CANNABIS JUSTICE IS RACIAL JUSTICE – RAISING FUNDS FOR THE LAST PRISONER PROJECT

As the United States slowly moves away from the criminalization of cannabis, giving rise to a major new industry, America continues to wage a war on drugs that’s deeply rooted in racism.

While some states have ended cannabis prohibition, like our home state of Oregon, there remain the fundamental and ongoing injustices inflicted upon those who have suffered arrest, prosecution, criminal convictions, and the far-reaching consequences of these destructive processes. This drug war has driven incredibly damaging racial disparities in the criminal justice system through disproportionate enforcement, against Black communities in particular.

Companies in 2020 are receiving government funding for engaging in the same cannabis-related activity for which other people are, at this very moment, sitting in prison. This obscene injustice must urgently be corrected.

As an organization that can only exist because cannabis is legal in Oregon, we have a moral obligation to engage in advocacy and concrete work to both end our nation’s horrendous war on drugs, and to free all people that are in prison for doing what we have built a legal business doing.

Since our founding we’ve engrained this essential work into our business. In 2015, our cofounder helped create and support a campaign, Fresh Start Oregon, which led to the passage of a bill in the Oregon Legislature that retroactively cleared the records of tens of thousands of Oregonians who had been convicted of criminal offenses of “possession, delivery or manufacture” of cannabis.

We knew then what we know now — that was just the beginning of the necessary work to achieve restorative justice in Oregon. And that much, much more is needed across the country.

That’s why East Fork partnered with our friends at the Last Prisoner Project over the past year.

Last Prisoner Project focuses on three key criminal justice reform initiatives: prisoner release, record clearing through clemency and expungement, and reentry programs. A core social justice focus is to release incarcerated cannabis prisoners. However, simply a release isn’t enough. Data shows that without the proper resources in place, most released prisoners struggle and may return to prison.

Reentry programs provide the necessary support for success for people who were formerly incarcerated. A criminal record can be a significant barrier to employment, housing, financial assistance, and more, so expungement programs work to clear the records of former cannabis prisoners — righteously so, given that those same acts are now legal. Collectively these programs help cannabis prisoners become “fully free.”

Here you can find the stories of several people, like Corvain Cooper, who have been impacted by the criminalization of cannabis. Corvain was arrested for what would now be classified as a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to life in prison under the three strikes law. After the US Supreme Court denied Corvain’s appeal, Corvain still hopes for executive clemency.

These stores are a snapshot of the millions of people who have had their lives disrupted or ruined by the immoral prohibition of cannabis and the drug war.

We encourage all Oregonians to financially support Last Prisoner Project directly with donations.

And in addition, this summer, you can team up with East Fork to contribute a bit more by purchasing one of our new PAX Era pods, created in collaboration with Buddies. $1 from every PAX pod purchased will be donated to LPP, which will total a donation of over $4,000 if every unit is sold.

Let’s work together and help the Last Prisoner Project put an end to cannabis prisoners and the drug war in America.

Green Box Voted Best Cannabis Delivery Service

best cannabis delivery portland

Green Box Voted Best Cannabis Delivery Service in Portland

Every year, Willamette Week polls its readers to find out the best of everything in Portland. This includes things like food, music, and more recently, cannabis. This year, over 63,000 people voted and the results are in.

For the second year running, Green Box has been named the Best Cannabis Delivery Service in Portland.

So to everyone that is reading this and all of those who voted, we just wanted to say THANK YOU! Without your continued support, we wouldn’t be in business. 

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Passionfruit Sunrise

passionfruit sunrise recipe

DIY Cannabis Cocktails

Cool off this summer with a delicious and refreshing cannabis-infused cocktail. Our 1st DIY Cannabis Cocktail Recipe is for the delightful Passionfruit Sunrise – a tropical and refreshing glass of sunshine. And for the mojito drinkers – enjoy a blood orange mojito infused with Drink Magic Number’s Blood Orange CBD Magic Drops.

Passionfruit Sunrise Recipe

passionfruit-sunrise

Here's What You Need

  • Passionfruit Sativa Magic Drops from Drink Magic Number
  • Orange Juice 
  • Grenadine
  • Maraschino Cherry

Here's How You Make It

  1. Fill glass full with ice

  2. Pour orange juice into cup filled with ice

  3. Pour in 1 oz of Passionfruit Magic Drops

  4. Mix with mixing spoon

  5. Slowly pour in grenadine and allow it to settle to the bottom of the glass (be patient)

  6. Enjoy 🥂☀️

Pairs perfectly with a Sunday brunch

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Edibles 101

edibles 101

Edibles 101

Edibles are cannabis-infused food and drinks. Edibles are steadily gaining popularity as a healthy and effective alternative to smoking, especially among new consumers and those that want to feel the effects of cannabis without having to smoke.

But before you go eating up all the edible treats you can find, there are a few things you should know.

What are Edibles?

Edibles, sometimes referred to as “medibles” refer to cannabis-infused foods.

These food items contain “activated” cannabinoids such as THC and/or CBD.

Today, you can find almost any food item you can think of infused with cannabis. There’s baked goods, chocolates, caramels, and gummies just to name a few.

What's the difference between eating and smoking cannabis?

The main difference between the two is the time it takes to feel the effects and the duration.

When cannabis is smoked, the effects are felt immediately and last about 2-3 hours.

When cannabis is eaten in the form an edible, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes all the way up to 2 hours to feel the effects. It is important to remember this so you can avoid eating too much, which can result in a very unpleasant experience. Edibles also last longer than smoking, lasting anywhere from 4-8 hours.

How much should I eat?

With edibles, it is recommended to start low and go slow. Beginners should start with a dose of 2.5-5mg and wait at least 2 hours before ingesting more.

Most bad experiences that happen from edibles are a result of this rule not being followed.  

Always pay close attention to the serving size of your edibles. Some producers make single gummies containing 50mg of THC, while others offer packs of gummies with each gummy containing just 5mg of THC.

So before eating that whole gummy or chocolate bar, double check the amount of THC it contains so you don’t end up getting way too high.

What if I get too high?

This happens to the best of us, but luckily, you can’t lethally overdose on weed. If you find yourself feeling way too stoned off edibles, try and stay calm and remember that you’re not going to die.

While there is no quick fix to remedy feeling too stoned, there are a couple of methods we have found to be helpful.

  1. Drink lots of water
  2. Try taking a nap
  3. Take a cold shower
  4. Take a few deep breaths
  5. Take some CBD (CBD reduces the psychoactive effects of THC)

Benefits of Edibles

For consumers who are new to cannabis and might be hesitant to smoke, edibles are a great introduction to cannabis.

Some of the benefits of edibles include:

  1. Measured dosage
  2. Longer effects compared to smoking
  3. Convenience (you can eat an edible practically anywhere)
  4. No extra equipment required
  5. They taste delicious

So whether you’re looking for an alternative to smoking or simply love tasty food infused with cannabis, edibles are a great option for all cannabis lovers.

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Guide To Vapes

guide to vapes

Green Box Guide To Vapes

A Brief Introduction:

Vaping has become one of the most popular consumption methods due to the convenience and potency that this method provides. When cannabis was first legalized it was slim pickings when it came to vape carts. Thankfully, as the market has expanded – so have our choices.

The first thing you want to ask yourself when purchasing a vape cartridge is WHAT IS IN MY VAPE CARTRIDGE?

Currently, you can find vape cartridges and Pax Pods that are filled with either…

  1. Distillate
  2. C02
  3. Sauce+
  4. Live Resin
distillate

What is Distillate?

Distillate is created through a process called distillation and results in a tasteless, odorless, and isolated compound – typically THC or CBD. Distillate Carts are typically going to be the least expensive option when it comes to purchasing vape carts.  

The reason behind this is that when making distillate, the starting material (the flower) doesn’t matter because this process strips the cannabis of all terpenes, flavonoids and cannabinoids and leaves just an isolated compound – typically THC or CBD. This means flower that is very old, mostly trim, shake, etc. can be used and you will still be left with a product that is exactly the same as if it had been made with top shelf A bud flowers. Essentially, distillate is made with all the flower that you wouldn’t want to smoke.

Another thing to be aware of when purchasing a distillate cartridge is the presence of “botanical terpenes” (referred to as fake terpenes by many in the industry). As mentioned earlier, Distillate is tasteless and odorless – because of this, vape companies will reintroduce either “botanical terpenes” or “Cannabis-Derived terpenes”. Botanical Terpenes are responsible for the fruity flavors found in many carts such as bubble gum, cotton candy, and lemonade. While these may taste great to some, Botanical Terpenes have not been approved for combustion so consume at your own risk. Cannabis Derived Terpenes are terpenes extracted from cannabis and will result in flavor that is going to be closer to how the strain actually smells.

Distillate is ideal for those working with a budget and who just want to get high. Think of distillate as the Coors Light of Vapes – very affordable and it gets the job done. For those seeking something a little higher quality, please read on.

What is C02 Oil?

C02 is considered one of the safest and most sustainable extraction methods. Unlike distillate, C02 oil can contain a broad spectrum of cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, and CBG, as well as natural cannabis terpenes. Due to this, users typically feel more pronounced effects from C02 oil than they do from distillate. In terms of pricing, C02 is right in the middle, cheaper than liquid live resin, but more expensive than distillate

C02 Oil is ideal for those seeking strain-specific effects and that have slightly more of a budget to work with.

 

sauce plus

What is Sauce+?

Sauce+ is a combination of high purity THC distillate infused with single-origin cannabis-derived High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract or HTFSE for short. The synergistic effect of cannabis-derived terpenes is shown to regulate and potentially enhance the physiological effects of cannabis. Due to that – many enjoy sauce+ cartridges.

Sauce+ is ideal for those seeking both potency and flavor without breaking the bank.

What is Live Resin?

This is for all the quality seekers and cannabis connoisseurs out there. Live resin is made using freshly-frozen cannabis and results in an extract that possesses very high levels of terpenes. Live resin allows you to enjoy cannabis flowers in full bloom. In order to make high-quality live resin, high-quality cannabis is required. Due to this, the process of creating live resin requires extensive planning from both the producer and processor, and as a result – these are typically the most expensive vape option.

Live Resin cartridges are ideal for those who value quality above all else. Yes, you will have to pay a little more – but in this person’s opinion, the quality is definitely worth the price.

What Should I Choose?

Well, the answer is different for everyone. Typically you get what you pay for and vape carts are no different. If you’re on a very tight budget you may be limited to just distillate carts. If you’ve had distillate before and have a few extra bucks maybe it’s time to step up and try a C02 cart? If you consider yourself a connoisseur we would definitely recommend the liquid live resin carts.

-SHOP VAPES-

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Our April Favorites

We spend a lot of time curating some of the best cannabis in Oregon, so you don’t have to waste time sifting through the clutter of the many cannabis products you encounter on your social feed, or in at the counter at your neighborhood shop. Here are some of our favorites. Sure, they’re biased. But it’s what we’ve been enjoying at home ourselves.

Adro’s Picks:

Berries & Cremé cultivated and bred by Certified PDX

“It’s deeply relaxing, but functional, I’ve been using it mostly to mellow out my afternoons. After all the coffee in the morning, I can get jittery sometimes. I few puffs on my Pax and I’m good to go. The flavors are bursting with sweet berry jam notes.”

Nepalese Kush cultivated by Mindful

“I love how this flower looks! It’s literally covered in trichomes! It’s uplifting and happy, earthy and savory flavors, I love rolling a joint just before a long walk with the dogs.”

Grön Dark Chocolate Caramels

“They’re sprinkled with vanilla bean sea salt, which pairs well with the sweet caramel. This classic combo got an upgrade. They literally melt in your mouth. It’s hard just having two. I’ve been enjoying them with a hot cup of coffee.”  

Drink Magic Number Cold Brewed Coffee

“Nothing beats an iced cold coffee on a hot spring day! I don’t usually like sweetened coffee, but this one is just a tad, giving it a nice uplifting boost! My new go to when I have a long to-do list!”

Pineapple Jager 2:1 Pax Era Pod

“My absolute favorite in the box right now. It’s portable, discreet, ultra tasty, and single-sourced from East Fork Cultivars sun-grown CBD flower. No added fruit terpenes or flavors. It provides quick CBD therapy. It has been great for my anxiety.”

A Look Into The Green Box Curation Process

When you sign up with Green Box and start building your first custom order, you might wonder how we decide which vendors to stock. Our mission is to curate an ever-evolving selection of high-quality products so you can feel confident we’ve done all the work to bring you the best. Our process is different from how shops choose vendors in that we have more time to visit each prospective vendor and really dig into their process and methods to make the most informed choice possible. Instead of spending time at a dispensary counter asking questions about the products you might be interested in, you can choose from the comfort of your own home and have any info you might want right there for you to check out as you shop.

One quality that matters greatly in our selection process is Oregon ownership of the brand. We think it’s important to work with locally based brands that cycle their profits back into the local economy and want to highlight brands that believe in maintaining the high quality that Oregon cannabis is known for! We’re always striving to seek out the best and show you, local purveyors, you may not be familiar with but might love.

Premium, organically focused methods, and source materials are also crucial in the selection process. We personally visit the facility or farm of each brand to check out their methods and practices and make sure they meet our standards of quality and cleanliness. It’s also important that the companies treat their employees fairly and believe in upholding high integrity of business practices, and we dig into the history and mission of each brand to really get to know where they’re coming from and what their vision for the future of Oregon cannabis is. Join Green Box today and see for yourself how we’ve taken the guesswork out of not only choosing the best products but the best stories behind each brand as well. 

Intro To CBD

CBD, or Cannabidiol, has become increasingly prevalent along with THC as a cannabinoid of interest. Arguably the most medically beneficial of the known cannabis compounds, CBD is useful for a host of conditions such as pain, neuroplasticity, inflammation, and anxiety. It lacks the intoxicating effects of THC, allowing users to experience the wellness effects without the high.

The body processes cannabis compounds through what’s known as the endocannabinoid system. Two main receptors, CB1 and CB2, are the primary pathways for the body’s absorption of cannabis. CB1 receptors mostly affect the mind, while CB2 receptors act primarily upon the body. CBD mainly acts on the CB2 receptors, unlocking its potential as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive and mild euphoric. CBD can also moderate the effects of THC-which primarily acts on the CB1 receptors- and a strong dose of CBD can tamp down a too-intense high.

CBD can provide relief of a wide range of symptoms, from depression to PTSD, muscle spasms, nausea, pain, and seizures. It’s not only effective for humans but has also shown to be helpful for similar maladies in dogs and cats, and there are many products designed for domesticated pets.

CBD can be extracted from both industrial hemp and cannabis. Hemp is defined as a plant containing .3% or less of THC, while states with legal cannabis can also extract CBD from cannabis plants. Hemp is also a bioaccumulator, meaning it draws in heavy metals and other potential toxins from the soil, and the sheer volume of hemp required to extract CBD raises the risk of those toxins showing up in your product.

Both THC and CBD work most effectively when in synergy with each other, and consumers may experience different effects from hemp based products verses cannabis based ones. If you are seeking to try CBD for yourself, Project CBD recommends seeking out products made from CBD rich strains for the best results.