terpenes
Terpenes are a group of essential oils that gives each cannabis strain their unique characteristics and aroma. Durban Poison has always tested high for terpenes and its unique profile is like no other. What are the main terpenes that makes Durban Poison so special? Glad you asked!

Terpinolene – Think piney, herbal, floral with a hint of citrus. It’s used in many of the lotions, perfumes and soaps you find on your local grocery shelf. Terpinolene can be found in pine trees, lilacs, apples and cumin.

Potential medical benefits include: anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, sedative, antifungal

Myrcene – Found in many fruits and other fragrant plants such as hops, basil, bay tree, parsley, mango lemongrass and thyme. It’s thought to help produce a sedative, relaxed effect on the user.

Potential medical benefits include: anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, sedative, pain-relief (Analgesic)

Ocimene – known for its sweet fruity, herbal and woodsy scent. Ocimene is used in perfumes and occurs in other plants like pepper, mangoes, orchids and mint.

Potential medical benefits include: antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, decongestant

Pinene –  As you can imagine, pinene smells a lot like a pine trees. You can also find it in basil, parsley, rosemary and even orange peels.

Potential medical benefits include: Pinene has been known to improve lung function (Bronchodilator), short-term memory loss, anti-inflammatory and alertness.

Limonene – This is the primary terpene found in citrus fruit. Everyone is familiar with the intense citrus smell of lemons, limes and grapefruits.

Potential medical benefits include: stress relief, antifungal, antibacterial, heartburn and mood enhancement. When you’ve had a hard day and need to relax, look for the strains that smell like lemon/lime.

Caryophyllene –  Think spicy! Most of our favorite spices are filled with this terpene. Pepper, cinnamon, basil, oregano, rosemary and cloves are just a few.

Potential medical benefits include: anti-inflammatory, pain-relief (Analgesic), anti-depressant, anti-cancer and anti-anxiety.

There is only one Durban Poison! If you find yourself searching for a great “day smoke” you must give Durban Poison a try. Nothing is better for a hike in the woods or hanging out with that special someone. sofresh farms grows only the best cut, using 100% organic methods, for the best tasting Durban Poison on the market. Clean Green certified guarantees you’re making a safe choice and Phylos Galaxy certification assures you’re getting what you paid for. Next time you visit your local dispensary be sure to ask for sofresh farms Durban Poison!

Guest blog written by Fred Gunnerson, sofresh farms member.

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. 

Homemade cannabis salve recipe

Cannabis can have healing properties in many forms. Topical lotions and salves have become increasingly popular over the months, so this blog will help shed some light on how to do it yourself. It's easier than you think. Our trusted shop expert, Jenna, gives us some tips on how to make your own homemade cannabis salve.

This recipe can be made in either a Magic Butter Machine or a crock pot. The Magic Butter Machine has a setting for oil infusions which takes one hour. If using a crock pot, try and use one that you can program the temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit and has a thermometer. Most standard crock pots have a low, medium, and high setting. The low setting is normally 160° F and that would be the maximum you would want your mixture to cook at. The Magic Butter Machine recommends making a batch with no less than 2 cups of oil in their machine. So, I like to stick with that amount for the crock pot, too.

I have found 1 ounce of flower to 2 cups of oil works perfectly for a nice, strong salve. The amount of finished marijuana product after straining ends up making about 12-14 fluid oz. That can be too much for some people, so you can cut that in half for a "half batch" (1 cup oil- 28 grams flower, yielding about 5-7 fluid oz.) That would need to be made in a crock pot which does not have a set recommended minimum amount of oil. The entire process, which is 4 different steps, takes about 5 hours. So, to make it worth your effort, do at least a half batch.

There are quite a few different oils and butters you can use. I like to stick with coconut oil being at least one of the two cups of oil used. Almond oil is another really great one for the skin. You can mix and match with other things like cocoa butter or shea butter if you want to get more luxurious. This recipe is all oil based, so the finished product can have up to a year of shelf life if stored at a normal room temperature.

As far as choosing flower it is up to you and your preference. For example, I use flowers high in THC that end up making a potent formula which helps with my pain and swelling. I then add in oils like arnica and other essential oils to give it more deep relieving effects. I personally have found using high-quality buds, and not trim or leaves, makes for a more balanced potent topical. I try and source flower that has gone through a third-party certification (Clean Green Certified, Certified Kind, or Dragonfly Earth Medicine) practices to make sure my medicine as clean as possible. 

Ingredients list for a full batch:

• 1 oz. of flower (28 grams)

• 2 cups of coconut oil (or whichever oil you choose)

• 2 teaspoons sunflower or soy lecithin (helps cannabinoids bond with oil, more easily absorbed in the skin)

• 1/2 oz. of arnica oil (if making a pain blend)

• 2 teaspoons of vitamin E oil (optional)

• 2 teaspoons of beeswax pellets (adjust amount to type of oil: if using almond or olive oil, double amount of beeswax shown here)

• 30 drops of lavender essential oil (or whichever you pick)

• If you prefer a stronger or lighter Lavender smell in your topical, feel free to add additional Lavender essential oil, or to use less, until you achieve your desired scent.

Additional materials needed:

• Several yards of non-bleached natural cheesecloth.

• 1, 24 oz. wide mouth mason jar, and rubber band for jar.

• Small glass jars for storage (1 oz. glass jars work great)

• Latex or latex-free fitted examination or cleaning gloves, a glass bowl, rubber spatula, slotted spoon.

Here are the 4 steps in the process of making a cannabis based oil

STEP 1

Decarboxylating flower:

• Preheat your conventional or toaster oven to 260 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Place your flower on a cookie sheet lined with foil, spreading it all out evenly.

• Cover the flower with another sheet of foil, making sure to fold over the edges to create a seal. Set your conventional or toaster oven to 260 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour.

• Make sure to check after 30 minutes just in case your oven burns hotter or is at a high altitude.

• The flowers should be a nice light golden brown and not over toasted or burnt!

STEP 2

Cooker:

• Pre-melt 2 cups of oil in a double boiler or microwave, then pour into your machine with the decarboxylated cannabis.

• Add in the 2 teaspoons of sunflower or soy lecithin, then stir until blended.

• Let oil and bud mixture cook for 3 hours, stir gently every hour or so.

STEP 3 (Gloves needed throughout STEP 3)

Straining your oil:

• When the 3 hours is up, take off lid to let cool for at least 10 minutes.

• While the oil cools, secure some cheesecloth over the top of the mason jar with a rubber band.

• Spoon flower material out from the oil and into the cheesecloth covered jar. Then undo the rubber band, and squeeze the cheesecloth over the jar. You will probably need to do this 2-3 times to get all of the flower squeezed. **Caution material will be hot!**

• Take the oil that remains (from the oil that the flower was taken out of) and pour that through a fresh piece of cheesecloth (folded over 3 times) into the mason jar. If there are still small amounts of green material present, go ahead and pour it through one more strainer.

• Pour all of strained oil into mixing bowl.

• Now is the time to add whatever healing essential oils and pre-melted beeswax into the warm oil. Stir gently, but thoroughly.

• Have your final storage glass containers clean and ready to pour the oil mixture into.

• Depending on what oils you use, adjust the amount of beeswax accordingly. If using oils that solidify at room temperature, like coconut oil, cocoa butter, or shea butter, you need less beeswax. Too much beeswax can make the salve too waxy, and not rub in as well.

STEP 4

Finalizing product consistency:

• Place the filled jars in the refrigerator for an hour and a half or freezer for 40 minutes. This will help the oil cool and set more evenly. Additionally, this will help if you are using 2 different types of oil with different solidifying temperatures.

• After the chill, let salve hang out in room temperature for an hour or so before putting lids on.

• To make your home a little safer, please label jars with ingredients including cannabis first and that it is for topical use only.

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

Gorge Greenery Reviews: Pineapple Diem from EVOLVD

It’s no secret: We’re big fans of the high-quality extract produced by EVOLVD Organics. EVOLVD’s cartridges are the best you can find in the Northwest, and we support this kind of quality in this industry.

It is quite commonplace in the cannabis industry to see innovation. This can be innovation in how you grow the plant. It can be innovation in how you cook or craft an edible. In EVOLVD’s case, there is innovation in how you vape.

At the Greenery, we just got in the new line of EVOLVD Capsl500 cartridges. Each cartridge contains a half gram of EVOLVD’s renowned and award winning extract. Their extraction methods are utterly unmatched. No other cartridge has such a diverse profile of cannabinoids and terpenes that are found in the end product. For our review, we decided to take the Pineapple Diem out for a spin.

Pineapple Diem is a cross of Golden Pineapple and Mystery Haze, both strains grown by the revered cultivator Green Bodhi. If you remember Green Bodhi’s Golden Pineapple, that should be enough incentive for you to stop reading this review and go grab this cartridge right away. One of the most memorable traits of Green Bodhi’s flower is just how impressive it’s flavor and effect is, both of which are very apparent in Pineapple Diem.

This is where the Capsl500 variable airflow mechanism shines. The cap on the cartridge can be rotated. Rotating the cartridge opens up a small port on the top of the mouthpiece. Think of it as a carb for your vape pen. Opening the port allows more airflow for a smoother draw, diffusing much of the vaporized extract. Closing the port, makes for thicker, cloudier vapes, often accompanied by an immediate and strong effect. Be responsible, friends. A little bit goes a long way.

There is a truly organic and fresh taste to Pineapple Diem. After just one draw, we’re delightfully overwhelmed with is floral yet fruity taste. The effect is almost immediate. This is quite an upbeat strain! After enjoying a reasonable amount of the cartridge, which for some people is just one draw, we took a sunset stroll down to the Hood River sandbar. The Diem was definitely conducive to enjoying our walk. The colors of the sunset were inviting, the sand was soft, and the air was crisp with the cool fall air.  The evening, paired with Pineapple Diem, brought out the joys of all our days spent on the sandbar this summers past. However, we’re glad to feel the fall air as we watched the sun set on turning leaves. You could see them all the way down The Gorge.

Grower Highlight: Trailhead Farms

Gorge Greenery now stocks flower from the local, small-batch farm Trailhead Farms. Located just on the edge of Hood River city limits, the Greenery was given a tour of Trailhead Farms. We got the inside look on how this Clean Green Certified farm is operated.

Dave, one of the founders of Trailhead, checks us in at the farm and gives us a lay of the land. Trailhead Farms has three greenhouses, with room to build one more for next season’s grow. "We're an organic grow." Dave says, as he points out that Trailhead is neighbors with other farmers. Their neighbors are multi-generational fruit farmers sticking to organic growing practices that resist spraying pesticides and fertilizers. They care about their crop, and so does Trailhead Farms.

Trailhead Farms is a Clean Green Certified grower, meaning that they have either met or exceeded a multitude of guidelines that ensures that the farm has a low impact on the environment. Now more than ever, we need more farms to adopt sustainable growing practices. Trailhead has solar panels mounted on their south-facing roofs with plans to install more. Their greenhouses act as water collectors. Any rainfall on the greenhouses drains into gutters and is saved in storage tanks onsite to be used for watering later. Simple solutions like these make a big difference in maintaining a sustainable grow.

Most of Trailhead's grow for the summer season has already been harvested, so the greenhouses sit nearly empty. That, however, doesn’t mean that their work is over.

"The soil is alive,” Dave says, "And we work hard to take care of it. It's what keeps the plant happy and healthy." Dave scoops up a handful of soil to show us, and it immediately becomes clear that “Alive” is the right word of choice. The dirt is soft, dark, and even has some worms here and there. It’s filled with plant and animal life, and that’s a good thing. Dave describes the cycles of nutrients that the farm will use to help nourish the soil and, in turn, the plant. Whole malted barley, kelp, and fish bone meal are just a few of the all-natural ingredients Trailhead utilizes to nourish the soil.

One thing that was clear to us on our tour of Trailhead Farms was their attention to detail. When you run a smaller operation, you spend more time focusing on every aspect of what it takes to grow quality, clean cannabis. Their hard work has paid off.

Electric Lemon, Kimbo Kush X Cookies and Cream, Double Tangie Banana, and Tiger Beat names only just a few of their strains grown this season. When you run a small grow operation, the quality of the flowers you grow is very noticeable. The flavors are more rich and diverse, the high is cleaner and more enjoyable, and the plant has a higher variety of cannabinoids.

Kimbo Kush X Cookies & Cream

Choosing your cannabis isn't just about how high the THC percentage is. It’s about how the plant is grown. We are proud to carry Trailhead Farms cannabis. They are a sustainable Hood River farm. They produce a quality crop that was grown with passion and care. We are huge fans of what they do. Locally grown with care, Trailhead Farms embodies what craft cannabis cultivation is all about.

Why Gorge Greenery? We're not your average dispensary

In November of 2014, Oregon voters approved of Measure 91, allowing recreational sales of marijuana. Ever since that date, the Green Rush came to Oregon. It brings with it a swath of new and bustling industry where there was only black market and shady dealings before. Now, in 2017, cannabis dispensaries can be found in almost every corner of the state. There are 167 dispensaries in the city of Portland alone. This now begs the question: what's the difference between these shops anyway? What sets one cannabis dispensary apart from the other? How important is it that I choose the right shop?

When consuming cannabis, it's important to know where the product came from, more so if its the right choice of strain or edible for you. Many dispensaries out there pay this important detail no mind, and simply want to sell you marijuana. It's a brave new world out there, and we here at Gorge Greenery™ make customer service our mission, as well as being a standout, high-quality dispensary. Here's what sets us apart from the rest.

Budtender Knowledge

Our budtenders have years of knowledge when it comes to all things cannabis. Its important to choose a knowledgeable budtender when choosing the cannabis product that is right for you. Top Gorge Greenery™ budtenders have received level 2 certification from the Trichrome Institute in Colorado. The Trichrome Institute educates with a scientific approach and coaches our staff to identify strains of cannabis by look and smell alone. The Trichrome Institute also educates attendees on how to identify inconsistences and deficiencies in cannabis. By taking this course, our staff can guarantee only top quality and organic products are on our shelves.

Sourcing Products

At Gorge Greenery, we stand behind our products. We take the time to learn more about the Oregon growers and producers with the intention of selling flower, concentrates, edibles and other cannabis derived products. We only accept the highest quality products.  To achieve this, we strictly adhere to the following:

• We ensure all flower is grown without use of pesticides, herbicides or fungicides and cultivated using natural and organic practices. We tour every farm that is featured on our menu.
• Our concentrates and vaporizer cartridges are pure. No glycol, no butane, no additives, no artificial flavors.
• Quality edibles from talented bakers, confectionists, and chocolatiers.
• Effective and relieving topicals from skilled processors.

Sourcing our products is extremely important. The Cannabis industry is a bustling and growing industry.  By taking the initiative to visit each and every farm and producer that we carry, we are preventing low-quality or unsound products from reaching the shelves. This extra step is a part of our promise to protect the consumer and provide the highest quality products.

Sustainability

We strive to achieve sustainable practices at the Greenery. We package all flower in-house using glass jars, which can be returned using a sustainable, eco-friendly reward program. We are strong advocates for reducing plastic waste and more sustainable practices industry wide. We are the only certified dispensary that is licensed to handle organic products in the Columbia Gorge. Our staff and dispensary is certified by Clean Green and Certified Kind foundations whom are working towards recognizing and promoting clean, organic cannabis.

Locally Owned and Operated

We are as local as it gets here in The Gorge! All of our staff has been drawn to the Columbia River Gorge with the passion for adventure and cannabis. We love the lives we live in this beautiful area. We are proud to be a locally owned business that promotes exploration and enjoyment of the Columbia River Gorge to locals and tourists alike

Terpenes of Cannabis: Pinene and Humulene

Everybody who’s tried marijuana is familiar with the fact that it is one of the more pungent plants out there. So what causes this? Why does cannabis smell the way it does and why is there such a variety to these smells? The answer: Terpenes.

Terpenes are essential oils, found throughout nature in just about everything worth a smell. From sage and lavender to oranges, mangos, and hops, terpenes are found in just about everything with odor, including Cannabis.

Terpenes are more than just smell, however. Independent studies have revealed that there may be some therapeutic value to the molecules when either ingested or inhaled. Think about this: how do you feel when you take a smell of fresh lavender? Generally, the pleasant smell leaves you feeling very relaxed, an excellent de-stressor. Another example: What happens when you bite into a lemon? Odds are the sour taste and smell will leave you awakened and invigorated. Well, there are terpenes associated with these feelings: Linalool in Lavender and Limonene in Lemons. And both of these terpenes, along with many others, are found in cannabis.

This week we explore two unique terpenes: Pinene and Humulene.

Pinene

Pinene, like its terpene cousins myrcene and limonene, is found in many non-cannabis plants. In fact, it is the most common terpene found in the plant world. Like the name suggests, Pinene carries the scent of pine needles.

Pinene’s potential medical benefits include increased mental focus and energy. It also carries the potential to act as a bronchodilator, making it helpful for people with asthma and other respiratory ailments. Some studies have even cited its power to help reduce the size of cancerous tumors.

These traits are derived from its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Once in the brain, it could affect existing neurotransmitters in such a manner that it results in better memory. Pinene has also shown to inhibit the influence of THC.

The power of pinene is nothing new. For thousands of years many cultures around the world have used plants containing large quantities of pinene, like rosemary and sage, for the preservation and enhancement of memory. It’s only today that researchers have a minor understanding of how pinene accomplishes this in the brain.

Humulene

Humulene, found in clove, basil, hops, and cannabis sativa, bares an earthy and woody aroma with spicy herbal notes. Humulene is one of the components of the essential oil from the flowering cone of the hops plant and gives the common beer its hoppy taste. Did you ever think your beer and cannabis would have some of the same molecular components?

As for potential medical benefits, Humulene was observed to have potentially powerful analgesic, anti-bacterial and anti-tumor properties. These traits themselves could be accredited to the entourage effect of cannabis, as these properties are found in many other different terpenes, anti-inflammatory and pain relief traits in particular. However, the standout trait of Humulene is its potential as a natural appetite suppressant. This can be an ideal trait in cannabis for users who do not want to be subjected to a munchie attack, a common side effect of cannabis use.

The aroma of a certain strain of cannabis can be very telling, and learning the traits of terpenes can help you make decisions on what strain you take home with you. Remember, higher-quality, responsibly and organically grown marijuana will have the highest yield on terpenes and cannabinoids, so keep this in mind next time you look for a natural remedy to whatever it is that ails you.

Sources:

https://www.massroots.com/learn/pinene-cannabis

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299907005419

http://theleafonline.com/c/science/2014/11/terpene-profile-humulene/

4/20 at Gorge Greenery

It's the day of the year we've all been waiting for. April 20th (4/20), the official marijuana holiday, is nearly upon us!

The counter-culture holiday takes its roots from the "official" time of the day cannabis lovers gather and smoke with one another: 4:20 pm. Many different urban legends tell us origin stories of why this time in particular was chosen; some say it was the police code number for marijuana use, though the most accepted story of origin refers to a group of friends, the "Waldos", who had a set meeting time of 4:20 pm to gather together and search for a hidden marijuana crop. 4:20 pm has since become the de-facto marijuana smoking time for cannabis lovers across the world.

It was only a matter of time before April 20th became a holiday in and of itself. When the calendar strikes 4/20, marijuana enthusiasts rejoice and dedicate the entire day to the plant they know and love.

Gorge Greenery™ will be doing the same. On Thursday, April 20th, the Greenery will have sales all day long. Here are just some of the specials we will be offering:

• Clean Green Certified grams starting at $5
• $4 Pre-rolls from Otis Gardens and sofresh farms (Clean Green Certified Grower)
• $20 dab specials from Dab Society
• Edible specials from Peak Extracts
• Giveaways and GG swag all day

Come and join us for our favorite day of the year. And remember: always pass it to the left.

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Life with plastics, and how to move away from it

Plastics have transformed our world. They revolutionized manufacturing. They triggered an explosion of economic development. Plastics helped with the advancements in technology and medicine that reached every corner of the globe. Plastics helped make the world what it is today. Without them, modern life would not be the same.

But at what cost?

We have a plastic use for just about everything. It’s used to preserve our fruits and vegetables, it makes for convenient and disposable carry-out bags, and even the keys on this keyboard are made of plastic. Hospitals were modernized with plastics, creating cheaper medical necessities such as syringes and sterile bandages. Many modern automobiles have plastic chassis. There is no doubt that plastics have provided countless uses and advantages to living comfortably in this world, but at what point does it become wasteful and harmful?

Plastic’s positive trait is also its negative: it lasts virtually forever. Plastic products can take, on average, 450-1000 years to biodegrade, and this leads to a buildup. The more plastic you make and use, the more of it, inevitably, ends up in the environment, and that’s where the most damage is truly done. “Single use” plastic products have the most lasting and damaging effect on the environment. Things such as plastic bags, plastic utensils and cups, plastic and Styrofoam takeaway containers, and plastic bottles serve only as a single use item before they are disposed of. This results in a high amount of waste generation, and is often completely unnecessary.

Take a look at this article out of the South China Morning Post. Hong Kong locals are lamenting over the excessive amount of trash that is washing up on their beaches. A local videographer points out that much of this waste comes from excessive packaging.

Do you see any similar patterns in our grocery store with the repacking of bulk fruits and vegetables?

Single use plastic cling wrap. Single use styrofoam trays. Why not chop your veggies at home?

This is an unnecessary and wasteful amount of plastic packaging. And while packaging products for transport and a prolonged shelf life does make sense in terms of preserving the product, there is such a thing as too much packaging. Chopping up vegetables and sticking them in yet another plastic package as a means of selling a product is an unnecessary waste. Why are we repackaging bulk fruits and veggies to entice the consumer to purchase? At what point do we stop putting profits ahead of generating avoidable waste? Do we have to sacrifice profits to prevent generating new waste?

The art of reusing and repurposing plastics is a growing trend. Again, the buildup of plastics continues and landfills are reaching capacity with plastics. They inevitably spill over into our environment, thus polluting it. Marine life is often poisoned, stunted or killed by plastic products. Public lands grow more polluted with plastics every day. All of this pollution creates incentive to curb it and roll it back, and when large organizations get behind this movement, much can be achieved. Take Ikea, for example.

Ikea is pioneering a new movement of recycling plastics and completely repurposing them, in this case for furniture, cupboards and countertops. If there is an abundance of a resource that isn’t going anywhere for a millennium, why not use it? This sort of environmentally friendly business practice makes a measurable difference in the world. Ikea also announced that it sent zero waste to landfill across all of its UK and Ireland facilities in 2016, achieving a 90% recycling rate in the process.

Ultimately, the best way to reduce plastic trash in the short term is ending the use of unsustainable single-use plastics entirely. One of the most harmful and common forms of plastic waste are plastic bags that you find at large retail outlets or grocers, and people are pushing for a complete plastic bag ban. The state of California voted to approve Proposition 67, enforcing a statewide ban on carry-out plastic bags. There is a similar sentiment in our own town of Hood River. On March 1st, all retailers with more than 50 employees (Walmart, Safeway, Roseauers) are now prohibited from using plastic bags, and retailers with less than 50 employees have until July 1st to comply with the new city ordinance. Here at Gorge Greenery, we package all of our cannabis in reusable glass jars and use reusable fabric exit bags.

Plastics aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. However, we can curb some of the adverse impacts, and even reduce the negative impact it has on our environment. All it takes is a little effort in reducing personal use, and some creative thinking to repurpose waste that is already here to stay. It can be done, we just have to change a few comfortable habits!