Growing up, Jocelyne Boyer was always told to stay away from Cannabis. The funny part? Her dad had a stash of plants growing in the family’s computer cabinet the whole time, which became not-so-secret after Boyer discovered the suspicious glow coming from inside.
It wasn’t until her late 20s that Boyer began exploring Cannabis for herself, turning to edibles to help get a good night’s rest. She eventually started noticing that different strains and consumption methods could create completely different feelings and experiences in her body.
Today, the plant is an essential part of Boyer’s routine as a comedian, podcaster and brand ambassador in Portland’s Cannabis scene. She’s worked in the industry as a budtender and delivery driver, eventually finding a natural way to blend her love of Cannabis with another passion: making people laugh.
For Boyer, that combination is especially useful before she takes the stage at a comedy show. When she’s looking to get into a creative and social headspace without feeling sleepy, she reaches for strains like Sour Strawberry or Blue Dream. CBD drinks have also become a favorite part of her preshow ritual, particularly an Ablis Cranberry Blood Orange sparkling drink crafted in Bend and packed with a solid dose of 50 milligrams of CBD per can.
And then there’s the mocktails.
Having worked as a part-time private bartender for the past few years, Boyer has developed a serious appreciation for mixology. She shares that skill at events around Portland, crafting handmade mocktails infused with CBD and THC for audiences at the intersection of Cannabis and comedy.
That playful spirit of experimentation carries over to her podcast, “Pot of Portland,” where Boyer reviews products, swaps stories and shares her own Cannabis concoctions. She was especially excited about a recent mini-series that pairs mocktails with flower strains, like her Gary’s fruity fever dream.
The drink combines Journeyman hash-rosin lemonade, Crown B Alchemy’s Moonlight Serenade syrup and Fever-Tree Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade as the mixer for a bright, fruity punch. She pairs it with Gary’s Pineapple flower from HQFarms, a Gary Payton and Hawaiian Crasher cross with nutty cherry and sugar cookie notes. Together, the sip-and-smoke pairing delivers a sugary and spiced tropical twist, with citrus fizz playing off the flower’s sweet pineapple-gas character.
Want to try your hand at pairings? Boyer’s advice is simple: “It’s just about your own preference and being creative with it. Don’t be afraid to mess up a drink. If something doesn’t work, that’s the only way you’re going to figure out what does go well together,” she told the Leaf.
In other words: grab a glass, get your grinder out and don’t be afraid of a little trial and error.
For a good laugh, a little Cannabis education and plenty of mocktail inspiration, tune in to “Pot of Portland” on YouTube or follow Boyer on Instagram.
