Indoor Grapes

ShadowboxFarms

I don’t claim to know a lot about wine but my hypothesis was that any sommelier would tell you the idea of grapes grown in large warehouses scattered about the Pacific Northwest is absurd. In the pursuit of knowledge, I took to the web to ask some wine enthusiasts what the wine industry thought of the idea of indoor grapes; their answers were none too surprising.

I had three main takeaways that I think are analog to cannabis.

  1. Growing grapes indoors is simply not scalable, an average 25.4 oz bottle of wine can take approximately 2.6 lbs of grapes. With an average yield of around 7 lbs per vine, you can imagine how big a warehouse would have to be to make sense.
  2. Different wines are what they are because of something called Terroir;  a french term that does not have a direct translation in English but roughly means the factors that a region and/or growing season possesses that make the grapes grown there unique in their flavor. 
  3. Wine grapes have a complex root system that puts 60% of the roots in the first 24 inches of soil while the rest can spread to be as far as 33 feet wide and up to 20 feet deep. Finding room for roots to spread as they naturally would is only viable outdoors.

How do these three things relate to cannabis one might ask?

  1. Cannabis grown indoors is often stunted and grown to be an average height between 2 and 4 feet while an outdoor plant can be anywhere from 5 to 8 feet tall on average. In some scenarios, I’ve personally seen outdoor plants that your average NBA player would have trouble dunking over. Northern California and Southern Oregon are known worldwide for naturally having the premier climate for cannabis cultivation. With that in mind, it is inevitable that a large portion of the cannabis consumed nationally will be from this region. In order to grow to the scale which will allow the whole country to “puff tuff” the outdoor flower has to reign supreme. After all; over 50% of all wine produced globally is from France, Italy, and Spain.
  2. Learning about the concept of Terroir was a delight for me. Each growing season offers a new opportunity for every Vintner (Winemaker) to produce the best version of their signature wine. The chance is there because of the fact that no two years are ever going to have an identical growing season. Maybe one year the sun didn’t shine as bright over Tuscany so the grapes didn’t ripen as much causing a more bitter flavor in their merlot. A Vintner doesn’t dispose of that crop, they share the vintage (year produced) and information on the growing season to explain why the merlot that year tastes how it does. A wine connoisseur will be delighted to learn the factors that created that merlot as that makes it uniquely it. In cannabis, we can’t even grow legally across the globe, and then in a lot of legal markets, they only grow indoors with a lack of variables to give the cannabis terroir. I’m insanely confident that the Southern Oregon/Northern Californian climate will continue to produce the best cannabis worldwide but I’ll be the first to admit that I want to get a taste of the rest of the world’s soil & sunlight.
  3. The root problem is pretty simple to understand because having a 33-foot wide soil patch that is also over 20 ft deep inside a warehouse is pretty unrealistic. Not to mention completely unviable to maintain/operate/profit from any volume that can be produced in a confined space. Applying this line of thinking to cannabis we have to wonder what may be lacking when you aren’t allowing a plant to take root naturally by shoving it in a pot or trough of chemical water. Are we losing the character of a cultivar by stunting it and pumping it full of plant steroids in a warehouse?

Cannabis growers and consumers should be taking notes from the premier wineries in the world. Why? Because the wine industry has been around a lot longer than cannabis and a lot of the problems we are seeing have been dealt with in the world of wine already. My hope is that cannabis can mature as an industry to provide education and cannabis to consumers nationwide so that they can select the highest quality products available to them.
I’ll leave you with the question that got me down this rabbit hole; “Why would you ever want to grow any cannabis indoors when you have a climate that is perfectly suited for cannabis naturally?”

Mac Zivney | Lead Account Executive

Rumors

ShadowboxFarms , , ,

RUMORS

  1. “Kate Brown just signed a bill that allows Oregon to ship cannabis to California and Washington”
  2. “You have to generate a manifest 24 hours in advance before transferring more than 25 pounds of marijuana from a producer/wholesaler to a processor”
  3. “All packages as of April 1st have to be childproof”

These are all things I have heard in the last month of working in the cannabis industry. While they are all false, they all contain a grain of truth. With everything moving so quickly if you don’t have a solid system for vetting information your business decisions are resting on quicksand. Let’s take a look at each statement individually and address correct, what’s not, and how you might confirm or deny its validity. 

  1. “Kate Brown just signed a bill that allows Oregon to ship cannabis to California and Washington”

SB 582 was signed June 20, 2019, and it:

“Authorizes Governor to enter into an agreement with another state for purposes of cross-jurisdictional coordination and enforcement of marijuana-related businesses and cross-jurisdictional delivery of marijuana items.”

However, sales will not start without federal government approval. So fingers crossed that the federal government makes changes soon, but for the time being, cannabis grown in Oregon stays in Oregon. The easiest way to confirm anything to do with the Oregon Legislature is to find the bill number and do a quick google search. Once you’re on an individual bills page you can look at summaries, histories, sponsors and all the other important details. 

2. “You have to generate a manifest 24 hours in advance before transferring more than 25 pounds of marijuana from a producer/wholesaler to a processor”

This actually was true up until December 28, 2018, when an amendment was made effective that:
“The amendments alter the manifest requirements so that only larger transfers to retail stores need to be entered into Cannabis Tracking System 24 hours in advance of the transportation. This change was requested by the industry and supported by the Advisory Committee to allow more freedom in being able to send smaller amounts of product to retail stores within time frames of less than 24 hours, as well as remove other license types from this requirement.”

So, in this case, the error was outdated information. If you scroll to the bottom of any chapter of the Division 25 rules (where the majority of the laws governing cannabis in Oregon live) you will see the history of any amendments that have been filed. I highly recommend subscribing to the OLCC on their website to stay up to date with any upcoming changes to the Div 25 rules. Before any changes are made there is always a public comment period that is very influential in the shaping of the rules. If you care about the rules that affect you daily, make sure your voice is heard during those public comment meetings.

3. “All packages as of April 1st have to be childproof”

While there were numerous changes that happened in the packaging and labeling update that went into effect April 1st, all packages being childproof was not one of them (although the idea was talked about during the public comment period). Some things that did change were:

-The warnings (keep out of reach of children etc) better follow FDA guidelines, this puts Oregon in a great place label wise for federal legalization.

-If packages are not CFR-2700 child resistant and continually resealable they need to have a statement on their label that says “This package is not child resistant.”

My guess is this was a mixup with news from our neighboring state of California, where all packages are required to be child resistant starting in 2020.

In each one of these cases digging down to the source (usually the division 25 rules) revealed the truth and help explained the mixup. Don’t rely on rumors to run your business, dig to the bedrock of truth before building the house of your business on an unstable foundation.

“What you don’t see with your eyes, don’t spread with your mouth.”

-Proverb

Justin Reed | Compliance Specialist

A Day in Salem

ShadowboxFarms

By: Justin Reed

“Well begun is half done.”


– Cited by Aristotle as an ancient proverb in his treatise, Politics

In 2014, Oregonians voted to pass Measure 91 and legalize the recreational use of cannabis, and everything was great. The end.

Just kidding.

After 91 passed the the real work started of transitioning a robust black market out of the shadows. In late 2015, consumers were allowed to purchase limited amounts of cannabis from medical dispensaries. Then  2016 saw recreational dispensaries open as well making a variety of new products (vapes, edibles, capsules, etc.) available to consumers 21 and over. Packaging rules have been overhauled to better align with FDA guidelines, and rules have been established for mixing hemp and cannabis products.

All of these changes started out as bills at the Oregon legislature. Our Finance Director, Brian Johansing, and I had the opportunity last month to visit the state Capitol as a part of the Oregon Cannabis Association Lobby Day. After a quick tour and preparatory meeting, we were off to meet with our representatives and their staff to talk about the following bills:

HB 2233

  • This bill would permit social consumption sites for cannabis such as lounges and temporary events. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) would regulate both lounges and temporary event functions similar to alcohol.
  • We are very excited to see steps towards social consumption. Not only is this a stigma issue for us to be treated more like alcohol, but a socio-economic one. Low income individuals disproportionately live in apartments that don’t have to allow consumption.

SB 420

  • Directs the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) to expunge the criminal charges on the record that would no longer be considered a crime under current law.
  • -This is a no-brainer for us: legalization was as much about criminal records as it was about access.

SB 582

  • Allows the Governor to enter into an agreement with other states that have legalized cannabis to coordinate enforcement of cannabis businesses conducting business across those states.
  • We support this bill as a great first step towards federal legalization.

HB 2382

  • This legislation permits counties to expand venues they can tax licensed cannabis producers to ‘production sites’. The proposed fees are $1 per square foot of licensed recreational canopy and $50 per plant in medical grows.
  • We strongly oppose this bill. While we understand the idea of redirecting funds from Portland (where the majority of cannabis products are purchased) to southern Oregon (where the majority of cannabis is grown), we do not believe adding a tax (that is reflected in no other industries) to already beleaguered producers is the answer.

My biggest takeaway from the trip was how hard our politicians are working to understand these issues, and how important it is for us to educate and advocate on the issues we care about.

Justin Reed | Compliance Specialist

The Wild West of Cannabis

ShadowboxFarms

Last summer I received a message from a former leader at the company where I worked: “Do you know any good finance people who might be interested in working in the cannabis industry?” I felt a surge of excitement and jumped at the opportunity. After all, cannabis is the “final frontier” of business. After decades of lobbying, cannabis enthusiasts finally influenced legislation and public opinion to create meaningful change. What was once the pastime of hippies and stoners crossed over into the realm of big business, attracting huge amounts of investment capital and no small amount of media attention. Of course, that’s where I wanted to be: In the middle of the action, on the forefront of social and political change, and living off the land on a pot farm in Southern Oregon.

Six months later, I can report that some of that dream came true. I’m now the only finance person I know who can speak intelligently on the differences between hemp-derived and cannabis-derived CBD. I know more about terpenes and cannabinoids than I’ll ever know what to do with in polite conversation.

I spent time on the farm in late summer, watching the plants grow and learning how a sungrown cannabis farm operates. I helped with the harvest, learned how to identify ‘A’ buds and witnessed the process of curing flower. I rode along with our sales reps, learning the ins and outs of the dispensary scene.

It turns out that working in finance at a cannabis company is a little less like Goodfellas and little more like Office Space. And a few months in, I’ll admit I experienced some professional disillusionment.

Yes, I get piles of cash dropped on my desk, but most of our customers have transitioned to paying with checks and wire transfers. Yes, our production consists of rolling joints and trimming flower, but in the meantime, I’m still filing payroll tax returns, approving purchase requests, reconciling bank statements, and paying bills.

Although it can be a source of pop-culture zeitgeist and countless news clips, legalized cannabis is still just business as usual when all is said and done. Our calendars are filled with compliance and safety committee meetings, awkward networking events, sales scrums and one-on-one meetings with direct reports. For the most part, the core functions of our cannabis jobs are eerily similar to what we would be doing at any other job. Occasionally, I’m overcome with a sense of irony that we’re working in a federally illicit industry, while a visitor to our Portland office might at first suspect we’re a tech startup.

This is not to say that I find my job boring or mundane. On the contrary, working in cannabis is challenging and exciting precisely because of the ironies and contradictions that exist. Our marketing team must be constantly vigilant that our message does not appeal to minors. Our post-production team is prohibited from moving product from one licensed premise to another. (They’re 30 feet away from each other.) On a quarterly basis, I’m required to provide a stack of documentation to our bank, simply for the privilege of having a checking account. We have found that our regulators, the good people of the OLCC, are some of our most trusted advisors, helping us carefully navigate the maze of laws we are required to comply with.

Sometimes it feels like we’re doing business blindfolded, with one arm tied behind our back and a small child kicking us in the shins. These setbacks and restrictions force us to do our jobs with innovation and efficiency, and I’m filled with gratitude because of it. I get to work with people who are passionate about removing the stigma from a product that shouldn’t be treated any differently than alcohol or tobacco. And yet, I’m aware that at any moment the feds could shut us down, or the state could rescind our license.

Cannabis is indeed the wild west of business: Opportunity abounds and danger persists, but more often than not, we’re just trying to steer clear of any outlaws and keep our business running. Sh#!, the printer is out of ink again.

Brian Johansing | Director of Finance

Capsules and the Holidays

ShadowboxFarms , ,
“The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin.”
— Batman (Adam West)

Staying healthy during the winter holidays can be a challenge. It’s easy to over-indulge when we’re swept up in the spirit of the season. Now the holidays are over, and I am once again grateful for our low-dose vegan capsules. I loved how they took the edge off without knocking me off my feet and discreet enough for get-togethers that weren’t necessarily cannabis friendly. After stuffing myself with ham, potatoes and pumpkin pie, I really appreciated that I didn’t have to add any more food (the usual infused options like gummies, chocolate, caramels, etc.) to my already bursting belly.

It was also super easy to share with friends and family (21 and over) who have food sensitivities and were avoiding sugar, grains, and dairy. One of my favorite parts of legalization is all of the options available. It makes me feel like I have my very own Batman utility belt.

Here’s to a healthy and happy new year!

Justin

Living with Fires and Smoke in Southern Oregon

Lucia Bartscher ,

Gray skies. Thick, smoky air. A diffused, orange sun. These are becoming the telltale signs of summer on the west coast. Southern Oregon was hit especially hard last summer by the Chetco Bar Fire which burned approximately 190,000 acres in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. After the most expensive fire season on record in 2017, Oregon is having catastrophic fire damage once again in 2018, and this summer it came early. On July 8, a lightning storm ignited approximately 100 wildfires in the Rogue Valley. Some of these are still burning, most notably the Klondike Fire, which was recently upgraded to a megafire. Most of the summer the air quality index in the area has been at unhealthy levels.

It’s hard to talk about natural disasters without considering climate change. Folks who grew up here in the Rogue Valley say this is not normal. Most recall the Biscuit Fire of 2002 as a bellwether event in southern Oregon and say the fires since then seem more intense and frequent. If it feels hotter, that’s because it is hotter. According to the National Weather Service, the five hottest months of July ever recorded in Medford have all taken place in the last six years. And eight of the 10 hottest Julys have occurred since 2000.

It’s easy to throw up our hands at the prospect of making a difference in such a gargantuan problem. The ongoing saga between the Department of Forestry, the timber industry and environmental advocates has a long and complicated history. But the politics of forestry notwithstanding, the fact remains that humans are directly responsible for starting the vast majority of forest fires, nearly 84% by some estimates. Oregon felt that loss firsthand last summer with the Eagle Creek Fire, which was ignited by fireworks, and which burned nearly fifty thousand acres in the historic Columbia River Gorge.

The human impact is something we can easily help by being more careful, educating ourselves and looking for alternatives. For example, some cities in the western U.S. have even opted to celebrate Independence Day using a drone light show instead of fireworks.

Here are some things we can all do today to reduce the risk of forest fires:

  • Be aware of the fire danger level. If you live in a fire-prone area or are visiting one, there are very specific parameters for certain outdoor activities depending on the season. Before you ignite that burn pile or even mow the lawn, check the rules on your city or county’s website for what is allowed. Keep in mind that sometimes the rules can change from one day to the next in extreme weather.
  • Learn about campfire safety. Heading to the great outdoors? Some national parks and national forests may not allow campfires at certain times of year. Know before you go, and if campfires are allowed, learn the safest ways to ignite and extinguish them. Follow those same protocols wherever or whenever you make a campfire.
  • Consider celebrating without fireworks. Not only have they sent thousands of people to the emergency room, but fireworks are also a trigger for veterans and PTSD sufferers. If you must blow things up, it’s best to pass on the riskiest types of fireworks such as roman candles and bottle rockets, or even better, to choose the kind that do not get airborne. If you do light fireworks, do it in a wide open space and stay away from fire fuels such as dry grass. Make sure to have a hose or wet towels nearby to fully extinguish all sparks and flames. Carefully check the area for embers before you leave.

When fires do occur, we are forever grateful to the firefighters, support staff and volunteers who help contain and manage the fires, often at great risk to themselves. This year, the efforts in Oregon include more than 6,000 personnel across multiple agencies handling firefighting, evacuations, air traffic control, prevention, containment and communications. We can show them even more appreciation by doing our part to mitigate fire danger where we can easily make a big difference and by helping to educate others.

OLCC Update

Justin Reed , , ,

“Think it over, think it under.” —Winnie-the-Pooh

After almost a year as compliance specialist at Shadowbox Farms, I’ve gone to OLCC meetings, read updates and interpreted rules. I wanted share a few key concepts that have become important to me, both on a personal and professional level.

Don’t try to solve undefined problems

The full scope of a project isn’t always apparent in the beginning.  It’s important to take a deep breath and an intentional pause, especially before jumping into the complexities of a compliance situation.

For my first go at our license renewal I was filling out paperwork. I thought I had a snake of a problem tidily wrapped up, only to find out it was actually the trunk of a rather large elephant.  Turns out I had a lot more paperwork to complete than I thought. If I had just reviewed the scope of the project first and outlined the steps (and any potential hurdles) before diving in, I could have saved myself a ton of stress. Lesson learned.

Alternatively, I have let compliance-related emails affect me emotionally, which quickly ruins my productivity. Defining the problem, taking a few deep breaths and talking it out with a colleague has helped me keep perspective and avoid turning a molehill into a mountain.

Get things in writing

Initiating an exchange (whether a phone call, email, or face-to-face meeting) depends on a multitude of things, including how time sensitive the question is and the other person’s schedule. No matter what, I always close the loop with a summary email.

The industry is moving and evolving so quickly that it is always worth the time to confirm (in writing) that everyone is on the same page whenever anything compliance-related is discussed. A second benefit to this process is that an email will serve as a reference a year from now while my memory might not recall all of the details. Nothing is more frustrating than having to ask the same question twice because you forgot the answer or thought it was a problem that wouldn’t come up again. Never make assumptions. Close the loop.

Here’s to another year of tightening up my thoughts, my process and my work. Cheers!

Using the Whole Plant : The Entourage Effect

Sarah Sackett ,

In cannabis, we often talk about the “entourage effect” to explain the whole picture of a plant’s makeup. It’s a simple idea to explain a very complex chemical process. Basically, when we talk about the “entourage effect,” it refers to the idea that the whole plant has more to offer than the sum of its isolated parts (such as THC) offer on their own.

To understand this effect and the potential of whole plant medicine, we can look at the history of how aspirin was adapted for our modern pharmaceuticals. Aspirin actually comes from the willow tree. Its bark has been used for thousands of years, and is well documented in ancient Greek and Egyptian societies as a pain reliever and fever reducer. It was not until the late 1800s that scientists began to isolate the chemical properties of willow bark and discovered salicylic acid was the key component to relieve pain. Unfortunately, when salicylic acid was isolated and given to patients, it caused horrible intestinal side effects and even put people into comas. It wasn’t until 1853 that chemist Charles Frédéric Gerhardt discovered a symbiotic compound in the raw willow bark that protected patients from the side effects of salicylic acid. By combining multiple compounds that individually were not effective and administering them together, he was able to create the foundation for a safer pain reliever while mitigating the negative side effects.

This same idea is the foundation of what we call the “entourage effect,” the idea that multiple individual compounds create a greater and more impactful end result. Cannabis is made up of not only THC cannabinoids, but also a collection of other cannabinoids such as CBD, CBN, CBC, THCV and so on. It also contains terpenes, which give the plant its unique scent and help drive the effect of the THC.

In a 1974 study at the University of Chicago, researchers found in a double-blind study that cannabis with equal or higher levels of cannabinoids CBD and CBN to THC created effects two to four times greater than expected with THC alone. This study supports the idea that whole plant extractions can create a different outcome than THC isolates alone and is a great example of why the entourage effect can be a critical consideration to get the most out of your cannabis!

Post-Prohibition Parenting

Lucia Bartscher , , ,

Being a parent who also happens to be a cannabis consumer can be tricky or even risky in some places. Although 30 states allow some form of legal cannabis, there is still a great deal of misinformation and stigma associated with the plant, especially for parents. We know that many people already use it as a medicine. In fact, the FDA just approved the first cannabis-based medication designed to treat two rare and severe types of epilepsy. And although a 2017 Gallup poll showed that 64% of Americans support federal legalization, we are often up against the deadbeat “stoner” stereotype. As a parent, how do you tackle this conversation with your children? As an adult child, how do you help educate your parents and grandparents, some of whom came up in the era of “Reefer Madness”?

Honest Candor is one of our core values at Shadowbox Farms, and it’s the first step in starting those healthy conversations with your loved ones. Now that more Americans are able to safely access cannabis, consumers are starting to share their stories. That is helping ignite a national conversation where people feel more free to ask questions without fear or judgment. Speaking the same language is also important in having meaningful discourse so one party does not feel left out of the loop. Do your homework. Be prepared to answer questions, and back them up with information from trustworthy sources.

Candor is not only about transparency; it’s also about connection. In order have a meaningful discussion, it’s important to assume positive intent and show the person you care. How you go about it may look differently when you are having an age-appropriate conversation with your child or when talking to your elders. Making an effort to understand their fears and address their concerns will make them feel heard, and it will help you identify where education is needed.

Lost in Translation

There’s no shortage of nicknames for cannabis—weed, pot, ganja, marijuana—but those come with stigma and political baggage. Overcoming black market stereotypes is crucial to the success of cannabis as a regulated product, but sometimes even the slang associated with it can be a barrier to the conversation. Pair that with new research on the different components of cannabis—THC, CBD, terpenes—and the new ways to access it—vape, dab, edibles, tinctures—and it can be overwhelming. Before we can make strides in normalization, we first have to speak the same language and create a judgment-free zone where people can ask, “What the heck is CBD?”. And although the common name “marijuana” is still widely used, we should strive to reclaim its latin name, “cannabis,” as part of this cultural shift. That keeps the conversation in the realm of facts and helps remove clandestine associations. Having a common language is key to education and effective communication with family and friends.

Safety in Numbers

Sharing stories is a huge part of normalization, and thankfully there are smart people doing just that on websites such as Splimm, a “pot and parenting newsletter.” It’s equal parts education, community and lifestyle advice. Having some sort of support network is crucial for parents as we navigate raising kids in the post-prohibition era. For example, many of us see no difference in the experience of having a glass of wine to relax at the end the day versus consuming a cannabis edible or vaping. And yet, many parents still feel the need to hide their consumption from their children. I get that. I’ve been there. Having a forum to talk through those fears with other parents helped me tackle the conversation with my own family, and it was a game-changer. Need more practical tips? Check out this very thoughtful blog from Habu Health.

As pioneers in the relatively new industry of regulated cannabis, it’s so important we get this right. The more we talk about it, the more we chip away at the mystery and taboo associated with it. The more we share our individual experiences, the more we strengthen our collective voice. And the way we get there is through openness, community and education.

Coming Out in Cannabis

Sarah Sackett ,

When I was 16, I told my mom I would be going on a date with a girl. It was my queer coming out story. I lived in a suburb full of closed minds and bad words for what I was about to do, but I needed to be honest, to tell my family the truth and discover my own identity. My parents didn’t skip a beat or make it a thing: My mom even went out and bought me some rainbow gay pride socks with “mom” in a heart stitched into them. I was lucky. And my queer identity is something I’m proud to call my own.

Seventeen years later, I found myself facing another “coming out” moment when I entered the cannabis industry. Sure, it may not have been the same kind of coming out as before. I knew the implications were safer, but it still felt like hurdle to jump. I felt strong in my convictions that this was the right place for my career, and it was also a product I believed in because it had a positive impact in my own life and in the lives of my loved ones. Still, there was that taboo and stigma around cannabis. And in a world of social media oversharing of life details, was I ready to attach those to my name? Would there be fallout?

When I considered this, I came back to the reason I “came out” all those years ago. It was what I felt in my heart. I choose to be open and share my cannabis experience and participation in the industry because I believe that people have the right to choose the life that makes them most happy and healthy. Cannabis is safe, and it makes my life better. In being open, I discovered a beautiful community of people who share my passion. I may have alienated a few of my more conservative family members, but I’m really grateful to live in a place where I can be openly proud of who I am and who I choose to love as well as the career I choose. I’m proud to be part of an effort to remove this sigma and bring normalization to cannabis consumption!

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Located in Southern Oregon, nestled in the Applegate Valley. Shadowbox Farms brings a boutique craft product to the market at industry prices.

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For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of reach of children. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.
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