Rebel Spirit’s website invites you to unleash your inner adventurer with their Oregon-grown, sustainable cannabis, cultivated with the spirit of rebellion in mind. They believe each of us carries a spark, ready to ignite a journey through premium flowers, pre-rolls, hand-twisted cones, machine-rolled slim-profiles, gummies, and shatter. Their commitment to quality extends beyond exceptional products. They cultivate their cannabis outdoors in living soil, fueled by renewable energy and an unwavering dedication to sustainable practices. This results in clean, high-quality cannabis that reflects the spirit of adventure and environmental responsibility.
But even if you reside in a state without recreational marijuana, you can still experience the Rebel Spirit! Soon, they’ll be offering hemp pre-roll packs crafted from organically grown hemp sourced directly from southern Oregon. Made with the same commitment to quality and sustainability, these hemp pre-rolls provide a unique opportunity to embrace the Rebel Spirit, regardless of location.
The Legacy
But first . . . let’s talk about Uncle Mark Ingraham.
When you walk into the upstairs area of Rebel Spirit’s administrative office area, there’s a photo of a dude on the wall. He’s in a forest, holding a guitar and grinning broadly. A halo of wild dark hair frames his face. He’s got a potato bag next to him on one side (you can imagine he has a bag of Oregon-grown cannabis, but who knows? Mark also had a mining claim in the California mountains) and a rifle next to him on the other. He looks like the kind of guy you would want to have a beer with. The kind of guy you would instantly like. And yet, he has a tragic story . . . he was arrested in the 1990s for sustainable cannabis cultivation and later died in prison after his health deteriorated.
Diane Downey is founder and CEO of Rebel Spirit. “When Mark died he was 50, younger than I am now,” Downey says. “He was about four years into a 10-year term.” After growing up in Fishkill, New York, Mark went to Yasgur’s farm for Woodstock, then headed out to the redwoods of California and southern Oregon and started growing organic cannabis. In fall 1992, Mark was arrested in Washington state after participating in an outdoor grow with plants nestled between rows of corn. For Downey and her husband, Chris Bechler, they wanted to grow cannabis — and grow a cannabis business — in a way that would make him proud, mirroring the sustainable and organic practices he embraced on his Oregon-grown cannabis farm.
The Beginnings
Downey and Bechler infused their brand, “Rebel Spirit,” with a family spirit, honoring Uncle Mark, a friend of Chris for over 20 years and Diane’s college best friend’s uncle. This personal connection with the world of medical cannabis cultivation, through family and friends, sparked their own journey in 2015. They weren’t growers themselves, but their passion for organically grown, sustainable cannabis led them to purchase a 19-acre farm in 2015, mortgaging their house for the initial investment.
Downey, an English teacher by trade, juggled her full-time career with building the farm alongside Bechler, who utilized his construction background to create all the necessary structures. While “there was nothing here then, just bare ground,” as Downey recalls, they envisioned a thriving haven for Oregon-grown cannabis. Today, the farm boasts 80,000 square feet of grow space across 13 greenhouses, fueled by their water rights. They harvest about 5,000 pounds of sustainable cannabis annually, producing a staggering 200,000 pre-rolls every month.
Sustainability and organic practices are core values for the couple, even when faced with the potential for higher profits through conventional methods. Their commitment shines through their pesticide-free, outdoor cultivation in living soil, creating a vibrant ecosystem teeming with life. Apple trees grace the farm, providing delicious treats for their chickens and fresh eggs for employees. A community garden flourishes alongside thriving populations of dragonflies, ladybugs, and even frogs. This dedication to a balanced environment even led to a local raptor rehabilitation facility choosing their land for the release of a rescued red-tailed hawk, testament to the truly natural haven they have cultivated.
Continuing Growth & Success Fueled by Sustainable Practices
Once the farm was off the ground and profitable, Downey was able to leave her teaching job and focus on the farm full-time. Leveraging her financial acumen and Bechler’s management and problem-solving skills, they embarked on a strategic expansion plan, prioritizing sustainable practices and high-quality, Oregon-grown cannabis. This commitment propelled them into the Oregon and California markets, attracting a loyal customer base.
Their dedication to quality resonated with judges at the prestigious Oregon Grower’s Cup. In 2016, their sativa-dominant hybrid, Rebel Berry OG, earned them their first award, capturing the judges’ hearts with its bright, euphoric effects. Their focus on sustainable cultivation continued to be recognized, with wins for Best Pre-Roll in 2021 and their proprietary strain Gooble Gobble securing the same title in 2022. Rebel Spirit’s commitment to excellence extends beyond pre-rolls, with edibles and a topical also nabbing first place awards in the competition. This consistent recognition solidified their position as one of the top-selling pre-roll brands in Oregon since 2019.
With an unwavering commitment to sustainable practices, Oregon-grown cannabis, and superior quality, Rebel Spirit continues to chart a path of success, captivating consumers and earning industry accolades along the way.
Downey and Bechler found an investor in 2021 after living lean and boot-strapping in the early days of the farm. The investment allowed them to purchase machinery to increase preroll production (and save the wrists of their employees!).
Rebel Spirit shows its dedication to Mark’s memory by sharing profits with Last Prisoner Project, a group that is working to free those still incarcerated for cannabis offenses. Now in their ninth year of business, Rebel Spirit is looking forward to continuing to awaken Oregonians’ inner rebels and take them on adventures for years to come.
