Safer Portland, Strategies for Safer Community

Q: What are Brown Bear Herbs’ herbal cigarettes?

Brown Bear Herbs herbal cigarettes are tobacco-free and nicotine-free smoking blends made from organic or wild-crafted herbs such as mullein, lobelia, lavender, and other botanicals. They are crafted to provide a smoking alternative with herbs that address the underlying reasons you smoke. They contain NO addictive ingredients. When you use them you can smoke herbs that are likely to be more supportive (based on historical use of the plants) while at the same time breaking your addiction. When you break your addiction, you can quit smoking altogether or use our products to smoke when stress or social situations arise. Our herbal cigarettes are a risk-reduction method of quitting tobacco and nicotine products. They are also enjoyed by people who need to stop marijuana use for work or other restrictions.

Q: How are your herbal cigarettes different from traditional cigarettes?

Unlike tobacco cigarettes, Brown Bear Herbs products include no tobacco and no nicotine (also NO CBD, NO THC, and NO marijuana). They use natural herbs to create a smokeable blend that may satisfy the psychological and behavioral aspects of smoking, such as the hand-to-mouth ritual and using herbs that have been historically used for physical anxiety symptoms (Take It Easy), feeling overwhelmed (Gentle & Protective), focus and anxiety (Clear Mind), as well as social confidence (Sexy Smokes).

Q: What other products do you offer besides herbal cigarettes?

We also offer loose herbal smoking blends, roll-your-own herbs, pipes for herbs, teas, tinctures, gem, animal, and flower essences, other wellness products, and herbal consultations to support various goals, including emotional wellness, spiritual balance, and lifestyle transitions.

Q: Can herbal cigarettes help me quit smoking tobacco?

Many customers report that using our blends helped them to quit tobacco. The specific blends include herbs historically used to address different aspects of why people smoke (social anxiety, focus, physical addiction). Smoking the herbal cigarettes replaces the ritual of smoking tobacco while avoiding nicotine, and therefore breaking the addiction. It is also possible to use the roll your own herbal smoking blends as tea. Brown Bear Herbs is a small company and we have not gone through the FDA approval processes. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Q: What herbs are used in your products?

Blends include organic or wildcrafted herbs such as mullein, raspberry leaf, lobelia, damiana, and mugwort these are selected based on traditional use as smoking herbs, herbs for dealing with addiction, and herbs for stress support. Suppliers are based in primarily Oregon, and herbs are sourced organically or wildcrafted (and tested).

Q: Why smoke mullein? Why is it in all your blends? Is mullein a filler?

Great question! My herbal smoking blends are formulated to be as easy as they can on your lungs. Mullein is an herb that was traditionally smoked for lung health in multiple cultures. I find that adding mullein to any smoking blend makes it more comfortable on your lungs. It is not a filler, it is an amazing herb with a great track record. You can watch my video for more information https://brownbearherbs.com/blogs/videos-and-blogs/mullein-quitting-tobacco

Q: How do you smoke Brown Bear Herbs' herbal cigarettes? Do I inhale?

Smoke Brown Bear Herbs' herbal cigarettes like you would a normal tobacco cigarette. Many currently available herbal smoking blends are pretty harsh and are not intended to be inhaled--rather they are smoked like a cigar. Ours should be as gentle or more gentle compared to regular tobacco cigarettes and more gentle than marijuana. Do NOT hold the smoke in like you would marijuana. This style of smoking is very hard on your lungs and part of the reason why marijuana tests as worse for your lungs per inhalation than tobacco(!).

Q: Are herbal cigarettes safe to smoke?

Herbal cigarettes are dangerous to your health. They produce tar and carbon monoxide. While our products contain no tobacco or nicotine, nor marijuana or any of its derivatives, inhaling smoke of any kind carries health risks. This is also true for cooking at the barbecue, sitting by the fire, etc. Brown Bear Herbs' herbal cigarettes are a risk reduction method of quitting tobacco, and can be a supportive choice for reducing or eliminating marijuana from your lifestyle. I don't encourage any habitual smoking, but am happy to offer a less risky smoking option when you need to (like stage or movie smoking) or want to quit.

Q: What are good options for smoking for film and acting productions?

To protect the health of actors and other people working on film or theater productions, tobacco and marijuana are not allowed indoors and often in production in general. Clear Mind is the top choice for prop cigarettes. It is a light smoking blend, making it easier on actors' bodies and those getting the secondhand smoke. The herbs in it are formulated to help creatives do their work. Clear Mind has been used as a smoke producer in major productions (like Oppenheimer movie) to stand in for cigarette, marijuana, crack smoke, and more! I love making prop cigarettes to spec for movies. If you have a project that needs a certain look, or lots of loose material, please reach out.

Q: Are your products regulated or approved for smoking cessation?

Herbal cigarettes are not regulated as medical products nor approved by government agencies for smoking cessation. They are offered as supportive alternatives, not treatments.

By Lily Michaud in Sep 14, 2026

I live in the Portland area. I have been in several not-at-fault car accidents as well as the victim of violent crimes. Over the last year or so, the area has felt more volatile. When walking or biking, people often come close to hitting me. Instead of making a polite comment, looking sorry, and moving on, they yell at me, often with profanities. Notably, these near misses followed by aggression have all been with male drivers. What is happening to us?

Aside from drivers slowing down and following traffic laws, below are some of my favorite ways to improve social dynamics and reduce harm around town. And to address the male aggression (which seems to be on the rise), these are all examples of positive male leadership.

Do “Nothing”

My father recently passed, and I have been thinking about his lifelong commitment to meditation. In the 80s, he participated in a Transcendental Meditation study in Washington, DC. DC was one of over 200 urban centers, including Portland, Oregon, studied for a correlation between meditation and crime. They found that when a significant portion of the population engaged in regular meditation, there was an 18.5% drop in violent crimes, including 21.2% drop in homicide. Silent meditation is shown to improve all health issues where stress is a contributing factor. A less stressed, more peaceful inner world makes us more attentive and less aggressive. When our everyday interactions are infused with more peaceful people than aggressive ones, it helps the overall feeling in the community. I watched my father transform from an angry person to a contemplative one over the 50 years of daily meditation; it dramatically improved our relationship and gives me hope that anyone can become peaceful. Experiment with dedicating 20 minutes, twice a day, to silent meditation.

Read more on the Maharishi Effect here: https://research.miu.edu/maharishi-effect/

Use Less

… or eliminate alcohol, marijuana, and hallucinogens. Substance use is a factor in around 50% of fatal traffic accidents and is illegal. What about social consequences? Alcohol is believed to be an effective social lubricant, marijuana mellowing, and psychedelics healing, yet research shows they are associated with an increase in violent behavior and vulnerability to being a crime victim. We all know that alcohol decreases inhibitions and is associated with violence, including being involved in approximately 50% of rape and domestic violence incidents. Research shows hallucinogens can radicalize thought. While this can translate to increased humanitarianism, it can also amplify bias. Several far-right hate movements, including QAnon and Klan-leader-founded Stormfront, are out about psychedelic use. You are rolling the dice when you engage in psychedelics; the results are not predictable and potentially caustic. Reconsider recreational drug use.

Read more about the relationship between psychedelics and extremist hate groups through Double Blind (a magazine devoted to exploring psychedelic use): https://doubleblindmag.com/psychedelic-conspiracy-theories/

Get to Know Your Neighbors

Your fellow travelers are members of your community. You may see them again. Road-raging your way out of a traffic violation is bound to impact your social and professional standing! Instead, slow down. Get to know potential friends in your neighborhood. Mark Lakeman, founder of City Repair, uses simple strategies for building community and reclaiming public rights-of-way. These include: meeting your neighbors, lending and borrowing tools, and participating in all-ages potlucks and work parties. These are simple, proven ways to improve community. You will feel more connected and wear away at any lingering discrimination.

https://cityrepair.org/

>>The images of the hummingbird and flower of life intersection paintings are projects I led in Portland, Oregon<<

Be Aware of Community Leadership

Put your feelers out, read that newsletter from your elected representative, and learn the crime and safety trends in your community. Have conversations with people you don’t entirely agree with to understand various sides of the issues at play. Know what your representative’s records are and don’t be a single-issue or party-line voter. Here is some progress: Under the leadership of District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, Multnomah County has seen a 75% drop in gun deaths and a 62% reduction in non-fatal shootings. Give a thank you next time you see him and sleep easier at night.

https://www.portland.gov/community-safety/ceasefire

Let's take more responsibility for our community and streets. We'll enjoy them more. Please help call in aggressive males, à la my favorite: Dr Loretta Ross.

For Herbalists and Health Justice Activists:

I sit on the board of directors for Herbalists Without Borders and coordinate the HWB Portland Chapter. Please feel free to reach out anytime to discuss healthcare justice, or if you are within 100 miles, we can collaborate on local projects with the support of HWB.

Herbalists Without Borders: membership information and educational resources: https://hwbglobal.org/

HWB Portland Chapter page: https://hwbglobal.org/hwb-portland-chapter/

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