Among the many gifts 2020 has bestowed upon us, “the fear of others” and “the fear of the outside world” are the gifts that just kept on giving. While Amazon and DoorDash have helped replace dealing with real humans, neither handle cannabis—and unless you’re growing your own, how are you gonna stay high and housebound? […]
Josh Jardine
Joshua Jardine Taylor is the Mercury's Senior Cannabis columnist and correspondent, and has written "Cannabuzz" since 2015.
Posted inCannabis
Cannabuzz: Cannabis and the Candidates
OlegMalyshev / Getty Images Plus The Black Mirror-like reality show that is our upcoming presidential election is down to two candidates for the Democratic nomination (one if you believe the national press, though with the COVID-19 crisis upending everything… all bets are off), with the eventual nominee running against the semi-sentient, rotting sack of KFC, […]
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Four Great Oregon Cannabis Brands You Should Try
There are thousands of growers, edible makers, and concentrate processors in Oregon. And although I partake of a great deal of cannabis in many forms, despite my best efforts, I haven’t tried everything, and new products drop all the time. So while this is not a comprehensive list of the majesty that is available, here […]
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Oregon Drug Decriminalization Ballot Measure Looks Likely
ISTOCK / MACROVECTOR When cannabis became legal in Oregon in 2015, there were those who opposed legalization that asked if this meant “we should just legalize all drugs.” While the idea of doing so certainly led to some consideration as to what that might look like— including yours truly who imagined an alternate reality where […]
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Coronavirus and Cannabis: How Pot Is Impacted by a Pandemic
BELTERZ / GETTY IMAGES As we make our way into a new chapter in “End of Days: Death By Stupidity Edition,” it’s worth taking a moment to consider how COVID-19 may impact the cannabis industry, and if cannabis can be part of a toolkit to deal with the pandemic. On Sunday, Governor Kate Brown declared […]
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CannaChef of Portland: Cannabis Cooking Competition Coming April 5!
Do you like food? I know that’s a loaded question, and I don’t mean to intrude… but do you? Cool, me too. Common ground found! Now, do you also enjoy cannabis? Get out, so do I! Final question: Have you ever tried food after consuming cannabis, and/or food prepared with cannabis as one of the […]
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The Feds Come After Weedmaps
stockstudioX / Getty A potentially explosive announcement came out this week that Weedmaps, the website and app used by millions to locate dispensaries and delivery services, has been subpoenaed by the Feds to share information about how, and with whom, they do business. This seemingly is being done by the Feds to take action against […]
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The Case for the “Black Market”
The rapidly growing cannabis industry has a complicated relationship with the competing retail sector often described with a loaded term: the Black Market. “Black Market” is a reference to exchanges where seller and buyer deal in illegal goods and/or avoid taxes and regulations by conducting their business “in the shadows,” hence “black.” It’s also an […]
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Another Vape Pen Danger: Deportation
JIRKAEJC / GETTY IMAGES It’s easy to forget that simply because a state has a medical cannabis program, that program doesn’t mean law enforcement is chill about anyone without a medical card using cannabis. “Bro, it’s just some weed” isn’t going to get you out of a jam with Johnny/Joanie Lawperson in some cases. As […]
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Cannabis Leaves Man Unable to Come Down; Or “The Case of the 12-Hour Erection”
Esther Kelleter / EyeEm / Getty Most of what I put forth in the written word in this space seeks to educate and inform, including calls to action, product reviews, breakthroughs in cannabis research, and legislation pertaining to cannabis reform among other topics. Then, every once in while… not so much. Dear reader, this right […]
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Drug War Prisoners Receive Clemency, as Well They Should
ISTOCK / MACROVECTOR This week, the semi-sentient sack of rotting half-masticated KFC and fearful hate, Donald Trump, pardoned and commuted the criminal charges of a bunch of trashy white men, including all-stars such as former Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, Michael “Junk Bond King” Milken, and former New York City police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik. […]
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Sixty-Six Thousand Stoners Get Convictions Expunged; Get High To Celebrate
JIRKAEJC / GETTY IMAGES Few things are perfect, and that includes the manner in which legalized adult-use cannabis programs have been regulated. While it’s easy and fun to list all the ways regulatory agencies have, and continue, to screw things up, the good parts include increased access to clean, tested cannabis products, abundant tax revenue, […]