We are bridging the gap between local consumer and commercial interests, and this summer we had a party to get folks together. The PDX Summer SESH was an epic gathering of community members who are contributors, readers, and supporters of enhancing our collective quality of life. We want to see accessibility and high standards in the quality of products and services we all interact with. If the goal is to live the highest quality of life, let’s define it together.
There are many toolkits and frameworks for community organizing. We utilize the same principles in organizing as we do in our marketing approach. It is always in the streets first, talking to people and meeting them where they’re at. We love to get as many local organizations involved as we can. The sooner we understand our collective needs, the sooner we can actualize the solutions. Having a party is always a great way to see members of the community who show up. It is also a great framework to see where any gaps are in outreach and impact.
Creating access to cannabis consumption is a challenge, but important. Cannabis as a culture is an intersectional entity that spans ecology through social justice and everything in between. We should acknowledge that connection and the way the plant can cultivate mass empathy. We need to prioritize kind spaces and kindness towards each other in the most urgent ways possible. Global scale economies may dictate how the capitalist market exists but has struggled and failed to hold space for the socialist market (Note that it isn’t either/or, both economies exist at the same time and always have.) However, if everything with cannabis slams sideways back into prohibition, you bet your ass nobody is going to stop smoking weed.
So, we gather. The PDX Summer SESH had a great turnout of 125 community members, and we raised enough money to make this a sustainable offering. In an effort to normalize consumption we try not to place the focus on weed but celebrate our freedom to have access to it. When you go to a Cheechable event, we advocate for consumption but always encourage that you bring your own. We produce events to celebrate the community and creativity that comes from it. At the Summer SESH we had Dick Fitts open up with some space bass for your face, then DJ Colin Jones hit the turntables for some throwback dance tunes to warm the stage for Tigers on Opium, our stoner metal headliner who totally ripped! A limited group of vendors included Liberation Institute, Bleached by Josh, J.R... Token Butter, Honeybee Lemonade, Trip Chocolate, Green Out, Kynx by Brynx, Blunts by Mel, and Royal Rose PDX.
Special THANK YOU to our Sponsors, Apis Labs, SESH Creative, Kalya, Alibi Cannabis, Cannabuzz, Joe Brown Caramel Corn, Mushpocalypse, Organics to You, Underscore Video, and Utokia.
We hope this inspires more gatherings and expanding of sesh circles while having important conversations within our communities. Anyone who consumes cannabis is welcome to join our consumer advocacy group, this is a place to get to know a network of consumers who are motivated around social access and prioritize quality in products. SIGN UP HERE!
Special thank you to Matt Knapp and Esteban Ortiz, of Underscore Video and Mat with Brightcam Productions for video production and great vibes!