By James Bridges I was done chasing MAC 1. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. I’d found my sweet spot with it years ago, and I’ve kept that as a perfect mental snapshot. The signature creamy citrus punch, the way it hits smooth and steady, never too heavy, never too racy. It was…
Category: Columns/Editorial
Tip O’ The Hat: Papaya Mosa – DC Premier
by James Bridges Herbage Magazine No rankings. No scores. No pretending that I’m the final authority on anything. Just paying attention. When it’s good, it’s good… My local dispensary was out of my usual Super Boof, a very personally sad moment of heartbreak. The kind that forces me to stand there longer than I meant…
Legalization doesn’t change who we are. It just stops punishing us for it.
Legalization doesn’t make Oklahomans something new, it just stops punishing us for who we’ve always been: honest, independent, hard-working people who deserve the freedom to choose a plant over a pill.
Cannabis and Guns – The American Contradiction
The Supreme Court will decide whether cannabis users can legally own firearms, a case that could redefine the intersection of personal freedom, gun rights, and cannabis culture in America.
The Truth About “Cannabis Deaths” in Oklahoma: The Numbers Don’t Add Up So Who Benefits?
Oklahoma recorded 179 alcohol-related deaths last year — and zero from cannabis. Yet “cannabis-related” still makes headlines. The truth? The state doesn’t even track THC impairment, and the data that does exist tells a very different story. James Bridges digs into the missing math, the media spin, and the profits behind the fear.
Happiness Has Nothing to Do With Gold
Money buys distractions, not happiness. True peace comes when you give yourself authentically to the people you love.
Burn The Lies
I went all in on cannabis. RSO, flower, edibles—the whole arsenal. I rebuilt my diet, rebuilt my head, rebuilt my body. The same plant that the government spent decades demonizing turned out to be the only remedy that worked.
Cannabis didn’t kill me. It saved my life.
Hidden Gems: Ice Cream Man by Well Rooted Genetics
In a market drowning in mediocrity, I stumbled into Beyond the Pines and found salvation. Ice Cream Man. Sticky as sin. Terps that hit like a gas-soaked berry patch on fire. Proof that real weed still exists.
Dry Standards – The Death of the Cure
Oklahoma cannabis has gone from craft celebration to bone-dry corporate mids. Overregulation, price-chasing, and federal rescheduling pressure are killing the cure and pushing true smokers back to the black market.
Oklahoma’s Ballot Battles: What SQ 836 Means for SQ 837 and Cannabis Reform
Oklahoma’s Supreme Court just cleared State Question 836 to begin signature gathering and paused new restrictions on citizen-led petitions. Here’s why that matters, and what it means for SQ 837, the cannabis legalization measure.
Patients for Safe Access of Oklahoma: Fighting for Clean Cannabis in the Sooner State
A grassroots patient group is raising the bar for medical cannabis in Oklahoma. With over 200 products independently tested, Patients for Safe Access of Oklahoma is fighting for transparency, accountability, and safer medicine for patients statewide.
Oklahoma SQ 837 Memo – Editorial
Friends, renegades, fellow travelers, and those that are sitting back watching the show, It’s late. I guess it could be early, depending on how twisted your sense of reality has become. The clock screams at me to go back to sleep. Yet, here I am, awake, haunted by visions of what we’ve become and what…
Herbage Magazine Issue 68
Herbage Magazine Digital copy of Print issue number 68. Summer 2025
The Glitch
James Bridges – Herbage Magazine A failure of leadership, plain and simple. Not just a technical issue…. The Thentia glitch was a systems breakdown, both digital and human. When an entire industry, one that generates massive state revenue and supports real patients and small businesses, gets sideswiped by a technical failure, the least you’d expect…
Smelling the Data: How to Use Lab Results to Shop for Cannabis with Confidence
Vince Sandifer, M.S. Ever bought a strain that smelled incredible, but then it knocked you out when you were expecting a boost? When shopping for cannabis, patients don’t always get the chance to smell or examine their products until after purchase. While there are other ways to sample what’s on the market like hitting up…
Leon Hotchkiss Parole Denied
Life Behind Bars for Pot By James Bridges Now at age 68, Leon Hotchkiss remains behind bars in Alabama, spending decades imprisoned for growing pot. The board extended his next chance for a hearing until 2028. This is the maximum extension that could be given by the system. He’ll be 73-years-old. In the American justice…
Herbage Magazine-A Regional Powerhouse
A Regional Powerhouse By Brannan Bell Oklahoma grassroots magazine, Herbage Magazine, started in 2018, just before the passing of SQ788. James, the owner of Herbage, envisioned it becoming a leading platform and publication for the region. His goal was to establish something as the foremost platform and publication in a region that he knew well…
NUMBER 60 – Letter From The Publisher
As I sit down to reflect on the remarkable journey that Herbage Magazine has embarked upon, a sense of pride and accomplishment washes over me. This December, we celebrate a significant milestone – the 60th issue of Herbage Magazine, 60 months of continuous publication. This is a testament to our dedication and passion in two…
Herbage Magazine Issue 60 – December 2023
The Company of One – Time to Eat!
By Ava Taylor Ah, Thanksgiving, that time-honored tradition of overindulgence and familial chaos, or as some might call it, “the original food coma Olympics.” For many, it’s a day filled with bustling kitchens, spirited debates with Aunt Mildred over politics, and the incessant question from Grandma, “When are you finally getting married?” But what if,…
What’s Missing? A Look at the Past…
…and Why Some People Relish It.” By James Bridges In recent years, Oklahoma has witnessed a profoundtransformation in its attitude towards cannabis. Once relegated to the underground, the acceptance of cannabis has grown exponentially, thanks to the changing legal landscape and shifting societal norms. Yet, as cannabis goes mainstream, some individuals find themselves reminiscing about…
The Feminine Divine: Alexandria Irons
Written by Brannan Bell Meet Alexandria Irons, Queen of the Sungrown. She has rich knowledge through diverse experiences and has a vast love for the outdoors and sungrown cannabis. She helps others step into their own unique paths with their skills and resources . She loves her community and sharing what she knows. The outdoors…
HERBAGE MAGAZINE Issue #58 October 2023
Your Ultimate Source for Cannabis Culture and Education Welcome to Herbage Magazine, where we’re all about diving deep into the world of cannabis culture and medical marijuana. I’m James Bridges, the CEO & Publisher, and I’m thrilled to have you with us on this journey. Our Mission: Bringing Cannabis to the Forefront At Herbage Magazine,…
The Feminine Divine: Alana Stuart
Written by Branna Bell Meet Alana AKA Lala. She runs a women owned grow in Oklahoma City. She’s got a big heart, loves to learn new things and loves the land and mother nature hard. When you go through a lot in life, from a young age, people seem to have lived several lives and…
The Feminine Divine – Deanna Reed
Written by Brannan Bell Deanna is the co-founder of Origins of Spirit here in lOklahoma. She’s passionate about plant medicine, clean drinking water, nature, art, and holistic health and well being. She’s funny, witty, beautiful and full of holistic knowledge and plant medicine and where it came from, along with the benefits that come from…
Q&A with HarvestFest
BY BRANNAN BELL
Surviving in Stride: Cannabis Cancer Treatment for a Fighter
By Kristen Nadel @amywinemouse With a familiar namesake and a plethora of accomplishments, there is little James Dean Spradley has not done. Hailing from Oregon, he has relocated to Oklahoma and is a powerful advocate for plant medicine by way of medicinal marijuana. His diagnosis of Cholangiocarcinoma, a relatively rare bile duct cancer, does not…
The Experience with Thunder Walker
The look on her face was one that seemed to be written in story pages. The story pages that would invite only the most curious to delve deep into the mind of an Oracle, one might say. She was a stopping point on the journey of which I would find myself learning more from within…
Herbage Magazine #56 August 2023
Digital edition of the AUGUST 2023 print issue #56 of Herbage Magazine. Herb•age strives to bring you fresh content regularly. We cover a wide range of cannabis culture and medical marijuana-related issues from around the state of Oklahoma and beyond. In other words, It is our mission to be the voice of the growing cannabis…
Mistakes & Happy Accidents: The Art of Cannabonsai in Oklahoma
By: Dr. Johnny Lightcap, Ph.D. A little over a year ago, I was the recipient of a targeted ad on social media. Normally I would complain, but that ad directed me to a page where I saw the word cannabonsai in print for the first time. Thankfully the page threw some obvious red flags, but…
Meet Lauren.She’s a native to Oklahoma and although her childhood wasn’t “normal”, she was happy. How we’re raised forever impacts us in one way or another. Lauren is a beautiful soul that shines bright from the inside out. Her mother gave birth to her at 41 and was consumed via IVF in the 90s, she’s…
Movie Night
Bryson’s Journey by Brannan Bell
Meet Bryson. He was born in Talihina, Oklahoma on July 22, 2010 and lives in Idabel, Oklahoma. Bryson has Tourettes Syndrome and he’s been taking CBD and using Medical Marijuana to treat his neurological disorder that he has experienced since he was 7 years old. Bryson is nearly 13 years old now, he’s a black…
A Toke of Wellness
In our time-squeezed world, it’s easy to neglect our well-being amid the demands of our busy lives. We often fall into the trap of thinking that unless we do it all – complex fitness routines, strict diets, elaborate self-care rituals – we’re somehow falling short. But here’s the truth: true wellness doesn’t require grand gestures…
Audrey Pierce – Super Mom & Cultivator
Have you ever met someone and immediately sensed their genuine goodness? That’s the impression I got speaking with Audrey Pierce, and I feel she leaves this impression on many. From mom to mom, I could tell there was an unshakable fierceness unrelenting love for her children and her family that drives all she does. Many…
Feminine Divine – Benèt Comeau
Meet Benét Comeau. She’s an intentional tattoo artist, a wife, and a mother who is well rounded with culture in how she grew up, always following her own intuition towards the direction she believed in. She has a gift of adorning art on people’s bodies and is really knowledgeable about Astrology. Take a read below…
Insight. Intuition. Trust.
Your June ‘23 reading is brought to you by Coley Oak Ash and Thorn 207 East Main in Shawnee. It’s Gemini season, what can YOU expect from the upcoming month? The duality that one may be feeling during this Gemini season may feel at times overwhelming. However; you are a beautiful intuitive person and you…
Herbage Magazine #54 June 2023
April Showers Bring May Flowers
It may be time to shatter any illusions you have of yourself or others. Peel away these misconceptions about your life and see yourself for the amazing being that you are and how you were intended to be. There is nothing wrong with you. Break those illusions they are not true. You or someone you…
Lettuce Learning by Chet Tucker
With a saturated cannabis market here in Oklahoma, it’s important to understand not only basic economics but also how your product or service fits or outshines. At the date of this writing, we have over 6,800 licensed growers serving a medicinal market that makes up about 10% of the state’s population (aka Med-Rec with the…
A Toke of Wellness
Delta 9 thc, commonly known as just THC, is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. It is responsible for most, but not all, of the plant’s medicinal effects. When inhaled, ∆9 THC is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and swiftly distributed to cannabinoid receptors throughout the body. This rapid absorption means onset time is quick,…
Raise Your Highbration
Vibrational medicine is a wealth to add to anyone’s skill tree, be it a novice smoker, or a seasoned stoner! After all, just because someone’s proficient in an art doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to learn, and we all want the most holistic high we can create for ourselves, right? Let’s begin by defining ‘vibrational…
A Toke of Gratitude
The pace of life today is fast and stress is an inevitable part of that, but it doesn’t have to take over your daily experience. Stress can be turned into a helpful ally by cultivating a better relationship with it, thereby increasing resilience, and improving your overall well-being. The article discusses the role of the…
HERBAGE MAGAZINE MARCH ‘23
Digital edition of the MARCH 2023 print issue #51 of Herbage Magazine. Herb•age strives to bring you fresh content regularly. We cover a wide range of cannabis culture and medical marijuana-related issues from around the state of Oklahoma and beyond. In other words, It is our mission to be the voice of the growing cannabis…
Dict For V-Day
by James Bridges I broke up with that disgusting and dreadful monster 4-years-ago and I think about her every day. I couldn’t help the temptation. The blissful period when the thoughts stopped swirling in my head was my muse. She was, without a doubt, the one that would always be there to comfort me when…
HERBAGE MAGAZINE FEBRUARY ‘23
Digital edition of the February 2023 print issue #50 of Herbage Magazine. Herb•age strives to bring you fresh content regularly. We cover a wide range of cannabis culture and medical marijuana-related issues. In other words, It is our mission to be the voice of the growing cannabis industry in the state. Through fair and open…
Herbage Golf – Spring 2023
THE BLUNT & BOGEY TOUR – Spring 2023 BEST BALL SCRAMBLE WIN PRIZES & ENJOY AN AFTERNOON WITH FRIENDS! WHEN: Saturday, April 8, 2023, 10:00 AM SIGN UP HERE Plan to arrive by 10:00 AM for registration. Shotgun start at 11:00 AM. Look forward to having fun and enjoying friends while your team participates in…
The Cultivation Corner January ‘23
Cultivation Corner Brought to you by Smokey Okies Cannabis It’s a new year, and for many people, that means making resolutions and setting goals. Well, if you are a home grower, or aspiring home grower, I encourage you to take a big picture look at your grow schedule for this year. Don’t have one? That’s…
For Obvious Reasons, No Receipts
For Obvious Reasons, No Receipts By Kathleen Barker Oh how far we’ve come from 1986 and getting our weed through reefer Rick! Though I think many of us can agree that we’d drop a lot of cash to do a deal with Eddie Munson. But here’s my question, what kind of flower does our favorite…
Herbage Magazine January 2023
Digital edition of the January 2023 print issue #49 of Herbage Magazine. Herb•age strives to bring you fresh content regularly. We cover a wide range of cannabis culture and medical marijuana-related issues from around the state of Oklahoma and beyond. In other words, It is our mission to be the voice of the growing cannabis…